When the time comes to think about selling off antiques and collectibles, determining the price to ask can be confusing business. Doing some research before you put an item up for sale is not only a prudent move, but will help you net more cash for your efforts, too. Read How Do I Find Values for my Antiques and Collectibles? to get some tips for valuing your stuff before you put it up for sale.

With the Sex and the City movie premiere just around the corner, it seems like a good time to revisit the concept of dressing and accessorizing with antique and collectible finds. After all, Carrie Bradshaw not only shopped vintage stores on the series, she actually wore and carried vintage pieces time and again. An InStyle online article about how celebrities (and their stylists!) scoop up vintage clothing and accessories to create unique looks illustrates the point perfectly. The photo-filled article provides some really great tips for what to look for when buying vintage, too. Being a big fan of vintage accessories myself, I'm offering up Advantage Vintage: Stylish Accessories for Less to arm you with a few more pointers before hitting all the hip shops in your area.

I grew up surrounded by stoneware in the kitchen, stoneware in the den, and stoneware on the patio. There might of been a moonshine jug (I knew more about The Beverly Hillbillies than about stoneware at that time) sitting in the bathroom for some reason, too, but that memory's a little fuzzy on that point. I even destroyed one of my mother's favorite crockery bowls when it flew off the counter after I rolled a watermelon into it one hot summer day. Poor mom was devastated. I was glad the watermelon hadn't suffered the same fate. If you'd like to learn more about some of the antiques I came to know way too many years ago, take a look at Down-to-Earth Antiques: Collecting Utilitarian Stoneware. Updating this feature certainly brought back some fond memories for me.

One of my collecting friends discovered vintage costume jewelry because of her maiden name. She foraged flea markets, antique shops and online auctions until she put together a great collection, and every piece is signed "Emmons." In the same vein, my mother discovered many moons ago that a very beautiful and desirable type of antique glass was made by "Moser," a familiar name nestled in our own family tree. While we don't always associate collecting with genealogy, you never know what's going to turn up. Read Discovering Moser Glass to find out how family names can lead to intriguing collections.

One of the things that brought my mom so much joy was the collecting passion she handed down to me, and for more than 25 years or so R.S. Prussia porcelain took center stage with her. She loved the delicate feel of the porcelain, the interesting mold shapes, and the way it was beautifully decorated. But like so many of her favorite antiques and collectibles, she also appreciated its history and the fact that a good number of pieces survived to make up her collection. Take a look at R.S. Prussia - Remarkable Porcelain, to learn about what makes this porcelain stand out. The Countess Potocka coffee pot shown here was always one of her very favorites.

I recently read an online news article about people in a financial bind unloading prized possessions to make ends meet. Now while I do understand financial desperation, I wouldn't recommend selling off a family heirloom to pay your water bill. Sooner or later you're going to regret it, especially if you only got a few dollars for something important to you. Of course, if you really don't want the stuff your grandmother left you anyway, selling off a few antiques and collectibles can be a quick way to raise cash. Reading Five Valuable Tips for Selling on eBay beforehand could help you rake in a few more bucks.

Have you ever wondered how experienced antiques dealers and appraisers look at an object and determine the age instantly? My mother used to do it all the time in her antiques shop when I was growing up. I didn't always like the answer she gave me when I asked how she knew something was old, but I certainly understand it now. Read How Do You Determine the Age of Antique or Collectible? to find out more.

There's nothing more heartwarming than a distinctive handcrafted remembrance to let someone know you care. If you're thinking about making a special gift for a best friend's birthday or maybe even something nice for mom, not to mention crafting for spring bridal showers, think about using one of grandma's pretty vintage hankies as a sentimental starting point. To get some great ideas, read Vintage Hankie Transformations for lots of cute and clever ways you can create gifts, and decorate, using vintage handkerchiefs.

Have you ever wondered what makes an object a "collectible?" Honestly, collectibles are different things to different people. But in terms of determining and maintaining value, knowing what you're dealing with makes a lot of sense. Read What is a Collectible? to learn more.

Have you heard that red glazed dinnerware, with Fiesta pieces like the one shown here at the top of the hazard list, is unsafe for food consumption? Does the glaze contain lead or other harmful heavy metals that can leach into food? Some people dismiss these rumors as an urban antiques myth that has been circulating for quite some time while others believe these are valid concerns. To find out where I stand on this issue, take a look at: Is Older Red Dinnerware Safe for Food Consumption? The conclusion might surprise you.