It's 3 AM and I am up with the flu. I check my email as I cannot sleep and suddenly I got a little sicker. I find I have a message from Ruby Lane. I have been notified I cannot sell a coffee pot because it has a "recall" on their site.

QUESTION: I am seeking information about Venus Paradise coloring sets. Every path I tried, including Google, led me to a big zero. Are they being hoarded? I would like to buy one for my upcoming birthday. – CDZ, West Hartford, CT, E-mail

ANSWER: I did a Google search and found information about Venus Paradise coloring sets. Try “Venus Paradise color by number sets.”

Christmas season is upon us, and hopefully we'll be selling lots of stuff in the coming months. It's up to us to make sure every item gets to its destination safely. There's nothing worse than selling something valuable just to have it arrive in pieces. Sellers always blame the post office. I blame the sellers. If something is packed right, it shouldn't break ... even if a piano falls on it! Here are timely tips from someone (me) who has never had ANYTHING break in transit:

This is part of a series of blogs about attending live auctions. We will address auction preparation here.

As with most things in life, a little preparation can ensure a positive experience.

I am preparing for putting on my first estate sale this weekend. I have entirely too much inventory and have found myself going in a different direction than I was when I opened my shop. The love and admiration I have for the American glass and pottery makers has not diminished; rather, it has evolved into a better appreciation of quality and craftsmanship, in areas outside my “comfort zone”. Thus, I need to evaluate my current stock and decide what to keep and what to liquidate.

I will never forget my first visit to the flea market. I bought the jewelry vendors out and visited the ATM three times (until it ran out of money). I couldn't believe the fabulous prices compared to the auctions and other venues I had attended. Then without even asking they gave me a discount for buying so much. Imagine that! After going faithfully every Sunday these vendors have become my friends and mentors. Having witnessed the changes and trends over the last few decades, they don't need a computer to calculate value.

There you are…holding a gorgeous piece of clear rhinestone jewelry that just sparkles like the dickens and has fabulous fire that shoots prisms of color everyone. You just know this is going to be a good sale – especially with the holiday season right around the corner.

It’s autumn in the Northern Hemisphere; a time to gather and harvest; a time to prepare for winter’s austerity and rest. I believe we are of the seasons, with our own Spring, Summer, Winter and Fall that live within us. In spring, you can feel the vitality of life rise within you as your yard greens and tulips greet the sun. Summer heats you up and Fall invites you to see what that heat/energy brought into fruition. Winter, asks that you relax, go into the silence, wait, and stay steady as you go. Get those projects done that need doing inside.

On October 27, 1858, a man was born who would leave an indelible mark upon America's history, military, politics, and conservation. This man of the past would also impact antiquities and collectibles of the present day; some of which are procurable on Ruby Lane.
 

Once upon a moonlit night
Two hearts blended
Love surrendered
With embracing arms
Remember

(borrowed from a song by Frank Sinatra)