Hello to you all, my friends. How are you? I’m doing great, staying busy.
Today I spent the day doing something I’ve been wanting to do, but yet, kept putting off because I couldn’t decide on colors. What I did today was dye yarn, and I decided to simply start and let the colors speak for themselves, which they seemed to do just fine. I dyed 5 skeins and was so into what I was doing that I forgot to take pictures.
I’ve also been saving avocado pits for dyeing, so I also dyed a cotton tank. It ended up being the palest shade of mauve-y rose. I think it will make a nice neutral layering piece. Once again, I forgot to take photos, sorry. I will share later, I promise.
Last weekend my husband and I brought our daughter back to school. Gosh, it feels like weeks have already gone by since she’s been home, not a week. How does that happen? Anyway, she is all moved in and has even started classes. Her apartment is very nice this year. The cluster of 3-story buildings are only about 6 years old. Each apartment has a washer/dryer, two bathrooms, high ceilings, nice kitchen and living room. She loves it, however, she is trying to adjust to the noise. She is on the first floor and her window has gotten banged on early in the morning and she hears people outside on the sidewalk. I suggested ear plugs. 🙂
Here is a photo of her cute bed. She made the two pillows in the front, and the braided garland and tassel garland hanging on the wall. The doily on the front pillow was crocheted by her great great grandmother and the rosebud cross stitch picture is by me. She brought another rosebud which wasn’t hung at the time this photo was taken. I think it’s really nice how she has things at school made by her family.
I also wanted to make something for my daughter as she started school this year. This was my first pair of socks made with self striping yarn. Even though I started each sock with yarn from the center of the skein the stripes are reversed. Live and learn! Luckily, the quirkiness of the pair is being embraced. The yarn is Knit Picks Felici sock in the Golden Hour colorway.
One evening while knitting these socks, as the golden hour was happening the sky actually looked golden and seemed to be lit from within. It was magical.
Good news! I finished all of the dresses for my 2018 Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. There are 23 in all. I’m a bit burned out, so this will be the extent of dress sewing for a little bit. However, I love looking at my little dress shop when I am working in my sewing room. They’ll be here until mid November.
This past week I started an ensemble for Ann Estelle. The fabric is a teeny tiny Japanese ballerina print. Isn’t it adorable? I am knitting a lilac mohair cardigan to accompany the dress and possibly a pearl headband. After being away from doll sewing for about 6 months it is good to be back. I’ve missed it.
I’ll be back soon. I hope you all have had a great ‘end of August’ weekend. Wishing you a wonderful week ahead. ❤
Cindy Rice Designs 
So wonderful to see your daughter’s campus/apt. Her decorating is superb. Thinking back to dorm/apartment days in college, our only decorating involved hanging a poster. Well, I did make a rice paper tie dye thingy that I hung on bamboo. And that was back in about 1970. I’m very old.
Your evening photo is quite amazing. Love it. Perhaps you can enlarge it and hang in around Halloween time. Throw in a couple of bats for fun. Not that it shouldn’t be hung all of the time. It is really an amazing piece. You have so much talent!!
And seeing little Annie makes me feel guilty. I have been neglecting my little group. I now have a couple of Meadow girls, close in size, that seem to be taking my time. And my 6.5 inch friends definitely need action on my part. I’m kind of afraid to even think of sewing for someone so small.
And congrats on getting some yarn dyed. That is a big accomplishment.
Great/grate (as my former students often wrote) to read your post.
Hi, Joy. Ha ha, you’re not ‘very’ old. You’re not even old. You are so active which keeps one young. You’ll probably make it to 110 or more!
Thanks for the compliment on my photo. It does look Halloween-y, doesn’t it? All that black and yellow gold. Not sure about the bats though. I find them quite creepy, all sharp angles and teeth.
Is your smallest Meadow close in size to Kish Riley or even smaller like Lisbet? You could always knit her a sweater dress. lol You probably already do this, but using a one-piece bodice (no shoulder seams) helps. Also, take the neckline and armhole seam allowances off of the pattern. Cut out squares of lining and fashion fabric then pin the pattern to this ‘sandwich’ of fabric. Use the pattern as a template to sew the neckline and armholes. Then, you can cut out the rest of the bodice. Hope this isn’t too confusing. I find it helps get those curves perfect.
Hope you’re enjoying this last week of August, Joy. ❤
First, I want to say thank you for the free download pattern for the AG Cardigan. I will be making some of those soon. I purchased your pattern for the 13″ Classic Cardigan and have made 4 of them so far. I haven’t gotten to the embroidery yet, but will do that soon. I love how they come out and the pattern instructions are so easy to follow! You have helped me to improve my knitting skills immensely! Thank you once again. Have a great day! Love ya, Jean
You are so very welcome, Carol. And thank you for letting me know this pattern has worked for you, and even has helped you become a better knitter. Knowing that really makes my day! I remember all those years of drooling over tiny sweaters I saw on eBay. I desperately wanted to be able to make some of my own. Now that I can I’m happy to share what I’ve learned. Wishing you many more pleasurable moments of knitting for dolls. ❤
Hi Cindy, it must be hard being without your daughter now summer is basically gone. She is back to college , and it will be an adjustment for you. Her apartment complex looks amazing! I hope she finds a way to block the noise . The pillows are very cute, how nice her great great grandma crocheted the doily!! A great reminder of family and I love your handiwork too! The socks are cute , perfect for a college Girl! The dresses looks so nice , made with love for Girls who will appreciate them coming up. It must be nice getting back to doll sewing ! The Ballerina print is so adorable !! Have a great day hugs, Terri xo.
Hi, Terri. Thank you for writing. Yes, it is hard with my daughter away. I do miss her terribly! She is doing what she needs to do though, and we are able to text, talk, and/or Face time every day. That’s more than my mom had, lots more. So I shouldn’t complain, right?
I hope you have a great holiday weekend, Terri. Enjoy it!
❤
It comes full circle Cindy . You are now in your Mom’s place of missing her daughter when she is away. It will come to Me soon too! I d’ont see it as complaining by you but as love of your child. We are able to be closer to our kids today with facetime and text. Have a lovely weekend Dear, hugs, Terri xo.