Tag Archives: purse

“Around the Corner are Roses”

Our warmer than normal temperatures have gotten me thinking of spring already. And I’m afraid it’s affected what I feel like creating. I am so sorry to all of you winter lovers out there. I don’t know if I’ll be able to get back to winter things; I have spring fever early this year!

On Wednesday we did get a light dusting of wintry snow, but I must admit that when I took the dog out Thursday morning there was that springlike smell in the air—the smell that comes with an April snowfall, not one that happens in January. I am not the only one fooled—my crocuses have started popping up already.

My Little Darling, Alice, is feeling the fever too. We both know that roses growing in the garden are indeed just around the corner. Meanwhile we’d like you to enjoy the roses from my studio.

around-the-corner-are-roses-076

around-the-corner-are-roses-087

around-the-corner-are-roses-102

around-the-corner-are-roses-111

around-the-corner-are-roses-120

around-the-corner-are-roses-069

“Around the Corner are Roses” will be available tonight (January 27, 2017) at 7:00 pm CST, cindyricedesigns.com.

Bit of News and “A Peek at Christmas”

11 Replies

I’m wondering if you all have forgotten about my patterns that I promised to start writing! Definitely not! My first one is almost ready to be published. The pattern is written, but this morning I realized my cover photo may be too small pixel-wise, so I want to redo that. Also, there have been technical things that I needed “husband help” with. He needed to figure those things out when he wasn’t at work. New things always take time; it’s getting real close though. Thanks for being so patient with me!

I’ve been looking at my stack of Christmas fabrics for months now. I actually felt like starting to make something Christmas-y in August, but I held back. I didn’t want to skip making fall ensembles. But now, it is time to dive right into Christmas sewing!

My smiling Little Darling, Lucy, got the first ensemble for Christmas 2016! Lucky girl! I call this ensemble “A Peek at Christmas” because it is “just a bit” Christmas-y.

a-peek-at-christmas-999

This fabric is a lively red and green floral on a darker ivory ground. It is a cozy print, but not drab. My newest lace from England matched perfectly. I added it to the hemline for the green tights to peek through. A couple of red hand made bows at the hemline tie into the red waistline sash.

I felt this ensemble needed green tights, nothing else came close. For a whole day I worked on mixing and dyeing what I thought was the perfect shade of green. My fabric stayed in the dye bath for 1 1/2 hours; I stirred it every 15 minutes. Then, it stayed in the fix bath for another hour; I stirred that every 15 minutes too. The fabric came out uneven and, really too light. The next day, I kept my fingers crossed as I headed to the fabric store. Usually when I am looking for something in particular I don’t find it. Not only did I find the perfect green, I also found it in a different fabric; it’s a lighter weight Lycra® rayon blend; it has a bit of a sheen to it, so is a little bit dressy. And a bonus, it sewed up very nicely. Needless to say, this all made me very happy . . . and feeling lucky.

a-peek-at-christmas-032

For the sweater’s embroidery I used the same style of blossoms as on the fabric; I had tiny pearlized Delica beads that matched, so used those for the center of each blossom. Two shades of green and some burgundy bud flowers complete the mirrored embroidery. Mother-of-pearl beads in natural added the perfect touch for the buttons.

a-peek-at-christmas-057

a-peek-at-christmas-023

A tinier version as what’s used for the sweater decorates the back of the dress as faux buttons.

a-peek-at-christmas-018

The last item I made to complete this ensemble was the crocheted drawstring bag. It is crocheted with the finest cotton thread in a color that matches the background of the fabric and the lace. For fun, I added a colorful and jingly dangle. Inside Lucy’s bag is her contribution the the Christmas tree, a bright red ornament!

a-peek-at-christmas-037

a-peek-at-christmas-007

a-peek-at-christmas-001

Lucy’s “A Peek at Christmas” ensemble will be available tonight (October 19, 2016) at 7:00 pm CST, cindyricedesigns.com.

Thank you for visiting with me today! I hope your day is a beautiful one!

Bye for now!

“Autumn’s Pink Roses”

6 Replies

Meteorological fall has been in full swing for a couple of weeks in the northern hemisphere, but it still feels quite summery here in northern Illinois. It has cooled off just a teensy tiny bit, however, it’s still tank top and shorts weather.

I have two teeny tiny, and I mean teeny tiny, pink rosebushes that happily grow underneath a birch tree in our front yard which are the same shade of pink as this fabric print. Not that this matters, but probably contributed to the title I thought of for this ensemble.

This fabric print is the same as “A Plummy Fall” that Gracie was modeling for you yesterday. (I bought a whole yard of this one, so I have lots left over!) For this ensemble using the ivory ground color I picked a smaller doll to best utilize this print’s petiteness. Millie is 11″ and quite slender, and this print still looks small on Millie. I can’t get over how the manufacturer can print such a complex and colorful design so small.

autumns-pink-roses-811

autumns-pink-roses-798

autumns-pink-roses-777

Millie’s sweater and hat are knit out of lace weight merino/silk yarn. The pieces are very delicate and light weight. I chose to keep the embroidery softly colored and centered around the pink roses with the littlest touches of golden and aqua.

autumns-pink-roses-740

Millie’s accessories include a mesh drawstring crocheted purse that holds a tiny hanky made out of the dress fabric, a bracelet, panties, and anklets.

autumns-pink-roses-796