Saturday, July 31, 2010

from the 'thank god for small favors' dep't...



One of the techniques I'm using on our current job, which is promised by mid-August, is the lamination of small bevels and textured glass. As usual, I didn't check my stock of the proposed bevels and textured glass before I waited til the last minute to do the fabrication. I was counting out the 1” x 1” peak bevels I had on hand and found myself to be about 15 short. Great.

Called the wholesaler in town and they were out with the next shipment expected in September. The other wholesaler in town won't do business with me but that's a different story. I could order them from an out of state wholesaler but then I would have to place a minimum dollar amount order and would have to wait a week to get them, a week I don't have. Or, I could use the 1” x 2 1/2” bevels I do have but that would change the look I was going for.

So Friday morning, armed with the yellow pages I sat down to call the local stained glass studios in town and see if I could find them even if I had to pay retail. I logically started with the studio closest to me which was about 8 blocks away. It was a small studio, much like ours, set up in the garage behind the house, one I had never heard of and didn't even know was there til I saw it listed.

Her: “Ferrrell Stained Glass Studio”

Me: “Hi, I was wondering if you had any 1” x 1” peak bevels.”

Her: “I'm sure I do but I don't usually sell (supplies) retail.”

Me: Well, this is Ellen Abbott and...”

Her: “Ellen, sure, how many do you need?”

Well, that sort of took me back.

When I got there, she did look familiar and it turned out I had met her a couple of times many many years ago before she had her own little studio.

Me (whipping out my checkbook): “So what do I owe you?”

Her: “Oh, I don't know. I wouldn't know what to charge you. Just take them.”

Me: “Are you sure?”

Her: “Yeah. You know, just return them when you get some in.”

Wow. I guess I just made a withdrawal from my good karma bank account.


15 comments:

  1. Your reputation speaks for you. Good Karma indeed.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nice. That is wonderful.

    ~SkippyMom~

    ReplyDelete
  3. How delightful, I love stories like this. You're a goodie and the universe said so.

    ReplyDelete
  4. That is how I wish life could be, people sharing and people giving back and passing on to others. This is a great story. True life tales of goodness and kindness are so rare.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Mama said it always comes back to you.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Always pays to be nice to someone, you never know when it will pay off!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. "ellen Abbot" sounds like abracadabra! I am going to use that next time I really need something...When someone tells me to return something I feel like I am chained- I don't borrow books from the library anymore- I am so scater brained i just can't trust myself.
    Moving has got to be such a tremendous letting go...at least I have time on my side with all of this ridiculous stuff. You must be exhausted STILL!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Now that sounds like the woes have received the "whoa" request you made earlier! Now wasn't that a nice surprise?!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Good for you! You must have "payed it forward" at some point in time and it just came back!

    ReplyDelete
  10. What a fabulous solution!! That is super and now you can complete your project!
    Hugs
    SueAnn

    ReplyDelete
  11. That's just great! I just love it when life co-operates! Plus, now you have a friend and colleague, right around the corner.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Sounds like you have a new friend and resource. Hope this experience is a sign of more good luck to come.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love it when this kind of thing happens. For me this past few months has brought day after day of unexpected warmth at unexpected turns.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wow, star treatment! Very cool. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Oh yeah!! Your rep precedes you, just as it should. Bravo!

    ReplyDelete

I opened my big mouth, now it's your turn.