One of my favorite Christmas presents was given me by brother and sister piano students Amy and (now doctor) Mathew Bridges) one year. It was a dry bean soup that their father (Dr. Bob Bridges) put together and it included a recipe for use of the contents. I so enjoyed the resultant soup, that I’ve made and given the mix many times as gifts to others.

Recently, I decided to engage in another type of soup making and joined a group organized by Lori Anderson  http://www.prettythingsblog.com/ . This is the 6th time she has organized Bead Soup for those of us who wanted to stir things up. Briefly, she partnered each jewelry designer with another beader and the two of us exchanged beads that included a minimum of a focal piece, a clasp and some other beads. each of us sent our soup mix to our partner and are currently working to make something with the mix.

I’m fortunate to have Dr. Laura Demoya of Dallas as my partner. She writes a blog called The Bead Therapist ( http://www.thebeadtherapist.blogspot.com/ ) and when she’s not wrangling patients or family, she makes beautiful jewelry. Below is a set of photos of what Laura sent me.

I’m a bit embarrassed that I just sent her the soup I mixed in a bubble envelope when she created such a pretty package. I guess I’m just more of a bubble envelope kind of gal.

In the next couple of weeks, I will work with the contents shown in the last photo and create one or two pieces of jewelry. We’re set to reveal our makings on July 28th; so keep your eyes out for what’s on the back burner simmering right now. It’s smelling pretty good . . .

This is definitely a different type soup from that given me so long ago by my students. For one thing, there was no recipe included in Laura’s package. Yet, the mix still holds promise for satisfaction and it’s likely that some idea generated while using this soup can be passed on to others as I create new things.