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.

June is… Here!

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Yay it’s June!!!

Hello to you all!

These past weeks I’ve been enjoying spring time here in northern Illinois. That is, weather permitting. We had a most dreary and rainy May, but that didn’t stop me from finding those rare days and to enjoy the blossoms growing around me and at the Chicago Botanic Gardens.

English Walled Garden, Chicago Botanic Gardens

Hutch of grape hyacinths, English Walled Garden

Lily-of-the-valley, Chicago Botanic Gardens

Lily-of-the-valley, Chicago Botanic Gardens

Apple blossoms, my yard

Lilac blossoms, my yard

Phlox in full bloom, my yard

Forget-me-nots, my yard

My planters and Kitty

I’ve also been doing a little knitting, and I mean a little, sorry nothing more to show. I am finding it hard getting my knitting and ‘making’ mojo back after my hiatus. My mind wants to create, create, create, but my body is still slow. By the way, I thank you all for being patient with me. There is so much I want to do… I have faith things will improve albeit rather slowly.

Here is something I managed to accomplish. I won’t mention how long this took to knit…

Off my knitting needles and currently blocking is a sweater dress for the Little Darlings. When picking out a color for this project, sunny yellow seemed the perfect color to knit with during our dreary spring weather.

The sweater dress is knit with Aunt Lydia’s bamboo thread. It’s comparable to #10 cotton crochet thread, but has lots more drape. I love this thread, and was very disappointed when it was discontinued by Red Heart. I’ve also used this bamboo thread interchangeably with fingering weight yarn. The stitch gauge is pretty much the same (maybe a tad smaller, but needs no adjustment). However, garments knit up shorter, which can easily be adjusted by adding some additional rows.

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I’ve previously made three sweater dresses for the Little Darlings out of this thread (see photos below). I think embroidery really looks delicate and beautiful on these dresses. I look forward to picking out colors and getting started!

“So Pretty in Pink”, May 2015

“My Favorite Roses”, April 2016

“Summer Blooms”, July 2015

Wishing you all a beautiful day and evening, and sending you a dolly hug from my Little Darlings to you!

Thank you for stopping by, my friends.

❤

Mother’s Day Bouquets for You from Us

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Hello, my friends. Tomorrow is Mother’s Day in the U.S. It is a day for pampering our moms and those who care for us. Even if you don’t celebrate this day take a moment to receive some flower bouquets from my sweet girls. They’ll pamper you just because…

Patience (from Tonner/Wilde Imagination) has picked a little bouquet of bright pink and ivory blossoms. She’s tied them all together with an even brighter pink ribbon. Patience is wearing an ensemble from 2017 called “Happiness in Pink”. Her hot pink mohair cardigan is knit with my Classic Cardigan for Patience. (The pattern can be found here and purchased on Ravelry.)

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Patsy has picked a bouquet of pure white long stemmed blossoms for you. She’s tied the stems together with streamers of warm pink ribbon. How sweet she is! Patsy is wearing an ensemble from 2017 titled “Blossom for my Love-ly”. Her mohair cardigan has also been knit with my Patsy knitting pattern. More information about the Light Cardigan for Patsy can be found here and purchased on Ravelry.

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My Little Darling, Lucy, (#3 sculpt painted by Helen Skinner) has picked a pink rose with ivory blossoms and tied them all together with a lilac ribbon for you. Lucy is wearing a summery sweater dress from 2016. The ensemble is titled “My Favorite Roses” , more photos and info. can be found by clicking the title. Unfortunately, I don’t have a pattern for this one. The sweater dress pattern I have for these girls uses a slightly heavier weight yarn.

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Next, is my Little Darling, Gina who is the #1sculpt and painted by Geri Uribe. Gina has found spring daisies and arranged them in a cute sprinkling can for you. Gina tied a warm pink bow around the blossoms. “Daisy Chain” is from 2016; more photos and information can be found here. Her mohair cardigan is knit with my Light Cardigan pattern using the short sleeves and long version instructions. This pattern has 3 sleeve lengths and 3 body length versions (all can be mixed and matched for 9 total possibilities). The pattern can be purchased on Ravelry.

