I am just about the only person I know who hasn't been buying or selling through eBay these last years. I went there once or twice looking for something and got lost...like for hours...and knew then these were murky waters for someone prone to the occasional lapse of judgment when it comes to shopping. Then came Christmas, and the sled love, and since you are loathe to find things like a nice selection of sleds in a place like Taos, I took the eBay plunge.
Before I knew it, I was looking at antique spinning wheels. Please don't ask me how I got from sleds to wheels, I honestly don't recall, it's all such a blurr. Suffice it to say the urge to buy a sled got seriously eclipsed by what I found in this new category. BIG TIME.
It was innocent enough, just poking around. I found a couple that intrigued me, and bookmarked them to watch their auctions. Then we left for Illinois, I returned to Taos pretty sick, and the annual shop inventory count took over for a couple of days. 
It was a cold and quiet evening, and I was checking e-mails when it arrived...the notice that one of these auctions was about to end. I decided to go and watch. Before I knew it, I was in the thick of things. Minutes later, I was the proud (and stunned) owner of a hand painted antique wheel from Poland. Gosh, that was fun! Better see what else is going on. Ohhh!!! The antique maple wheel auction is about to end. Better keep an eye on that, see what it goes for. OOOPS! My fingers were suddenly flying, typing in bids. Wheel #2 purchased in only 12 minutes. Life is good!
I ran around for days feeling so guilty I can barely explain it...and then the maple wheel arrived. Monte and I put that puppy together in a matter of minutes and whoooosh! off I went. It flies like the wind. It's the kind of wheel you would want to spin thread on, something I love to do when I have the luxury of time for it. I've decided to cop the photo of her from eBay and share her with you. If anyone knows any history on her, I'd sure like to know. Someone had written to the seller that it was like the wheels used by the women in Quebec in the early part of the last century. It appears to be maple and has iron parts, and the entire maiden assembly is held down by a metal strap so you can move it to adjust the tension. Any suggestions or information are greatly appreciated! ---Martie
4 comments:
Oh Martie, that's such a beautiful spinning wheel--the wood looks so smooth! You must be just mesmerized while spinning with it.
P.S. Just last night, I also made my first purchase EVER on eBay (49 Y/O and this old dog just learned another trick ;-)
Ruthie: OK, after finally breaking the eBay ice, do you feel inspired to do it again? Or are you going to put yourself on temporary restriction, like I am? :0)
That wheel is just beautiful. You did really well with that one - I love the pedal.
welcome to the ebay addiction club.
It is a baaaaddddd place.
Holly
Oh Martie, I looked again at yarn on eBay yesterday afternoon. I agree with what Holly says and could see myself getting into some real trouble there. Did you know they even group the yarn by type?? Cashmere, alpaca, etc.
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