I took home another ceramic animal.
Is there a support group for this? (Hi my name is Sherry and I hoard porcelain mammals)
I totally understand that they’re not everyone’s cup of tea – not even close – but for some reason they’re like catnip to me. I can’t stay away. And I’ve realized that I’m attracted to certain characteristics when it comes to these fake friends of mine. I don’t like them too cutesy and sweet. In fact I usually like them very hard and prickly looking. For example, my beloved rhino is ruff and tough and armed with horns.
Kind of like my no-nonsense iron bull.
And my muscular bite-your-face-off ceramic pooch. And my harsh and haunting concrete greyhound (decked out with a bow for Christmas in this pic). Ok, so he’s not ceramic, but he’s close…
And my serious and angular horse bust (there’s nothing my-little-pony about him).
Sure I have a few cute-ish porcelain pig hooks (gotta get Clara on the ceramic animal bandwagon early)…
… and even some sweet ceramic birds. Sidenote: You know that scene in Cinderella where birds fly through her window and try to dress her? In my dream version they’d be ceramic and instead of dressing me they’d land on all available surfaces and live there permanently.
But more often than not I fall hopelessly in love with tough- even sinister- objects that make up for their malice with glossy and chic white exteriors. Maybe it’s that balance of rough and smooth or angular and light that I love.
So when I saw this nasty wart-riddled ceramic frog for $1.99 at Goodwill I had to take him home and add a crisp white coating of high gloss spray paint…
There, so much more charming! Almost kissable I’d say. How many points do I get for working two random Disney movie references into one post?
Or is it just me who finds glossy white ceramic frog friends to be approachable and endearing?
It’s probably just me.
But the lesson here is that: something you like from Goodwill (not necessarily the color, but the shape) + spray paint = your own personal state of Nirvana. And it doesn’t have to be white paint either. We think a hot pink or a turquoise frog (or even an antique bronze or hammered platinum one) would look quite posh indeed. Just go with whatever color you’re feeling at the moment. Remember our buddy Lumiere who we recently spruced up? Bam, there it is: a third Disney reference.
What have you guys been collecting or spray painting lately? Is there anything in particular that you’re always on the lookout for? Or any specific animal that you’d like to add to your own personal menagerie?
carrie says
I’ve had this odd obsession for a LONG time…but I love it :) Our most recent addition is this (http://www.zgallerie.com/p-8144-deer-head-white-lacquer-large-39.aspx) guy…from one of your great sponsors :) We couldn’t resist it for our new Malibu beach house (I know, I know…beach and deer…we actually see them ALL the time!). I used your GREAT tutorial on how to paint a fireplace and now it hangs above the mantel on the clean, crisp white fireplace :) He joins a family of MANY ceramic birds, owls and other odds and ends! Love the blog!
Stacy says
Check out the link below. Porcelain, white elephant. Southern Living 2010 Lousiana Idea House. Thought of you as soon as I saw it. =)
http://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/idea-houses/southern-living-louisiana-idea-house-bayou-bend-00417000068090/page15.html
YoungHouseLove says
Love it! That’s too funny.
xo,
s
Elizabeth says
Sorry, I think these sculptures are hidious!
Sevi says
Do you think freakishly multicolored Buddha figure would look good also in white? Ceramic of course. It was broken into two, maybe the spray paint will heal or at least hide the glue stain as well?
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yeah- that’s the perfect spray painting project!
xo,
s
Donna says
Over the weekend at a garage sale I SCORED an Ethan Allen American Dimensions Rectangular table including 2 extensions and 6 bow back chairs for……..drum roll please….FIFTY BUCKS!!! The date manufactured, collection name and E.A. are carved on the bottom of each chair! I’m planning to lightly steel wool then spray paint a primer coat and next a fresh clean white! I’ll sand and stain the table top, paint the apron and legs utilizing tips from Clara’s dresser tutorial. Btw…SHE IS BEAUTIFUL! The chairs are STURDY and the table is SOLID WOOD. I am psyched! Should last a LIFETIME!!!
Gina at Temporary Nest says
You HAVE to take a look at this mornings Oh Joy post!
http://ohjoy.blogs.com/my_weblog/2010/09/a-quirky-glow.html
Cermaic animal lamps, how fun! haha
YoungHouseLove says
LOVE! Thanks for the link.
xo,
s
christa says
i love those ceramic birds! i’ve been searching for the perfect ones for a few months for my guest room and can’t seem to find anything worth buying (that’s a reasonable price…i’m ultra cheap). where did you get them??
YoungHouseLove says
They’re actually from a garage sale, but we’ve seen similar ones at thrift stores. Happy hunting!
xo,
s
Jessica says
Elephants. I love elephants. And giraffes.
