Bell Ring

Just before Christmas, I came across this little ring covered with shimmery jingly bells in the treasure trove that is the V&A gift shop. It’s a dangerous shop at the best of times, but much more so just before Christmas when they fill up with little things for stocking fillers and the most inventive and unusual tree decorations.

This little trinket saved a long bus ride home by keeping Issey amused. It’s not suitable for her to play with and quite fragile, so I had to keep it out of her reach.

Pink Panther Music Box

I found this little treasure in Paris some time ago when we were rushing to find the kitchenware shop E. Dehillerin. It was in a shop window full of curiosities that caught my eye and after the kitchenware we came back to browse. The naked music boxes charmed me instantly – the only difficulty was deciding on which song to get. But there’s something about the Pink Panther theme and the clear plinky plonky sound that is just made for each other.

I love the fact that it’s unadorned: the exposed machinery looks beautiful, and it’s fun to be able to control the music’s speed as you turn the little handle. The sound is amplified when you hold the music box against a flat, resonant surface like a table or cupboard. Little kids love it.

Looking for music boxes online while writing this, I found this wonderful music box that plays happy birthday and comes with a blank score and a punch so you can compose your own tune. I’d love to make a special tune for my sweetie.