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.

“A Darling’s Choice”

12 Replies

Pink or lilac . . . lilac or pink. When you simply cannot choose, choose this lovely print. Pink and lilac are given equal billing on this Japanese cotton fabric with its tiny blossoms. I love how their done in a washy watercolor style.

a darling's choice 840

Lucy’s light as a feather bolero is hand knit with mohair/silk lace weight yarn. This is a new style for me. It has a slightly rounded front edge and a crocheted ruffly edging around the opening. Embroidered roses are scattered along the neckline in two shades of pink and two shades of lilac.

The crocheted basket holds a tiny bouquet of lilac blossoms tied with a pink ribbon. A crocheted beaded headband with bow adds a bit of sparkle. Anklets, lilac panties with a bow, and a beaded bracelet complete this pink and lilac ensemble.

a darling's choice 863

a darling's choice 859

a darling's choice 850

a darling's choice 855

a darling's choice 869

a darling's choice 848 2

“A Darling’s Choice” will be available tonight (May 20, 2017) at 7:00 pm CST, cindyricedesigns.com.

Thanks for stopping by to visit with Lucy and I today. We’re sending you a hug and warm thoughts for a great weekend!

❤

“Strawberry Season”

4 Replies

Did you know that May is National (U.S.) Strawberry Month? I just found out from this list at national calendar.com. Fortunately, I have a strawberry themed ensemble all ready to go for this holiday. (ha ha) It is kind of fun to be tuned in to the minor holidays though, planned or not.

Our strawberry season hasn’t kicked in yet. Here in northern Illinois, mid June is when our berries will be ready to pick. My Kaye Wiggs Gracie is all ready to go picking, and somehow even found a few early strawberries. Hmm, wonder how she managed that.

strawberry season 779

strawberry season 769

strawberry season 772

Gracie’s basket of berries is hand made by me. The fabric berries are stuffed with poly fiberfill, so are very light weight. The berries are machine sewn; the wool felt berry tops are hand embroidered. I found white flower beads in my stash that look like strawberry blossoms! A yellow seed bead for the center completes the strawberry blossom. The stems are beaded loops so that Gracie can hold them. The basket is woven with strips of mint green scrapbook paper, and it holds the berries perfectly. I made a little hand written tag with the name of the ensemble on it; it dangles from the handle.

Even Gracie’s bracelet is berry themed. White berry blossom beads, yellow seed beads (blossom centers) and green seed beads (stems) are strung on stretchy jewelry cord. The tiny red heart bead (to show that this set was made with great care and love) even looks like a strawberry!

strawberry season 752.jpg

Gracie’s cotton dress is of the palest cool pink. The berries and mint green leaves have a hand painted look to them which I find very pretty and delicate, despite being brightly colored. The white blossoms and doily shapes are subtle, but add to the delicateness of this print. The white inset cotton English Cluny lace I added to the skirt is the perfect accent.

The hand knit lace shrug is made with bamboo thread. It has a crocheted ruffle edging.

strawberry season 755.jpg

The wide brimmed hat is embellished with a band made from the dress fabric. I appliquéd a wool felt strawberry to the hat that coordinates with the handmade berries.

All in all, I think Gracie is looking ready to celebrate National Strawberry Month, don’t you?

“Strawberry Season” will be available tonight at 7:00 pm CST, cindyricedesigns.com.

How’s Your May Progressing?

6 Replies

Believe it or not, we are already into the second half of May. How did that happen? I love this time of year though, when summer is yet to come, and it feels that once it starts it will be never ending. However, of course, it never is.

We spent this past Saturday of Mother’s Day weekend at the Chicago Botanic Gardens. I took some photos of the gardens, not too many this year, but enough to show you what it looks like in May 2017.

We’ve been here in past years during mid May and have seen all of the cherry blossoms in bloom. Not so this year, only one tree left in bloom, and we found it in the Japanese Garden.

cherry blossoms 821

I LOVE flowers and the endless colors they produce, but there is something about the Japanese Garden that appeals to me… a lot; its simplicity and calmness speak to me. When I was younger, I never found this understated and mostly green garden very interesting at all. But now, this is the place where I would sit and knit all day long; I love it that much. If you’d like to read more about this garden here is the link to its page on their website.

japanese garden 828

japanese garden 830

weeping willow 823

japanese garden 815

azaleas japanese garden 803

Azaleas, azaleas, azaleas!

azaleas 811

And here are a few photos from elsewhere at the Botanic Gardens. Subtle shade difference in flowers get me every time. These are lupines in a multitude of pinks.

lupines 837

Be still my heart… lily-of-the-valley, love, love, love! Oh how I wanted to pick one, but I resisted. I did spend quite a while here repeatedly bending down to inhale their sweet scent though. Anyone else have a lily-of-the-valley scented Little Kiddle doll?

lily of the valley 795

The English Oak Meadow hillside is awash with California poppies.

poppies 799

We had a lovely (and sunny) Mother’s Day together. In the afternoon we visited a local nursery and picked up a few hanging baskets for the front porch, then made dinner at home. It was a wonderful weekend, indeed!

I hope yours was wonderful too!

A happy belated Mother’s Day to all of you moms. ❤