I recently had an experience I would like to share with others about finding treasures. I was out mailing an item I had sold on Ruby Lane and decided to check out a couple of second hand stores for glass items to paint for my other hobby which is designing custom dinnerware. Well to make a long story short I had gone to the first store and found a couple items but nothing really interesting.

I see a large number of Ruby Lane shop owners who don't want to publicly display their address or phone number. Some only include a first or last name. Perhaps they don't want their competitors at local auctions and estate sales knowing who they are. Perhaps they are afraid of having strangers show up on their doorstep. Perhaps they are hiding from the tax collector. I don't know.

I understand the need for privacy, I do. My shop is strictly online. My inventory is kept in my home. It is not a public place. When I first opened a shop on Ruby Lane, I also hid my contact information.

No doubt you've heard about Twitter, the huge social network system that is connecting people around the world. And many of you would like to try Twittering yourselves, but are a bit overwhelmed with the idea of trying something so unique and different.

ATTENTION ALL DEALERS-----------Hello and welcome to the new economy------------------------------As we all know, recent worldwide economic events have launched retail merchants into a new age of selling-----------a new economy which doesn't function quite like the previous one------------

During the depression, expensive fashion was no longer within reach for many people. In a very real sense, with our failing economy, we are facing the same circumstances today. What does this mean for the fashion industry, and does this mean that consumers need to sacrifice their sense of style?

We asked Harry Rinker: "In the past you have written about the globalization of collecting. Can you give us an update on this in 2009?"

Here is his response:

The current economic crisis is global. The recovery of the American economy is contingent on the recovery of the Japanese, Chinese, Indian, European, English, South and Central American, etc., economies. Nations no longer live in isolation. The same applies to the antiques and collectibles field.

As you search through antique shops, auctions and flea markets, I am sure you do the same as I, and carry a mental list of "wants" and perhaps even a written list or two of things to look for. No matter if it is a shop -- or an auction -- or even the next eBay search result -- you never know what will turn up. I think this unpredictability of the hunt is what makes antiquing such an addictive hobby for so many collectors. But one of my most cherished finds, a long-lost treasure from my childhood, never made it to my want list.

When my husband and I started our business in 1978 it was to be an outlet for local artists. Antiques were an afterthought as a means of displaying the art work and having another potential commodity for sale, hence we included the word antiques in our name, Ogee’s Art & Antiques. We bought oak furniture pieces (oak was popular in the 70’s in Idaho) and began refinishing until we had a good foundation to open our shop. We opened the door two weeks before our Grand Opening and after the first week we realized our shop fixtures, the antique furniture, were gone.

We've all seen that doll we played with or dish we tossed away while browsing at an antique mall and thought, " if only I had a crystal ball." Being in this business we're always looking around and wondering what will be the next hot item and believe me it's never easy to figure out. I can honestly say that if I save it the chance of it becoming a collectible is slim to none.

How do you take care of the beautiful oil or acrylic painting that you have chosen?

Fortunately, paintings will give you years of enjoyment with very little effort. The principal threat to paintings is structural damage. You can eliminate most of the risk by taking a few precautions.