Bird Nest Soup!

Mmmm, sounds yummy, right?  The Chinese name for bird's nest soup, yàn wō (燕窝), translates literally as "swallow's nest". Bird nest soup is a delicacy in Chinese cuisine and is traditionally believed to provide health benefits, such as aiding digestion, raising libido (ahem!), improving the voice, alleviating asthma, improving focus, and an overall benefit to the immune system.

Well, I don't think my necklace will produce any amazing health cures, but the sunny warm colors will surely brighten your day and impart a cheery disposition!

Lori Anderson provided my bead soup and I was instantly delighted with the coloful bird pendant, the bird's sweet smile, and all those bright colors.  My first thought was to create a necklace that evoked a garden ambiance, since I love to sit in my garden and watch all sorts of curious birds and their  antics, like pecking for flower seeds and collecting fur for their nests. 

I decided to add the jasper barrels to give the illusion of branches, and created flowers from the yellow bumpy acrylic bead that reminds me of a marigold, and the lovely red Czech bead as a poppy. I also added my handcrafted copper leaf and nest to complete the look.

Being asked by Lori to participate in her beautiful book has been a pleasure and an honor, and all of the artist's projects are truly stunning. In celebration, I am having a giveaway of the copper leaf and nest pictured above, so please leave a comment and a lucky winner will be drawn Monday morning at 10:am, and don't forget Lori's grand prize drawing!