It’s fairly obvious from our French Pastry iPhone case collection that we love sweets and treats.  Before we began drawing the colorful macarons for one of our cases, we did a bit of research into the history of this delectable French treat.

We were quickly drawn into what seemed like mild cookie drama.  Some insist macarons were originally made by monks in Italy.  Others say it originated in France and made known by nuns seeking asylum during the French Revolution.  (Click here for a small, historical briefing of the macaron.)

One  issue that stood out was the use of macaron vs. macaroon.   The proper French spelling of macaron is with just one O.  Many Americans use the “OO” (double o) in reference to the famous macaron.  And many in the States use “macaroon” to mean an entirely different cookie. And finally, some French try to adapt the English spelling when using the word abroad and think it should have another “O” at the end.  There is no need to change the French spelling by adding another O.  It just leads to confusion.

Why does adding another O to the French macaron lead to confusion?  Because in parts of North America the  macaroon is an altogether different confection.  It is a soft and chewy coconut cookie.  The coconut clumps are visible from the outside and usually a crispy brown around the edges.  (When great-aunt Doris wants to make “macaroons” for her potluck dinner, it’s probably this coconut cookie.)

Here is a macaroon:

photo via egglesscooking.com

Here is the cookie made famous in France…the macaron:

photo via foodbeam.com

As with nearly anything in life, it’s all relative.  If you add an extra O to your macaron, it’s not a big deal.  And having sampled both types of cookies, they are equally delicious in different ways.

An important element in the design process is collecting leather and/or fabric samples.  Right now we are finalizing leather samples for new iPad clutches and cases.  Each new product takes on a life of its own once an exterior leather is chosen.  It’s a fun task, but also somewhat serious.  We have to make sure each hide has a proper finish and correct thickness before putting a new design into production. Below a small sampling of leathers we are considering for new iPad collections.  We tend to favor color here at Plia Designs, but always reminding ourselves to choose a “neutral”  as well.

Here are some favorites with a colorful vibe:

Here is a somewhat neutral:

Can’t wait to see final samples of finished iPad cases and clutches!

Do you remember Sweet &  Sour Charm Pops?  We recently rediscovered these at an old-fashioned gas station near our design studio.  (It’s the sort of place where elderly gentlemen convene later in the afternoon to sip soda and shoot the breeze.)  After weeks of daily trips to stock up, we wiped them out and the restocking seemed to take forever.  A quick Google and we arrived at BlairCandy.com.  3 days later and fantastic customer service, our box of Charm Pops arrived!