Category Archives: Embroidery

“A Darling’s Choice”

Pink or lilac . . . lilac or pink. When you simply cannot choose, choose this lovely print. Pink and lilac are given equal billing on this Japanese cotton fabric with its tiny blossoms. I love how their done in a washy watercolor style.

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Lucy’s light as a feather bolero is hand knit with mohair/silk lace weight yarn. This is a new style for me. It has a slightly rounded front edge and a crocheted ruffly edging around the opening. Embroidered roses are scattered along the neckline in two shades of pink and two shades of lilac.

The crocheted basket holds a tiny bouquet of lilac blossoms tied with a pink ribbon. A crocheted beaded headband with bow adds a bit of sparkle. Anklets, lilac panties with a bow, and a beaded bracelet complete this pink and lilac ensemble.

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“A Darling’s Choice” will be available tonight (May 20, 2017) at 7:00 pm CST, cindyricedesigns.com.

Thanks for stopping by to visit with Lucy and I today. We’re sending you a hug and warm thoughts for a great weekend!

❤

How’s Your May Progressing?

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Believe it or not, we are already into the second half of May. How did that happen? I love this time of year though, when summer is yet to come, and it feels that once it starts it will be never ending. However, of course, it never is.

We spent this past Saturday of Mother’s Day weekend at the Chicago Botanic Gardens. I took some photos of the gardens, not too many this year, but enough to show you what it looks like in May 2017.

We’ve been here in past years during mid May and have seen all of the cherry blossoms in bloom. Not so this year, only one tree left in bloom, and we found it in the Japanese Garden.

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I LOVE flowers and the endless colors they produce, but there is something about the Japanese Garden that appeals to me… a lot; its simplicity and calmness speak to me. When I was younger, I never found this understated and mostly green garden very interesting at all. But now, this is the place where I would sit and knit all day long; I love it that much. If you’d like to read more about this garden here is the link to its page on their website.

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Azaleas, azaleas, azaleas!

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And here are a few photos from elsewhere at the Botanic Gardens. Subtle shade difference in flowers get me every time. These are lupines in a multitude of pinks.

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Be still my heart… lily-of-the-valley, love, love, love! Oh how I wanted to pick one, but I resisted. I did spend quite a while here repeatedly bending down to inhale their sweet scent though. Anyone else have a lily-of-the-valley scented Little Kiddle doll?

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The English Oak Meadow hillside is awash with California poppies.

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We had a lovely (and sunny) Mother’s Day together. In the afternoon we visited a local nursery and picked up a few hanging baskets for the front porch, then made dinner at home. It was a wonderful weekend, indeed!

I hope yours was wonderful too!

A happy belated Mother’s Day to all of you moms. ❤

“Petite Treasures”

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Look what Gina found in the garden? A little nest was resting on the ground; it had fallen from its perch in a nearby tree. Gina and I will put it back safe and sound so that mama bird can continue on with her role as mother-to-be.

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Gina’s new dress is made with a cotton Japanese floral print in the yummiest of color palettes: pinks, blues, and yellows. The hemline is prettied up with a border of ivory French cotton scalloped lace. An ivory satin ribbon ties around the waistline.

The capelet and beret are made with sky blue Peruvian Highland wool yarn. The capelet is knit in a lace pattern to give it a delicate look. It can be worn with the opening in the front or back. Tiny pink roses are embroidered all the way around the hemline. The beret is embellished with a handmade matching ivory satin ribbon bow and an embroidered pink rose. I think the beret looks cute when worn at a jaunty angle.

The tiny nest is filled with two sky blue eggs and coordinating blossoms. (Gina insisted on adding her magic touch to the nest.) The contents are kept in place with hot glue. Clear jewelry elastic loops are tied to each side of the nest to act as handles.

Hand dyed pastel pink cotton Lycra® tights and a beaded bracelet (with a very cute bird charm) complete this ensemble.

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