Ebay really is like a huge wonderful swapmeet that covers the globe. I was just thinking (while in traffic the other day) of all the ways that Ebay has made an impact on my life, and in more ways than one.  My teapot collection is displayed high in the built in shelves above the cupboards in the kitchen. I began collecting some yrs. ago when still living in the mobile home.  I have teapots from the U.K. China, the U.S, made in the U.S. Singapore, Germany, just to mention a few. I was very selective, I love each of them.  I have some fine works of art signed by some major artists. Piscasso, Icart, Tarkay, Yuval Mahler and Nissan Engel. A matter of fact, two years after the house was built I got a little too swept up in the world of auctions (we get 3-4 wonderful ones in from NV. or Ca. a year) and authentic works of framed, signed art just captured my imagination and made my heart sing with joy!

Ebay does that to you. Slowly over time it takes you into different journey's. Oh, you may not realize it at first but give it time!  When I had not much money and still did more saving than spending, I had my first year with Ebay getting into garden tiles for the stepping stones that I was creating. God, did I have fun with that!  I must have made a lot of people happy on Ebay because I was always on the hunt for those little tiles of different shapes & colors, which eventually led to baggies of colorful glass (pieces) found on the beaches by the ocean or broken pieces of coffee cups.  I would collect the 40% off coupon for Michaels Arts & Crafts store from our local paper and go into the store to buy the the bags of cement and also the plastic molds.  Oh yeah, and when that coupon came out? I would buy more than one paper and make multiple trips into the store during those days that the coupon was good for. Also, there were people on Ebay doing some really creative things with those little tiles, like, their own designs and artwork. Very interesting!  Usually, after I made a garden stone, I would spray the fancy tiles with a protective coating.  I still have some of those today but many of them I did end up giving away.  People just liked them!

OH, Ebay, you have made my life less boring!  How about the summer I got swept up with live plants, seeds, and cactus.  I STILL have that huge barrel cactus that I got from Ebay out front in my desert xericscape garden, sure, when it blooms those delightful flowers all on the top I can smile now, I can also still see me on the floor, after getting it out of the huge box & discovering the whole thing was filled with shredded packing newspaper, which was a little wierd cleaning the bits of newspaper out from between its very strong needles.  Truthfully, it was a necessary procedure, and one NOT for the faint of heart. LOL

How has Ebay effected you?  I'm curious!  What was the craziest thing that you ever got from Ebay?  Mine was a very old vintage postcard of two people haveing sex.  I am serious, it is so old and so funny looking!

What things did you end up collecting because of Ebay, or what direction did it end up taking you into?  I went from making garden stones to finding a great person who made garden furniture out of old barn wood which he lightly stained, either with white or light vintage green.  Wonderful craftsmanship!