Olivia Macaroon Georgetown

Olivia Macaron is an amazing place located in downtown Georgetown. Are you a fan of macarons? Are you planning a trip to Washington D.C.? Or simply a local looking for the best macaron experience this side of the Atlantic? My sisters and mom decided that a girls date was a necessity and what is a girl date without a dessert experience and coffee?

{Image Credit: @livkuchlbauer}

If you are visiting the Washington D.C. area, or like me live within driving or train distance you need to take the time to try out this local business! Our favorite thing to do is to pick up several macarons, then walk next door to the little market Dean & DeLuca to pick up a yummy latte and sit in the outdoor patio. WARNING: Entering Dean & DeLuca may cause you to spend money on various kitchen items and treats that you never knew you needed!

{Image Credit: @HelloEmilyEliza}

Macarons are being called the next cupcake craze and it is easy to look in a glass window and become caught up in what I call the 'sugar image.' There have been many times when I purchase a macaron only to bite into it and realize that it is too dry, the almonds are not ground to the right consistency or it dissolves into a mushy mess of dampness....yuck. I have high standards and have done my macaron research. I know the right humidity, temperature and ingredient quality to use and I do not like to be disappointed. My favorite places to find macaroons are Paris, France and Brussels, Belgium so it was a treat to find Olivia Macaron in my new home here in Washington D.C. If you are interested in learning more about the fine craft of macaroons check out this class on Craftsy.com.

{Image Credit: @HelloEmilyEliza}

My favorite flavors? Salted Caramel and Wedding Almond. What are your favorite places to purchase macaroons? Let me know if Olivia Macaron is on your list!

Sometimes it is so hard to believe I am a little girl mommy. Yet here is my tiny lady, wearing her Beaufort Bonnet and sweet smocked dress at the pumpkin patch. I can remember dreaming of little dresses like these, and feeling a little jealous of the pretty baby girls in their bonnets. Much love to all you mommies playing with your little baby girls today no matter their age!

Miss Charlotte and her Grammie. Bonnet {Beaufort Bonnet Company}

Baby Eleni

My heart feels a little broken tonight. For over a year now I have been following Rachel, from the blog 'Stitched in Color'  on her journey to have a baby. I read her posts about her hope to become pregnant when I was hoping to become pregnant. When I became pregnant I thought of her and prayed for her to have the new little one she wrote about desperately wanting. I was overjoyed when I read that her little baby was due. I love checking her blog to see the little things she has been making, it keeps me inspired to move forward on my own projects and reminds me of what miracles babies are.

{image credit: Stitched in Color}

Tonight, just before bed I checked her blog to see if her little girl Eleni had arrived and she had! Unfortunately due to still unknown complications little Eleni was born with major medical issues. You can read more about Eleni and Rachel's journey here.

{image credit: Stitched in Color}

As I sit here with tears pouring down my face, praying for this woman I have never met, nor even talked to I am amazed at how this God works in the world.

This little girl Eleni, who has only been alive for a few hours, has touched so many people just by existing. We have read the words of her mothers heart, and have seen the pictures of her love manifested for this little baby girl. For such a little life, her life has been so amazing. She has a special purpose in God's plan, and her little life has touched mine and made it richer for knowing her. All my heart and prayers go to her family.

If you are interested in helping Eleni's family they have a benefit action, "Action for Eleni" starting 14 March which you can find here. Jodi at Tales of Cloth is also making a 'love quilt' for Eleni if you would like to donate a little hexie flower.

When I live so far away and no words can express the sorrow and hope, I stitch. I'd love to send a whole bunch of flowers to Rachel @stitchedincolor and her family, stitched with all our love and prayers. Can you help me? Make a single colored flower from 1" hexies with a dark center and email/dm me for my address. Thank you! 💐 If this isn't your thing, please donate/bid in the #auctionforeleni @auctionforeleni. #flowersforeleni

A photo posted by Jodi Godfrey (@talesofcloth) on Mar 3, 2015 at 8:28pm PST

Embroidering Doll Eyelashes: Stacy Iest Hsu

The little details on a project are often what makes it stand out, and brings life to it. The picture above shows what a few simple stitches can do to bring out the eyes on a cut n sew doll by Stacy Iest Hsu via Spoonflower. The eyelash on the left is more pronounced and calls your attention to that part of the doll face. To learn how to embroider your own doll eyelashes, read on!

