Soup mail!

I received soup in the mail yesterday!  That is, bead soup...  I signed up to do the 8th Bead Soup Blog Party which is organized by Lori Anderson of the Pretty Things Blog.

So the way this blog party works is that we are given a partner with whom we swap a gift of soup beads, and then we have a month or so to design something with the soup that we received.  The soup each person receives is totally unique and a complete surprise.  The soup must contain a focal, a clasp and complimenting beads.  Lori Anderson, and a few people who help her, processed all the requests to join the party and spent loads of time partnering everyone.  This was a Herculean task to say the least, as this blog party has something like 600 participants, and she endeavors to not repeat partnerships from past bead soup blog parties. 

Lori partnered me with a glass bead artist named Arlene Dean who blogs over at A Glass Bash.  Arlene sent me a beautiful package that I received yesterday (March 21st).  It was presented in a beautiful little box with a matching gift card:

I opened the box and I first laid eyes on this:

Beautiful blue silk sari ribbon and some great metal textural plates!  So fun!  I've always wanted to try some sari ribbon, so I was thrilled to see that!

Delving further into the box contents revealed some spools of wire and these organza bags:

...and upon opening those bags, here's the full soup:

I love the focal, it really reminds me of SPRING with those bright colors!  I think Arlene must have known that since I'm in PA, I've had a long winter and am craving spring!  And the clasp is darling, two interlocking butterflies.  Here's a close up of the focal, clasp and large green lampwork glass bead:

 The complimenting beads are a melange of various sorts, which also remind me of spring.  I really love the large moss agate beads and the bright pink dyed shell beads.  There are a couple various colors of freshwater pearls, a couple acrylic pearls and the rest are mostly faceted glass or czech beads.  Here's a close up of the bead mix:

I'm really looking forward to creating something with my soup.  The gears are churning already!  The reveal is on May 3rd, so you'll have to check back then to see what recipes I come up with to utilize these charming soup ingredients!

As this is a swap, I did indeed send my partner a package of soup.  It's likely at her house by now, but while it was in transit from my home to hers, she had to attend to some family matters elsewhere; so it awaits her opening.  Thus, I cannot share a photo of the soup I mixed for her until her eyes have seen it in person... I will tell you that I have a couple handmade components in her soup and it's all coordinated in a color combo that I love, but rarely use myself.  I will post photos of what I sent her as soon as I hear that she's opened the package, so check back soon to see what I concocted!

Have you joined in any of the past Bead Soup Blog Parties? If so, leave me a comment telling me about your experience, and remember to post a link so I can check out what you did with the soup!  If you haven't, leave me a comment anyway and tell me how you'd use my soup ingredients! ;)