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.

I’ve been working on winter white Christmas sets for Pupipuki Sugar and Amelia Thimble. I thought that a white on white combination would be something different.

Last night (so I could get right to work this morning without procrastinating) I did a few quick drawings of little motifs for embroidery. It worked, and I got right down to business early this morning.

Even though I use my “patterns” from the last time when I start knitting or crocheting a new piece the results can vary. In this case Sugar’s dress seemed a tad short. Some tiny lace tights solved the “too much bare leg” problem. These are super tiny, but cute on her chubby li’l legs.

Sugar’s arm around Amelia Thimble’s back keeps her steady while I manage to catch a photo of them in their brand new Christmas sets. They have become great friends!

I just started another knitting/crocheting notebook, it’s the top book. Everything I have knit or crocheted within the last 4+ years is written in these books! In addition to writing out “patterns” I also document the date, doll made for, needle size, type/color of yarn, embroidery colors/strands. These notes make it easy to go back and remake something or remake something with changes that I want to incorporate in the new piece.

My sweet chihuahua LOVES sleeping in sunbeams. He looked so peaceful that I had to take a photo of him.

Hope you have a GREAT week! Bye for now!

My tiny (11″) Kay Wiggs illie, Millie, is here today modeling her new (and first of the season) Christmas ensemble. Doesn’t she look festive, cozy, and warm?

Millie is so excited to have her very own Santa hat. Millie says she will wear it “all the time” when helping out this holiday season.

Millie’s sweater is knit with mohair/silk lace weight yarn. For the embroidery, I centered the main motifs around the petaled blossom shapes from the dress and embroidered them in a warm pink-y shade (for more distinction they are a shade or two lighter than those on the dress). The berries are colonial knots in a deep berry red that match the dress; the stems and leaves are lazy daisy stitches and straight stitches.