Send a Vintage Valentine's Day Greeting!

CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS WITH VINTAGE LINENS

Use your vintage linens for the holidays even if you must use your ironing board to get them into shape. (Remember the days before "permanent press"?) Use printed holiday tablecloths and cocktail napkins, even aprons with Christmas patterns. Then get out some vintage toys and candlesticks to use as centerpieces.

NEW LIFE FOR MEN'S VINTAGE CLOTHING

There is more interest in vintage men's clothing because of the popular TV show, "Mad Men," which shows accurate clothing and rooms from the 1960s. Many of the old styles, like shirts made for cuff links, are back in style.

BURMESE RUBIES

Jewelry dealers should watch their rubies. The United States is trying to enforce a ban on Burmese rubies because of Washington's sanctions against the ruling military junta. It is similar to the ban on "blood diamonds" from Africa. Many U.S. companies are not dealing with Burma, but gems are still sold by auction houses and retailers in private, according to the Financial Times. The ban may make the price of top-quality Burmese rubies go up and vintage jewelry with good rubies will become more expensive.