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.

What I’ve Been Up To This Past Week and Plans

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Hello and happy Sunday to you! It’s been a full week for me. I’ve been learning more and more on how to shoot video, edit video, and turn said video footage into movies in iMovie.

It turns out there is also a lot to learn to simply upload the movie and get it onto You Tube. I spent the entire day yesterday trying to figure out why my upload kept stalling. Literally, it took all day. I wouldn’t find out it was stalling until hours of uploading had already gone by. My poor overworked laptop… I think I may have figured out how to avoid it next time, but who knows.

The video that I was working on uploading is called “Sew with Me – Dress Bodice for Little Darling Doll. In this video I take you with me through the entire process and show you how I make the bodice of a Little Darling dress. A lot of the ways I do things have evolved through trial and error over the years of making doll dresses. Maybe you’ll pick up a tip here and there? I hope so.

On Friday I did a voice over for the video mentioned above. I talked throughout the video as I made it, but it sounded like silliness to me. I was very nervous (first time) and had no script. I repeatedly couldn’t think of words like “that ‘thingy’ that makes a sewing machine go”! (Yes, I said that in the video!). I repeatedly said things over and over, and just felt like I wasn’t explaining things very well. So, when I got my wits back I recorded sound bits and added it to the video. I don’t like the feel of the movie as well as when it is live, but at least it makes sense now. lol

Here is the video. If you like it please click the thumbs up. Thank you!!!

I’ve also taken video footage while making the skirt and attaching it to the bodice. That’s next to be made into a video.

I am awaiting delivery of a device that will hold my phone/camera so that I can record my hands at work. This will come in handy for showing you hand sewing, embroidery, etc. I can’t wait to get that. For many months I’ve been looking at it and wondering if I had the courage to actually publish videos on You Tube. I really dislike hearing my voice, *ugh* but it’s out there now for you all to hear (and laugh at!), my midwest accent and all! My face is another matter–we’ll see about that. Baby steps… Anyway, I find it quite energizing and inspiring sharing with you.

Earlier in the week I published a short video showing how I do the finishing on a doll sweater: weaving in the ends, sewing up the sleeve seam, and closing up a raglan sweater gap under the arm. Here is that one is.

Other news– I’ve had requests for a knitted doll hat pattern from quite a few of you, so I plan to do that soon.

While at Whole Foods a week ago I got a huge bunch of mums for $13! I made four bouquets for around the house–so fall-like and colorful. Love them!

I hope you are having a good day today. Wishing you a wonderful week ahead! Thank you so much for visiting today. I appreciate you so much! ❤

News and WIP

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Happy New Week to you! Do you remember that song “Rainy Days and Mondays” by the Carpenters? Yep, that’s us today here in northern Illinois. I am not expecting much sun and warmth this week…

Anyway… in progress over here is a second apple themed dress. I made the bodice last week and recorded the process. Does it sound interesting to come along with me as I make a bodice for a Little Darlings dress? If its something you’d like to see I will edit it into a viewable piece.

Below is a little video clip of the bodice all sewn and being pressed. Even though there will be audio in a full movie, it has been removed here. The regular steam on my iron stopped working, so all you’d hear are the burst of steam. I can make that quieter during editing.

Pressing the bodice’s side seams

This morning I wove in all the ends and sewed up the sleeves on the cardigan. I think Alice likes it so far.

I’ve been practicing again using the iMovie application. On the last day of summer I walked the path around the lake at one of our forest preserves. A couple of trees had started changing, the late summer wildflowers were in full bloom, and I even saw a family of swans. Please have a look and ‘like’ the video, if you do like it that is. It is my first public video on You Tube. If you subscribe to my You Tube channel it will be easier for you to see when I have new videos. I have tons to learn, but I am totally loving working with video and turning video into little movies.

Bye for now. ❤ Thanks so much for visiting!

Happy Fall Y’all

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Autumn in the northern hemisphere begins on Tuesday! Are you ready for fall weather? Our nights have been quite cool–no frost yet, so the flowers are still blooming. The days remain warm, but long gone are the 90 degree days that made up much of our summer. The past days have been beautiful! If only every day were like this!

This week I finished “Apple Picking” for the Little Darlings. Gina won the modeling lottery and is happily modeling it for you. Doesn’t she look sweet? She’s even found a few apples already.

*Wool cap embellished with apple pom pom and crocheted leaves*.

Gina surprised me; she likes to climb trees, especially apple trees!

The fabric I used to sew Gina’s dress was from 2015 (I think), or maybe earlier. It is a Japanese lightweight cotton fabric from Lecien; the collection’s name is Floral Collection Flower Sugar.

Back in 2015 I used this fabric for another ensemble modeled by Gina (shown below). “Apple Season” is for warmer weather. Gina will be a lot cozier in her wool knitwear this year.

I hope you enjoy the first week of autumn, or spring (lucky you!) if you are in the southern hemisphere. Thank you so much for stopping by. What are you up to this week? I’d love to hear from you. ❤