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.

I’d Like You to Meet Talyssa

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Introducing my first Kaye Wiggs doll, Talyssa. Isn’t she just the sweetest little thing?

Talyssa is currently the largest doll that I am creating outfits for so while sewing for her may be easier, knitting for her takes a bit longer (but that’s okay). On the other hand, because she is larger I will be able to use fabrics, ribbons, etc. that always got pushed to the back of the drawer because they were just too big in scale for smaller dolls.

I am looking forward to making many new things for Talyssa. Her debut outfit is for the upcoming holiday season, of course. It is called “Elves Needed”. Don’t we all need lots of little elves to help us with holiday chores? Talyssa is ready and willing to be a little elf for us and help in whatever way she can. Here are some pictures of her modeling her new Christmas set.

For more information on Talyssa’s outfit please visit my website, cindyricedesigns.com and check the “Available for Sale” page.

Pukipuki is Here to Welcome the Holiday Season

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Okay, I know it is early. Halloween was three days ago…! By the time Thanksgiving gets here, though, I think we will want to have some idea about what our doll displays will look like, no? I must confess that I actually started making things for Christmas in July. While I was enjoying the hot Florida sun I was knitting Santa hats and I am glad I did because time seems to be slipping away already.

So to welcome the season here is my Pukipuki Sugar. She is wearing a winter white hand knit and daintily embroidered dress in a mohair/silk yarn. On her head is a ruby red Santa hat with fuzzy trim. If you listen closely you can hear the tinkling of the little bell which magically sticks to her hand (oops sorry, no magic here, there are magnets in Pukipuki’s hands).

Here is a closeup of the embroidery. It is quite tiny. Two different varieties of evergreen boughs and berries, and tiny embroidered bows encircle the waistline of this dress.

With love (blowing kisses) from my tiny Pukipuki Sugar. For more information on this outfit please visit my website,

Cindy Rice Designs on the “Available for Sale” page.

“Autumn Leaves in Color” for the Little Darlings

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Gina is here to show off another autumn ensemble (this is my last for the Little Darlings) that I have made for her. I fell in love with this tiny oak leaf cotton print and just had to buy it to make a fall dress for a certain sweetie. The colors of the leaves in pumpkin, warm red, greens, and greys are so pretty.

This vintage styled headband (hat) design was floating around in my head and seemed to work nicely with the ensemble. I designed the sweater with sleeves wide enough to go over the dress and a tad bit shorter to let the dress’s sleeves peek out a bit.

Wool felt leaf appliques are hand cut and embroidered onto the sweater and headband. Do you like my tiny acorns? They are bronze Czech glass crystals with a curved bullion stitch at the top.

At the top of the lace are alternating hand sewn 14k gold filled beads and topaz colored seed beads.

I have been trying on and off to make a sleeved dress pattern where I can neatly hide those raw edges and not drive myself crazy in the process. Finally…I did it. The armhole sleeve seam allowances are tucked underneath the lining which is hand stitched and the sleeve’s hems and underarm seams are doubled over and hand stitched. The result is an inside with no seam allowances or raw edges showing. I know, you’re probably thinking I’m crazy, right? These little things make me happy, sorry.