Illuminating dark corners with rat swarms, spines & poodles

Believe it or not, this is actually my favourite time of year. I love sunny crisp Autumn days, but also dark overcast ones like today, when you can snuggle up on a warm sheepskin, put all the lamps on, light the candles and watch an old black and white movie.  Dream on - far too much work to do!!

But the darker evenings always make me yearn for more lamps. You can never have too many, I have 9 or 10 in my lounge and I'm always on the look out for more. Never a great fan of high street fare, I always go for vintage but there are some amazing creations around at the moment to lust after and some great ideas for making your own.

Alex Randall's Rat Swarm Desk Light

At the top of my list would have to be Alex Randall's Squirrel lamp and Rat Swarm Desk Light. Totally amazing but out of pretty much any normal person's price range! However, with some vintage taxidermy and some basic wiring skills it could be a fine project for a wet weekend!

Alex Randall's Squirrel Lamp

I came across so many taxidermy lamps today that I started a new Pinterest board, so check it out for more inspiration and get creative!
 http://www.pinterest.com/cazoliver/taxidermy-lamps/

Jimmy Martin: http://www.jimmiemartin.com
Abigail Ahern: http://abigailahern.com
Dumpster Divers: http://www.dumpsterdivers.org/
Marc Beam: http://www.markbeam.com/index.html
Tom Dixon: http://www.tomdixon.net
Needlecraft: www.needlecraft.co.uk
Alex Randall: http://alexrandall.bigcartel.com/
Rockett St George: http://www.rockettstgeorge.co.uk/

Moose Head Light Abigail Ahern

Old fairground signage light from Louisiana.

Selection of Jimmy Martin's Mannequin floor lamps.

Next up would have to be Jimmy Martin's Mannequin Lamps - again silly money but how much fun would you have with an old mannequin and some spray paint!

Dumpster Divers, a Philadelphia Gallery that makes art from found objects, has these fabulous floor lamps for inspiration, and Needlecraft produce lampshade making kits where you can even upload your own design for the fabric.

Dumpster Diver's Lamps

Of course anything with an anatomical edge floats my boat and so I adore this Spine Lamp by Marc Beam - again its a month's wages, but l want one!

Spine Lamp - Marc Beam

I'm a huge fan of Tom Dixon lighting and my favourite is the Jack light, its uber cool and reminds me of playing Jacks as a kid. One of my lounge 10, its a total design classic.

Tom Dixon - Jack Light

If you prefer your animals less dead Abigail Ahern has some pretty cute doggy lamps and I particularly like the enormous moose head.

Selection of lighting from Abigail Ahern

My last and most current crush is a metal signage light from a circus, fairground or motel. Ideally a vintage original but I'd settle for one from Rockett St. George - its on the Christmas List!!

Vegaz Large Metal Light - Rockett St George.