My best friend loves birds. Silver birds. HomeGoods has a collection of silver trays with birds, and she wants them all.
Jaime says
I spray paint everything! My husband calls me his little graffitti artist. lol! But seriously, between spray paint and hot glue, you can do just about anything you want. :)Not that it all turns out pretty every time, but that’s how you learn, right?! ;)
Rosanne says
I have a ceramic duck towel holder that I have had for years. When we remodeled our kitchen my hubby was shocked I wanted to hang him up again. I love him. He adds a little whimsy. Speaking of spray painting things. I have this mirror I’d like to change. It’s gold now, I was thinking about spray painting it black, but I am afraid that would be too boring. I’d like something more fun. Any ideas? My colors are taupe and green
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Roxanne,
We painted a basic mirror in an emerald green color for Clara’s nursery and we love it! Anything from lemon yellow to soft pink or even tangerine or celedon green would be lovely- just pick your favorite hue!
xo,
s
jbhat says
Here’s what I love. That you love them! No support group necessary. But it sounds like there’s a white ceramic animal fan club out there, which is even better.
jbhat
Kristin Jackson says
Ceramic Deer are irresistible to me. I have a vintage set from my grandmother that has a doe with two fawns tied to her with gold chains. I absolutely love it. They have these big, intricately painted eyes- every since, I am always scouring antique stores and yard sales for more deer. My husband hates anything vintage, especially these deer. Your post today is so helpful. Maybe I can paint some of my deer a high gloss white and make my modern loving husband happier with my obsession!
Dayna says
I love them and I love the idea of spray painting them. I especially love the yellow candle holder you painted in another recent post. Also, I just want to thank you for your wonderful ideas in general and the lovely spirit and happiness you all exude. I am so happy I found you all by haphazard!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Dayna! We’re glad you found us too!
xo,
s
Natalie says
I think you may need a support group….and eventually, a storage locker. Lol. I do love your ceramic animals though.
Carey says
I LOVE it, though! These are what add to your unique style. Embrace it!!! :)
Amanda says
All I want to do right now is watch a disney movie! I reeeeally want to watch Beauty and the Beast!
Marelis says
You crack me up! Well thanks to your love for white ceramic mammals I have purchased some of my own and LOVE LOVE LOVE them….definitely want to add to my collection :) I love your frog and would’ve never thought to buy one and spray paint it!! Genius!
melarse says
You introduced me to a love for white ceramic animals I never knew I had. I think I’m just as bad as you! :) I just picked up the white greyhound @ HomeGoods, very similar to yours but paid full price ($50); I had too! It had been sitting there for 2 months, and I was so afraid someone else was going to get him.
The minute I saw your white horse bust I was in love. But frustrated, no matter how much I scoured stores for months, all I could find were ones that looked like they were running in the wind with their messy manes and all. Then suddenly, a horse head practically jumped into my cart! It is so similar to yours – except it needs a nice shiny coat of white paint. I can’t wait.
Which leads me to 2 spray paint questions for you:
1) Do you use primer when spray painting over a shiny ceramic item, or do you just head for the semi-gloss/gloss paint?
2) There is a bowl I’ve been eyeing, but it’s just the wrong color. If I were to spray paint it, do you know if spray paint would hold up in the dishwasher and on with food? Would you trust it?
Thank you!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Melarse,
We use spray primer like Kilz if something is super shiny and glossy. And you definitely can’t dishwash anything you’ve spray painted (and shouldn’t use it for food storage or display either) so maybe try finding the right colored bowl at a thrift store or on ebay instead of painting one? Happy hunting!
xo,
s
Natalie says
Your ceramic animal obsession does crack me up, but they always look so great! I actually think about your blog every time I see this ceramic rooster cookie jar at Target…I keep waiting for it to show up on YHL!!
http://bit.ly/9fn4OT
Kelley says
Not just you! I have an elaborate plan to spray paint with high gloss white a ton of kitschy items found at garage sales and antique stores.
CJ says
Ok I know this is a late reply, but loved this post and had to mention that I’m obsessed with collecting something similar – items that capture the image of my dogs – a chihuahua (who bears a close similarity to Mr. Burger) and also a daschund. So I was super psyched to see these awesome dessert plates at West Elm, only to have my heart crushed when I just found out they are no longer available!! Do you know a way to locate discontinued items online, or are they gone forever?? Thanks soooo much!!!!
http://www.westelm.com/products/dog-rectangle-dessert-plate-e409/?pkey=e%7Cdog%20rectangle%20dessert%20plate%7C1%7Cbest%7C0%7C1%7C24%7C%7C1&cm_src=NLASEARCH||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_-Common%20Top%20Wide%20Rule%20What’s%20New
YoungHouseLove says
So cute! Maybe try eBay? Happy hunting…
xo,
s
Katie says
I am soooo glad to know that I am not the only one with this problem. Anytime I see some kind of ceramic/wooden type animal I cannot back away!! There are animals all over our house!! :) Have you seen the paper-mache like animal heads at anthropologie?! You will love them!!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yeah- those are amazing!
xo,
s
Melissa says
Sherry, check out the zooology line of kitchen items: http://www.amazon.com/Boston-Warehouse-Zooology-Whale-Cream/dp/B002LZUXU4
They have a ton of fun, animal-themed white tableware. We bought the rhino butter dish for our cousins last Christmas and loved him so much that we had to get our own “Lurch” for our new house!
