"Any suggestions (that don't involve buying expensive new equiptment)?"

make expensive equipment yourself for a fraction of the cost!
you'll need a powerful directional lightsource, an umbrella and something light in colour to line the umbrella with.,..

*shudders* You seriously want me to own an umbrella? :P

Tape a piece of kleenex tisue a layer or two thick over the flash. it duffuses the light nicely.

if you wish to do the above setup you can buy an umbrella for about a buck at a dollar store. similarly you can buy white or silver spray paint for about a buck to paint the inside. An old tall lamp or post or coat hanger or other such tossed away garbage find is goo to use for mounting it on. and the light soruce could be Clamp Lamp. available at any decent hard ware store for very little money. It is a metal shade and ceramic light socket with a clamp and a long cord. Yoiu can buy good 125 watt or higher Equivilent Compact Flourescents for pretty cheap now Also at the hardware store.

As for asembly you can use clamps or wire or even a lot of duct tape for the umbrella. simply spray paint the inside of it (outside please those fumes cna screw you up nicely) and then open it and attach the handle to the post like object of choice. for table top displays to photgraph on make sure it is higher than the object to be shot if possible. Anyway. so you aim the inside reflective part of the umbrella at the table and the clamp lamp goes on the post as well (with the provided clamp of course) and is aimed into the umbrella to reflect the diffuse light at the subject of the shot. pretty cheap probablly less than twenty or thirty to do. which is sheaper than the umbrella part out of a photography catalouge. But try the Kleenex first as it is basically free (toilet paper or paper towels will work too. any paper thin and that allows light to penitrate it will work) experiment with different things. also tyou can get some intersting effects with coloured tissue papers as well.

*snickers* Yay - a new project involving tools! That's what I like to hear.

I've tried the kleenex thing - the flash is so intense that it helps, but just barely. This picture was actually taken using that method.

my god that's gorgous, I want one!

The design was made specifically for that couple, so I'd feel bad making more. But if you like the style, I'm happy to make something for you in it. I enjoy making this type of design.

I can do any type of glass you want - wine glasses are the most expensive choice. I also have pints, shots, steins, and coffee cups.

you did realy good on it