Category Archives: Effner Dolls

Four and a half weeks to go…

…until Christmas!

Am I ahead of the game by having all of my shopping finished? No.

Am I a little ahead by have some shopping completed? No.

Have I even bought one gift yet? No.

Am I worrying? No…not yet, but soon, yes, I will be worrying soon.

What is getting done around here then? Lots of sewing, knitting, embroidering, photographing…for my dolls. They are looking so festive in their parade of holiday garb. It seems like they are always wearing something new. Tonight my Pukipuki, Sugar, and my Little Darling, Gina, are showing you their brand new outfits.

Gina is dressed and ready in her “Holiday Helper” casual set. While mom is wrapping gifts (with the doors securely closed in her workroom) Gina is carefully arranging them under the tree where they will sit prettily until Christmas. As she is busy finding the perfect spot under the tree for each gift she cannot help but take a peek to see if maybe it is for her.

Sugar is our tiny “Li’l Holly Bells” elf. She is so tiny and always busy as a little bee that it is hard to find her sometimes. I managed to locate her when I heard the softest tinkle of her tiny bell accompanied by a slightly louder giggle.

For more information on these two Christmas sets please visit my “Available for Sale” page on cindyricedesigns.com.

Helping the Clauses

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Well, no, not those Clauses!

It’s Gina’s Grandma and Grandpa. They are dressing up as Santa and Mrs. Claus for Gina’s school Christmas bazaar and Gina gets to help pass out candy canes to all of Santa’s (Grandpa’s) little visitors. Gina has the perfect outfit for her important job. The dress is a print of pin dots in minty colors and her Santa hat and jacket are the all important finishing touch. Gina even has her hair styled like Mrs. Claus (Grandma), without the grey, of course.

She is ready, don’t you think?

For more information on this set for the Little Darling dolls please visit the “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.