Like almost every other beader and jewelry-maker in the universe, I'm signed up for Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Party. I've participated once before, being paired up with the very talented Marcie Abney at La Bella Joya, whose work you may have seen in Beadwork and other magazines.
I was especially excited to sign up this time around, since I'd interviewed Lori for Beadwork (Bead Buzz, June/July 2011) and I realized just how much care she takes in matching up partners and making everything run smoothly. Plus, it's incredible to realize just how small her project was when it began. It's grown tremendously and she's even writing a book about it.
This time my partner is Moira McEvoy a.k.a Mystic Pesto. Check out the wonderful chain maille, wirework, and other designs in her ArtFire shop. If her work looks familiar, it's probably because you've seen it in Bead Star or as a finalist in the Fire Mountain Gems contest.
Here's the great package of beads she sent me:
Moira made the Tree of Life pendant and the matching clasp. Wow! I feel a little teary looking at it, amazed that someone took the time to make something so beautiful for me. I think this is the perfect Bead Soup package. The materials—wire and crystal bicones—are ones that I've used before, but the color combination (particularly the gold) is not one I normally use. I've also never used those crystal rondelles before. This Bead Soup is the exact right combination of familiarity and newness—something that will stretch my design skills, but not leave me frustrated and weeping in the corner.