Toy Piano
We stopped into an amazing "Flea Mall" just outside of Birmingham. I was fully expecting this Flea Mall to be equally as depressing as the Flea Markets in my area tend to be, but it was actually kind of amazing. Very few packages of socks and wierd discount hair dye and lots of legitimately old stuff...dishes and vintage hats (which I'll show off sometime soon) and books and records. Lots of crap, too, but too much good stuff to really mind. When we were about to check out, I heard a really wonderful sound coming from the corner of the large, warehouse-y building.
My ears perked up, and I scampered over, following the sound...and this is what I found:
I'm pretty flippin' excited about my tiny piano. All of the keys work, and it reminds me so much of the Amelie soundtrack (I've already tried my hand at recreating some of those familiar little songs!). We're also hoping that we can train Miette to stand on his hind legs and bang on the keys.
I've got some ho-hum boringish catching up to do today, but I just finished up a really great run and then had a perfect fall lunch. I made a big pot of chicken and vegetable (carrots, parsnips, celery & onions) soup yesterday, for us to have this week. Today I enjoyed it with a little glass of wine, a few gingersnaps, and I'm feeling so, so cozy right now. It'll make the boring-work fly by!
Happy Tuesday!
My older sister had a piano just like it about over 35 years ago! I can still hear the way it sounded! What a find!
Posted by: Melissa! | October 22, 2007 at 04:47 AM
You have to look for recordings by a group called Sym-Phoney Orchestra. They play classical music on toy instruments and it is amazing!
Posted by: Sara | October 20, 2007 at 02:38 PM
You have to look for recordings by a group called Sym-Phoney Orchestra. They play classical music on toy instruments and it is amazing!
Posted by: Sara | October 20, 2007 at 02:36 PM
You really scored with that Schoenhut! They still make them, but the average price is around $250.00! Doesn't it sound wonderful?! They usually stay in tune and can take a beating, like a good toy piano should! Great find! I'm impressed you didn't pass it by, thinking "someday..." Way to soak up life, Emily!
Posted by: Autumn | October 19, 2007 at 06:23 AM
I have just, within the hour, finished watching Amelie for the first time. I have to say I am smitten.
Posted by: Anna | October 18, 2007 at 05:26 PM
The piano is adorable! I love to go to Antique flea markets *sigh* I wish there were more around. You napkins are lovely too :)~Lisa
Posted by: itybitybags | October 18, 2007 at 04:01 PM
Hello¡, your blog and you work are beautiful, so pretty.
Posted by: Marida | October 18, 2007 at 01:42 PM
wow. i love you tiny-piano. i just bought a vintage set of bells this weekend... like a little kid's xylaphone. it is sooo cute. i will send you a link of my brother playing them.... it is so freakin cute.
jjjjj
Posted by: janelle | October 18, 2007 at 11:31 AM
What a great toy piano! ANd, what a great napkin with polka spots!
Posted by: tiffany | October 18, 2007 at 10:22 AM
OK, OK, I am delurking to say THOSE SHOES ARE TO DIE FOR!!! Where in the world do you get delicious shoes like that???
Posted by: brenda | October 18, 2007 at 08:31 AM
wonderful piano....a few of my friends are in a band (really more of a performance art thing) called "Toy Division" they are a Joy Division cover band and they all play toy instruments....
who knows that little piano could be your muse to start a toy band of your own!
Posted by: stilettoheights | October 18, 2007 at 08:27 AM
Have you seen that Angelina Jolie is totally rockin' a pair of your fab shoes in her new movie?
http://perezhilton.com/?p=7312
Mini piano- great find!
Posted by: Amanda | October 18, 2007 at 03:48 AM
PIANO! and cozy soup, hooray! It's fall!
Posted by: eileen | October 18, 2007 at 01:16 AM
Totally love the piano. That is so my style.
Posted by: Brianna | October 17, 2007 at 11:21 PM
I love your teensy piano, I still have mine from when I was little.
