Happy New Year! Sorry, I know it’s a little late; the days in this new year are already full and flying by. I am trying to catch them before they’re gone…
Big news! I have a new Christmas doll. She is the Ruby Red Fashion Friends 2020 Holiday Stella, and I’ve been wanting her in my collection since I saw her over a year ago. Stella is the holiday doll from 2020, so she is pretty much sold out everywhere, however, she was found for me at FAO Schwarz, and I am so happy she was! She has such a sweet face! I LOVE her!!! She is a most special gift!
I think I was drawn to her because she reminded me of Holly in one of my favorite stories, “Holly and Ivy”. Therefore, I am renaming Stella. She is now Holly. This is a first; I don’t think I’ve ever renamed a doll that has come to me named, but she is definitely Holly.
Maybe for Christmas 2022 Holly will be dressed as Barbara Cooney, the book’s illustrator, envisioned her.
Last year I took some video paging through this book on Christmas night. Here is a link to that video. It’s 1:32 into the video. I first came across this charming story at our local library when my daughter was young. That book was the 1985 version with Barbara Cooney’s illustrations. (This story, text only, was originally published in Ladies’ Home Journal in 1957.)
After checking the book out a few years in a row it had become an absolute favorite of mine. I found the illustrations cozy and charming, and the story heartwarming–perfect for Christmastime. I was thrilled to find the book on Amazon in 2009. “The Story of Holly and Ivy” had been republished in 2006. Now, over 10 years later I still look through, or read, this story every year.
Holly looks so sweet in her Christmas fancies, but I am currently working on something a little more for every day, and warmer, for Holly. I’ll show you soon.
I hope you are starting off the new year healthy and happy. Sending you a big hug for 2022. 🤗
Cindy Rice Designs 
Congrats on your new Holly. So sweet. The latest to arrive here was RRFF Freida. She has beautiful dark hair and a pretty complexion. RubyRedFashionFriendsToys.com now has an archive of all of the dolls. Very useful to check out the girls and boys. 🙂 Can’t wait to see the outfit you are making for Holly. Happy New Year!
Hi, Joy. Freida is very cute. How does her complexion differ from Bella’s and Stella’s? Sometimes the photos do not show accurate tones.
Thank you for website info. I’ll keep that in mind. The list of RRFF keeps growing.
Hope you’re enjoying the new year, Joy. ❤️
I also love those dolls. My granddaughter favors them. Holly is a perfect name. You have piqued my curiosity about the book. Can’t wait to see what you make for her. I can envision something snowy white embroidered with sweet holly leaves and berries. Have fun with the new addition to your family.
Hi, Dee. How fun that you and your granddaughter share a love of these dolls. They are so beautiful, and I love how easy they are to get–no waiting for months or years.
Happy to introduce you to a new story. It’s so precious!
Oh, something snowy white sounds heavenly… maybe the next one. I don’t think we’re done with snow here yet. We’ve actually not had much at all. I’m looking forward to more!!! I hope your enjoying the new year, Dee. ❤️
Me, too! I have several of these dolls and their happy faces make me smile, too. Glad you found the one that will inspire you to design for the RRFF dolls.
Hi, Susette. Right now it’s two, however, I’m not sure how I’ll keep my collection down to only two. They are way easy to collect. Each one is cuter than the last.
Thank you for stopping by to chat, Susette. I hope the new year is treating you well. ❤️
HAPPY NEW YEAR and CONGRATULATIONS, Cindy on the addition of Holly to your Family of Dolls! I can’t wait to see her dressed in one of your Lovely Ensembles! Enjoy her, dear Cindy!♥️
As ever,
Carol Christiansen
Hi, Carol. Happy New Year to you!!! Holly is so happy to be getting something new. She can’t wait until it is ready for her to try on.
Thank you, Carol! I am already enjoying her very much! She is beautiful! ❤️
Happy new year
Happy New Year to you, too!!! ❤️🎉
Stella is beautiful. I’ve RRFD Sara, Stella/Holly’s identical twin in jeans. Seeing the illustration of Holly in the book, I want to sew a green petticoat and red dress for Sara for Christmas 2022. I’m hoping I can top it off with a green knit cardigan designed by you. I’ve already put The Holly and the Ivy on my Amazon wish list. I too have a special Christmas book I read every year. I refresh my college German by reading ETA Hoffmann’s the Nutcracker illustrated by Roberto Innocenti. I’m addicted to the Nutcracker ballet. The 2002 Royal Ballet version is my favorite.
I hope you can finish the sweater and add a knitting pattern to your list for the Sweet Sue hard plastic dolls from the 50s. I’ve several Sweet Sue dolls who are cold and would appreciate a sweater like that. (Madam Alexander and Arranbee used the same doll bodies)
Hi, Patricia. I am happy to inspire you for next Christmas. We definitely are getting ahead of the season by thinking about what we’d like to make!
I love ballet and the Nutcracker is a good one. How wonderful that you are keeping up with the German language that you learned in college. That is hard to do. I took 3 years of Spanish in high school, and even though I can read Spanish I don’t understand what I am reading.
I am not familiar with vintage dolls, I am sorry to say. I don’t have any in my collection either. A few years ago a friend sent me her mom’s Toni doll, and I made a new ensemble for her and then sent her back. That’s about the extent of my vintage doll experience. Sweet Sue is a mystery to me. Have you checked doll measurements on my patterns? They are on Ravelry. Maybe one of the modern dolls is close in size to Sweet Sue.
Have a great week, Patricia! ❤️
Happy new year to you Cindy !!! It is amazing that we are now more than half way through January already. Stella is such a pretty doll ! I am so glad you were able to add her to your collection and I am sure she will be a hit with the other girls ! She will now make a great Holly, it is a very lovely name , one of hope and optimism . You now have a long term project to transform Holly for Christmas 2022. I would love to get the book Holly and Ivy, the illustrations are so nice and I am sure the story matches. It is good you take the book out every year to read and I am sure reminisce. She looks amazing in her Christmas dress . The new year is going pretty well, I had one day with sickness but am recovered now . Sending you hugs for 2022 and a special hug for Holly to welcome her ! Take care, Terri xo.
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