Category Archives: Summer

Is it too soon?

Is it too soon to be “Dreamin’ of Summer?” Amelia Thimble doesn’t think so, and I agree with her. Why not start dreaming, if only just a little bit, about lush flower gardens, picnics in the grass, outings to the beach, or catching some rays by the pool?

Tiny Amelia Thimble whispered in my ear that she is dreaming of a summer garden party, and she is awaiting her very first invitation of the season. Being the life of every party, I am sure it will arrive soon.

While Amelia Thimble is waiting for that first summer party invitation to arrive, she finds the Easter bunny hanging out in my studio.

What a cute pair they make!

For more information on Amelia Thimble’s “Dreamin’ of Summer” dress/hat set please visit my “Available for Sale” page on cindyricedesigns.com .

A Visit to the Chicago Botanic Gardens

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I’ve professed my love for the Chicago Botanic Gardens in a previous post. Well, we finally made it there today for the first time this year. Since we usually only get there once a year, it’s interesting to mix up the visits as to the time of year. At the end of the summer the vegetable garden is in it’s full glory and it is massive. I kept saying to my daughter, “I wish I lived here.” Today they had a little farmer’s market too, and we were able to buy some of the vegetables grown at the Chicago Botanic Gardens. Yum!

As we were walking through the apple orchard we noticed that the trees were bare of fruit, like our apple tree in our backyard. I wrote about our apple tree last year and took pictures of Amelia Thimble climbing around in it. Well, this sign told us why.

I looked up and took this picture of the grapes growing above out heads in the arbor, so pretty against the blue sky. I wanted to pick a bunch and start munching on them, but didn’t…

I brought my Pukipuki Sugar and Izzy with me. We found a pink rosebush that happened to be in the shade while we were still in the vegetable garden. Sugar climbed up and I got a picture of her. The roses match her dress so nicely.

In the walled English Garden I took a few pictures of Izzy and Sugar under a tree with dappled shade.

Then they each wanted to climb a tree. 🙂 Hang on tight!

Here are a few more pictures of some things we saw today.

Hope your day was as beautiful as ours was here in Illinois.

“Summer’s Sweetheart” for the Little Darlings

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I was able to complete one more summery sundress outfit for the Little Darlings. I think this is the last one though… 😦

I made the bodice of this dress the focal point so I designed a bolero to show off the lace and silk long tailed bow when it is being worn. The lace is a scalloped rayon that is hand sewn onto the dress with tiny seed beads at the points of the lace and a line of pink embroidery at the top. The bolero is as light as a feather being made out of lace weight mohair/silk and knit on slightly larger needles. The rosebuds are colorful shades of pinks and purples and placed along the neckline and bottom corners. Finely crocheted ballet slipper shoes, rose hair ties, and a bracelet complete the look. Oh, underneath it all is a pair of prettily embroidered panties.