Good find!
Posted by: Jen... | October 17, 2007 at 10:11 PM
I used to have a little white piano when I was a small wee girl. Wish I knew where it was. There is a picture of me somewhere in a teal velvet dress, tights and cowboy boots playing that piano. Quite the fashion plate at 2, huh? I have lots of new knee socks and tights that I am dying to wear but the weather is not cooperating here in southeastern NC. Too darn hot!! Supposedly next week we will get some relief! Would love the recipe for the soup, looks super tasty. Have a great day my sweet em, Gregg
Posted by: gregg | October 17, 2007 at 09:00 PM
That picture right there? I'm thinking it's the album cover art for Emily and The Curious Hedgehogs first album. Just need to photoshop a little guy peeking around the leg of the piano...
Posted by: karaalison | October 17, 2007 at 08:49 PM
hi emily,
i was wondering if you would consider making a printable halloween decoration for us applets. heidi from mypapercrane made a beautiful one and i thought you should do one as well....so then my apartment could be gorgeously decorated for halloween. just a suggestion!
Posted by: desi | October 17, 2007 at 04:42 PM
Why, I have exactly that same piano in my room! I recognize the brand name and everything!
Posted by: Maddy | October 17, 2007 at 03:36 PM
A mini piano?! That is so cute (and so "Emily"! :)!! What a great score! Can't wait to see those vintage hats as well...
Posted by: Casey | October 17, 2007 at 02:34 PM
I want that piano..! It`s so beautiful and nostalgic. I had a tiny red piano when I was little, but it`s gone now. And your soup looks delicious!
Posted by: Katrine K | October 17, 2007 at 02:23 PM
i love amelie. when i went to paris, i even went to the shop.
love the piano.
Posted by: peonyshade | October 17, 2007 at 01:43 PM
I know that flea mall well...I'm from Birmingham and I alwaysALWAYS visit it when I go home!
Posted by: Rebekka | October 17, 2007 at 01:33 PM
I can't get over those red shoes! They are adorable.
Posted by: Shaylind Standing | October 17, 2007 at 11:46 AM
I love your toy piano!
In fact, I even love the words "toY PiaNo"!!!!!
Posted by: Diane Duda | October 17, 2007 at 09:54 AM
What a lucky find!
Posted by: Melissa | October 17, 2007 at 09:52 AM
I had one of those as a kid! Great shoes too!
Posted by: Amber | October 17, 2007 at 09:45 AM
LOVE the image of darling Miette playing that wonderful mini piano - of course a suitable jacket would be worn!
tracy x
p.s - love*those*shoes*******
Posted by: tracy x | October 17, 2007 at 07:07 AM
Another lovely picture! What a wonderful flea market find, imagining Miette playing it made me laugh out loud :)
Posted by: cassie | October 17, 2007 at 06:11 AM
Lucky, lucky! I have been searching FOREVER for one of those tiny vintage pianos. Every time I go to a flea market or antique store, I have my eyes peeled for one. And, Amelie...my fave movie of all time!
Posted by: Holly Hanks | October 17, 2007 at 02:40 AM
I love that soundtrack too. Where did your awesome shoes come from? Very cool.
Posted by: Marisa | October 17, 2007 at 02:05 AM
Gorgeous little piano, and lovely room too! If you want to try your hand at playing some amelie music, you can download snippets of the sheet music:
http://www.di-arezzo.com/france/images/monographies/ebr104-apresmidi.gif
Just do a google image search for "amelie sheet music". I used to love playing those little bits of the sheet music when I lived at home where we had a piano :)
Posted by: Lara | October 17, 2007 at 12:33 AM
Swwwweet find the little piano! That picture is just a teensy bit naughty too! You just have a way about you Emily "Miss Black Apple" Maybe if you rub catnip on the keys....
Posted by: nora | October 17, 2007 at 12:12 AM
I used to have a mini piano when I was a little girl! I wish I still had it....
