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.

“Peaches and Cream” for Penny

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My Linda Macario’s Penny has a brand new ensemble to show you. This teeny tiny peach rose print on a pastel yellow background looked perfect with Penny’s coloring, so this little 8-1/2″ (22 cm) imp was the lucky recipient of an outfit made with this fabric.

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Penny’s “light as a feather” tiny sweater is hand knit with mohair/silk lace yarn. I dyed it light peach to pick up the pretty peach roses in the dress’s print.

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I thought a little beret would look cute on this little one, and it does. Penny’s beret is hand knit with natural colored merino lace yarn. A peach silk bow, wool felt embroidered leaf, and rose charm add embellishment to the beret.

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Penny says, “Thank you so much for visiting!”

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“Peaches and Cream” will be available tonight at 7:00 pm, CST. Check my “Shop What’s New” page at cindyricedesigns.com.

A VERY Hard Week

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It’s been a very hard week indeed! This past week I lost my mom. For years she’d been fighting a very brave battle with that horrible disease we call cancer and finally couldn’t fight it any longer. For her, this entire year has been agonizing. While I am grateful that she is free of her suffering, I miss her terribly.

In addition to this being a very hard week, today is the two month anniversary of my dad’s passing. I guess you could say my family has had a doozy of a year and we’ve only seen the first quarter go by.

I believe I got my love of dolls from my mom. From a very early age I have the sweetest memories of my dolls; I think they were linked to so many happy times shared with my mom who was usually so busy keeping house, cooking, and taking care of a large family. My mom gave me my first Barbie doll when I was three years old and she must have spent countless hours making clothes for my doll because she made all of my Barbie doll’s clothing and I had a lot! I specifically remember waking up one morning and seeing my doll modeling a beautiful new dress made from one of her old dresses. I remember the day she handed me a new Midge doll for no reason. And, I remember wanting a Crissy doll so badly when they were brand new. I got one for Christmas that year and an entire wardrobe for her made by my mom. So, yes, when I think of dolls those memories that include my mom are at the forefront.

My mom was my first sewing teacher, and was very good at it even though it wasn’t her passion. I believe I was only 7 when she entrusted me to run her sewing machine. I have no idea what I managed to make at that age, but it started my love of the craft and probably became my very first activity that I was passionate about.

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It was so hard finding a photo with my mom and I from years ago; she was alway so busy. My uncle (her brother) caught her here with me giving his new son a bottle.

And, here’s a photo from not that long ago when she shared my happy day with me. This photo seems like it was taken yesterday and she was younger than I am now. Oh my goodness, how the years fly by…!!!

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I love you Mom!!! I’ll miss you every day!

A “Happy Day to You”

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This is what I am wishing to all of you today. A day filled with no worries, sunshine, and all good things. Don’t we all need a day like this?

I made this last ensemble for the Little Darlings just because… just because the multi colored polka dots made me happy. The happy feeling I got from these polka dots set the theme for this ensemble. Of course Lucy, with her big smile, got to model this one.

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Aren’t these the prettiest colored polka dots!

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Lucy’s prettily colored lace shrug is hand knit with Peruvian Highland wool in a color called Lady Slipper. The magenta ruffly edging is made with magenta mohair/silk lace. Both of these colors are found in the polka dots.

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