Category Archives: Work in Progress

This Past Week & A New Dress for Millie

I’m so glad that last week has passed. Here in northern Illinois, we had such dreary weather practically the whole week and then horrible storms Thursday night. Mother Nature even managed to deliver more rain to us yesterday. I felt my mood going downhill with each progressing day last week, and it was affecting my creativity. I felt like I was going through the motions of creating without any excitement towards my work. Today was a blessing, warm and sunny…*sigh*. Finally!!!

I got outside today to see how spring is progressing around our house. It is slow, but there are some new things to see. Most notable is the color of the grass—a beautiful emerald green—thanks to all of the rain we got this past week. Other lovely happenings outside include the magnolia trees starting to bloom, the crocuses finishing their blooming, the daffodils starting to bloom, and the teeny tiny buds becoming visible on the bushes. It’s a wonder to observe the changing seasons.

I love knit dresses, even in the warmer weather. This past week, I adapted Millie’s wool dress pattern for knitting with a lighter weight bamboo. The first try came out too long and not flared enough, so I made some small changes and tried again. This time I got it right; it fits her shape perfectly. She is such a cutie pie! I finished her outfit today and took the pictures. Since I still had Izzy and Amelia Thimble’s rose garden dresses, I was able to get the three BJD girls together for some photos, and boy, do they look precious together!

For more information on Millie’s “Spring’s Sweetheart” ensemble, please visit my “Available for Sale” page on cindyricedesigns.com (after 7:00pm CST on Sunday, April 12). Amelia Thimble and Izzy’s sets are available for sale right now on my “Available for Sale” page.

Busy-ness in the Studio

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Yesterday was a typically busy day in my studio. The pretty snowfall prompted me to start taking a few pictures and I found myself picking up my camera on and off all day long. Thought I’d share with you a few pictures from my day yesterday.

The early morning snowfall didn’t amount to anything, but was it was so peaceful to watch the snow float down to the ground.

Later on the sun came out and cast some shadows onto my newly knitted Little Darling sweater drying on the blocking board.

I finished up a little dress for Kaye Wiggs Millie and enjoyed a mid morning “cappuccino” in one of my favorite mugs.

Another sweater made it to my blocking board today.

My cluttered desk got cleaned up in the evening.

I had a most productive and typical day yesterday. Today, I plan on embroidering sweaters, or starting to anyway. I don’t think they will get finished today, but I will try.

Wishing you all a productive day!

Happy New Year Beginnings

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A happy new year to all my wonderful readers!!!

Here in very snowy and cold northern Illinois I have enjoyed my holiday time with my family and away from “work”. (However, it is not work to me because I love what I do.) A quote from Gretchen Rubin, author of Happier at Home, stuck with me. She says, “No matter how much you love what you do, it’s nice to have a little break.” I have found this to be true. I feel refreshed and passionate about my little dresses and dolls once again. I must confess that I did sneak in a bit of time here and there to “work” a bit. I cannot go cold turkey and create zero, zilch, nada, for oh, probably no more that two or three days. So, yesterday and today I took some pictures of sets that I completed during my time “off” from “work”. Here are a couple of sneak peak pics.

Yes, this is for Valentine’s Day. I know it’s early but, I like to get a head start on holiday dresses so their new owners have a chance to display them on their girls well in advance of the holiday. Sugar didn’t seem to mind. The hearts and pink roses match her personality perfectly. She is a dream to photograph and pose. I LOVE her!!! So happy Fairyland is making Pukipuki dolls again. Denver Dolls also sells these cuties.