Category Archives: Effner Dolls

“July’s Favorite Colors”

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 .

“Summer Sweet” for the Little Darlings

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The abundance of fruit, flowers, and vegetables makes summer the sweetest time of year for our senses. There is always something new to be seen blossoming or something new to be tasted in the garden. And, of course, there are always the wonderful scents filling the air.

I believe that this time, right before the summer season actually starts, is the best time of all. It is all before us, yet to come, and at this point summer seems endless.

I just finished a very summery ensemble for my Little Darling, Gina. The print on the fabric depicts fanciful fruits and little white flowers on a perfectly pink background. I thought that the little fruits could pass for cherries or plums. I couldn’t make up my mind which I liked best.

And… the little lace shrug that I knit last week found its dress!

I loved the tiny daisy-like blossoms, so I repeated this shape for Gina’s hair ties and on her ballet slippers. The magenta pearl centers match the magenta colored fruits very nicely too.

I found beads to mimic the magenta and blue bunches of fruit, so I made a little fruit charm for the bracelet.

Another daisy-like motif is found on the necklace and a bit more magenta is added at the waistline with the help of an organza ribbon.

These Effner girls have the cutest little feet and legs that look so adorable in crocheted ballet slippers, so I couldn’t resist adding a pair to this ensemble.

For more information on Gina’s “Summer Sweet” ensemble please visit the “Available for Sale” page on cindyricedesigns.com .

Another Springtime Sweater Dress for the Little Darlings

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I loved the last sweater dress that I made for the Little Darlings so much that I immediately started on another one. This one is in pink and also has 10,000+ stitches.

As I was working on the embroidery for this dress I felt as if I were drawing (or painting) with a needle and thread. The first half of the top motif and the first half of the waistline motif (the second half is mirrored) went bit by bit as I was trying to achieve good color balance and a pleasing floral composition. Sometimes my motifs take longer to work out and this one did indeed take longer.

The embroidery may have been painstaking, but I am very pleased with the end result. The motifs are feminine, colorful, balanced and flow smoothly along the waistline, so mission accomplished.