Tag Archives: little darlings

“Springy and Delicate”

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!

❤

“A Rosy Outlook”

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My Little Darling, Alice, is forever contemplating life and the world with a positive attitude. Actually all three of my Little Darlings are like that, and they remind me on a daily basis to do the same. Really, though, how can one be gloomy gazing at their beautiful and sweet faces!

Our latest blast of springtime hasn’t made it difficult to have a rosy outlook either. Spring has been here in the Chicago area for a good many days now, and I am spoiled beyond being spoiled, if that’s possible. The warmth and sunshine feels heavenly, and I am enjoying every second of it!

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Just like our weather, Alice’s new ensemble is all warmth and sunshine. The dress features the tiniest pink roses in shades of warm pink and pretty green. The background is a deep ivory or light maize color. Ivory scalloped French lace edges the hemline. A hand dyed rayon ribbon sash ties in a bow at the back of the dress.

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The wool sweater is knit with panels of lace on the center back, down the center of each sleeve, and a narrower panel along each front. Tiny bullion stitched rosebuds mingle with the knitted lace on the sweater’s front.

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A beret that matches the sweater is knit from my beret pattern. A pair of embroidered rosebuds and a hand made pom pom embellish this tiny beret.

Accessories to complete this ensemble include a crocheted flower basket filled with a paper wrapped bunch of blossoms, a bracelet, and tights.

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Alice’s “A Rosy Outlook” ensemble will be available tonight (February 21, 2017) at 7:00 pm CST, cindyricedesigns.com.

BTW, I am so sorry about the technology problems last night which made me unable to publish my website at 7:00. I stumbled upon a work around which will hopefully prevent it from happening tonight.

I hope you all are having a great Tuesday! Thank you so much for visiting with me today. Bye for now! ❤

Nearly Three Weeks!

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I finally got my mojo back for photo shoots yesterday. It’s been missing nearly this entire month, almost three weeks! I’ve been working at creating, and the ensembles are starting to pile up.

Ha, ha . . . not really, but I do have three ensembles completed. So yesterday I had a mammoth modeling session with two of my Little Darlings, Lucy and Alice, and my sweet and patient, Patience.

I got to work right away on editing the photos for Lucy’s ensemble, so I have something to show you this morning. You might have caught glimpses of this one on my Facebook page or Instagram feed already, but now the “real” photos have been taken.

Here is my happy Little Darling, Lucy, in “Pastel and Pretty”! What I noticed when working with this fabric is how pastel and cool the color palette is. The blue background is as pastel as a blue can get and is a beautiful cool shade. It’s like a breathe of fresh air! The roses are in shades of cool pink to cherry red. The greenery is true mint green with a slightly darker green also.

Something new with this dress is the lace on the skirt and how I’ve applied it. This English cotton Cluny lace has been in my stash for months; I’ve been pondering on how to use it, and it finally came to me.

I decided to use this lace as an insert between the the skirt fabric. The lining barely peeks through and offers the tiniest bit of translucence. The lace is pretty dense, so it’s not see through at all, it’s just a little hint of light. I like the effect a lot.

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Lucy’s “light as a feather” short sleeved mohair/silk cropped cardigan was knit from my Light Cardigan pattern. Two mirrored white/pink rose motifs add crisp white brightness to the rosy pink cardigan. The motifs also include pastel blue and green to coordinate with the dress.

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A pure white crocheted slouch cap frames Lucy’s face perfectly. It is made with drapey bamboo thread. A hand made crocheted rose and ice blue glass flower bead decorates the band. More white pearls are used on these embellishments.

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A crocheted basket is Lucy’s choice for holding a few pretty blossoms. White pearls and an ice blue flower bead create the dangling tassel. I put a bit of green Easter grass and a tiny bunch of bright pink blossoms in the basket. Both can be removed, and the flowers are secured together with a clear elastic band for holding.

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