Category Archives: Effner Dolls

“Around the Corner are Roses”

Our warmer than normal temperatures have gotten me thinking of spring already. And I’m afraid it’s affected what I feel like creating. I am so sorry to all of you winter lovers out there. I don’t know if I’ll be able to get back to winter things; I have spring fever early this year!

On Wednesday we did get a light dusting of wintry snow, but I must admit that when I took the dog out Thursday morning there was that springlike smell in the air—the smell that comes with an April snowfall, not one that happens in January. I am not the only one fooled—my crocuses have started popping up already.

My Little Darling, Alice, is feeling the fever too. We both know that roses growing in the garden are indeed just around the corner. Meanwhile we’d like you to enjoy the roses from my studio.

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“Around the Corner are Roses” will be available tonight (January 27, 2017) at 7:00 pm CST, cindyricedesigns.com.

“A Little Wish for Spring”

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So far winter has not gotten the best of me. It should have really; we’ve had a LOT of extremely gloomy days! However, I am enjoying the coziness inside my house with cups of tea, twinkle lights around the window, and a fire in the fireplace.

So . . . Alice and I are only sending out “A Little Wish for Spring”. It is so nice to see roses, even if they are the embroidered kind.

I chose Alice to model this ensemble because she looked the prettiest in it. Her coloring goes perfectly with warm, neutral, and rosy colors. This pink yarn is a little bit neutral—it is a heathered yarn with very faint hints of lavender and warm red. So all three primary colors are accounted for to make this yarn a neutral color even if it is “pink”.

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Alice’s beret features a hand made silk ribbon bow in a hand dyed warm lavender with ecru pearls decorating the center. (Alice’s beret is knit from my beret pattern which is available for your knitting pleasure.)

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I chose the embroidery colors from my notes when I made Patsy’s sweater dress. I added the very pale peachy pink colonial knots for a pop of light. You can see Patsy’s sweater dress set here.

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I am currently working on this sweater dress knitting pattern which will be ready for purchase very soon. It will have two sleeve length options and two dress length options. This is the short sleeved and shorter length version. The Little Darlings have adorably shaped arms and legs which I like to show off.

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Alice’s “A Little Wish for Spring” will be available tonight (January 12, 2017) at 7:00 pm CST, cindyricedesigns.com.

How about you? Are you faring well this winter? I’d love to hear about your winter where you live.

New Year, New Pattern, New Ensemble!

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By now it is 2017 everywhere in the world, so a Happy New Year to all!

My husband and I went for a brisk walk in one of the nearby forest preserves today. The paths were a little treacherous in places, but we were careful and the sun felt so nice. It was the perfect way to start 2017!

My Little Darling, Lucy, is also here with her bright, smiling face (and her itty bitty snow baby) to wish you all the happiest start to 2017! Before most of our snow melted last week Lucy and I made this tiny snow baby. She is still trying to decide if this snow baby is a boy or girl, so she can give it an appropriate name.

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While outside she told me that her new sweater coat, hat, and scarf kept her toasty warm.

Lucy is wearing a dress made out of my most favorite snowman print. I LOVE this print! It’s colorful and a little bit primitive looking. There are “zillions” of snowmen lined up on this fabric; all looking equally cute, don’t you think? Snowman lovers will find this print adorable.

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I previously used this fabric in 2014 (“Snowman Luv”) to make an ensemble for Gina. I decided to make it less Christmasy this time, so it could be worn more as a winter ensemble.

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Isn’t this the cutest fabric! I think they are the happiest little snowmen!

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Lucy’s ensemble will be available Monday, January 2, 2017 at 7:00 pm CST on my website.

“My Little Snow Baby” is a one-of-a-kind ensemble, but if you’d like to knit your own sweater coat, the pattern is available on Ravelry. The instructions include a step-by-step guide to add your own patch pockets. Once you see how easy they are to make, you’ll be putting patch pockets on everything! (lol)

Thank you for visiting with me as we start this new year together. Bye for now!