Late 19th-century piano, Paris.
In my eternal quest to find room for a piano, I've opened an Etsy shop. I'm selling most of my collection of white ironstone and many French and English antique and vintage collectibles that I've amassed over ten years in Europe. I have dozens and dozens of items still to list, so check back often to see if anything suits your fancy! It's a chance to buy French antique and vintage items without paying American dealers' trumped-up prices. Mind you, shipping from France isn't exactly cheap, but nothing can be done about that; at least La Poste and Chronopost are reliable (have had only one package go astray).
You can find a link to the Etsy shop in my sidebar (at left). The fabulous Vanessa Valencia designed my shop banners, using my photographs. Merci bien!
I've played piano since I was five years old, although a life moving from place to place as a journalist has pretty much denied me the space and opportunity to own a piano. The last time I had one was 1994 in Belmont, California (just outside San Francisco). In 1995 when my boyfriend and I broke up - and I moved to an apartment across San Francisco Bay and up a flight of stairs - I donated the piano to the Salvation Army. Am hoping the next move will include ample space for a piano (and tolerant neighbours).
Oh, dear. COULD be TROUBLE!
Posted by: jeanie | 08 January 2010 at 17:25
Oooh, I do hope so too.
Happy New Year my dear friend. Hope your life is filled with many blessing in the years to come.
Sending lots of positives your way.
Posted by: Se'Lah | 06 January 2010 at 03:41
Happy New Year my beloved friend!! I LOVE this red banner you have up above, so fun!
I am sooo excited for your shop, I can't wait to peek in myself. We are trying to unpack from two trips during the holidays. Our house looks like a tornado hit. But heck, who cares?
I LOVE having a piano in the house, I hope you get to have one near you very very sooooooon!
LOVe to you xoxxx
Posted by: Vanessa Valencia | 05 January 2010 at 17:27
I saw that link on here yesterday and checked it out! Too much fun that you have a shop now! Love the new red banner!! And I am jealousing that you have spent the last 10 years in Europe. I need to figure how to do that!!
Posted by: MAWB | 04 January 2010 at 23:57
Happy New Year Tara,
Congratulations on your new shop, your new and fabulous banner and your desire to get back to your piano!
May this year bring you the desires of your heart!
hugs!!
xox
Constance
Posted by: rochambeau | 04 January 2010 at 22:45
congrats on your shop! I hope you get a fabulous piano. It's hard to give that up, I can imagine...
Posted by: Chris | 04 January 2010 at 21:54
That banner for that shoppe is lovely, well done V. Tara, your shoppe looks like a virtual brocante! Kudos to you for all your hard work setting that up. Saying a little incantation for good fortune & happy clients of the Paris Parfait Shoppe!!
A piano? That is inspiring. Do you play? I picked up the guitar this year in the hopes of learning. It actually belongs to my daughter but she is too busy playing carnival games on her DS. I feel the need to learn something musical. Everyone should really, it should be on everyone's bucket list.
:)
I envy anyone with musical talent. But a piano also looks wondrous and beautiful as part of an interior decor I think.
Hope you make space for it. I know you are chock full of treasures over there that can find happy new homes to make room for this piano!!!
I'm behind on emails and blogging, will send you a line shortly.
Love to you through here in the meantime. xoxo Gillian
Posted by: Gillian | 04 January 2010 at 20:53
Good luck with your piano and with the sale of your beautiful things. Talk to you sooner or later, I fly back to Berlin for a final 8 days working on the exhibition ... then come home to begin work on the exhibition on Flanders Fields ... opening 12 February 12. Would you and your lovely man like an invitation to the opening reception?
xo
Posted by: Di | 04 January 2010 at 20:07
Your shop is brimming with enticing things!! Those wooden wings...I am thinking about these....
x..x
s
Posted by: Stephanie | 04 January 2010 at 18:40
I continue to learn more and more about you. Now I learn you play the piano, how lovely. I hope you find the perfect piano for the new place to live and can play to your hearts delight. I would love to sit and listen. I am a great lover of listening to piano music, but no longer care to play.
Posted by: Marilyn | 04 January 2010 at 16:53
Tara, I wish that you were closer because I would gladly give you my husbands teen-age grand...he can no longer play due to arthritis and it just takes up so much space! May your shop be a huge success and may this new decade be full of glorious adventures and creativity.
Posted by: Patricia | 04 January 2010 at 16:50
FABULOUS! How many cats will you be able to swing around in that apartment now?
Happy New Decade. May all your hopes, wishes and dreams come true.
Much Love and Good Luck in your new ventures
Di
xo
Posted by: Di Overton | 04 January 2010 at 12:13
Lisa, sounds like you and G have the perfect setup for your space. But I am "old school" and want an actual studio upright piano.
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 04 January 2010 at 12:09
P.S. love the new banner but you need to move the Etsy shop to the top portion of the sidebar; took me forever to scroll down to it and I nearly gave up! Make it easier for folks to find it and shop; slide it northward. ;)
Posted by: The Bold Soul | 04 January 2010 at 11:55
We have a really nice electric piano with volume control and you can wear headphones if others might be disturbed. It's ONLY a piano (not a full Yamaha-type keyboard with multiple instrument sounds and a million buttons to push), has very nice sound, and also MUCH more compact and lighter than a full-size upright or baby grand. Georges would love a baby grand and so would I, but now that we're downsizing a bit, I'm glad we've got this particular type of piano. Not as classic as the non-electric variety but fits our needs well for Paris apartment living. Just something for you to consider.
Posted by: The Bold Soul | 04 January 2010 at 11:53
I hope that you achieve your dream soon and get your piano! It seems a shame that someone who play doesn't have a piano at her disposal. Wishing you the best!
Posted by: Helen | 04 January 2010 at 01:01