Category Archives: capelet

“Catching Snowflakes”

Catching snowflakes was easy peasy this weekend as they fell practically the whole weekend long. I think we got about 4 inches on Saturday night with another 8 inches or so on Sunday! It’s a white winter wonderland out there, and I am VERY happy to be warm and cozy inside my house.

I finished up Lucy’s new ensemble yesterday, then we had our photo shoot. I definitely wanted to use the snowy landscape as a back drop. I brought out my studio light for front lighting. It was perfect . . . and quick—my favorite kind of photo shoot.

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Lucy’s eyelet capelet has 7 panels which are perfect for embellishing. I’ve embroidered different snowflake compositions on each panel using mohair/silk yarn for snowflakes, white pearlized seed beads for tiny flakes, and clear seed beads for ice crystals.

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Lucy’s vintage-styled headband earwarmer uses two strands of lace yarn to give it more thickness. Each side is embellished with an aqua blue snowflake and matching seed beads.

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The little muff hand warmer is the perfect size for Lucy’s hands, and is also embellished with an aqua snowflake. The bracelet is incorporated into the muff as a handle. You can see Lucy’s prized snowflake memento charm. She will always remember this magical pre Christmas snowfall.

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Lucy’s “Catching Snowflakes” ensemble will be available tonight (December 12, 2016) at 7:00 pm CST, cindyricedesigns.com.

Have a great week everyone!

Bye for now!

“A Most Magical Season”

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Do you believe the Christmas season is upon us? Seriously, I can’t believe it! November flew by at 100 mph. I think I am going to have to accept that I will only get a fraction of the holiday ensembles completed that I had wanted to. There simply won’t be enough time, even if I worked around the clock. So . . . that’s the way it will play out this year.

I do have something to show you right now though! 🙂

It is an ensemble for the Little Darlings. I finished this one about a week ago, but wanted to wait until we got our Christmas tree, so I could use it as a back drop. In front of the tree is one of my favorite places for taking photos. There’s something magical about the sparkly lights and ornaments.

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This is another Japanese cotton print that was impossible for me to resist—all those toys, candy canes, and cutie pie Santa! The illustrations have a vintage feel which I love.

The knits I made for this ensemble have a vintage feel too. The forest green wool cape is embellished with red seed beads and green embroidery. A little motif is on every one of the panels which are separated by lace eyelets. I found some old knitting patterns from the 1950s and they called this type of hat a cuddle cap. It is different from the headband hats that I’ve been making in that the cuddle cap sits back on the head and is slightly shaped. To complete her knitwear set, Gina wanted a striped scarf, so I made her a micro striped green/natural colored one with colorful fringe.

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This is my first ever hand knit Christmas stocking! I used a free pattern from Julie at Little Cotton Rabbits. Gina is thrilled with all of the tiny gifts it can hold. Her little Christmas tree is embellished with a star and ornament beads. She also has a gingerbread man, lollipop, candy cane, silver ornament, and a red berry/ribbon decoration tucked inside. I attached wooden skewers to the goodies, (except the tree) so they can be rearranged and easily peek out of the stocking. I added a tiny hand made tassel to the toe of the stocking too.

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Of course the doll motif had to be on the front of the dress bodice! Gina is also wearing a candy cane bracelet. I don’t think she can get any more festive, do you? She wishes you all a “Very Merry Holiday Season”!

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“A Most Magical Season” will be available tonight (November 30, 2016) at 7:00 pm CST, cindyricedesigns.com.

“Christmas Caroler” for the Little Darlings

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If you can’t beat them (the weather), join them (it). Not an option today! It’s very chilly, windy, and pouring rain. I REALLY had my heart set on getting Alice’s photos taken today, so I got lucky and figured out how to use the weather to my advantage and get her photos taken.

I put Alice in the kitchen bay window, and because it’s not bright (at all) the photos came out fine. I turned on all the warm kitchen lights, used a tripod, and used a board to block the glare on top of her head. They’re a little darker than usual, but I think they’re cozy looking.

Alice, my Little Darling painted by Nelly Valentino, is thrilled to be able to show you her first Christmas ensemble, Christmas Caroler. It’s a very traditional ensemble—even a little bit old-fashioned looking, which is a look I am in love with on her.

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Alice’s elbow length sleeved dress is made with a tiny holly print in deep red, greens, and bits of metallic gold. A deep red taffeta ribbon (with a brighter red edge) ties around the waist of the dress. Tiny ecru English cotton Cluny lace peeks out at the hemline.

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The natural colored lace cape is knit with lace weight baby alpaca/silk yarn for an extremely delicate piece. It closes at the center front with a gold-filled bead and loop. There are six full size panels on the cape; the right three panels each have a slightly different embroidery motif with the left three panels each mirroring its corresponding right panel

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The vintage-styled headband hat is knit with a slightly heavier weight natural colored yarn (wool/angora). The embroidered motifs at each end mirror each other. The headband ties under the chin on the right hand side. The ties are different lengths so that when tied the tails are equal.

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Alice’s accessories include a pair of red scarves in a deep red and a brighter red wool. They have fringed ends. The little sheet music is vintage looking with four different carols and a bookmark tied over the center fold. A little gold glass ornament is tied with a matching embroidery thread loop. The bracelet is made with garnet beads and 14k gold-filled beads. A red shell heart charm dangles from the bracelet. And underneath it all is a pair of red rayon Lycra® tights.

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