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 God Wink or Coincidence?

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I mentioned in yesterday’s post that I was going to have to wait for a bright day to take photos of “Princess and the Pearl”, my just completed ensemble for the Little Darlings. Usually, with the exception of last month when I was slow as molasses, I like to get photos taken right after completing an outfit. Not sure why, it’s just how I like to do things.

I watched the weather forecast this morning and it didn’t look like there would be a single opportunity all week. Rain, rain, and more rain coming our way. It was quite wet and dreary this morning, so definitely not today. Until noon, that is! The sky started brightening and I started to see shadows. I brought out all of my equipment and set everything up. Gina was already waiting for me. Well, let me tell you, it stayed bright for the entire time it took me to take all of the photos I needed. As soon as I took the SD card out of my camera the sky started darkening. Really and truly! And now it is raining.

So, what do you think? Was this a God wink or coincidence? I like to think it was a God wink, and I am very thankful for this small gift (so sorry if this sounds silly to you) to help me get my work done today. The couple of hours of sunshine were pretty nice too. 🙂

By the way, if you’ve never heard of a God wink there is a book about them. My husband and I have both read it (years ago), and enjoyed it very much.

Here’s a photo from our “miraculous” photo shoot today.

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And, another.

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I hope you had some sunshine today, and maybe have received your own God wink? I hope so!

Bye for now!

An End of the Weekend Hello!

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It’s been a few days—I wanted to pop in and say hello to you all. Have you had a nice weekend? Did you do anything different or relaxing? I’d love to hear how your weekend went, please share! ❤

We had the MOST gorgeous day yesterday! It was SUNNY and WARM, a very, very, rare occurrence around here lately, so it was imperative that we get outside and soak up some of those elusive golden rays. My husband and I took a drive out to a little town with a charming town square to meander through and cute shops to browse in. The town is actually where they filmed the movie Groundhog Day. Woodstock was bustling yesterday; everyone was happy to get outside, smiling faces everywhere you looked.

One of my favorite shops is also here. It is a vintage shop, but they also have new things. I love how they display the old with the new so creatively. I seem to always find things to purchase here, and yesterday was no exception, although I didn’t have to spend much at all. Recently I have become obsessed with cute figurines. Most of them are from Japan and are of animals. I saw this tiny cocker spaniel ($4!); he needed to join me in my sewing room. He even has a vintage Japan sticker on his bum.

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I also found this little mice figurine. The owner told me she brought this back from England with her. It looked like it belonged in a storybook. It is adorable, and oh, so, tiny! ($5!)

All this cuteness! I am a happy girl!

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Spring is very slowly starting to look the way it’s supposed to look, although with the exception of green grass it still pretty much looks like winter. However, I think our daffodils will bloom this week, and add some springlike color.

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A tiny patch of tulips have started to come up. Yes, this is the total for tulips in our yard. I once read tulips decrease in amount where daffodils increase or naturalize. Looks like our tulips are soon to be none. Maybe I’ll plant more this fall.

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In my studio “Princess and the Pearl” was completed hours ago. Here is Gina to show you a tiny bit. Her needle felted bear is named Pearl, in case you are wondering. Pearl is always ready to give her mom, Gina, a flower. As soon as we get a bright-ish day I will take photos. Right now it’s dreary and drizzly… yet again.

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I knit this lace bolero this past week and today have started sewing the dress. This ensemble will be all lilac and lavender yummy gloriousness.

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I have another bolero completed, but it is for my Kaye Wiggs Gracie; it is in fuchsia. The print to accompany that bolero is one that reminds me of a Liberty of London print, which I adore. Another work-in-progress is a hot pink mohair/silk cardigan for Patience. Her cardigan will go with a dress in the same print as Gracie’s, but it will be in a different colorway.

So, that’s all the news from my world for now. I hope you are all doing great and enjoying springtime, or fall if you’re down under. Talk to you soon, my friends!

Bye for now!

One More for March!

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Hello to you all! Yep, one more, and then March 2017 is a wrap.

My very spoiled Little Darlings worked out amongst themselves who would model this last ensemble. They decided that Alice, my Little Darling painted by Nelly Valentino, would be the one to get the job. I must say they chose well; she looks as sweet as sugar in this new spring set.

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Isn’t she a cutie pie! ❤ Alice shines in neutral, warm colors.

The fabric I used for this dress is the same print as used for “A Whisper of Spring”, but this one is in the warm palette. The colors coordinates with Gracie’s “A Springtime Garden Stroll”.

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This print is made up of salmon, blush pink shades, a bit of neutral gold, and a soft green. The background is the palest of peach, as light as ivory, but peachier. The hemline is edged with a beautiful scalloped English cotton Cluny lace in ecru.

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I chose to highlight the salmon color with a rayon ribbon sash and a hand made bow on the cloche hat. Alice’s cloche is crocheted with ivory cotton and white bamboo. The brim is edged with a feminine shell stitch. I like the brim turned up on the right side, a very stylish look. The bow is handmade with a multi pearl beaded center, and the knit leaf is in a soft green bamboo.

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Alice’s hand knit “light as a feather” cardigan is made with lace weight mohair/silk yarn. The floral embroidery coordinates with the dress.

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Alice’s spring basket is crocheted with blush pink cotton. Her little duckling is a vintage porcelain miniature, and sits atop a bit of green Easter grass. Alice’s bracelet is made with tiny pearls and pink seed beads. A peach/clear marbleized glass heart dangles from the bracelet. The tights are in the palest warm shade and are made with rayon Lycra® knit.

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