Here at Mae Woven, we love a good treat. I mean, who doesn't?! Today we are getting in the kitchen and sharing one of our favorite recipes that is sure to tickle your taste buds – with a special appearance from our gorgeous Turkish hand towels. If you are an orange lover like us, this one's for YOU!

Crepe Recipe:

1 cup all purpose flour

2 eggs

½ cup milk

½ cup water

¼ teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons butter, melted

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and eggs and whisk until well blended. Slowly stir in the milk and water. Add in the melted butter and salt, then beat until smooth. If the batter appears too runny, add more flour. If it appears too thick, add more water/milk.
2. Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat. Pour, using a ⅓ measuring cup, onto the warm pan. Tilt the pan in a circular motion to ensure the batter coats the surface evenly.
3. Cook for about 1 minute (or until the sides start to lift off of the pan). Loosen around the edges with a spatula, then turn and cook the other side. Start stacking each complete crepe on top of another.

*To get the same outcome as photo shows, quadruple this recipe!

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Orange Icing Recipe:

1 ¾ cups powdered sugar

¼ cup orange juice (squeeze from orange)

1 tablespoon orange zest

1 teaspoon butter, melted

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugar, orange juice, and orange zest. Whisk until lumps have vanished.
2. Add the melted butter and whisk together until smooth. If the icing is too thick, microwave for 30 seconds.
3. Let mixture sit (if microwaved) for a couple minutes, then pour over crepe stack.
4. Add powdered sugar and orange & lemon slices for extra touch. 

ENJOY! Our Turkish kitchen towels make the cleanup process easy. We swear by them! They are made with high-quality cotton which makes them soft and highly absorbent. Perfect for any messes made in the kitchen.

Not only do our Turkish towels know how to clean up, but they also make the perfect kitchen accessory. Hang them up on your towel rack or lay them under your hot dish full of delicious Orange Crepes.

Be sure to tag us in photos so we can see your dreamy Orange Crepe Stack! #maewovenmunchies

For the month of February, we have chosen to highlight the incredible Alyssia Moore. She is an astonishing mother of two, wife, friend and inspiration to all. She has amazing taste, which rings true by the looks of her beautiful home & style. We truly adore her for all that she is and more!  

Tell us a little bit about yourself... 

Well to start we live in Nashville, TN. I work as a doula and birth worker when I have time, now that our son Folger is a little older it’ll be easier to take on more mamas! My husband is a musician, writer, and a session player when he isn’t traveling! Our first four years of marriage were spent traveling together A LOT! Now that we have babes I’m home more, but we still like to go out with papa when we can! Ella’s first trip was to Norway when she was 4 months - it was a blast. We want our kids to experience other cultures, and see different parts of the world from a young age. We are planning on traveling a lot within the next year, so I am getting excited about that! Fun little fact about my family: a lot people ask about our son’s name and why we named him Folger. It’s my moms family name (and yes! It is the Folger coffee family but they actually sold it forever ago haha), and I’ve always loved the idea of using it for a boy! Other things I love are our church community, cooking with friends/family, going on long walks when the weather is good, and spring! It’s my favorite season. 

Moroccan Wool Tassel Pillow & Aran Lumbar & Linen 

If you could shop at any store for free, which would you choose & why?

Probably Target, because I mean, I go at least two times a week! Haha! Mom life! OR Shop Doen my favorite shop to buy clothing for myself and Ella.

What do you consider your biggest strength and weakness?

Oh man, I would say my biggest weakness would be to overcommitting to things! It’ll be Monday, and I’ll realize that I’ve planned so many things that I’ll have to cancel some just so I can have a minute to relax. It always ends up making me stressed, I would think I would have learned by now! Haha. I would say one of my biggest strengths would be loyalty. I really really love my people - I think that’s how I can get into trouble with overcommitting. I just want my everyone to know I’m there for them, and that I’m sensitive to whatever they are walking through in that season. Life is so much easier when we show compassion, and listen to each other. I know I’m still learning that for sure. How do you balance the two? I think just being honest about what I can handle, and do for others helps a lot! 

Do you prefer salty or sweet?

Salty! Always! 

Moroccan Wool Tassel Pillow & Aran Lumbar & Linen 

What did you do in the last 24 hours that made someone else's life more enjoyable?

I took Ella to ballet – haha it’s her favorite thing in the whole world. It’s early in the morning, but I’m so glad we do it! 

African cloths have been popular in Western cultures for quite some time. Among the most well known are the Ankara fabric from Western Africa, kitenge from Eastern Africa, and African mudcloth. They are used to add an extra element of style or design and each has their own rich history and meaning from their respective cultures. The African mudcloth has a fascinating history and meanings.

Origins

Though it’s commonly referred to as “African”, the fabric hails from northern Africa, specifically the inland country of Mali in the Western Sahara region.  The term “mudcloth” is loosely translated from Bambara, the language spoken in Mali. “Bògòlanfini” as it is called in Bambara, combines three root words: “bogo” meaning earth or mud, “lan” meaning ‘with’, and “fini” meaning cloth. The handmade Malian cloth dyed using fermented mud, giving it its name-sake. The tradition dates back to the 12th century.

Mudcloth was a local tradition

Traditionally made by men, they weave together thin strips of plain fabric, usually a yellowish beige natural color, into squares that were then stitched together. After the construction of the cloth, the fabric was then dyed in baths of leaves and branches. This process is used to bind the dye to the fabric.

The fabric was then laid out to dry in the sun, after which beautiful patterns would be intricately and carefully painted using a special kind of mud. The mud was collected from numerous streams and ponds and left to ferment over seasons.

As the mud dries, it changes colors, from dark brown or black to a gray color. The excess mud is washed off the fabric and the process is repeated many times. With each repetition, the affected area becomes darker. The unpainted areas were treated with a bleaching agent, turning the natural yellow color brown. After sun drying for a week, the fabric is washed off and leaves the characteristic white pattern on a dark background.   

The meaning of the patterns

Similar to Ankara and kitenge fabrics, mudcloth were often manufactured to carry meaning to the wearers and onlookers. The designers used the pattern of the light shapes and figures on the dark background to convey meaning, often passed from mother to daughter. These meanings could often be quite complex, but there were some standard patterns that had accepted meanings within certain ingroups. A twirl, for instance, meant life, while a concentric circle could represent the world.

Mudcloth in modern fashion

Chris Seydou, a Malian fashion designer, is widely credited with bringing African mudcloth into the modern fashion arena. Growing up with his embroiderer mother, Seydou was frequently surrounded by the fabrics and incorporated them into his haute couture clothes, modifying the complex patterns for Western audiences.

Large amounts of mudcloth are still produced in Mali, mostly as part of the tourist trade, with men responsible for most of the production. Today, it is used in a variety of ways, from fashion to furniture and home decor. It remains a popular way to add texture and pattern to an outfit or a room.

At Mae Woven, we love having our pillows made from African mudcloth. We find fabric in many different colors from black, to rust and white or cream and even pink! We love the designs and textures that make each pillow cover unique.