See, they enjoy looking for new treasures to add to their collections too! Love that video, and  I love to collect things. Hey, who else would have taken a 130 mile round trip on a whim up to Micanopy just to see what was new in their shops?! The thrill of the hunt is only second to knowing you scored a great deal. But if it’s something I fall in love with, keeping a financial perspective can be tough. You never want to overpay, or get stuck with a fake no matter how nice it looks. So why not take the “what if” out of the equation this weekend at the Sunshine City Antiques Fair at the Historic St Pete Coliseum. The show is Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but the Appraisal Fair will be Saturday and Sunday only. We have complete details for you here.

   What would I be searching for? Good question. I have a nice collection of Roseville Spongeware pottery I just love and adding a few pieces would be nice. But I have an ulterior motive, as I’m not so in love with my Shell Pink Milk Glass (Fostoria) collection as I used to be and wouldn’t mind finding a dealer who would take the whole lot off my hands. But what else…vintage needlework with a kitchen theme, classic hardware for the wall, the list can be endless and enticing! But make sure you know what you’re looking for, and perhaps price things out before you go. The art of the haggle makes it more interesting. Oh, and if it has a marking on the bottom that it’s microwave safe, good chance it’s a reproduction. Just saying. Enjoy yourself and if you find a treat for your kitchen, send me a picture and we’ll share it with all our other friends in Kelly’s Kitchen at ann.kelly@coxtampa.com.

WORDS OF WISDOM FROM KELLY’S KITCHEN

“I call it guerilla TV.”  Marsha Bemko, producer of Antiques Roadshow