Young House Love

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We Bought A Moose Lamp

Knock Knock.

Who’s there?

Moose.

Moose Who?

Moose Lamp!!!

Moose 10

Wait, but some of that pic is photoshopped. I can explain.

It all started when I saw a moose lamp at an moving sale back in West Virginia when we were there to makeover Granny’s bathroom…

Moose 1

I couldn’t resist grabbing him for ten bucks.

Moose 2

His shade was an odd too-small shape and his paint was flaking off in a few places…

Moose 3

… but I knew I could take him from log-cabin to log-cabin-chic with a little spray paint and a new shade. So guess what? Dude, I got on that (see how these odd, usually-animal-related “Dude Get On That Already” challenges started here). I got on that moose like a cowboy. That’s totally a thing right? Moose-riding cowboys?

Moose 6

As for a color, I knew I could go a bunch of ways with him (blue moose? yeah, buddy!) but after some serious moose-related thought I went with white. Why? Duh, because he looks like a ceramic animal first of all. And second of all, because that frees me up to do something crazy fun with his shade. We’re talking patterned fabric. Oh yeah. I’m a wild woman. I even have the exact shade in mind, but it’s a secret book project so I can’t share it until the 6th when the book is officially out – but I’m totally planning to pair that DIYed fabric shade with Malcolm (what? that’s my moose lamp’s name) and hook up Clara’s big girl room with a super fun dose of color and ceramic moose power.

Moose 7

The best part? When I had the lamp out on the table before I got around to spray priming and painting it (I just used Rustoleum Universal since it has a built in primer in it) I said “What’s that?” to Clara and pointed at the lamp and she said “I don’t know what it is” and I said “It’s a lamp with a moose on it!” and she said “I want a moose with a moose on it!” and I said “well I don’t have a moose with a moose on it, but it’s a lamp with a moose on it!” and Clara looked me in the eye and totally deadpanned: “moose… with… a… moose… on it.” Like she was spelling it out nice and slow so I’d understand. That chick is hilarious.

Thankfully after I sprayed him white and paired him up with the secret fabric shade that’s waiting in our crazy cluttered playroom (can’t believe it fits perfectly! it’s actually the original shade from the glass based lamps that a certain mischievous painting broke – we’d replaced the shades with whiter versions and had old ones around for secret book projects last December) Clara was 100% down with Malcolm…

Moose 8

… as in, she can’t wait for him to live with her in her big girl room. And she says goodnight and good morning to him every day (and even offers him snacks sometimes). The moral of the story? When in doubt, introduce a moose lamp to encourage manners and sharing.

And as for the photoshopping that I said I’d explain, I just faked a patterned shade (by grabbing this one from here and photoshopping it on). And while I was at it, I showed how a white moose on a white table might be blah, but could be amazing on something painted – like a soft celery green table (or even a rustic wood dresser).

Moose 10

Moose, there it is.

What have you guy been getting on lately? Anyone else doing any other ceremonial spraying of animals? Or ceremonial spaying of animals?

Comments

  1. N Shirley says

    I imagine your expression when you saw the moose lamp to be the same as when my husband came running up to me to show me a cardboard box he got for “only” $15.00 at a train show! He was so happy and excited and I said “What’s in it?” and he said “I don’t know, but it was only fifteen dollars!” and everyone around burst out laughing!

    Reply

  2. Jennifer says

    He he. Ceremonial spaying. You guys crack me up! I immediately thought of dog with a crown and fur cape being walked into a vets office.

    Reply

  3. how2home says

    Clara is too cute! Love the new look of this lamp! Could you show us how you change the fabric of the lampshade? I have 2 old lamps that I’d love to revamp!

    Reply

  5. Cassie says

    I’m always afraid to spray paint something because I don’t want it to end up looking “cheap.” There are things I know I won’t mind if I ruin because I can live without, but I’m always nervous to bite the bullet on something I like… because I could either love it or hate it after!!

    Malcolm looks awesome!

    Reply

  8. Amber B says

    You need to get the book “If You Give a Moose a Muffin” for Clara!! Adorable series by a great author. And the lamp looks just like the moose in the book. :-)

    Reply

  10. Suni says

    You have such great vision for things that people want to get rid of because they don’t have the vision.. love that you share it with us on here!

    Reply

  12. Andrea says

    Our dog’s name is Moose, so somehow we end up using the word moose all the time around the house, as a general exclamation (“Moose, that toast is hot!”) as an adjective (“you get your moose-butt over here!) — so this post made me laugh so hard! Moose lamp! All lamps in our house will now be called Moose-lamps!

    Reply

  14. Rebecca says

    I think you mean riding a moose like a Rough Rider.

    <– history nerd points you in the direction of Teddy Roosevelt

    Reply

  15. Jen @ Domesticated Nomad says

    Someone may have already said this, but it sounds like you need to get Clara Laura Numeroff’s “If You Give A Moose a Muffin” to go with Malcolm. Funny thing is that I always thought of that moose in the story as Malcolm. Weird.

    Reply

  16. Ally says

    From the expression on Malcolm’s face, he looks quite content…like a retired moose who just had a good bowel movement :)

    xox

    Reply

  17. Anna P says

    The moose is awesome! Just sprayed some circus elephant bookends lime green for my daughter’s room. Love those painted animals. Did you coat it with safecoat too? I keep meaning to buy some. Do your neighbors ever make comments about the spray paint smell wafting over to their area? Mine have made some small comments that they can smell it, so I’m starting to feel bad! Am I doing too many coats? Maybe that’s the problem. I’m an overzealous sprayer! lol!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      The key is to try to paint on a not windy at all day. That way nothing travels into other yards and stuff. Also very thin and even mists (about 5 quick misty coats) is the key since it’s not thick so it’s not fumey and it dries really fast. Hope it helps!

      xo
      s

  18. Amelia R. says

    I can’t wait to see all the book projects! My copy of Country Living got here yesterday with the book preview projects, and I have to say, they look awesome.

