Depression Lace

by Claire on Jun 20, 2012

Recently, at Christmas, Eleanor acquired a couple of vintage gingham aprons, and I was jealous. And intrigued, especially by the little thread removal lace situation on one. (I thought this was called hardanger, but I have since googled that and I was wrong. If you know what it is actually called, please comment!) 

So, I set about trying to replicate one for myself. Here is the first attempt. 




Then, I made another. (This time it was for someone else.) I also really went hog wild on the embroidery front--if, in fact, embroidery can ever be considered "hog wild"-- and tried real depression lace, which as it turns out, is a variation on cross stitch. It was overly repetitive and involved more counting than creativity, but was oddly meditative. This time-consuming process went really well with Downton Abbey.  See the pictures below. (Except the Downton Abbey part--you'll have to Netflix that on your own.) 


The whole apron, tied in the front. When I tried it on before shipping it off, I was really wishing it was mine and that it was decent to wear in public without pants or shorts. So I started thinking about a skirt with a similar fit...something that would accent the waist and hide the thickey-thighs. And that would have a more substantial back (as opposed to a bow). 

 Depression Lace

Depression Lace (up close)



Here is the end skirt result. I was really proud of how it turned out, considering I don't really sew that well and was making it up as I went along. To avoid dealing with a zipper (I did that once ten years ago and don't remember it fondly) I made it a wrap skirt with a few snaps. It is pleated in the front and the back, and has a separate 3-4 inch wide sash that can be knotted in the front or back. I ended up really liking the high waist-line and the variety the sash can afford. 


Yep. It's basically a decent apron. (Dottie loves pictures when they are not being taken of her. Otherwise she avoids the camera like the plague!)


If you made it to the end of this post, I am impressed. 

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Wow, it's been a while!

by Claire on Jun 13, 2012

Um, not quite sure where to start, as it has been a year since we posted. 
I suppose this posting will serve as a little catch-up. 
Some high-lights and low-lights from the past year (in order from past to present): 
  • Took nine credits of graduate classes in four weeks. It was an experience that warranted a swear word, or seven
  • Went to Tennessee to visit Nick (the brother-in-law) and Eleanor: toured Civil War sites, caves, and D. C. where we saw our friend Ben and the Schoolcraft family
  • Totaled another car. Again, it was not our fault and we walked away unscathed. Phew.
  • Survived fall semester: seven credits of graduate classes and teaching. Teaching. Essay writing. Grading. Planning. Eating. Sleeping. Repeat over and over and over.....
  • Gorged ourselves over Thanksgiving with Porter Seniors and Moores in Los Alamos
  • Celebrated Nick's dad's 70th birthday in Tucson with family from Wisconsin and Texas. Note: these two states are looking more and more similar.
  • Celebrated Christmas with Simson Juniors and Simson Seniors at the Aldrich residence in Eager
  • Survival of spring semester: see the fall, because it was exactly the same. 
  • Found out I would be teaching the same subject and grade level for the first time ever! Yay for American History and 8th grade! (Nick might have an added science elective next year, though everything else will stay the same: 6th grade Earth science)
  • Got a nephew: Joshua Daniel Moore on April 24th!
  • Discovered a little taste of a normal (for a teacher) summer before returning to our last graduate class: the thesis/capstone/high-stakes/25-page essay-writing class...to bad the break was only five days!


  • Here is our nephew with his parents. 



  • Here is the shed we started building during the five days of freedom. Two weeks later, it looks pretty much the same. But two weeks from now, when we are entirely done with graduate classes, you can expect some real progress. 
  • I made invented a really cute skirt. I'll post more about that later, too. 
Now we spend our time writing that paper. Last night was especially pathetic. We had both been lost in our macbook worlds for several hours, struggling to put our thoughts onto the page, when we realized that we needed to eat dinner. After downing three magic bars earlier in the day (for shame, Claire), I knew I needed something healthy as well as quick. Nick said he would prepare some salmon (we often fry/grill these wild-caught salmon patties that we get at Costco) though he only cooked one. That's right, we split a salmon patty. I was supposed to make spinach into a hot-sautéed salad, but instead I made a smoothie out of it, which was actually pretty tasty. 


See how pathetic?


Nick with the mug-o-crap smoothie. 

Recipe: (just in case you want to make an unattractive and unappealing yet healthy tastes-pretty-good-with-your-eyes-closed smoothie)

1 really ripe banana
1 cup of fat-free plain greek yogurt
4 cups of packed fresh spinach
2/3 cups of frozen berries 

Puree in blender. 
Warning: as red (berries) and green (spinach) are complementary colors, they will make brown when blended. This is what makes it appear like the innards of a sewage pipe. See below. Try not to think of this when eating, as it may make it difficult to swallow. ENJOY!

Mug or __________?

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