Will Santa be in the mood to spend?

What will holiday sales bring, now that everyone (including, I assume, collectors) is holding on to their wallets for dear life?

I had two small pieces (like the one shown above) accepted into a local juried holiday show, I'm placing four in the annual holiday sale that's being held at the museum where I teach, and I'm showing one an a holiday auction that I participate in every year. I'm wondering what the results will be, in these economic times of fear and belt-tightening.

Frankly, the optimist in me believes that, even if art buyers are feeling conservative now, human beings can't hold out for long without luxury and beauty, and eventually things will loosen up.