Step 1: Back stitch to the top of the eyelash and then insert your needle at the eyelash base. 

Step 2: Insert the needle at the top of the eyelash, but don't pull the loop of thread all the way through to complete the stitch. Leave a little loop above the fabric as seen below.

Step 3: Insert needle up within the printed eyelash line where you would like the eyelash to curve. I like to use Stacy Iest Hsu' print as a guide for the curve.

Step 4: Insert the needle down in the same spot where you just inserted the needle up, ensuring that it goes over the loop of thread from step 2. Pull gently until the loop of thread is is pulled into place, you may have to work the thread a little to achieve.

Step 5: Back stitch over to the top of the next eyelash and repeat!

Tips on thread: I like to use DMC embroidery thread. I generally use one to two strands depending on how much focus I use on the hair (the example in the pictures uses two strands). I have however seen six strands used on the Stacy Iest Hsu dolls and it looked amazing! Decisions like choosing how many strands of thread to use can be challenging, but these little decisions are what will make your creation unique!

You can find Stacy Iest Hsu designs via Spoonflower here and on her facebook here page.

A Wollmeise Yarn Vest

I finally finished Miss Charlotte's wollmeise vest last fall and it now fits! This wollmeise yarn is lovely from the dye to the spin to the lovely little shop in Bavaria, Germany that sells it. 

Pattern: BabyDROPS 19-18 by DROPS Design

Yarn: One skein (510 yards), Wollmeise Sockenwolle 80/20 Twin 

Size Created: 6/9 months

Notes: This yarn knit like a dream and the pattern is great for babies of all sizes. The cabled neckline can be a little confusing so recommend reading through the pattern in detail before starting.

Miss Charlotte can add another lovely warm knit to her closet.

and..She Is Up!

I am so proud of little Miss Charlotte. I cannot believe how much she has grown over the last few months. From learning how to eat to gaining the strength to lift her head I have been there for each precious little milestone. It seems odd but each little thing she has learned I have learned something with her. How to pray, and pray hard. How to be patient even when I am tired, sick or frustrated. How to take delight in the tiniest of lessons, because she is delighting in the tiniest of lessons. It makes me nostalgic even though she is only a few months old and also hopeful and excited for the future. I wonder when she is five, sixteen or thirty will she still get that little eyebrow wrinkle when she set's her mind to a goal? So cheers to Miss Charlotte on another milestone, learning how to sit up by yourself. I am so proud of you.

Spoonflower Review

I placed my first order the other week with spoonflower. I chose several Stacy Iest Hsu Cut and Sew Toys that you can see here (they are awesome!). I kept checking the shipped tracking numbers wondering when my pretty package of fabric would arrive and upon opening it was literally squealing with delight (poor Miss Charlotte, she does not understand her fabric crazed mom!). I immediately placed the fabric into the wash, excited for it to try so I could begin stitching when I noticed a strange white line on one or two of the fabrics. I was so disappointed! I contact spoonflower, dreading working with customer service. I am always stressed by the idea of giving any person or company a complaint. I worried what if they would not offer to replace the items and I would be stuck with the damaged fabric?

I utilized the spoonflower chat service and what a lovely surprise! I worked with their staff member Meredith and in less than 15 minutes she had a new order placed with me along with recommendations for fabric choice changes to prevent the issue from occurring again. She also ensured that I had rush shipping provided so that the fabric would arrive in time for the Creative Chicks Valentine sewing event. I cannot say with enough enthusiasm what a wonderful company they were to work with. There are few companies in the world that make giving a complaint a pleasure! So a big thanks to Meredith and the spoonflower staff, they made my week a brighter by standing by their product and customers.