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 Feels Like Monday

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After a Tuesday holiday here in the U.S., and quite a few people off on Monday which made for a long weekend, this day after the Fourth of July feels like the beginning of a new week. I think I will be mixed up until this next weekend has gone by, and it is truly Monday. Are you the same?

I don’t know what it’s like in other areas of the U.S. around July 4th, but here it’s like the wild west. All weekend long, it was sooo noisy. Monday night, July 4th eve, was the worst. Things were being shot off to the north, south, east, and west of our house. We even found a wooden stick from something in our front yard. It was impossible to fall asleep until it all stopped around midnight. Thank goodness it even stopped. No worries, I was up at the crack of dawn. Ugh!

So, no early morning parade this year, way too tired. We did manage to go to the fireworks display at night though, and were glad we did. For some reason they seemed more awe inspiring this year.

Today, I will get back work on this month’s ensembles. Usually, I do one at a time, then pick what and who is next. This month, I planned everything out. I’m not a planner, so this is probably a one time occurrence. It does seem more productive though.

Here’s a photo of everyone that will be getting new outfits this month.

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You can see Lucy’s outfit has the most progress on it. Her dress is sewn, but no hand sewing has been completed, or snaps sewn on. Her sweater is blocked, and ready for embroidery. Gina’s pink cardigan is the last to be knit; it has been started, and I’m about halfway finished with it. The other four cardigans have been blocked and look much neater than they do in the photo.

I hope you all have a great day today. Thanks so much for stopping by and visiting with me, dear friends.

Happy July Everyone!

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Wow, wow, wow it’s July! How did that happen? ~~Sometimes~~ All the time I wish the summer months would go by at half speed, however they seem to pick up speed with each passing year.

June, here in northern Illinois, has been lovely. For once, no weather complaints from me. I’ve been going for walks almost daily and my body and soul like it a lot. That hour or so spent outside moving from one place to another is a meditation of sorts. It stops me from “doing” and opens my mind to creative thinking and praying. If my mind goes to a place of worry I immediately call it back to a positive and peaceful place.

Our feral kitties have been enjoying the beautiful weather and stick around all day long. The tabby, whom has been around since we moved into our house 9 years ago, has recently been joined by Morris, Orange-y, or Lion Kitty; he goes by all three names. He is very sweet, and unlike Miss Kitty, will not bat our hands (with claws outstretched). She can be quite impatient when we are giving her a snack. Naughty girl!

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This past week most of my creative time has been spent knitting. Right now, I have three sweaters off the needles, and only one dress sewn. Last night, before heading off to bed, I stopped in my sewing room and planned three more sweaters! I am in the knitting zone, I guess. Hopefully, when I have finished knitting all these sweaters I can move into the sewing zone and make the dresses to be worn with all these little cardigans.

I hope you all are enjoying the start of July. Maybe yours will go a little bit slower than mine mostly likely will. If you have any secrets to slow it down, please let me know.

Bye for now, my friends. Thanks for stopping by today.

❤

“Delicate Summertime”

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It’s my little Kaye Wiggs Millie’s turn to show you something new. She doesn’t get a whole lot of attention, so when she does it’s very exciting for her. 🙂

For Millie’s ensemble I used a Japanese cotton floral fabric that I purchased in 2012. It’s from Lecien’s Flower Sugar 2012 collection. The colors in this print are crystal clear, not neutral at all. Also, the light blue is perfectly blue, not going towards aqua or the other way, to violet.

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Millie’s light pink cotton sweater is an embroidered garden of bullion stitched roses and colonial knot flowers.

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Of course, since it’s summertime, a wide brimmed hat is in order to keep the sun out of Millie’s baby blue eyes. This crocheted hat is made with 3 different strands of white in two thread weights and two different fibers, cotton and bamboo. I added a shell edging in the same pink as used for the cardigan. The brim can be turned up or down, or one side up for a jaunty look. The hat’s band is made with the same fabric as used for the dress. A little hand made bow is made with the same organza ribbon used for the waistline sash on the dress. I’ve added a row of tiny white pearls to the center of the bow.

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Millie’s accessories include a crocheted basket, so fine and tiny, and a bouquet of bright pink flowers. A bracelet and pink tights are also included with her new ensemble.

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