I have been keeping my eyes open for a vintage ironing board, as I have seen so many great ones in blogland. And I found one! At my favorite little thrift store, for only $8.00. I suppose it was cheap because it has been altered, but I love it for that very reason. Somebody has cut it down, it is much shorter than normal. A base has been added, so it is very stable.
I wonder who cut it, and why? Was it for a wife, who was no longer able to stand, and did her ironing from a chair? Perhaps for a young girl, left motherless, and required to take over the chores? I do not believe it was intended to be a toy, if it had been for a toy, I think the dad, or whoever, would have built a miniature. This is full-size, modified, surely a piece for work, not play. The changes make it impossible to fold, so it would have had to be set up all the time. It probably had a spot in the kitchen, where the person ironing could also tend to the cooking. There is an area on the end where the color is different, either from the heat of the iron, or from moisture in dampened clothes stacked there, waiting to be ironed.
I wonder if the disabled woman, headstrong and determined to carry on, in spite of her problems, had a husband who lovingly did what he could to make it possible. Perhaps, she was able-bodied, and he simply wanted to make it so she could sit whilst she ironed. I hope so. I do hope it was not for a child, too young to stand at a full-height ironing board, but who had to do the chores, anyway! I think we forget what hardships people faced in earlier times. The clothes ironed on this board would have had to be washed in a wringer washer, or on a scrub board, probably with water heated on a stove or even an open fire in the yard. Clothes hung up to dry, then brought in and ironed. I hope that did not fall to a young child.
In any case, the ironing board now has a place of honor in my home, as a sofa table. I will not change it in any way, it is what it is. A symbol of hard work, from a bygone era. I love it. But, oh, how I wish it could talk!!
Sandra
I love, love, love that you write such interesting stories about what something might have been. How fun to think about those things! You have a great writing ability as well and I find myself all wrapped up in your stories! Cute ironing board. Great price. Wonderful story!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Danni! For me, the real beauty of old things is the history behind them. I am not really interested in the fancy antique pieces that came from mansions, where they had been in the same family for umpteen generations. Of course, there is interesting history there, too. But it is the pieces that were the staples of life, pieces that served a purpose, especially if they were repaired or made over or show the hours of work they have done, the marks of hands long gone from this life. They speak to my heart.
ReplyDeleteI love it. And, for that price one cannot beat it. I have one that has not been altered as well as some of the irons I got from a family member. Thanks for sharing. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteHi, Joani! I would so love to have a vintage iron. Not long ago, I saw a beautiful one on Craig's List. It was blue enamel! I had never seen a colored one. I wanted it very badly, alas, it was not in my budget. But I am going to keep looking! Hugs and blessings!
ReplyDeleteI love the irioning board as a sofa table! I can see why your fell in love with it 'cause I fell in love with it too. I am going to keep my eye open for one now.
ReplyDeleteI love the irioning board as a sofa table! I can see why your fell in love with it 'cause I fell in love with it too. I am going to keep my eye open for one now.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Taunnie! I wish it was my original idea, but I saw one used as a soft table on somebody else's blog, and thought it was so cute. I hope you can find one, too.
DeleteOh I love your 'new' ironing board Sandra. It makes a cute little table for all your 'pretties'. Lovely ducks...Thanks for sharing all you interesting thoughts as to where this all originated, the history, etc. Our minds can just imagine what the ones before us went through...Those were very hard years. We are so blessed to have all the modern equipment, elect. appliances, vehicles, etc.etc. and we take soooo much for granted. Looking forward to your next 'project'....Hugs, Lil
DeleteHi, Betty! So glad you like it. I have a very active imagination! Keeps me from being bored, smile. We are indeed blessed, and we do take it all for granted. I hope to have another project up soon. Hugs and blessings!
DeleteLOL, I'm so used to using my AKA on the boards, that I forgot to sign it "Betty".....DUH~It's a good thing that we both know who 'we' are....LOL...Have a Great Day, Hugs, BETTY
DeleteJust post with any ole AKA you want to use, lol, I appreciate that you read and comment! Hugs
DeleteHi Sandra,
DeleteI am Betty's sister, Barbara.. She sent me your Blog which I thoroughly enjoy.. Very interesting and love the way you renew the items you buy for hardly nothing... You are a very talented woman and a blessed one.. Thanks for your posts.. May the Lord continue to bless you... Barbara K.
Hi, Barbara, I have heard so much about you! I am thrilled to meet you, and so glad you came by. Glad you like my little blog, and I hope you will come back soon and often. Hugs and blessings!
DeleteWhat a beautiful post. So full of heart :). I love the stories behind things that we find!
ReplyDeleteHave a blessed day rock star!
karianne
Hi, Karianne! So glad you came by. Hugs and blessings!
DeleteAnother beautiful post. Your heartfelt blog helps change people's perspective. I love that your new ironing board ended up in your hands. You definitely have a great appreciation for what it must have gone through before it ended up in your hands.
ReplyDeleteAwwww, thank you, Amy. You are too sweet!
DeleteSandra,
ReplyDeleteYou sound like me when I purchase something old. I always wonder all about its past, who owned it and such. I love your new/old ironing board, looks great as a sofa table.
Thanks, Jana. I do that with everything, furniture, old abandoned buildings, etc. Glad you like my ironing board!
ReplyDeleteI like how you used it for a sofa table and like you I hope the ironing board wasn't cut down for a young child to take on ironing chores. As an adult I still hate ironing and can't imagine a young child having to performing the task.
ReplyDeleteI hope not, Sherry! But in days gone by, children had to do so much more than children today, so it is entirely possible. Thank you for coming by. Blessings!
DeleteI have always liked to iron...Used to purchase the liquid starch in a bottle, then dip the shirt/garment into the starch water, hang garment to dry. Then sprinkle the garment with water in a coke bottle that had a little sprinkler 'thingy' on the mouth of the bottle, roll shirt up, wait awhile til the garment was damp (evenly distributed) then start IRONING....DUH, now ya got SPRAY STARCH IN A PRESSURIZED CAN. How easy is that...LOL....Guess I'm telling my age....LOL
ReplyDeleteI coulda used this cute little ironing board, to sit down to iron...I think I deserved it....LOL
I remember those days so well, Betty! We used to sprinkle the clothes and roll them up and put them in the fridge to get cold, they were easier to iron. It was such a huge job to do all the ironing! Thanks, I appreciate you coming by. Hugs and blessings.
Deletewhat a great piece to show off! And I really like your blog!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dani, and thanks for following! I love your blog, too. Hopefully, mine will get better with experience. Blessings!
ReplyDelete