Check out the Chicago Tribune!

Two things I think we all could use a little more of these days: time and money. If you're a collectahollic like me, that rings true even more. But even if you're short on change, a little creativity goes a long way. Enter the Faker, a quirky, super fun column in the Chicago Tribune from writer Judy Hevrdejs, together with photo editor Mike Zajakowski. A couple of weeks ago, Judy and I chatted all about collections—why I love 'em and, more important, how to fake 'em! Check it out! (Click twice to enlarge.)

Three of the pictures came from old collecting stories we did on antique silver trophies, Jasperware, and Bakelite. The other one is a vignette of curiosities, new and old, with a distinctly Chinoiserie feel. There are transferware platters collected over years, Chinese dragons from the flea market, and pagoda shakers from a great store in Rye, New York called Wish. You can even see the two vases mentioned in the article that I spray-painted black to look like Wedgwood basalt!

  

Have a great holiday weekend, everyone! Jaithan and I will be back Tuesday with a fantastic, behind-the-scenes tour of the Food Network prop house you're going to love! But in the meantime, on the subject of collections, have you ever faked a thing or two in your home? I'd love to hear about it. 

Comments

[meghan]

If you are getting something you like at a steal, who cares, right? It's only when really putting out major cash does it matter (to me at least) Plus, in most cases you can always resell it.
Nice blog -- keep up the good work.

[Dana]

Your blog is great! I would love to exchange links with you, please let me know!

Xoxo,

Dana

[Ms. Bright]

Thank God for black and white spray paint!! I have used the stuff on so many thrift finds! I'm hunting a concrete greyhound to throw some gloss white on next! Congrats on yet another mention! You're brilliant!

xo, Ms. Bright

[Ishrath]

You could have done better that this... a little disappointing post :) Its ok!

BTW, you must plan for digging treasures in my country - India. Nothing like it. Fancy?

[Joan@anythinggoeshere]

I think it has only been in the paper a couple of weeks ~ but its unusual title got my attention. It has been a fun read.

[Kelley@The Polished Pebble]

Eddie, Love your delish blog. I have been stalking for a few months now.
Re: "fakes", yours can only be rivaled by the many fake "antiques" sold on Ebay. That being said, what I still love about stuff on ebay is the gastly look on my face when I open the box! There's that thing called re-gifting and now for me it's re-ebaying.
While I still collect, it is for different reasons now and I can honestly say See Ya to all my yellow ware and depression glass with out a bit of collectors angst.

Cheers, Kelley@The Polished Pebble

[Bette]

This is why there is on one "Eddie Ross" for original ideas and stuff! Thanks for a great and useful post!

Bette

[Rachel]

I fake biggier windows in my apartment!!!

I have a really good sized window, but I just needed the extra size to pull the room together with my furniture pieces. So, what do I do? The old-fashioned, put the curtain rods out higher, and wider than the window!

It def. made a difference!

xoxo
Rachel's Cottage House
http://rachelscottagehouse.wordpress.com

[kathysue]

Be still my heart, I can asquire Black Basalt with a spray can. Eddie, only you could do this and have it look so close to the real thing. you are the best! Hugs Kathysue

[Jill]

A trick I learned from an excellent retailer is to use a matching Sharpie pen to color in any knicks on a dish.

[Mrs.B]

Absolutely brilliant but not surprising!!!!!!!! Congrats!! Deborah Buck, Buck House, www.buckhouse.biz

[David in KC]

I have an embarassingly large collection of yellowware. A few pieces were inherited and the majority of the rest are old, but there are a few reproduction pieces.

I use my bowls and pitchers. I like to think that a few new pieces keep the collection from becoming too serious, which keeps cracks and chips at bay.

[Mona]

I love the way you style the shelves - and all the arrangements you do! I'm so envious - but hopefully I can copy some of your ideas...

I faked my bedroom chandelier - it was in a box on the floor of a thrift shop - dusty, old, and an ugly imitation brass color from the 60's. The shape was great - so I spray painted it a matte white color, bought crystals at a garage sale and small silver loops in the craft section at the dollar store. Voilà! A gorgeous white chandelier that adds glamour to the space! I've seen similar chandeliers at big box shops for over $100. Mine cost about $15 - including the paint.

Painting ugly ceramic birds from goodwill with a matte white paint imitates bisque from Italy - it can look quite expensive!

[Wendy]

Love your ideas. I decided years ago when I started traveling for work - to pick up usable treasures along the way. A pewter lemon reamer from South Africa, a pot rack from Paris, a whisk from Solvenia, a sangria pitcher from Madrid - and my favorite - a small black Wedgewood vase - I found at a church sale in Dublin! (It was a steal at $20) I use it to hold my makeup brushes on my bathroom sink.

[LindsB]

I'm in the process of spray painting a TON of Goodwill finds matte black for a Halloween party I am throwing. But, I'm thinking I'll even be able to use them all when the party is over too!

[honey living]

one of the positive changes i have made in my collecting strategy is to only acquire pieces i truly love. when i was younger and less experienced, i used to itch to accumulate a collection quickly, even if i didn't love each individual piece - the quantity far outweighed the quality.

but in recent years, as i've adopted the "divine law of the great chair" into my way of thinking and living, i made a promise to myself that i would not acquire STUFF just for the sake of it, and that each piece had to be something i loved on its own. i have been very happy to look at my collections and truly adore each and every piece. i think in my case and with my history of packrat-dom, the collections became important to me not just because of display or use, but because i felt like my curation was more about adding value and tradition to my experiences and being able to cherish them, but also because of the patience and discerning judgement with which i collected them. it's like they made the cut.

on a separate note, if you are just looking for the function of display or use, i love your idea of using fakes for the case of display and then phasing in real ones as you accumulate them.

[pve]

As a Mom, I do hear that word :Faker: being bandied about as one of my children screams Mom and the other calls "Faker" - but you my dear Eddie, have given "Faker" a new found meaning...suddenly you have elevated the word.
Now all I want is to be a "Faker" - you have given it status.
I think I will go fake some malachite trays or table top....
pve

[Karen Evans]

Fantastic ideas. I have a few items in my basement that will be getting a coat of matte black paint this weekend.

[Anne Statland]

This display is so much fun. You mention the pagoda s&p's which I've seen previously in one of your table arrangements. Are they one of a kind? I covet them; a lot! It doesn't look as if Wish has a website to check. Thanks for all your posts -- love reading them -- see you in a couple weeks at the DC Big Flea.

[Jennifer @ Fiddle Dee Dee]

Fabulous ideas! Thank you for the inspiration. Enjoy the Labor Day holiday.

[Frances Jackson]

I so agree with what you said, in regard to collections, they must be usable! Love what you did with the shelf. Looks great. All of my collections(except china, silver and crystal) was stolen from a storage unit, had to store everything when I moved. I'm still in mourning, not really, although I could be if I let myself. I try to tell myself it was only "stuff". SO I've started over, this time I will try not to invest so much of my heart in my "stuff"!