Category Archives: Lucy

“Blue Skies for Pumpkin Picking”

It’s that time again! The pumpkin patches, farmers markets, and roadside stands are exploding with orange. We had errands this weekend that took us along country roads and past a few pumpkin patches. Since it was the most beautiful weekend, a bit crisp, with blue skies and bright sunshine, the pumpkin patches were bustling with activity. It really was THE weekend for picking the perfect pumpkin, or two!

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I have four colorways of this teensy tiny floral print fabric. You can see the four versions I purchased in these photos here (second photo). I used the pink/blue/yellow colorway twice already, but have yet to use the red and golden colorways. Here and here are the photos of the two outfits from the pink/blue/yellow colorway. This is the first ensemble made with the blue colorway.

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In my stash was the most perfect yarn for this fabric. It is a heathered wool in the perfect pumpkin shade, and as a bonus, the flecks are yellow which pick up the yellow blossoms in the dress beautifully.

The yarn was an easy pick, but I had the hardest time picking out blues that look nice on this sweater, and yet still coordinated with the print. DMC doesn’t seem to have a lot of blue shades, especially in the clearer blues. I had every one of my blues out and went through them once, twice, three times. When I started embroidering I still wasn’t sure the two blues I chose would work, but they did. I originally was going to do the stems and leaves in a darker blue like the shade on the print, but that color seemed very drab and dark. The white brightens everything up.

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Lucy wanted a little beret to go with her new set; whatever your little heart desires, my dear! I changed my pattern a little on this one for a softer edge. The little tri-colored pom pom makes Lucy smile and tickles her nose.

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Lucy has picked a tiny pumpkin that she wants to bring home for her dollhouse and dollies. Her little sign is made with a bit of balsa wood, so is very lightweight, and includes a pumpkin-y looking bead charm.

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“Blue Skies for Pumpkin Picking” will be available tonight (October 11, 2016) at 7:00 pm CST, cindyricedesigns.com.

“Woodland Whimsy”

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Do you remember the mushroom motif craze in the 1970s? They’re back! Actually mushroom motifs have been popping up in design for a few+ years now, and in more modern colors, which I am happy about. Back in the ’70s they were mostly seen in those 1970s colors—orange, avocado green, brown, and harvest gold. Even though I cannot get used to that color scheme again, when I saw these canisters at the Volo Antique Mall last year I thought they were cute. (My aunt had these in her kitchen.)

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I think the first year I started seeing mushrooms pop up again in design was 2012 when I saw this fabric designed by Natalie Lymer. I immediately fell in love with it. To this day, this is one of my favorites for Bethany.

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I really need to make something for this girl again, she’s so cute! But, I digress, sorry about that.

I’ve been saving this new mushroom print by Lizzie Mackay for one of my first fall-ish ensembles. I know it’s not fall yet, but I couldn’t wait to use it!

Here is Lucy modeling “Woodland Whimsy”. Aren’t the colors in this print lovely? They’re modern, vintage, and cozy, all at the same time.

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Did your see Lucy’s little girl gnome charm? She told me it’s for good luck.

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I’m not sure how I initially got the idea to knit mushrooms for this ensemble. I get side tracked a lot, especially in the mornings. I think I picked up a scrap ball of bare wool, and started knitting in the round on my double pointed needles. I most likely wanted to practice starting with a few stitches to make sure I remembered this technique. (It is almost Santa hat season, and I start from the top down.) I guess a mushroom cap started forming, and all of a sudden I have accessories for “Woodland Whimsy”! Magic!

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Lucy’s little capelet is knit with moair/silk lace weight yarn and her vintage styled headband hat is knit with a fingering weight Peruvian Highland wool in the same color. The colorful little mushrooms were fun to embroider in bullion and straight stitches.

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Lucy’s 3/4 length sleeve dress is finished beautifully inside. It is tedious as there is a lot of hand sewing to do, but I love to dress my dolls in dresses finished like this, it’s so luxurious. (lol) The dress is completely lined except for the sleeves so as to keep the bulk down. The sleeve seam allowances that show on the inside have been double turned and hand sewn in place. All the other seam allowances are hidden in the lining.

Since it took so long to finish the inside of this dress, I’d love to show you what it looks like. I think this bodice takes four times as long as a lined sleeveless bodice. All that just for sleeves!

Here is a sleeve turned inside out. You can see the tiny hand stitches holding the double turned underarm seam and hem in place. The bodice armhole lining is hand stitched to hide the top of sleeve’s seam allowance.

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And, with the sleeve back in place.

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Okay, I have to know . . . Is anyone else as ~~neurotic~~ silly with the insides of their doll dresses? I’ve tried to change, but I can’t!!!

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Lucy’s “Woodland Whimsy” ensemble will be available tonight at 7:00 pm CST, cindyricedesigns.com.

I hope you all have a nice day! Thank you so much for stopping by.

“Apple Orchard Darling”

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Hi all! Happy Saturday to you! It’s early morning here in northern Illinois, and it’s gray and dark outside (a storm is approaching), but warm and cozy inside. I love the fleeting bit of time “before the thunderstorm”.

Yesterday I showed you a few photos of my two Little Darlings in their apple themed ensembles. This morning I’d like to show you Lucy’s, “Apple Orchard Darling” in more detail.

Here’s my smiling #3 sculpt Little Darling by Helen Skinner. Doesn’t she have the sweetest face?

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This fabric caught my eye because of the 1930s shade of green used for the greenery. I love this vintage green! It’s like the green used for jadeite. The bits of pink in the print were an added bonus; I had the perfect pink pindot to use for an accent.

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I custom mixed and dyed the wool for Lucy’s sweater. I wanted a pastel shade of the green, so the red embroidery and greenery would pop. I love the soft pastel green—it’s so much fun to “invent” my own colors. Bullion stitched apples line up along the bottom of the sweater’s front sections, and pink and off white blossoms float along the neckline. Both side mirror each other.

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I love Lucy’s apple leaf hair ties. They’re a fun accessory for her pigtails. A pop of red was needed, so I knit Lucy a scarf. It can be worn multiple ways.

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The little apple picking basket is crocheted with hemp cord for a rustic feel. The shape of the basket fits Lucy’s hand nicely and the loop fits over her thumb. (A clear elastic band placed over the handle and doll’s hand will secure it, just in case.) The basket is filled with a juicy red apple, flower blossoms, and paper leaves from the apple and maple trees. It is early in the apple picking season, the flowers are still blooming and the leaves are still green. ❤

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Lucy’s “Apple Orchard Darling” ensemble will be available on Sunday (August 21, 2016) at 7:00 pm CST, cindyricedesign.com. Please check the “Shop What’s New” page at that time for more details.

The storm is here! It’s coming down in buckets!

Bye for now, and thank you for visiting.