SMALL THOUGHT....
I have another big reorder to fill for a mail order catalog. Last night I was mentally inventorying the components I need to finish packing the order. I thought I was all set (because I was caught unprepared for the LAST reorder and had to scramble for certain components during my big retail show).
I suddenly realized there was one tiny little piece I was low on....ear nuts!
These are the lowly little plastic doohickies that keep ear wires safely put in your ear lobes. I was almost out. Where the heck was I going to get them before tomorrow??
This morning I was on the phone. I was put on hold, so browsed through my e-mail while waiting. I'd received a jewelry newsletter which I rarely read. It had a link to another jewelry newsletter I thought I'd already read. I clicked it anyway.
The first thing I saw was a reader tip on how to quickly and cheaply make your own ear nuts from a simple dollar store product.
Now...what are the odds?
P.S. In response to requests, Here's the link to the newsletter: http://www.beadbugle.com/html/tips_from_rena.html
And here's the idea:
An Emergency Gives Birth To A Better Solution
Suction Cups02I couldn't find my rubber earring stoppers, and didn't have time to order any. So, I got inventive. I went over to the dollar store and purchased the clear rubber suction cup hooks - the really big ones. Then taking my round hole punch, made loads of little rubber disks, poking a hole in them with a needle. Each 4 inch hook makes approximately 80-100 pieces. They work great! In fact they work better than the purchased ones for some of the finer earring findings, as the hole is a little smaller. I haven't lost an earring since.
Diane Bernath
Brampton Ontario
Canada
BIG THOUGHT....
I stepped in my DH's office. He had a movie up that a friend had made, a brief interview with his parents who spoke about 9/11. They actually saw the first airplane strike the first tower.
I had just gotten off the phone with a friend who lives in New Orleans. We've been worried sick for days about how he and his family are and how his home and his glass studio will fare.
Turns out his home and studio are actually okay for now, being on the dry side of the city. But unless the looting is brought under control soon, he could still lose everything. "There are no troops available--they're all in Iraq!" he exclaimed.
It occurred to me that a firestorm started this war, and sent our troops overseas.
Perhaps a flood will bring them home....
