Our ironing board is more than 50 years old. A hand me down. That was part of my partner, Victor Pleshev’s, dowry, when we made the decision in 1980 to live together as a couple.
It’s sturdy. And of a quality that can no longer be purchased today.
Having spent half its life in the salt air of Balmain. The legs became pitted. And damaged. As salt air does to all metal.
And having spent the next half of its life on a dusty rural property. It became impossible to keep those white legs clean.
Having recently revamped my pantry, laundry and sewing alcove, I wanted a new look for my ironing board.
Victor agreed.
I’ve had an Ebony Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover on my board for many years.
So the obvious choice of colour for the legs was . . .
. . . matt black.
Today is Day One for the new black legs.
What do you think?
Gorgeous?!
Don’t throw away a perfectly sturdy ironing board when it starts to look a bit down at heel.
Turn it into Cinderella. All it takes is a can of spray paint.
My pantry, now into its 35th year, was looking dishevelled. Too much. In too little space.
An architect’s eye, Victor’s, says it’s time to expand.
He added three quarter deep shelves. Between shelves. And it’s a cook’s dream.
It took three days to make the shelves. One day to empty the pantry. Four days to put the pantry back together.
Before putting things back on the shelves, we did an inventory of the pantry in an A-Z notebook. Which I keep on the top of my Miele front loader washing machine. Restocking the shelves after shopping is just a matter of adding. Or subtracting. From the inventory. No more overstocking!
Next to my pantry is my sewing alcove, where all the prototypes were made for The Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover And Other Goodies products.
Everything I need sits on nothing bigger than a computer desk that holds my Janome overlocker and Janome sewing machine. Jars of thread with matching bobbins. Sewing tools of all description. Antique wooden darning mushrooms. A utility box with drawers full of chalk. Needles. More tools. Sewing wax. A plethora of pin cushions. Paint brushes to brush away lint. And dust.
The shelf underneath the desk is my haberdashery collection. You name it. I have it.
Or.
Hangs on the extra large hanging board above the desk. Scissors. Fabric swatches with matching thread colours pencilled in. Rulers for marking. Lost buttons. Stuffed dog toys that have been stitched up so many times, they look like Frankenstein.
This tiny space is a collection of items I’ve cobbled together over many decades. And also serves as a memory bank of my sewing history. That began when I was 12 years old.
As with everything in our small farmhouse. Triple duty is required of most things.
My overlocker, when not in use, also serves as a hat rack for my summer. And winter. Hats. That I garden in.
I love this room. Although it’s only the size of a small bedroom, it’s jam packed with functionality.
It’s space for a laundry. And for ironing. My ironing board shares wall space with our Dyson vacuum cleaner.
It houses a substantial floor to ceiling pantry across an entire wall.
And a sewing alcove.
There’s always a vase of lavender. Cut from my garden. Next to my iron. As well as a vase of lavender on the top of my Miele front loader washing machine.
Pinching the leaves releases the most intoxicating fragrance into this room.
There are more photos below of the revamped pantry. And sewing alcove.
Your thoughts? Email me at the bottom of this post.
~Carol Jones, Ironing Diva❤
PS. This Ironing Diva loves leading an elegant life. And like things to look nice.
PPS. I am not only an Ironing Diva. But as one friend says, I am ‘The Queen’ when it comes to ironing.
I Am The Purveyor Of The Tantrum Free Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover And Other Goodies
Made with love and care in RURAL Australia by men and women who have a disability.
It’s not for everyone.
But it’s definitely for you if you’re fussy about the cover you iron on.
And if you love to support Australian made.
And want to put something back into the community when you make a purchase.
The Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover cover has more than 350,000 customers in 29 countries. Because it lives up to its name. It ‘Fitz Like A Glove™’ every time you iron.
And these are the ‘Other Goodies’
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Or phone me, Carol Jones, in rural Australia on 02 63 588 511.
Photos of my rural property are courtesy of me, Ironing Diva – who is also known as Paddock Paparazzi – and taken at sunrise every morning.
Part of the floor to ceiling pantry wall. Very organised!
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My sewing alcove. Where my overlocker also serves as a hat stand. And this is where all the prototypes for The Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover And Other Goodies products were made. Doing triple duty are the wooden potato boxes in front of my overlocker. The wooden boxes contain my varied assortment of gluten free flours that I use in baking. And on top. On the left. Is my potato basket. With a copper tray on top to stop the potatoes from forming eyes. And on top. On the right. Is my antique brass coal bucket with a porcelain hand painted handle. That holds my assortment of onions.
