Thursday, March 25, 2010

my creative space ... improvising

I found a bunch of these at my local op shop yesterday ...


... old pianola rolls. I don't own a pianola, and I don't plan to in the near future, BUT, don't you love it when your brain immediately thinks of using things in another way? I do, because mine usually takes ages to work! Can you guess my idea ...


Does that look like a spool/spindle to anyone else? It did to me, so I set about unrolling the pianola paper (great for the boy to draw on, great for me to use for making patterns) and using the spindle to keep bias binding and twill tape uncreased ...


... I still have a few more spindles to liberate and lots more ribbons and things to save from being creased, but it is very theraputic work! Check out what other people are up to in their creative spaces, or to share yours, by visiting Kootoyoo.

25 comments:

Chasing Purple Dreams said...

Hooray, I love a good improvisation! I would have been to chicken to unwind the Pianola roll in case some antique police tapped me on the shoulder!

lisa stubbs said...

fab idea, looks great!

Cath @ chunkychooky said...

VEry clever!!!! U can think of some great things to do with that textured paper.

Rosalind said...

My great Aunt had a pianola and I LOVED playing it as a kid - thought I was so clever :-) ha ha You have some great shopping haunts!!!

Kirsty said...

I love pianola rolls.

I also used to love faking the keys & peddling with all my might.

Unknown said...

What a fun find...I bet those papers would make some pretty cool shadow pictures...

Jennie said...

What a great idea!
The paper would look great as wrapping paper too!

Cath @ chunkychooky said...

I meant I can think of some great ideas for the paper...

june at noon said...

Great idea. My brain often has to be pushed into thinking resourcefully, so yes, it's always nice when it kicks in on its own! ;)

Chicken Willow said...

What a brilliant idea!

Cotton Kiwi said...

Very cool idea. I'm actually typing this sitting at a desk made from an old pianola which we love to bits. Great find and fab reuse of them.

Sarah said...

I never find anything as cool as that at our local charity shop! Great way to use those spools - they're so brilliantly long!

posie blogs Jennie McClelland said...

Awesome scores, whoever did have a pinaola anyway?? Love Posie

Cindy said...

This is v. good!

Anonymous said...

GREAT idea i LOVE repurposing!

you can use the music sheets for gift wrapping..i do that with old sewing patterns :)

MooBear Designs said...

I love it!! Who would have thought?!! Except for you of course!!

xo Steph

mel @ loved handmade said...

Nice find & great idea!

Ooty said...

great idea! The papers could be great fo wrraping and photos taking as well

Peta @ Pippiwillow said...

It'll be like walking through the land of the giants over at yours...Am a bit scared to see the needle though! Cracker of an idea - love it. Peta

Sally said...

You're such an organised person. Love your idea. Looking forward to seeing you little man's drawings on the paper.

Michelle said...

Great idea. I am sure you will put the paper to good use too.

Anonymous said...

I love a spool, doesn't matter if it is a little cotton one or one of those massive electrical types. There must be a name for this. That paper is great. I agree with the shadows. It would make a good installation. xxNick

Anonymous said...

What a great find! Vintage spools (of any kind) seem to just ooze inspiration don't they.
~ Alisa

Melanie Gray Augustin said...

What a great idea! We used to have cupboards full of pianola rolls (we had a pianola to go with them of course...), I wish I'd thought of/seen this idea before we got rid of them all. I wonder if you could do something funky with the paper.....

Frolic in Fabric said...

As a kid i used to peddle for hours on my grandmothers pianola singing at the top of my lungs (everyone usually left the room at this point). My kids now dance and go silly when it is played! Great idea i have to say - and you just can't buy paper like that any more! Elizabeth X