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But prior to the trio of Maximal Uglies, I had had a little, very little, success -- or enough of a whiff of success that I couldn't just walk away. In between the weird swirls and the plug-uglies came this confetti marble -- smoked badly, and with some surface damage, and not perfectly round, but pretty enough that even now I wouldn't want to smash it. Maybe someday, but not just yet. In the heart of the clear matrix are mille chips and some gold aventurine frit. The poles are mostly clear, the equator mostly full of confetti. This was the first marble that really sang in the wooden mold and made me realize why people use wet cherry wood to work hot glass. It was a thrill.