The Real Secrets to Getting a Good Deal on Stained Glass
by: Tim Jeffries
Did you know that you can find stained glass deals if you look hard enough?
There are a number of places to buy stained glass ? let?s look at a few of them.
The easiest and least risky way to buy glass is in a kit.
You can purchase kits online:
simply search for ?stained glass kits? and you?ll see dozens of online suppliers.
Or you can buy kits at Michael?s Arts and Crafts, Ben Franklin, or your local craft store.
Many smaller craft stores may not stock kits, but they will be glad to order what you want.
The kit will only include glass you need for the project; you don?t have to worry about leftovers.
If you?re new to the hobby, start with a kit or two ? that way you won?t invest in glass inventory you may find you don?t need.
If you decide to buy glass in bulk, the first place to look is your local glass shop or craft shop.
There are advantages and disadvantages to dealing with your local store.
The advantages are clear:
you can build up a business relationship with the store, you can inspect the glass before you purchase it, and you can ask questions and get advice from a knowledgeable source.
The disadvantage is their selection may be limited and their prices may be higher than you can get from wholesale or discount glass companies.
Of course, your local shop can order glass, but you lose the advantage of pre-inspecting the glass, and the price will probably be a little higher since the store will need to mark the glass up in order to make a profit.
If your store orders glass for you, ask if you can inspect it before you actually make the purchase.
The color or texture in the catalog may not be the same as the color or texture you eventually receive.
There are a number of glass suppliers that can be found online.
Simply search for ?stained glass supplies? or ?stained glass? and you?ll see hundreds of possibilities.
If you decide to try an online supplier, make a small purchase the first time so you can evaluate their quality, professionalism, and service.
When you?re comparing price with your local shop, make sure you take into account shipping charges; the raw glass may be cheaper, but when combined with shipping costs the total transaction may cost more.
Some glass manufacturers sell ?sample sets.?
These are exactly what they sound like:
packages with a variety of glass types and colors enclosed.
Many smaller sample sets cost less than $15 or $20 at online supply stores.
Typically larger craft stores like Ben Franklin carry very few glass sample sets; if they do, their selection will be limited, but if you check they may have just what you need.
In general the sheets of glass are smaller than what you?d normally buy, so you?re not stuck with a lot of glass you may never use.
If you?re new to the hobby, aren?t sure what you want to make, and are interested in experimenting, a sample set can be an inexpensive way to try out different colors and techniques.
If you stay alert you may find great deals from local artisans or hobbyists.
For instance, many hobbyists will sell glass if they?re preparing to move ? glass is hard to pack up and move, and many people won?t want to bother.
You may not find an opportunity like that often, but if you do, you can usually pay twenty-five percent or less for glass compared to what you would have paid retail.
Sometimes glass shops will also sell partial sheets at a large discount.
If the partial sheet is large enough for your intended use, great!
(Buying partial sheets is like buying carpet remnants.)
Glass shops often also have ?For Sale? bulletin boards for hobbyists to use to advertise leftover glass they want to sell ? keep an eye out for pieces you can use.
You can also find supplies and tools at yard sales ? make sure you have a wish list of tools with you and you may find exactly what you?re looking for.
You can also buy used tools on ?For Sale? bulletin boards at glass shops; if a local craftsperson has upgraded to a more expensive grinder, for instance, they may be more than willing to sell you their used grinder for a fraction of its original cost.
There is much more to this story than written here. Stained glass can be incredibly interesting once you learn all about it...
About The Author
Tim Jeffries is author of ?The Stained Glass Master Guide.? Get your copy at http://www.stainedglassers.com.
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How to Conduct a Job Search
How to Conduct a Job Search
by: Jeremy LaDart
Conducting a job search is a daunting task, even for seasoned professionals. There are many pieces to the puzzle, and each piece plays its own important role in the process. Knowing the pieces of the process is a crucial element for your success.
While there is no such thing as doing too much, there is a basic guide to follow. It consists of five painless steps that will outline your work ahead. Together, they form the foundation of a job hunt that will yield exceptional results.
1. Put together a great resume.
Before your job search ever begins, you need a resume. The resume is the first contact you will have with a prospective employer. It is an extension of your life and a summary of your accomplishments. It is how a manager will pick you out of hundreds?possibly thousands of applicants. It can mean the difference between exciting job interviews and a phone that never rings, between...
How to Conduct a Job Search
Sample resume > How to Conduct a Job Search
Cover Letters, Resumes and the Job Hunter?What?s it All About?
Cover Letters, Resumes and the Job Hunter?What?s it All About?
by: Heather Eagar
Any good job hunter needs a resume package.