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Gracie (Kaye Wiggs MSD sized BJD) has really gone all out! She’s put together a basket of mauve roses, pink blossoms, and a little teddy bear holding a “made with love” charm. Tied on the handle is a pink bow. Gracie’s ensemble is from 2017 and titled “A Springtime Garden Stroll”. Her cardigan was knit with my pattern for her. More information on the pattern can be found here and purchased on Ravelry.

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Lucy is my Little Darling (#1 sculpt) painted by Nelly Valentino. She has picked a full bouquet of ivory and peachy pink blossoms for you. Tied around the stems is a bow with beaded ends. Her ensemble is from 2017 and titled “Princess in Peach”. Her cardigan pattern hasn’t been published as shown. I think I may have used the Lace Cardigan pattern using only the lace panel for the sleeves and made it one repeat shorter, but I cannot remember for sure. Also, the Aunt Lydia’s #10 bamboo thread (discontinued by Red Heart) knits up as wide as fingering, but with a different row gauge, so you get a shorter sweater. I’m not sure if I re-spaced the buttonholes for a shorter sweater.

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Here is Penny (Linda Macario BJD). Penny has picked a tiny bouquet of ivory blossoms, tied them together with pink satin ribbon, and added a pink heart because she loves you. Penny wears a sweater dress ensemble from 2016. It is titled “Pastels in the Garden”. This is another style I haven’t published, but I love sweater dresses on Penny. BTW, I do have one pattern for Penny, Polly, and Patty. It is a Classic Cardigan and can be found using the link and purchased on Ravelry.

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Last, by not least, is Millie (11″ Kaye Wiggs BJD). Millie has picked a lush bouquet of light pink and ivory blossoms. She’s tied the stems together with a bit of beautiful lace and pink ribbon just for you. Millie wears an ensemble from 2016 titled “Cutie in the Garden”. For more photos and information about her ensemble click the link.

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I hope you all are enjoying the weekend. For those moms who celebrate Mother’s Day–Happy Mother’s Day to you! ❤

The Last Couple of Weeks

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Hello, my friends! How are you?

We’ve just wrapped up a beautiful springlike week. We also had a gorgeous Easter weekend; it was just perfect weather. After weather like that and a glance at the calendar I thought spring was here to stay. But, Mother Nature is at it again, just started to snow on this April 27th morning! They are predicting over 8″. Yikes! Not again! Another snowman? Maybe a snow girl this time? BTW, that last snowman my husband and daughter built didn’t even last 24 hours. Poor thing! In case you missed seeing our snowman…

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Our pink magnolia tree is in full bloom. I love these colors and it makes a pretty backdrop for photos. Patience had her photo taken here in 2015. Her photos are some of my favorites.

A Stroll in the Garden 2015

Gina, my Little Darling, is wearing an ensemble that is all rosy and lilac, the perfect colors to use in front of this magnolia tree. I took her out during yesterday’s evening golden hour and quickly snapped a few photos of my gorgeous Gina.

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The day before Easter (Holy Saturday) my husband, daughter, and I visited the Chicago Botanic Gardens. Yes, again; we love it her so much–we have a membership. This is my happy place. When I am here I feel at peace. Seriously, if given the opportunity I would move just to be as close as possible to the gardens. Walking distance would be nice!

Unlike when we last visited the daffodils and magnolia trees were in full bloom.

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The tulips looked like they were almost ready (next time), although we did find a few in bloom. I thought these pots of tulips/crocuses at the entrance to the English Walled Garden arranged on risers was nice.

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A garden that we’ve recently started visiting is the Enabling Garden. It is a hands-on teaching garden that encourages gardening for people of all ages and abilities. Some of the beds were raised at the perfect level for a wheel chair to slide underneath. I wish I had gotten a photo of these. I thought that were genius. I think the Enabling Garden is situated away from the natural flow of foot traffic, so is often very quiet and peaceful which I love.

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I have never seen a pansy like this before! Isn’t is wonderful!

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My own pot of pansies has been brought into the sun porch so the poor things don’t get snowed on. It’s still snowing, but not yet sticking to the grass or pavement; it won’t be long. *ugh*

I hope you are enjoying a beautiful weekend filled with sunshine and warm breezes.

Thanks for visiting with me today, my friends. ❤ Drop me a comment if you wish; I’d love to hear what you are up to.