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.

No, I don’t have a speck of Irish heritage in me and I look awful in the color green, but I couldn’t help but get into the Irish spirit this year. My Pukipuki, Sugar, is here to spread St. Paddy’s Day joy to you all. By the way, I think she looks beautiful in the color green.

This past week I spent quite a bit of time learning some new techniques and discovering some new sites. I practiced a new lace pattern, discovered Craftsy, listened to a new knitting podcast, and perused Ravelry and Pinterest for knitting inspiration. As a result, I found this adorable Blythe hat pattern from Maggie at Parasol Doll and knit up my version for Pukipuki. Thank you, Maggie.

Sugar wanted to wear her new outfit while looking for all things lucky and Irish. My little charmer found her own lucky charm.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Patience and Izzy are feeling so sweet and rosy in their new coordinating outfits. Patience and Izzy’s cardigan, sweater dress, and hat and are knit in fine lace weight baby alpaca/silk yarn. It is very soft and has a nice drape to it. I hand dyed the yarn for Izzy’s set to pick up the blue in Patience’s floral print dress. Patience’s hat is crocheted in three natural fibers with a brim that can be worn up or down. The dress’s fabric is a fine cotton print from Japan and features the prettiest pastel flowers and ribbons in pinks, sky blue, green, and yellow. I used hand dyed silk ribbon and fine English cotton cluny lace for special touches in this coordinating set.