The cover letter and resume always go together and do the same basic thing in slightly different ways. A job hunter without both of them will probably not get very far in the search for a good career position.
With that in mind, let?s take a look at what these crucial documents should do for you.
The first part, the cover letter, is a short one page letter consisting of three or four paragraphs.
It serves as an introduction to the resume.
It is the part that will always be seen by the gatekeeper.
The second part is the resume itself.
Many job hunters make the mistake of thinking they can just leave a resume without a cover letter.
That is like putting on a suit and tie, but forgetting the shirt or the pants.
They are a package and they go together.
Sample resume > Cover Letters, Resumes and the Job Hunter?What?s it All About?
Is the U.S. Dollar About To Reverse Course?
Is the U.S. Dollar About To Reverse Course?
by: Mike Fitzpatrick
For the first time in several years the U.S. dollar has managed to gain value against the world?s other major currencies. During the first three months of 2005, the U.S. dollar is up approximately five percent against both the yen and the euro. The gains for the dollar should be considered significant when considering the United States still faces a growing trade imbalance. So far this year, currency traders have shifted their focus from the United States? large trade and current account shortfalls toward the higher rates of returns being offered on U.S. debt. The recent strength shown in the dollar has somewhat shifted sentiment within the financial markets about the future direction of the currency. A Bloomberg survey released earlier this week shows that the major currency traders expect to see dollar weakness resume later in the year, but the sentiment among dollar bears is much weaker...
Is the U.S. Dollar About To Reverse Course?
Sample resume > Is the U.S. Dollar About To Reverse Course?
Special Cover Letter Considerations for Teachers
Special Cover Letter Considerations for Teachers
by: Heather Eagar
Cover letters for teachers need to emphasize qualifications as well as attitude.
Education professionals need to come into the field with an attitude of service coupled with a commitment to excellence and a desire to work closely with students.
It should reflect all of these points, as should resumes for teachers, and any other self marketing materials used by education professionals.
When writing one for teachers most professional resume writers and job counselors take into consideration the specific needs of the school or school system being applied to.
Cover letters for teachers are read by the school superintendent, principal, HR director and other education professionals.
Additionally in some school systems cover letters for teachers are read by members of the school board.
Since teachers are there to instruct and educate young...
Sample resume > Special Cover Letter Considerations for Teachers
17 Important Things To Remember As You Prepare For An Interview
17 Important Things To Remember As You Prepare For An Interview
by: Laura Adams
Several Days - One Week Before the Interview
1. Spend some time to research the organization and the position at hand.
To find company-specific information, visit your local library, run a search on the internet, or talk to current or former employees about their experiences and impressions of the company.
Study up on the company's products and services, industry, target market, annual sales, geographic location(s), structure, history, officers, and any other key information.
Are there any new trends in the industry?
2. Identify the organization?s major competitors and do some basic research on how they differ (either positively or negatively) from the company at which you are interviewing.
3. Prepare specific examples of how your skills and experience make you a strong fit for the organization?s needs.
Practice answering...
Sample resume > 17 Important Things To Remember As You Prepare For An Interview
Cheap Insurance - Ten Tips
Cheap Insurance - Ten Tips
by: Steve Gillman
Cheap insurance? Auto insurance, life insurance, health insurance, liability insurance - whatever type of insurance you need, you can buy it for less. Try the following:
1. Raise you deductible. Why have a $100 deductible if a $1000 deductible won't break you? It may hurt to pay the first thousand someday, but what if meanwhile you saved several thousand? High deductibles mean lower rates. Of course, get quotes...
Sample resume The Real Secrets to Getting a Good Deal on Stained Glass
Sample resume > Cheap Insurance - Ten Tips
Living On A Cruise Ship Is Catching On
Living On A Cruise Ship Is Catching On
by: Jay Shipper
Well, living on a Cruise Ship is catching on.
Quite a few couples are now subscribing to world cruises and it is affecting the Cruise Ship industry.
In 2006 the Holland America Line is experiencing a 20 percent increase in the number of cruises longer than 12 days.
For 2007, the demand for world cruises for Cunard is so great the company is having two world cruises, including the Queen...
Sample resume
Sample resume > Living On A Cruise Ship Is Catching On
Using Charter Flights For Discount Travel
Using Charter Flights For Discount Travel
by: Brandon C. Hall
Almost anyone will probably agree that in a perfect world they'd be able to travel more. It is one of the most natural human desires to want to see different parts of the world and experience new things. And anyone who has traveled will probably agree that you don't really appreciate or think about your home too much until you have the perspective of seeing how people live in other parts of the world.
The...
Sample resume
Sample resume > Using Charter Flights For Discount Travel