Category Archives: Autumn

“Apple Season” is Fast Approaching

I DO love fall (even though it means winter is not too far off). I think that the flavors of autumn are like no other season and apples are a huge part of fall’s yumminess.

When my daughter was young we would visit apple orchards and pick a bag of apples to enjoy at home. This was the orchard we went to that I remember the most. By the looks of their website it has grown a lot since we were there. It was always fun to walk down the rows of apple trees and see how each variety of fruit was slightly different in shape and color.

A highlight of our apple orchard visit was getting those “still warm” apple cider donuts with cinnamon and sugar sprinkled on them. Yum, yum, yum! Is one ever enough? No, no, no!

Sometimes we would bring home apple cider too. I love to drink it warm, do you?

My Little Darling, Gina, is the lucky recipient of the perfect apple season ensemble. Here she is to show it off to you.

It was fun creating her little apple slice crocheted purse. She can slip little found treasures inside too. I was thrilled to find a little bead in my stash that matched the blossoms on the dress’s print!

Gina’s little cardigan is knit with lace weight mohair/silk yarn. Tiny apples hanging from branches and apples lying in the grass amongst coordinating colored colonial knot blossoms are embroidered in a fun and cute composition on the sweater. I even put a tiny apple motif on the back.

For more information on Gina’s “Apple Season” ensemble, please visit my “Available for Sale” page at cindyricedesigns.com .

“Autumn Leaves in Color” for the Little Darlings

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Gina is here to show off another autumn ensemble (this is my last for the Little Darlings) that I have made for her. I fell in love with this tiny oak leaf cotton print and just had to buy it to make a fall dress for a certain sweetie. The colors of the leaves in pumpkin, warm red, greens, and greys are so pretty.

This vintage styled headband (hat) design was floating around in my head and seemed to work nicely with the ensemble. I designed the sweater with sleeves wide enough to go over the dress and a tad bit shorter to let the dress’s sleeves peek out a bit.

Wool felt leaf appliques are hand cut and embroidered onto the sweater and headband. Do you like my tiny acorns? They are bronze Czech glass crystals with a curved bullion stitch at the top.

At the top of the lace are alternating hand sewn 14k gold filled beads and topaz colored seed beads.

I have been trying on and off to make a sleeved dress pattern where I can neatly hide those raw edges and not drive myself crazy in the process. Finally…I did it. The armhole sleeve seam allowances are tucked underneath the lining which is hand stitched and the sleeve’s hems and underarm seams are doubled over and hand stitched. The result is an inside with no seam allowances or raw edges showing. I know, you’re probably thinking I’m crazy, right? These little things make me happy, sorry.

For more information on Gina’s new ensemble please visit my website’s “Available for Sale” page.

“A Toasty Warm Autumn” for the Little Darlings

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This new 8-piece ensemble called “A Toasty Warm Autumn” will keep every Little Darling who lives in a cooler climate cozy and warm throughout the fall months. The hand knitwear (sweater, hat, scarf) are all made with Peruvian Highland wool. The sweater is a bit longer length and the hat has cute ear flaps for those chilly brisk days. I found that when I keep my neck warm I stay warm so I made a generous scarf to wrap around the Little Darlings neck to help her stay warm too.

Even though it is fall, if you look closely enough you might still be able to find a few blossoms blooming. Gina made a small bouquet with the blossoms she found. A pretty blue silk bow is attached to the bouquet along with an elastic cord to help the Little Darlings hold it in their cute little hands.

The fine wale cotton corduroy dress can be dressed up with jewelry and a hair bow.

Most of the fullness in this drop waisted dress is towards the back and sides which give a bustled look to the back of the skirt.

The squirrels here in northern Illinois have been so busy collecting acorns that it got me thinking that I had better get busy with some cool weather wear. What do you think? Will it be another cold fall/winter?

For more information on this set please visit my website.

Also, look for a new price on ” Orange You Ready for Fall? ” for the Little Darlings.