Posted by: Cedar | October 16, 2007 at 11:36 PM
Sooooo jealous about the piano! What a wonderful find. Enjoy making music.
Posted by: 'tine | October 16, 2007 at 11:19 PM
Delurking to say: I just love your blog! Gingersnaps and kneesocks rule!
Posted by: The Mad Tatter | October 16, 2007 at 10:57 PM
SHOES! I love your shoes. Where did you get them and why don't I own them? They are amazing, as is the tiny piano!
Posted by: Jessica Marie | October 16, 2007 at 09:25 PM
oh this is fantastic, i love the mini-piano! i am very jelly! -kb
Posted by: Kelly | October 16, 2007 at 09:09 PM
My SO has that same piano! Unfortunately, the only broken key is C. Makes it a little difficult to play.
Posted by: tangerined | October 16, 2007 at 07:53 PM
you really have this knack of finding perfect little things
i grew up playing the piano and would absolutely love to find one of these and teaching the cat to play it is such a fun vision
i also adore your little duck train.
i look forward to seeing your other finds
Posted by: Nancy Cook | October 16, 2007 at 07:42 PM
I love the little piano! A couple Saturday's ago, Austin City Limits guest artist was Norah Jones and during one of her songs she played part of the chorus on a small piano like the one you bought. The sound was beautiful and just added that extra *special* something to the song! Have fun with yours!!
Posted by: Heather | October 16, 2007 at 07:28 PM
oh! I love it! :) I've been attempting (I'm not the best little piano player) to play the Amelie waltzes.....I can just imagine how much better it would sound on a tiny piano! :) Oh, and have you ever heard Colleen??
http://www.colleenplays.org/
It's just magic...wandering through a mossy, faerie tale forest with fauns and scarf wearing squirrels magic! I've been listening to it all week!
And your lunch looks quite cozy, indeed.....oh if only the weather here would get cool enough for cozy food.....I've been pretending with air conditioning!
Posted by: Marjorie | October 16, 2007 at 06:05 PM
cool piano!
and i love the little dish you have for the gingersnaps. makes the meal.
xoxo
Posted by: meg | October 16, 2007 at 05:19 PM
Where is this flea mall? I'm in Atlanta and a good flea market/mall is worth the drive. I have yet to find a great one around here.
Posted by: Amanda | October 16, 2007 at 05:00 PM
very uniqye fun find. Lucky you:)
Posted by: patty | October 16, 2007 at 04:37 PM
That soup looks absolutely delicious! Is it your own recipe?
Posted by: Shannon | October 16, 2007 at 04:29 PM
Omgosh! I am loving your blog and most importantly your beautiful work. I should be finishing my studio this weekend and after that I'm definitely buying some of your work.
Thanks for the inspiration.
Dayami
Posted by: Dayami Lauzurique | October 16, 2007 at 04:28 PM
such a great find + i love your napkin! too cute.
Posted by: laurie | October 16, 2007 at 04:26 PM
Darling Emily!
I love the piano (being a piano player myself, I want to rescue all pianos, especially teensy ones!!)! We have really wonderful antique stores here. Did you say socks and hair dye?? That is so random!! Why do they have that nonsense in your antique stores??? I love your piano. I have a little brown one and a red one. I just adore them!! Actually, I have this tiny hand held one too, very very old... Shaped like tthe body (w/out legs) of the harpsicord. But, yours is extra lovely!!! Can't wait to see the other treaures!!!
I am off to do boringish things too... But I have a bit of Sushi in tow, which makes me totally happy. And a carrot/beet juice, freshly juiced....
I used to be such a good comfy wine drinker... But, in the past few years I have become Miss "tipsy after two sips." Oh and ready for bed right after said sips...
Your meal looks Yummy!!! Off to the studio I roam. I find myself going in circles.... xxo (love the shoes, perfect for teaching Miette how to play twinkle twinkle little star!)
Posted by: A Fanciful Twist | October 16, 2007 at 04:16 PM