IT TAKES MONEY TO MAKE MONEY...

RIGHT?? Please say yes. :o)

A few weeks ago I spent a bunch of money on a new [larger] kiln & today I "invested" in some incredible tools that should help cut my bead making time WAY DOWN as well as possibly make me a better glass artist (can I get any better?? LOL!). I purchased an Electric Mandrel Spinner from Scott Bouwens of Bearfoot Art, as well as his Double Barrel Rolling Marvers & a set of his Ultimate Hand Stabilizers. This is a serious chunk of change for someone just starting out in this business, but I've seen these in action in person (via Scott @ the Gathering) & if you go to his website & check out his video clips, you'll see what I mean. I'm watching these clips just about to crap, realizing how helpful these tools would be for all of the large handled pieces I've been making. It takes me probably 15+ minutes, depending on the piece, just to get my base bead made before I can even start embellishing it... it's a ton of glass & it take lots of time to get the glass centered & shaped & all that jazz & you just watch how effortless it is for Scott to marver a big wad of glass into shape, etc. I looked at these videos & thought "how could I NOT get these tools?" It would be foolish. I think they'll pay for themselves in probably less than a month, if not less.

Anyway...I'm not trying to convince you, LOL, even my husband, who is already nervous about the amount of money this "little" venture has consumed ("I thought you said it was going to be a few tools & a litte bit of glass..."), said to me tonight as we were checking out Scott's site & videos, "looks like you need to give this guy a whole bunch of money". It was pretty obvious. I was even getting a little bit choked up w/ the conflict of "do I dare? vs. how can't I?"

It's gonna be worth it.