Workspace Makeover, Part II
February 24, 2012 LOTS of pictures today to make up for all my blah blah blahing last time.
After the big fabric purge, the next project I took on was my disgusting ironing board cover.
I should have made a new one a loooong time ago, but as usual I was crippled with indecision and couldn't settle on a fabric.
But I found this Laura Ashely lightweight upholstery fabric during the purge ...
that I've been "saving" for too many years to admit.
(Ok, I'll admit ... for those of you who are a little rusty with your Roman Numerals that reads 1993. Sorry, inner nerd just escaped for a second.)
I remember falling in love with this room in my previous life as a single girl.
So light. Bright. Fresh. Pretty. And I loved that little hit of a gingham check on the lampshades.
When we bought our house 16 years ago I got a 3rd-hand sofa, loveseat & chair suite of 1980s pine Ikea furniture. Totally cheap. Kinda ugly. And super uncomfortable. But I recovered all the cushions with this lovely print on one side and a damask ivory floral on the other. LOL! Nothin' like Laura Ashley to totally class up knotty pine Ikea! Even my husband thought it looked good.
So when I found this fabric I knew right away it was going to cover my ironing board.
Tada! Isn't it just so ... lovely? Especially against my perfectly coordinating Laura Ashley wallpaper that my sister & I hung in 1997. ('Member that sister?)
If I were to ever become a marriage counsellor, I would strongly recommend that couples NEVER hang wallpaper together. Especially if the wallpaper is NOT pre-pasted like the fancy-schmancy-totally-way-too-expensive-for-a-new-homeowner-unless-she-has-a-staff-discount-kind. Sister's are a MUCH better option. Am I right ladies or am I right?!
But wait, there more!
I found a Laura Ashley remnant of that green check too. I know, what a shocker, eh?
For what? So glad you asked. Let me show you.
I was given this fairly old, handmade sleeve board a long time ago.
I'm certain it was a DIY project - in just-git-er-dun style - from years gone by. You can see the hand-chisel marks and the screw & bent nails ... clearly trademarks of someone more interested in function and not so much in aesthetics, eh? ;)
It was lovingly covered with a muslin-type fabric and hand-stitched in place. I don't know who did it, but I imagine it was someone who loved sewing. I mean, check out that beautiful envelope corner! Someone really did a nice job.
Sadly the fabric was stained and I just never did anything about it. Plus I didn't want to remove the padding.
It works well despite the stain and I use it a fair bit (although I don't have to iron teensy WEENSY little girl clothes anymore ... sniff!)
But then I got it in my head it would be nice to cover this board too ...
Tada!
Eeeep! I'nt she cute?!
I even like the ribbon tied as a bow hanging down. I felt like I was cinching Scarlet O'Hara's corset pulling that ribbon so tight! LOL!
So who says dreams don't come true? It only took 20 years from the time I saw this room ...
to when I got this one.
Ok, ok, granted it's not EXACTLY the same. But I love it just as much.
Maybe even more.
My Sewing Room 
Reader Comments (29)
I should change my iron board cover, too. Yours look wonderful, Miss K. Ashley;-)
Hildy
fabulous room and ironing board. Your space is so bright!
Oh my goodness! My parents bought me a bedspread for my college room when I moved out, and it was made out of that Laura Ashley floral fabric. I had the whole set - the gingham bedskirt and pillows, and the twin size comforter. I LOVED that fabric so much. I can't even being to tell you how hard I begged for them to buy it for me - I was smitten! What a beautiful way to recover your ironing board. Now to go digging in my parents basement and see if I can find that treasure. I never would have thought about it again until I saw this post. :)
If EVER you need to satisfy that desire to iron itty bitty girls clothes, ya know where to find me (and the itty bitties =). Just trying to help a friend out =)
Such a pretty ironing board - it's got you written all over it!!
Love the way this looks -- but, then, I love all your projects -- just my style!
I just might keep up with the ironing if my board looked like that! Gonna have to make me a new cover soon.
