Tuesday 29 April 2014

When is an ironing board not an ironing board

Yes I'm still here, apologies for my absence yesterday, but housework and holiday preps kept me busy. Curtains in two kitchen windows taken down and washed, windows cleaned inside and out, garden was tidied, again, it's a never ending job, and a visit to the morning Craft Club. Curtains are now back up and all looks clean in the kitchen. Now I'm starting to gather the bits and pieces together for the rucksack. This task takes a couple of days as it involves making a list and walking all around the house picking up what I need. 
Here's an idea that works for me. There isn't much space in my bedroom for a bedside cabinet. If I put one next to the bed it would be sticking out into the room. This is where my ironing board can be utilized for two jobs. I hardly do any ironing at all, don't iron clothes, but just ironed the curtains, and sometimes I iron sewing bits that I am working on. To save getting it out of the cupboard under the stairs, or have it cluttering the spare room up, it sits very nicely in the space next to the bed behind the door. 
The top is looking a bit faded, and stained with burn marks, so it needs a spruce up. A piece of cotton fabric that I got out of the last skip I raided is the exact size. It took a few minutes to hem the edges all the way round, and bingo, a nice cover for my bedside table.

 It is the exact right height, a couple of inches higher than the bed, so it's easy to reach for my bits and bobs. A library book, a wind up torch, wind up clock, a table lamp which I bought for my mother nearly 40 years ago, still going strong, and a tub of aqueous cream. There are a pile of magazines at the other end should I wish to browse those before I go to the land of nod.

Just lately I've been taking a mug of hot chocolate to bed and sipping that while I read. I'm going to have to stop that because it's a nuisance having to get up and go to the bathroom to brush my teeth.The torch by the way is for checking my watch for the time if I should wake up during the night. In the summer months I always leave a chink of curtain open so the light comes into the bedroom at dawn, then I can decide whether to get up early or roll over and have another hour. Getting up at a time that suits me is my little bit of luxury, ha ha.
  
So, my ironing board has two functions. I could actually iron on it, the iron is kept in a cupboard nearby, and it makes a jolly useful bedside table. I like finding alternative uses for things. Toodle pip
Catch you tomorrow.

19 comments:

  1. Love your alternative use for an ironing board as I agree the obvious use is one to be avoided at all costs where possible...!!

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  2. Mary in Perth Australia29 April 2014 at 15:24

    Sounds like you achieved a lot on your 'day off'. Clean curtains make such a difference I find.
    That's an ingenious idea re the ironing board, but I just know I would trip over the legs when I got up. You are probably a bit more careful than me though.
    Did you settle on that route you mentioned a few days ago?

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  3. My ironing board (a wooden one, probably 40 years old) is kept permanently up in the kitchen. My little cat has his plate and saucer of milk on it - I think he likes the elevation it gives him - he can see what I am preparing on the counter tops. I like the fabric that you have used to cover yours with. Natalie

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  4. So that's what an ironing board if for I always wondered. Actually it looks good with the cloth and I really love your quilt, very boho. Debbie

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  5. What a great idea. Is that a colorful rug I see on the floor by the bed? It's really pretty - how is it made?

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    1. Hello. It's a rag rug I made from teeshirts. Take a look at this post, copy and paste.
      http://meanqueen-lifeaftermoney.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/how-to-make-rag-rug.html

      And this one.
      http://meanqueen-lifeaftermoney.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/another-recipe-home-made-card-and.html

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  6. We use our ironing board to stand the laptop on, when we are watching dvds. There is plenty of room at the side for a mini usb speaker and a cup of coffee each. If course it means I can't iron and watch a dvd at the same time! !!

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    Replies
    1. That's really sad...that you can't iron and watch a DVD at the same time. LOLOLOLOL

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  7. Hi Ilona. Just to say my bag arrived this morning and I am thrilled with it. I have it packed ready for school in the morning. Many, many thanks. I am really touched by your gift.
    Tricia

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    Replies
    1. Glad you like it, hope it didn't get too crushed in the post.

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    2. No it was packed perfectly. Thank you again. T

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  8. I love it when things have multiple uses. My cat uses my old wooden ironing board for a perch to watch the birds out the window in the guest room.

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  9. I'm a bit of a minimalist when it comes to all the things I own so I love to find multiple ways of using everything I have in my home, the spare bedroom used for guests only has a double bed in it so when anyone stays I use a spare wooden dinning chair as a bedside table, the ironing board is another good idea...
    Love the patchwork quilt on the bed Ilona, it's so pretty and colourful.

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  10. From Margie in Toronto - oh Ilona you make me laugh - that's just brilliant. I confess to still using my ironing board for it's original purpose (although I have cut back considerably) - but I do like to move furniture around and use it in different rooms for multiple purposes. I just moved a dresser from the bedroom to the living room and now the bottom 2 drawers hold CD's and DVD's - the 3rd drawer is "my office" - and the top drawer is for wrapping paper, ribbons and bows. Everything neat and tidy but accessible!

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  11. Ilona, I use my ironing board alongside my sewing table, lowered to the level of the table top. It's great for extra work space and for holding the weight of heavy quilt tops I'm sewing. Ironing, what's that?

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  12. What a great idea to save space and it looks very trendy with the fabric cover! Don't laugh but I've seen similar use in decorating magazines for small spaces.

    Gail :)

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  13. An ironing board beside a sick bed is the handiest thing ever. Love your fabric!

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    Replies
    1. Beside a sick bed? Is Ilona poorly then?

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