Author Archives: Cindy Rice

About Cindy Rice

My wonderful husband, my beautiful daughter, and I live in northeastern Illinois with our two sweet chihuahua boys. For as long as I can remember I have loved dolls and making things. I got my first Barbie when I was only three years old! My mom sewed for my Barbie dolls and taught me how to use her sewing machine when I was only seven. I cannot believe she let me near that needle, but she did. Not having enough money for my clothes habit in high school and college led me to start sewing all of my own clothes. There were so many fabric stores around back then and fabric was so inexpensive. I would wait for the 99 cent pattern sale and go crazy. Sewing for myself continued well into my 30’s. (I even made my wedding gown and bridesmaid dresses.) Shortly after I got married I left my full time graphic design position and started designing cross stitch patterns. I called my company “The Lilac Studio” and sold my botanical patterns at trade shows, through distributors which sold to retail shops, and mail order. My most popular pattern, “A Bouquet of Pansies” sold 5000 copies and won a J&P Coats Golden Needle Award! I was also featured in various cross stitch magazines and designed special projects for the magazines. When my daughter was born I didn’t have the time needed to cross stitch and design patterns all day long so I let my pattern design business slip away. And then I started discovering dolls again and I now had an excuse to start buying them. The only problem was that they were for my daughter and not for me. I soon discovered all of the adult collectors out there and decided I would be one of them. I started small at first, collecting Mattel Kelly dolls. Soon I collected over 100 Kelly dolls! After Kelly, I discovered Helen Kish’s Riley and Tonner’s Ann Estelle. I have since learned to knit doll sweaters and love an excuse to knit so most of my doll outfits include a sweater and/or hat. I love creating miniature outfits for dolls and enjoy sharing them with others. Currently I create doll ensembles for Ruby Red Fashion Friends, Kish Bethany, Dianna Effner's Little Darlings, Wilde Imagination's teeny tiny Amelia, Kaye Wiggs BJD, Boneka 10", Linda Macario's Penny.

Happy Holiday Season from My Dolls to Yours

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Hello! How are things with you? For me, the month is picking up speed at an alarming rate, and my to do list is growing rather than shrinking. I have decided that my holiday ensemble making limit has been reached. However, rather than keeping them in my doll’s wardrobes I’d like to offer them–just in case someone’s Li’l Dreamer or Riley Kish (or one of her friends) would like a special gift this season. I have talked with each of my girls and they have agreed to share.😉

If you click on each photo you will be taken to the original blog post where there are more photos. However, more specifics will be available tonight on the sales pages for each ensemble.

Here are the specifics:

At 7pm CST on December 7, 2023 the available ensembles will be shown on the drop down menu under the “Available Outfits” tab.

I try to make this as fair as possible, so I do not accept early requests.

If you’d like to purchase an ensemble please fill out your information on the Contact (tab at top) page and hit submit. I accept PayPal and will send you an invoice. Since these are one-of-a-kind the first submission I receive will be given the opportunity to purchase.

Each ensemble I create is one-of-a-kind and will not be repeated.

****Please note that due to the high cost of shipping and insurance I only ship to U.S. addresses. Thank you for your understanding.

Thank you for stopping by today! Hugs🤗from my dolls and I!

Little Riley is Wishing…

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My little Riley Kish is wishing and wishing and wishing for a white Christmas. It was looking promising on Halloween, but that snow has melted now. We had another little snowstorm last weekend, and since it was a cold week it stuck around for a few days. But now, it has warmed up, so little Riley is forlornly looking out the window and only seeing rain. I told her that there are still weeks left before Christmas, so to not lose hope. I maybe saw the tiniest little smile on her face after that. She’s trying to be optimistic…

In the meantime, while Riley is waiting for Christmas (and snow) to arrive she is being as festive as possible. For her, that means jingling her tiny jingle bells and decorating the tree. Holiday festiveness and snow go perfectly together. At least here in northern Illinois that is the way things go. I believe she thinks that she is calling on the snow to fall by being the most festive little one possible.

So, while you are here visiting with us Riley would like to show you her new Christmas ensemble. She loves how cozy her merino sweater dress is, and how her Santa hat makes her eyes shine. She is one festive little girl, isn’t she? “Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells…” she sings🎶 in her sweet voice. I wish you could hear her…

Will you help Riley wish for Christmas snow? The poor thing will be quite disappointed if we don’t have a white Christmas. Thank you for your help!

Bye for now! Enjoy the week ahead. Hugs from Riley!🤗

And… The Holiday Season Begins

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It is that time of year again!!! Hello everyone! I really am not sure how this time of year has come around again…so soon after it just recently ended. I am just now getting over the fact that summer is over and autumn has started. 😂 I think my brain has some catching up to do.

Anyway, I love the holiday season, and it is here, so I will of course embrace it. Does anyone know, though, how to alleviate the stress that comes with it? I have an idea, but I don’t think it would be too popular.

My Christmas doll for 2022 was a sweet Li’l Dreamer. Evianna arrived too late to get a holiday ensemble, so she was first on my list this year and she’d like to show you what she’ll be wearing this holiday season.

Evianna wanted a traditional ensemble–red, green, holly, mohair yarn. Nothing too fancy–just cozy and bright, so that is what I made for her. I love how all the tiny knitwear pieces came together: a capelet, headband ear warmer, scarf, and tiny fingerless mitts. As soon as everyone else is ready Evianna will accompany them throughout the village singing Christmas carols. Oh, what fun that will be!

Isn’t she a sweetheart!!!

My Evianna would like to know if you have one of her Li’l Dreamer sisters at your house. She is an ‘only’ here, but she has older sisters and a younger sister–all designed by Dianna Effner, of course.