Category Archives: Doll Dresses

“Strawberry Picking”

Strawberry picking is so much fun even though it is a lot of work filling those baskets to the top. But maybe that’s because too many strawberries get eaten before making it into the baskets.

I haven’t been strawberry (or blueberry, or raspberry, or apple) picking for years and years and years. It was always something that I enjoyed doing when my daughter was young. For sure, it is an educational experience for the little ones. They get to see how the berry needs to be a blossom first, and then with the help of bees, will start to become a strawberry. They see the color changes it goes through before it is ready to be picked and eaten. And, if they eat one before it is ripe, they can taste the changes too. So very interesting…

Here in northern Illinois/southern Wisconsin the strawberries aren’t ready for picking . They are just about ready, but not quite yet. Maybe we’ll get out to pick a few this year. This is where we go to pick our strawberries.

I got a bit nostalgic while creating this outfit for Talyssa, so I retreated to our photo albums to find when we last went strawberry picking; it was 2003! My daughter was dressed in her strawberry top and pink shorts from Gymboree. I don’t remember being so “event coordinated,” if you know what I mean. Oh, and I had on a top that perfectly matched her shorts. Sheesh! At least my husband wasn’t wearing pink.

This brand-spanking-new strawberry print (I couldn’t wait to use it!) came in pink gingham and aqua gingham too. The sunny yellow gingham appealed to me the most, so I chose the yellow.

It was fun creating the little accessories to go with this set. The little strawberry is a mini stuffy with beads and a crocheted top. Talyssa can hold the berry by the loop. The crocheted basket will hold the strawberry too. I had the strawberry charm in my bead drawer waiting for the perfect fabric. Those little aqua bead blossoms matched the blossoms on the fabric oh, so nicely.

The tiny berries worked perfectly in bullion stitch embroidery on the sweater. I embroidered them in pink and red to match the dress.

For more information on Talyssa’s “Strawberry Picking” ensemble, please visit my “Available for Sale” page at cindyricedesigns.com .

“July’s Favorite Colors”

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Maybe it was because I was a July baby that made me love wearing red, white, and blue so much. When I look back at childhood photos I find so many summer pictures of me in these colors. I remember specifically asking for sailor dresses and red, white, and blue swimsuits. Honestly, I think I was obsessed.

Here are a couple of photos of me on my 2nd birthday and my 8th birthday wearing red, white, and blue sailor dresses. I loved ’em!

While this isn’t a sailor dress it is a red, white, and blue ensemble that my Little Darling, Gina, is modeling for you. I couldn’t pass this fabric up—red, white, and blue in my favorite theme, floral, no surprise there, right?

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

“Red, White, & Cherries”

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Patience is showing off her patriotic side in her new ensemble, “Red, White, & Cherries”. Tuesday was a picture perfect kind of day here in northern Illinois so we took to the outdoors for Patience’s photo shoot.

I crafted a fun hair tie to bring to life the cherry motifs on Patience’s dress. I crocheted around lightweight pearl beads so the cherries would hold their shape, added a crocheted leaf, stems with the crochet thread, navy silk bow and a length of fine crochet to use as the tie. Patience seems to be enchanted.

I used pure white bamboo thread to knit Patience’s sweater. Some cobalt blue Czech glass crystal beads from my stash made the perfect buttons. I embroidered tiny red work cherry motifs around the bottom of the sweater.