VAMPIRES BEWARE

Vampires Beware

Watch out, Dracula--a collector paid $14,850 for a c.1800 vampire-killing kit at a Mississippi auction earlier this month. The kit is complete with stakes, mirrors, a gun with silver bullets, crosses, a Bible, holy water and, of course, garlic, all neatly arranged in an American walnut case. It sold at a Stevens Auction Company sale.

Strawberry Shortcake Gets a Makeover

Strawberry Shortcake, who moved to Hasbro from American Greetings this month, is a doll from the 1980s. She and her other fruit-scented friends have been given total makeovers. Strawberry has had a facelift, lip plumping, freckle removal, and a nose job. She also has longer hair, a dye job, green eyes (they used to be brown) and a new wardrobe from Juicy Couture. Will collectors think she is the same doll? Will she and her friends remain popular?