Monthly Archives: January 2015

A Peek Inside My Studio

It’s funny how some days just plan themselves out for you…

Last Saturday morning I walked into my studio not knowing what I was going to work on first.  Well, I thought, I can finally put away my new yarn (yes, the yarn I purchased in November).  In it went, into my fingering weight bin.  Uh, oh, problem!  Way too crowded in there.  No way can I rummage through there looking for a particular color.

yarn 768Time to organize!  This one little problem got me started on a task that took most of the day.  I needed to clear out some bins so I could see these beautiful new yarns, but where to put those other things?  I’ve had this little dresser in the basement storing…bubble wrap…yes, that’s correct.  I keep all that stuff.  You never know when you’ll need it for packing up whatever needs to be packed up.  I brought the dresser up to my studio and filled it with boring white fabric, some props that always look messy, and knit fabric that’s impossible to keep looking neat.  I now had lots of space to spread out my beautiful yarn.

2015 studio 285

If anyone has a solution for storing spools of ribbon please let me know. The pant hangers I use show what I have, but it is hard to get at the spools farthest away from the ends.

2015 studio 286

I now have 5 bins for my fingering weight yarn where as before I only had one. There’s even room for more… 🙂

Here's the little dresser which now gives me a place to put my serger.  :)

Here’s the little dresser which now gives me a place to put my serger. 🙂

While I was at it I snapped some pictures to show you where I (mostly) work.  I do tend to spread out into the rest of the house although I try not to, even though I have a very patient  family.

My studio is in a tiny room off of the family room.  When we bought the house it was listed as a bedroom, but was being used as an exercise room.  I took the closet doors off to make the room seem roomier and removed the vinyl vertical blind slats off of the window treatment and hung up some white cotton sheets onto the headrail.  That’s about all I did.  After 6+ years I still haven’t gotten around to painting the paneling or removing the wall paper.  It all takes time and I’d rather be creating than painting walls.  I guess if it bothered me enough I would make changes, but it is okay as is.

2015 studio 288

At one time these DMC floss cabinets were all filled with embroidery floss. Now, with the inserts removed, they are perfect for organizing all sorts of things.

2015 studio 299

2015 studio 289

2015 studio 291

2015 studio 301

You can see that I haven’t yet put away the fabric that I bought in December.  Maybe next month?  Hopefully I will have room for that.

2015 studio 295

So, that’s my little creative corner of the world (house).  It is small, but cozy, and a nice place to spend my time being creative.

Things Are Looking “Love-ly” Around the Studio

Hearts…and roses…and chocolate (yum)…and everything pink and red…

You know the day…Valentine’s Day, and it’s fast approaching.

Ever since I finished up Christmas and winter outfits for the girls I’ve been surrounded by pink and red fabric, yarn, embroidery thread, beads, and all kinds of heart motifs.  I love these pretty things in the middle of winter.

red roses for my sweetie 134

My Kaye Wiggs Millie is here to show you her brand new embroidered sweater dress, striped tights, pink hair bow, and bracelet set.  The creation of this outfit actually started with the striped tights which left Millie sitting around wearing not much else until the sweater dress was finished.  The poor girl got a bit chilly, I think, but she didn’t complain.

The dress is hand knit in natural Peruvian Highland wool and embroidered with pink/red bullion stitched roses and rosebuds, two kinds of sky blue beads, and a delicate strand of neutral green thread for the leaves and stems.  Millie has a rosy pink knitted headband that ties in a bow to hold back her long, beautiful blonde locks.  A pink bugle bead bracelet with a heart and rose dangling from it complete this outfit.

red roses for my sweetie 139

red roses for my sweetie 145

red roses for my sweetie 136

red roses for my sweetie 142

Millie wishes you a “love-ly” week!

For more information on Millie’s new sweater dress set, please visit the “Available for Sale” page on my website, Cindy Rice Designs.

Finally…It’s Looking Like Winter

December was a pretty painless month weather wise for us in northern Illinois.  The temperature stayed right around freezing, not very cold for us.  So, no weather excuses for not getting the Christmas shopping done.  Well, it’s a new year and new weather.  This morning we woke to a winter wonderland.  It’s still snowing mid morning with more coming tomorrow.  After that it will get very cold.  Winter is finally here!

snowfall 245

A snowy view out my bay window in the kitchen…

snowfall 246

…and out the front door…

snowfall 251

…and out my sewing room window.

Sugar (Fairyland Pukipuki) has never felt snow.  I know, it’s my fault.  She hasn’t had proper winter clothing.  However, last week I knit her a bulky wool sweater which will keep her nice and warm.  She’s got some waterproof boots and leggings too.  She donned her winter gear and begged me to take her out on the sled.  She needed a few extra pieces so I found some scrap yarn to wrap around her neck as a scarf and dug out her little pixie hat to keep her ears warm.  I think she’s ready to experience snow.

pukipuki snow 279

pukipuki snow 282

“Please, please, please…”, begged little Sugar.

pukipuki snow 255

Like all little ones, Sugar LOVED playing in the snow with her puppy!

snowfall 266

snowfall 271

snowfall 276

snowfall 275

pukipuki snow 256

Do you see the snowflake in Sugar’s hair?