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.

It’s the Week-End

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Hello to you. How are you? Thank you for all the well wishes. ❤ You are wonderful and kind! It turns out I have a little infection which was causing my elevated temperature. My doctor prescribed an antiobiotic and I am feeling better. What a relief! My heart goes out to all those who are battling covid. It’s sure is scary.

Mid week I started writing a knitting pattern for a Little Darling’s striped ear flap hat. I am going to include a video link with the pattern that will help with certain steps such as picking up stitches for the ear flaps, the i-cord ties, changing colors for the stripes, making jogless stripes, etc.

Here is my first test piece from my messy notebook. I am writing the pattern and will knit another hat from that to make sure it is all correct. The stripes can be changed in height to the knitter’s liking. I have a page in the pattern with a shaped graph for coloring. 🙂

Yesterday, I started embroidering the above pink sweater coat. I started taking some video embroidering the bullion roses. I recorded how I start–motif placement and motif design. Still more to do with this.

Today I published a You Tube video showing how I embroidered the apples on Lucy’s blue mohair cardigan. I must say that embroidering this sweater was more ripping out than stitching–not so much the apples, but the blossoms. Sometimes those little embroidery fairies aren’t available to help me. (lol) This video is only about embroidering the apples. Future videos will show embroidering other motifs.

So, that’s been my week work-wise since Wednesday or so.

wiMy husband had a birthday this week. My daughter and I managed to find some gifts to order for hime online… and they arrived in time. Always a plus! We baked him a pumpkin cheesecake with a pecan crust–very yummy. We also did our first carry out meal since forever. I don’t even think I’ve eaten out before this this year–no lie!

Sending you happy wishes for a great weekend. ❤ What are you up to… or making? Please share if you’d like to.

Mid October

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Hi there! I wanted to get this post written yesterday, but was stuck in bed with a low grade fever and all over feelings of achiness–especially my head and sinuses. You never know these days so… I have a Covid test scheduled for tomorrow and in the meantime am quarantining in a bedroom by myself until the test results come back in a couple of days. Right now my temp is just about normal and the last fever reducer I took was at 2 am, so fingers crossed it will stay down by itself. However, my head is still quite achy as well as my sinuses. (Please forgive me if I write something that doesn’t make sense.)

On Saturday I uploaded part 3 to show you my process when I make a Little Darling dress. This video shows how I hand stitch the bodice lining to the skirt to make a totally finished dress inside. (I find it so enjoyable to dress my dolls when the inside is all finished. Anyone else feel the same?) Also, I show how I sew on snaps to get them lined up perfectly and also how I sew on the decorative buttons. Thank you if you’ve watched and/or commented on my first videos. I really appreciate your support!!!

Anyway, the ensemble is finally complete for the dress I’ve been making in the three videos.

I had the perfect shade of silk ribbon in my stash–a cherry red.

I think the apples in this ensemble are the ‘Pink Lady’ variety–they are reddish pink.

I did some recording of my embroidery process for this sweater, but I am not super happy with it. I may make a quick video from it though–maybe how I embroider one of the apples? Perhaps the next embroidery footage will come out better.

For me embroidering the knitwear is the most difficult step in creating an ensemble. It is touch and go, or I should say, stitch and rip. I think embroidering this cardigan was more ripping than stitching, or it felt like it. The embroidery fairies didn’t show up to help me out–lol. So, after spending two days embroidering this cardigan I can say I am happy with the final result, which is all that really matters, right?

I was so saddened to hear the news of Dianna Effner’s passing. Her dolls have provided me with so much joy. They’ve especially helped me through some hard times these last few years. Those precious faces…! If you’ve been reading my blog for awhile it is probably quite obvious to you that Dianna’s Little Darlings are my favorite doll of all time. My Gina, Lucy, Alice, and I send our most heartfelt condolences to her family. ❤ ❤ ❤

Sending you, my dear readers, virtual hugs. ooo ❤ ❤ ❤

Busy Autumn Week

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Hello! How have you been? We’ve had a gorgeous week here in northern Illinois–sunshine and blue skies all week. I’ve started a new habit to be still each morning, and be thankful for all I am blessed with. The beautiful weather has made it on my gratitude list every day.

I’ve never been a person of rituals or habits, but I think it is what my soul longs for. For the past 2-1/2 months I spend some time on my yoga mat, first thing in the morning. I bring a mug of tea, light a candle, open the window for fresh air, turn on my salt lamp and spend time stretching and slowly waking up. And while I drink my tea I reflect on those things to be grateful for. These last weeks I have found myself to be more calm and patient and mindful.

Speaking of gratefulness–I am grateful for all of you who have visited my You Tube channel. Thank you so much! ❤ I am happy to share what I know and do. It is good for me to do this, and I hope you enjoy it too. I realize I have a lot to learn and appreciate you coming along with me as I learn and get better (hopefully) making videos.

I published Part 2 of how I make a Little Darlings dress this week. Part 2 covers making the lined skirt, adding inset eyelet trim, and then sewing the skirt onto the bodice. I included time stamps in the description, so you can click on the time and go to that section. Please watch if you’d like. Your comments, liking my videos, and following my channel are very much appreciated! Thank you! ❤

I have a pink sweater that I had knit for this dress and I didn’t like it with the blue/red apple print. I really like the sweater and want to make a fall dress to go with it. One evening I spent some time going through my fabrics. Here are four fabrics that I liked with the sweater. I like them all, but I have a favorite–which is yours? I’d love to know…

The colors are really changing around here and the feel of fall is in the air. I spent most of yesterday outside: in our backyard, walking the neighborhood, and at the forest preserve. If you’d enjoy another nature video let me know; I’d love to put another one together.