Needle Felting | Cindy Rice Designs

Hello everyone . . . from sunny, but cold, northern Illinois. I think this is my favorite part of the weekend; it’s Saturday morning, and the whole weekend is ahead. I know that some of you, across the globe, are already well into your weekend. I hope it’s going well.

I think I had a productive week. Things (finished ensembles) are starting to pile up (I have three, and three more in the planning stage, and one pattern almost all written) and are overwhelming me. It’s time to get what I have completed on my website for you all to enjoy.

Today, I will share Millie’s, my Kaye Wiggs 11″ BJD, new ensemble with you. You’ve probably already caught glimpses of this one in a previous post, on Facebook and Instagram, but here it is complete.

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This dress is made with the same print as I used for my last Little Darling ensemble, but this one is in blush pink. Isn’t it delicate? It’s hard to see, but there are the tiniest white pin dots silkscreened on this print.

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A row of scalloped English cotton Cluny lace is snugged underneath a tuck on the skirt. An asymmetrical hand made rayon ribbon bow highlights the lace and tuck.

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Millie’s “light as a feather” cardigan is made with warm white mohair/silk lace yarn. I’ve embroidered two mirrored rose bouquet motifs on the front of the sweater. The cardi looks cute worn open or buttoned.

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Pip the bunny comes along with Millie’s ensemble. I named him Pip (both begin with the letter p and are three letters long, ha ha) because he looks like Pat the Bunny created by Dorothy Kunhardt. Pip is needle felted with wool roving, has sewn on seed bead eyes and an embroidered nose. Boys can wear pink, and Pip wears it well, doesn’t he?

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Millie’s other accessories include a crocheted and beaded headband with a matching hand made bow, white chunky knit cotton tights, and a bracelet. In case you are wondering, this ensemble was made with great care and love, and is filled with hugs from Pip. He’s a great hugger.

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“Spring Means Hoppiness” will be available tonight (March 11, 2017) at 7:00 pm CST, cindyricedesigns.com.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, despite winter making a reappearance.

Thanks for visiting with me today!

After many, many springlike days winter weather returned on Friday. We woke Saturday morning to a light dusting of snow and temperatures that were well below freezing. Brr! Saturday remained cold, and reminding me that it is still indeed February.

I cannot remember ever seeing crocuses blooming in February, but this year I did! What a wonderful surprise they were! They started blooming (always the yellow first) last Wednesday. Since it’s getting warmer again this week, the violet and white crocuses should quickly follow their yellow friends out into the world. Spring flowers make me so happy!

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In my studio, the “making of spring” also continues. Here is my Little Darling, Gina, modeling my last February ensemble.

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Isn’t this the most precious print? It is so shabby chic and in my favorite shade of blue. This was one of those ‘order immediately before it’s sold out’ fabrics. I fell so much in love with it that I also purchased it in pink and yellow.

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Gina’s cardigan is knit with mohair/silk lace yarn. Lace panels on each front, the sleeves, and center back add to the delicate-ness of this cardigan. The mirrored rose bouquets are embroidered at the neckline and bottom hemline. I brought rosiness to the button band with pastel pink glass pearl buttons.

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I finally bought some wool roving to make little needle felted accessories with. (I received a needle felting pen and mat for Christmas.) I’ve watched some You Tube tutorials, so had a general idea how to needle felt, but I was just having fun and experimenting while making this bunny. To my surprise, he came out looking like a bunny! Gina claimed him as her own and told me all she needed was a basket to put him in. Of course, dear Gina! I made a flat shaped basket (like my flower cutting baskets) so he could sit in the basket and be seen. He’s not perfect, but cute, I think so anyway.

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“Springy and Delicate” will be available tonight (February 27, 2017) at 7:00 pm CST, cindyricedesigns.com.

My little Kaye Wiggs Millie is patiently awaiting the next spring ensemble which will be hers! I think it will be in the pink colorway of this same print. I was looking at her album of outfits and she seems to be missing a pink dress. She has had a lot of ensembles made with prints that have ivory backgrounds, and not one print that is predominately pink.

Thanks for stopping by today, my friends. Enjoy the week!

❤