If your passion is antique silver, you won't want to miss this anniversary. The theme of the 25th annual Hunt Valley Antiques Show is "Sterling Accomplishments." That means lectures on silver, a loan exhibit of important silver and silver appraisals. Of course, the 57 dealers at the show will have antique silver for sale as well as period American and English furniture and decorative arts. A silent auction is also scheduled.
The Hunt Valley Antiques Show runs from Thursday through Feb. 26 at Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn. Admission is $7. For more information, call (410) 435-2292.
How your garden grows
Look for the premiere issue of a gorgeous new magazine on your newsstand shelves this month. It's home garden, a bimonthly aimed at the 68 million Americans whose favorite leisure activity is gardening.
Features include a helpful regional gardening guide, weekend projects for those who don't have much time, and a column called "Classics and Collectibles." (The first one highlights watering cans.)
Stories in the first issue range from "Practical Roses for Hard Places" to "Simple Suppers from the Garden" -- with recipes. The color photography is stunning.
Art from the alley
Carol and Mark Hall found the first materials for their recycled decorative art in an alley behind a liquor store. Shards of broken bottles became lamps and sculpture, and White Light Productions was born. The studio specializes in art from recycled and natural materials.
Some of their best sources are antique dealers. When a customer broke a 100-year-old, gold-flecked pitcher, the Halls bought the shards and created exquisite pieces from it.
The Halls' work is carried locally by Tomlinson Gallery and Shagreen in Savage. You can also see their line at the Hyatt Regency Alternative Craft Show being held Tuesday through Thursday.
Pressing news
For those of us in the habit of pressing a shirt or blouse just before we rush off to work, Black & Decker has created the HandyXpress iron.
Sleekly designed, it has a wall-mounted base that can be installed in a closet or cabinet and a heat-up time of less than 30 seconds. It automatically turns off when it's returned to the base. The HandyXpress also doubles as a vertical steamer -- for those times when you're in such a big rush you find yourself ironing a garment after you've put it on.
5) The HandyXpress sells for around $67.
On the Home Front welcomes interesting tidbits of home and garden news. Please send suggestions to Elizabeth Large, On the Home Front, The Sun, 501 N. Calvert St., Baltimore 21278.