Love this post! I love Laura Ashley...even took my mom to the store in Philadelphia to buy a set of Laura Ashley fabric squares so she could make a quilt for my son. Your room is beautiful and that wallpaper money was well spent.
I have lots of equally old Laura Ashleigh fabrics - they are remnants which were already half price, then were reduced by half again in the sale - I have yards and yards still to use!!
lol, 1st of all, add to your list of rules: married couples should NEVER EVER strip wall paper together. We stripped family room, living room, and entry way and I thought we were gonna kill each other! UGH! Never, ever again. Our guest room still has wall paper and it will stay that way for the next owner to struggle with. ;0
Secondly, I LOVE the idea of using decorater weight cotton for your cover. I need a new cover BADLY and I have the fabric jammed into a corner somewhere....
Still, no pics of the room? You're just onery, aren't you? ;p
Absolutely charming and oh so you. It's lovely.
Second ironing board recover I've seen this week and I think it's a subtle hint to me to do the same thing. :/ lol
A new ironing cover makes all the tedious ironing so much better! Enjoy!!!
Goodness, I thought my two or three years getting around to a project was long enough, but you've really topped it with twenty. Give me time though, maybe I'll match it! It looks great though and very pretty in your room with the lovely stripy wallpaper, I love it too!
S x
Your projects look just wonderful! Enjoy the pretty...
BTW, I had that same wallpaper in my hallway at my old house. I miss it!
I want to come over for a craft day in your room! :O) Love the Laura Ashley! Can't wait to see MORE pics! You got me to purging this week... sheesh... the garage is a mess now that I am dumping stuff here there and everywhere... once you start letting go... it does get eaiser... and feels much better! ;O) Thanks for the nudge!
I just love that Laura Ashely...reminds me of my lounge many years ago..when I was single and loved all things pretty, over the top pretty.. so glad you got to use the fabric and love those memories...
Hugs Dawn x x
Your new makeover looks even better then the picture! I too have a very generous piece of Laura Ashley my daughter gifted me with quite a few years back. What on earth am I saving it for? Tomorrow my ironing board will get a new do...
Oh Krystyne, sooo lovely!! If your stasfh were mine,I would have problems letting it go too! Love Laura Ashley!! Joanna F, the Fig Tree lady from Moda, look what she did with her ironing board! If you have any of taht green check,here is an idea,scroll down a bit, you will see it!hahttp://figtreequilts.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/09/index.html
We all are drooling over your wonderful stash! You should be an interior decorator also!
My post disappeared! I so envy your talent and stash!!
Joanna F, the Fig Tree lady posted this on her blog,her ironing board,if you have any green check lefdt over...just sayin"
http://figtreequilts.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/09/index.html
Are you sure you need to reduce your stash?
This looks so pretty! I need to cover my board too and I even have a sleeve board that has a ripped cover. I need to get to work, don't I?
Once again...very inspiring!!!
That is so pretty I love it! All goes together so beautifully.
If the room that houses my ironing board looked like that, I might just iron my things more often. Really pretty!!!
yours is the second ironing board cover I've seen lately...mines looking pretty shabby so maybe I should consider recovering it. love the fabric you used. it looks perfect in your space!
That little sleeve board looks familiar. When I saw it memories came flooding back. Could we have given it to you when my Mom was cleaning the basement? If not my Grandpa made on just like it. Thanls for bringing those thought back.
absolutely love the fabrics.. My brother worked for Laura Ashley way back in the 80's.. Loved Laura Ashley things then and I still do.. Just wish I could afford them.. LOL.. Thanks for posting.. I think both pieces look just lovely :)
Robyn
So, so pretty! I wish you'd done a ironing board cover tutorial! The ones I've seen online are not very good and I know your's would have been great :) Any hints on how to go about it for someone who's never done one? My ironing board really needs a new cover!
Guess which little gals will be getting new dresses soon?!
Thanks for the inspiration!
Merry Christmas,
Kelley of kelleyhighway.blogspot.com