To Bid or Not to Bid

In my last post I stated that I was going to venture into the world of Ebay to get my new, used sewing machine. I found a few that I am interested in through the brand recommendations of a friend's mother who knows a lot about sewing. Her mother has even gone so far as to offer to look at the machines I am interested in to give me input specifically on those :)

The dilemma I am having currently is not on the value, be it monetary, durability and/or specifications, rather it is how to go about bidding. I started bidding on Tuesday evening and have been going back and forth with one person, I'm assuming, since then. My strategy for bidding started out as making a high bid, about $10.00 higher than the other person so I wouldn't have to go back and forth for a couple dollars each time. The strategy of the other bidder is exactly what I don't want to do. Each time "she" bids, it's just a couple bucks. This has become very frustrating for me.

There are still two days left in the auction and I can't stop thinking about whether or not I have been outbid by a couple bucks! I have gone so far as to download the Ebay App on my phone, so I get an alert as soon as I am outbid. When I get my notification I start to get anxious and want to post my bid right away, but I don't want to seem desperate. I try to play it cool and wait so 1. The other person can't smell my desperation, and 2. I don't want to have to keep bidding. I figure, if I wait until there is on 10 minutes left on the bid, I can get in a last minute effort and bypass all of the back and forth that increases bids. This seems like a very good strategy. Holding out until the end seems like a good plan, until my anxiety takes over and I am forced to grapple for a couple dollars! Ahhh! Any suggestions?

Fabric Lover

One of my true loves is going to secondhand shops. During the summer I pass the hours browsing through consignment shops, Goodwill, and antique stores. This love of used items compliments my philosophy of the Three R's, and the hunt for a great deal :)

Today a good friend of mine and I went to Gilley's Antique Mall in Plainfield, IN. We spent the entire morning enjoying each other's company while hunting for nothing in particular. When I shop, especially in antique stores, I touch those things I am interested in. This serves a number of purposes, including sussing out the quality of items.

While we were shopping my friend, Sarah, says to me, "You are a fabric lover!" She noticed that I had been picking up all kinds of fabric and oooohing and awwwwing over them. I have never really thought of myself as a lover of fabrics, but after she said that, I had to agree. I am a Fabric Lover!

In years past I have been borrowing sewing machines from various family members with the intention of eventually buying one for myself . A couple years ago it was supposed to be a birthday present, then a Christmas gift, but I haven't gotten around to purchasing one yet.

But, upon being labeled as a Fabric Lover I feel it is my duty to get my own sewing machine. Sarah and I had visions of me using these beloved fabrics to make handbags, fabric napkins, pieces of art...the possibilities are endless.

So I am announcing myself as a Fabric Lover and soon-to-be owner of a sewing machine. I have so say, hours of browsing on Ebay is going to have to join my list of ways to buy secondhand items, because they have a ton of good deals on sewing machines!