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.

This first photo was taken on March 3, exactly 10 days ago. We were in the midst of a snowstorm. I’ll admit it was very pretty at the time. But…

look at it now. We’re heading towards 60 degrees today. SO, SO happy! I feel like I am in a foreign land after so many days of very cold temps.There’s still some snow hanging around, but barely. It really feels like spring is on the way. 🙂

This is now my view outside my sewing room window. Our swimming pool is still looking quite icy cold, but at least we can see it.

In the last day or so the snow has melted and left behind the very first signs of spring, crocuses and daffodils starting to grow into their spring “gloriousness” .

Hope you’re starting to see the beginnings of spring too.

While I cannot say it is totally springlike here, we are moving towards it. Over the last 4-5 days we have lost lots of snow with above freezing temps and lots of sun. Large areas of grass are starting to appear and they’re sort of green…well, in some places!

Update: I wrote this post this morning and as of now (the evening) it seems like there is less snow and more grass showing. What a huge difference a day makes!

No sign of bulb gardens starting in northern Illinois yet, though. For a preview of what is to come, a beautiful bulb garden is in full bloom on Pukipuki Sugar’s dress. And, the best part is that it is an everlasting reminder of our fleeting spring flower gardens.

Sugar has embroidered tulips in three shades, yellow daffodils, tiny grape hyacinths (yes, they smell like grape), and the ever fragrant hyacinths in purple (blue), white, and pink. In our previous house all of these bloomed in my garden every year.

What will be blooming in your spring garden?