Why am I proud of myself, you ask? Because despite seeing them so, so, so many times on TikTok and FB stories, I have not yet tried making:

• Elaborate canes in polymer clay for jewelry
• Multi-layer greeting acrds
• Stained glass
• Leather goods
• Pottery
• Lampwork beads
• Beaded jewelry
• Hand-bound books
• Needle-felted items
• Resin anything

And that’s probably for the best because I have more than enough hobbies as it is and I’m trying to make space in this joint, not take up more.

It’s the Stark Maker gene at work, unfortunately. I see something cool and think, “Ooh, I’d like to try making that.” What I don’t think of is how much all the tools and raw materials are going to cost, where I’m going to store them, and what I’m going to do with them when I’m done. I don’t need more tchotchkes in the house, and selling a wide range of stuff seems to confuse buyers. Best if I narrow my focus on what I do really, really well.

Although I do have a lot of polymer clay and sculpting tools in my office closet. All I’d really need are shape cutters—no, no, not going there. Stick with all the stuff that you do have, Melanie. You can become a potter or a stained glass maker in another life.