Thanks for all of your hard work on the blog. I’ve been an addict for over a year now. My husband even bought me John’s suggested lawn mower and I love it!
-Melissa
Arvada, CO
YoungHouseLove says
Cute!
xo,
s
Pamela says
CJ can always register the desire for West Elm dessert plates at Replacements.com. They may not be available, but if they ever come in Replacements will contact her.
Lori says
I love the Suzanne Kasler Atleier Antlers in the new Ballard Designs catalog! Not quite the whole animal, but close. My husband thinks I am crazy!
AshinMT says
Had to comment, I LOVE them. I have a hippo white porcelin box that i keep old bread tags and asparagus rubber bands in, in my kitchen. As well as a white bird! Love love!
liz @ btb says
I have an obsession with spray painting now, thanks to Y’ALL! . I literally just came inside from spray painting a mail box and have done these in the past few weeks:
This newly monogramed dish:
http://bontempsbeignet.blogspot.com/2010/07/bye-bye-cherry-pie.html
This ceramic clam (which looks a lot like yours):
http://bontempsbeignet.blogspot.com/2010/08/clam-digger.html
This lamp:
http://bontempsbeignet.blogspot.com/2010/09/lamp-revamp.html
And (my favorite) this sunburst wall:
http://bontempsbeignet.blogspot.com/2010/09/thin-aint-in.html
erica says
I’m so spray painting some ugly stuff I have in the basement! Thanks!
Catherine says
I know you probably feel you have enough porcelain animals but thought you might like to look at these from this Australian website – these are always featured in interior magazines here…
http://www.haveyoumetmissjones.com.au/_catalog_60503/Animals
Love all your animals!
YoungHouseLove says
So much fun! Love them!
xo,
s
Katie says
I’m a sucker for cast iron critters – something about the weight of the metal is so satisfying. And, yes, I paint them all. Here are some of the latest additions: http://interrobangsanon.wordpress.com/2010/09/14/thrift-store-finds/
Katie says
The frog is seriously my favorite yet. No justification needed–that guy was destined to live at your place!
dara says
I saw this ad for BAM’s Next Wave Festival in the subway in NYC and thought of you!: http://www.bam.org/view.aspx?pid=1096
YoungHouseLove says
Oh my goodness, obsessed!!!
xo,
s
candace says
I spray painted PUMPKINS! Saw this done on Remodelholic and had to do myself. But the problem is when I spray paint one thing… it makes me want to spray paint EVERYTHING! Next on the chopping block: chandelier.
check it out: http://candyskitchen.blogspot.com/2010/09/pumpkin-pickin.html
Gina says
Well, I kind of feel the same crazy as you. But my animals aren’t all white ceramic, and really it’s only one animal. Scattered throughout my house are elephants of every shape and size. It goes back to a fun story from my childhood where I adopted a brass paper weight elephant as my pet. But I love your idea of spray painting them because I just bought this adorable elephant at Homegoods but his red and tan coloring isn’t my favorite. His pose was just so cute I couldn’t leave him on the shelf! Yay, I have my next project, painting my latest elephant.
Erin says
I have the same addiction!! I have an 18 inch hippo that I found at an estate sale – my husband gives me a hard time to this day about how I carried that thing around the sale with me with a huge smile on my face!! I also have birds, squirrels, deer, owls, and on and on and on…
Michelle N says
I saw these while browsing Etsy…thought I would share. I know they are not technically an animal but still super cute!
Ceramic Butterflies
http://tinyurl.com/2vauk57
YoungHouseLove says
OOoooh pretty!
xo,
s
Jennie says
Sherry,
Believe it or not, I saw an entire family of these exact frogs at an antique store yesterday! The one you painted looks like the smallest one, but your little amphibian also has a medium-sized counterpart, as well as a huge granddaddy-of-all-frogs. Now you know that your little frog has an extended family in Pennsylvania!
