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.

“Daisy Chain” Garlands

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Did you make daisy chain garland crowns when you were young? I remember daisies growing prolifically in the fields and along the sides of roads, but never did turn them into a garland. Those were the days before (way before) Google, so I never knew how. Here’s a Wikihow tutorial that I found. It looks pretty easy. Maybe this is the year to try it…

Gina’s new ensemble features a cotton print filled with daisies. The colors are casual with a feeling of being out in the country.

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Of course my original idea was to make Gina a daisy chain garland for her hair, but the daisies were too large and over powering for this delicate miss, so I went with a single daisy and ribbon to make a hair tie. I like this look much better.

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I found this speckled porcelain sprinkling can at a thrift store and snatched it up. It is the perfect accessory for this ensemble, don’t you think?

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Gina can also hold her bouquet of daisies separately.

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I found the charm for Gina’s necklace in my stash–a little sprinkling can with a heart! Seriously, how perfect is this charm for this ensemble!

I knit Gina’s “light as a feather” mohair cardigan to fall slightly below the waistline of her drop-waist styled dress. I picked up the colorful pastels in the dress print to embroider a set of mirrored image floral motifs on the bottom corners of the sweater.

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Gina’s “Daisy Chain” ensemble will be available tonight, March 30, 2016 at 7:00 pm, CST. Check the “Shop What’s New” page at cindyricedesigns.com.

“A Party in the Rose Garden”

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I know it will be at least a couple of months before there are any rose gardens in bloom here in northern Illinois, but I know there are places where roses are in bloom. BTW, I am so jealous.

While creating Gracie’s new ensemble I let my mind wander… imagining rose gardens where picnics, leisurely walks, and garden parties are going on underneath the blue spring sky. Doesn’t that sound lovely?

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Before I had Kaye Wiggs Gracie and Talyssa dolls, I would have had to pass on this fabric because the scale seemed too big for the smaller dolls. I find the most colorful prints are usually too large for the Little Darling sized dolls. This fabric reminds me of a vintage pillowcase; it is so soft and colorful, in a pastel kind of way. I wanted to make use of all of the pretty pastels, not just the pink, so I picked out the mint green, yellow, and blue by adding ribbon, charms to the bracelet, and a selection of blossoms for a bouquet to this ensemble.

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Shrugs, by design, are nice because they allow the entire dress to remain the focal point. Gracie is wearing my “fun to knit” lace shrug. I’ve made this shrug often enough to have memorized the lace pattern and notice when I forget a yarn over or to make a PSSO, so now I can say it is fun.

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Gracie’s crocheted hat is perfect for wearing in the garden. The brim can be worn a variety of ways–one side up, one side up and the other one down, etc. I used the dress fabric to make a band around the crown and knit a rose and leaf for further embellishment; I also added a tulle bow.

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I’ve made Gracie a delicate little pendant out of very fine silver-toned chain and a glass pearl drop. She loves her whimsical and fun charm bracelet adorning her delicate wrist.

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Gracie’s “A Party in the Rose Garden” ensemble will be available tonight (March 29, 2016) at 7:00 pm, CST. Go to the “Shop What’s New” page at cindyricedesigns.com.

Happy Easter

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Happy Easter to all of my readers who celebrate this blessed day. Easters in northern Illinois are “iffy” when it comes to the weather. In years past we’ve seen snow, rain, cold temperatures, and the “not very often” perfect day. This year will be quite chilly, I’m afraid. We will definitely need those Easter bonnets and spring coats.

To help you get in the Easter-y mood I pulled my Easter photos from years past.

Amelia Thimble’s 4″ friend, Izzy, is looking very springlike in her Easter finery.

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Amelia Thimble wearing “Easter Roses”, an ensemble I made last year. It looks like she found an Easter egg for her teeny tiny basket.

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I also made Easter bonnets for the tiny girls last year—that was fun.

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Amelia Thimble thinks her bunny would look cute wearing her bonnet.

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One year Patience found some eggs on an egg hunt.

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Amelia is giving her doll sized stuffed bunny a hug.

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Talyssa also loves to hug the bunnies (and bears dressed as bunnies). You can see the size difference in the two dolls with these photos; they are hugging the same bunny!

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