    Reply

  20. Kristin says

    I am SO INSANELY JEALOUS! I need that lamp. I just got back from organizing a conference in Jackson Hole (which I do every other year), where moose roam free and occasionally stop traffic. There’s a touch of moose decor all over my house, because I love that place so much. Did I mention that I NEED THAT LAMP?

    Nicely done, by the way. Gold medal.

    Reply

  21. Emily says

    My brother in law is the manager at a restaurant called, wait for it… BLUE MOOSE! haha, I was really hoping the color you picked would be blue, and I laughed out loud when I read it. I have 2 little girls that love going to visit him and the giant blue moose on the wall of the restaurant. Especially since it’s October and they have a sheet draped over him so it looks like he’s dressed up for Halloween!

    Reply

  22. Rachel says

    Not spraying animals, but I spray painted an old wood day bed glossy navy blue this weekend. It was pretty windy when I was spraying and I ended up with a blue film all over me! Lets just say I was blowing blue boogers the entire next day. TMI? sorry! Love the lamp, looks great!

    Reply

  23. Lilly says

    Love it! U r not going to believe this but just before I went into ur blog today I said to myself “Oh I hope they have a small surprise spray painted item today” I was laughing when it actually turned out to be just that. Thank u I love it when u guys little surprise projects from time to time.

    Reply

  27. Kathryn says

    I would have been all over this as a kid! I was kind of obsessed with the film Return to Oz which, amongst many other points of awesome, features a talking stuffed moose head called ‘The Gump’ that helps rescue Dorothy. I’d totally have had conversations with this lamp.

    Reply

  29. Karen F says

    completely off the topic of this post…I just happened to drive past the bookstore in my little NJ town and saw that you’re coming here for a book signing on 11/2!!! So excited!!

    I’m sure you’ll be spending most of your time here in NYC but if you need any recommendations (restaurants, etc), shoot me an email. Even if you’re just able to take a drive around, there are some really beautiful old homes here in Ridgewood!

    Reply

  30. Heidi S. says

    I love it! Have you read Clara “If You Give a Moose a Muffin”, if not I highly recommend it (my kids love it)? That is all I could think about while reading this post.

    Reply

  31. Meghan says

    OMG- Im obsessed with moose. Early on in my husband and I relationship I nicknamed him Matta-moose (me Mega-moose) and it has been our “love animal” ever since. We have several moose in our house already and I am now jealous I dont have a moose lamp!

    Reply

  34. cyndee says

    I am loving the various white animals inhabiting your home.
    This makes me think that a great gift for Clara is a copy of
    the book “If you give a moose a muffin” Totally appropriate
    to sit and read it to her by the light of the moose.

    Reply

  36. Jane @ the borrowed abode says

    So when you saw it, did you proclaim “I MOOSE HAVE THAT LAMP!” :)
    Now I am realizing the one thing our home is missing is a moose lamp. The overuse of the Moose puns happens in our house thanks to several trips to Maine/New Hampshire, where too many hours on the road, combined with the plethora of Moose road crossing signs led to ridiculous puns. Also, this nightshirt, which is sold all over Moose country. http://lazyonestore.com/item_564/I-Moose-Have-A-Kiss-Goodnight-V-Neck-Nightshirt.htm

    Ok, I moose stop rambling now. Awesome find and great spruce-up!

    Reply

  37. Andie Sims says

    I am so envious of your photoshop skills. I would never have guessed that was photoshopped. I have been trying to do tutorials to make an awesome banner for my blog…it is not easy. Thanks for always being entertaining too!

    Reply

  38. karly leib says

    Girl, whenever I’m having a rough day I SWEAR you can always make me laugh! I look forward to reading your blog with my morning cup of Joe (and toast with marmite) every.single.day. Thanks for being funny and weird and honest and for sharing yourself with the rest of us.

    Reply

  41. Annie says

    Sadly, I am not digging on the moose. But me not digging 1/10,000 projects… it was bound to happen sooner or later.

    I did pick up a brass pig I totally plan on spraying glossy white should the weather come around to my way of thinking.

    Keep up the adorable Clara happenings… So cute!

    Reply

  42. Stephanie says

    I love him! I want to pet him. I love moose (meese? what is the plural of moose?) (I love lamp!)

    Random story. I have a little tiny stuffed moose on my desk at work and at one point over a year ago my coworker stole him and hid him. I knew it was him and I blamed him for it but he denied it. Over a year after he stole it we had all moved locations and I was down at his desk and there was little Moosey! Don’t worry. I stole his football shaped stress ball in revenge.

    Also, you just reminded me that I could totally blog about the lamp and side tables I spray painted. DUH!

    And to keep the randomness and make this comment even longer, I’m eating yogurt and too lazy to go to my office’s cafeteria for a spoon so I’m using a fork. It’s not easy.

    Reply

  45. Erin says

    Something about your cowboy on a moose comment made me think of these hilariously awesome youtube “episodes” called “Guy on a Buffalo” that I think y’all would love!!! Please look them up and enjoy. :)

    Reply

  47. Laura says

    I think you may be tempting fate having a ceramic-type animal that is also a lamp..these things never fare well in your house! ;)

    Loving your blog from Australia!

    Laura

    Reply

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