YoungHouseLove says
Niiice, we’ll tell him he’s not alone (not that he could ever feel that way with all of our animal friends around here, haha).
xo,
s
Alicia (Atypical Type A) says
Your collection is positively restrained compared to this:
http://catalogliving.net/post/1229147973/at-your-beak-and-call
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahahah. Made my night.
xo,
s
emily says
love the frog! i, too, have become infatuated with random objects and spray paint. last week i bought a 4-pack of rubber toy lizards/newts from the dollar store. they have great texture, just like this frog. the bright neon greens and pinks that covered the rubber reptiles is now hidden underneath metallic silver spray paint. i love how they look – they almost look like metal. cheers to spray paint and junk :)
Barbara says
LOVE the white animals! Just a quick question, which, thanks to this page, I think I now have the answer to:
I picked up an old, charming (read ugly but with definite potential) lamp that has a ceramic base in a speckled brown, high-gloss glaze. I’m thinking the spray primer (like Kilz that you mentioned) might work on it, but do you think I need to rough up the shine first with sandpaper, or maybe even take some off with mineral spirits or something?
Also, where did you find your concrete greyhound? And the muscular bite your face off pup? They’re gorgeous! You need a tiny white Burger now too.
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, you could sand it a bit just to rough it up. As for the ceramic pooch, he’s from HomeGoods (and the concrete one is from a local garden shop called Great Big Greenhouse). We totally need a ceramic Burger to add to the pack!
xo,
s
Sharon says
I didn’t end up with a frog, but 2 horses! thank you for teaching me this simple trick! my horse spraypainting adventure
eileen marie says
I just did a search to find this post -I wanted to know what kind of spray paint you used. I just bought this white, ceramic apple (for $3!!) & thought of you, Sherry! I collect apples -I’m a teacher. :) I also treated myself to the white ceramic ginger jar they had for 1/2 off.
https://www.shopdesignspark.com/details.php?products_id=182
https://www.shopdesignspark.com/details.php?products_id=371
I want to paint the St. Joseph statue we buried (to sublet my husband’s college apt.) a nice glossy white (He’s this hideous beige plastic) since we have to display him in a prominent place or he’ll put the hula-bula on us. I’m worried it might be a bit sacrilegious, but I love that glossy white look!
Sarah says
spray paint is totally the BEST. Lets me look at everything with a whole different perspective :) ANYTHING can change. (and btw….I actually really like the frog)
Ilana says
I’ve recently started reading your blog and I love it! I can’t wait until I own a house and can fix it up and decorate as I please (and not have to worry about landlord approval or painting it back to white before I move out).
Anyway, I figured I’d let you know that Z Gallerie has a handful of new animal figurines in. I fell completely in love with this white, resin seahorse (http://www.zgallerie.com/p-9036-faux-seahorse-and-nautilus.aspx) – I think it may be even better in person than online. And since you love porcelain birds so much, they have these there too: http://www.zgallerie.com/p-9633-porcelain-birds.aspx
YoungHouseLove says
So cute! Gotta love ZGallerie for fueling my addiction!
xo,
s
Rachel says
So it’s not ceramic, but…
http://www.etsy.com/listing/71536341/xl-cast-iron-moose-wall-hook?ref=sr_gallery_1&ga_ref=auto&ga_search_query=decorative+hook&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade
YoungHouseLove says
Obsessed! So cute.
xo,
s
wanderingairstream says
hi s.. i am looking at two (already high gloss) ceramic animal lamps and knew that you loved that kind of stuff as well.. my question is this: have you had any success painting over a high gloss ceramic piece (high gloss like your angular horse pictured in this post)?? i didn’t know if it looks painted or scrapes off/doesn’t stick?? thanks in advance for any tips!! t.
YoungHouseLove says
I would sand it a little to rough things up and use spray primer (like Kilz) followed by spray paint (the good $6 Rustoeulm All-Surface kind). Never done it (yet!) but that would be my best guess. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
wanderingairstream says
thanks s.. i thought if ANYONE! knew ceramic animal diy it would be you (; thanks for the tips!!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha. I take that as a complement.
xo,
s
steph says
what is the color of spraypaint that you are using? I am looking for a color that will mimic white starfish/coral.
YoungHouseLove says
It’s just white semi-gloss spray paint by rustoleum. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Amanda says
I found the cutest (fattest) little ceramic birds at the dollar tree one time, and I bought two of them in a heart beat. I spray painted them white, and years later I used them as my cake topper! http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150216136537946&set=a.10150216136532946.321845.520962945&type=1&theater See? I also have an owl, and a gooswanduck. :)
YoungHouseLove says
So cute!
xo,
s
Steph says
Holy smokes! Where did you get your muscular bite-your-face-off pooch? I ADOOOORE him!! I think his brother needs to come live at my house. =D
YoungHouseLove says
He was $29 from HomeGoods a few years back. Hope it helps!
xo,
s