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.

Right now in the middle of winter all most of us have are promises and hopes that rose gardens will again be in bloom to mesmerize us with their sweet scent and beautiful blooms.

In the mid 1990’s I had a rose garden made up of a couple dozen rosebushes of all different varieties and types. They were my inspiration for my cross stitch designs. I designed a series of rose bouquets, a series of single rosebuds, a Peace rose bouquet, and a design for brides using some of the pastel roses growing in my garden. I still have stacks of pictures I took of my roses, but sadly my rose garden is long gone.

These days I get my rose garden fix from public gardens. In the nearby suburb of Libertyville there is a beautiful rose garden in the center of town. There is also the Chicago Botanic Gardens which is one of my most favorite places to visit. I’ve written about it a bit here. You can visit their site here. They are even open year round. I’ve never visited in the winter, but I’ll bet it’s magical. And, if you get cold there are always the greenhouses.

If you love roses too, where do you go to experience rose gardens?

I’ve just completed an ensemble made for the Little Darlings. It is filled with promises of glorious roses.

For more information on “Rosy Promises” please visit my “Available for Sale” page on cindyricedesigns.com .

It’s been snowing all day and night and it’s still coming down. What a great day to stay inside and have nowhere to go. It’s cozy and warm inside and so pretty outside. Early this morning the birds were oh so busy at the feeder.

The view early this morning out my studio window.

Another picture outside my studio in the morning (above) and in the evening (below). You can see the snow’s progress on the side of the decking. The deck skirting is all under the snow in the picture below.