Showing posts with label ironing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ironing. Show all posts

January 20, 2021

Work Before Play...

Brynwood Needleworks - My Steam Station
 
When I was a kid, I used to see a commercial with a woman who stood at her ironing board. She looked exhausted, with messy hair, and she'd say, "I'm Gertie Schmertz, and I iron shirts 'til my fingers hurts." I have no idea what the commercial was actually selling, but obviously, it left an impression on me. (I'm not even sure why!)
 
I was about ten when my mother taught me to iron my dad's white work shirts. He was a school teacher, so he had a clean shirt for every day. Not only did I learn to do his shirts, but I got really good at it, too. I enjoyed ironing shirts just for him. All these years later, I still think of Dad when I iron a white shirt. Handsome wears white shirts when he performs music, but he also loves wearing cotton shirts.
 
These days, I'm certainly no Gertie Schmertz at the ironing board. I have a number of irons, but when it comes to ironing shirts, I use my Rowenta Steam Station. It has a water reservoir, so I'm not constantly refilling the iron so I have constant steam when pressing those cotton shirts. 

You'll notice that the steam station is sitting on top of a cart. You've likely seen these carts somewhere before, as there are a lot of places that sell them. Here's one from Amazon to give you an idea.
 
Brynwood Needleworks - My Ironing Cart
 
Usually, the top piece is inverted from how I'm using it. It's another compartment for art or kitchen supplies, but that's not what I needed. I needed a platform to hold my steam station, so I flipped it over to make that surface.
 
I keep the rest of my ironing supplies (starch, pressing sprays, and linen sprays) in the bottom two compartments. In addition to those sprays, I have my pressing forms, and a couple other irons. Then, when I need to use my iron, I just roll the cart out of the studio closet and take it to where I need it.
 
That's what I did yesterday. Handsome had some shirts that needed pressing, and there were table cloths and napkins that were used over the holidays. I love cotton and/or linen, and they always need to be pressed after they're washed. It didn't take that long to do my work, and I watched a couple recorded shows (Home Town - home reno, and The Curse of Oak Island - about treasure hunting) while I worked.

The result was a room that smelled heavenly from my Cotton Linen spray, and all my ironing caught up. It's always such a satisfying feeling being caught up with my ironing. I have a tendency to put it off, but always feel so great when it's done. 

I'll get back to working on my embroidery today. I'll have a much more enjoyable time knowing that my tasks are caught up. Now I can just play again.

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March 27, 2015

Homekeeping...

Posted by a friend on FaceBook
I had every plan to spend the entire day in the studio yesterday. I remember reading this on FaceBook some time ago and I decided to share it with you today because sometimes, playing in the studio should has to take backseat to other things.

I realized that, just last week (the day I made the "I Love Quilting" wallet), I spent the entire day, joyfully sewing away - and never put on my clean dress and lipstick! GASP! What was I thinking?
Web Image
I imagine that it would be wonderful to have a separate, restful area like this to spend those hours catching up on ironing. Yes. I do actually iron Handsome's cotton shirts and a few other garments. I also use homemade cotton napkins every day, and sometimes they need a touch-up, too.
Found on Pinterest
Then I saw this and got all swoony. Imagine how fabulous it would be to have the space in my studio for an ironing center. A place for everything, and everything in its place. I've saved this image because I shall make one of these one day! (One of the comments I saw was that it was assembled using storage cubes (some with drawers, others with dividers like those shown) purchased at Michaels. I filed that information away, too.
Web Image
Well, as it was, I had my board and iron set up in our bedroom so that I could listen to the television as I got those things pressed and put away. I finished half of it before I had to quit to finish dinner prep. I'll do the rest before the weekend is over and start the new week with a slate clean enough to get me back into the studio.

What are you planning for the weekend? Will you be working, playing or creating? I'd love to know!
DonnaAcornSignature

January 25, 2010

Just Another Domestic Goddess...

Thinking of Valentines Day...
as I spent the day ironing - after using and admiring my new washer and dryer. I love the smell of clean laundry, my Egyptian cotton spray and the sight of all those pressed and folded clothes.
Don't feel bad for me. I really enjoy ironing, but I still get tired rather easily since my surgery ten days ago. (No worries. I really am doing much, much better!) Check out my new machines. The Kenmore twins are wonderful! We got the Oasis washer and dryer, which are very quiet and efficient. They were delivered yesterday. The front load washer that previously occupied this space rattled the whole house during the spin cycle. I wasn't even aware that the new washer was finished running until it sounded off! Worth every penny, as far as I'm concerned.

I'm hoping to get back into the studio this week. We have house guests coming soon and there are things to do as we prepare for their arrival. For now, I'm enjoying my Domestic Goddess status.
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