They are mother and daughter indie designers. Specializing in one of a kind accessories and clothing items.
Their fabric is mostly hand dyed or from upcycled, recycled materials. They often use silk, tulle, lace, and beads. Rice rafferty items are inspired by victorian, antique and modern styles. Their mission is to bring timeless, eco friendly, vintage inspired accessories. They make special family heirlooms for you to treasure for many years to come.

Carol (the mother) is a studio artist working with upcycled materials. Kara (the daughter) is a graphic designer/marketing coordinator. Together they're the rice rafferty girls - aka the real Gilmore Girls. They're not the typical mother/daughter they even share the same names. Kara's middle name is Carol Ann's maiden name hence they share the names rice & rafferty. Since neither of them have a sister they're best friends and actually enjoy hanging out together. While both Carol Ann and Kara have their our own friends they share - inside jokes, love watching foreign and old movies together, attend concerts, cook, garden, work on designs, and photo shoots. They share cross generational information. Carol Ann took Kara to see Cyndi Lauper, Leon Russell & Mikhail Baryshnikov. This past summer Kara took Carol Ann to see Ingrid Michaelson and Rusted Root.

They even went to colleges together. When they were looking at art colleges for Kara, Carol Ann answered the nagging call that she had unfinished business to do. The same day Kara started at University at Buffalo, Carol Ann entered classes at Buffalo State College. They shared a joke that morning from the movie Romey and Michele's High School Reunion, "If this doesn't work out, you want to fold scarves?" It actually worked out really well because they would share information, critiqued each others work, and share supplies. Kara's university education was more conceptual while Carol Ann's college program was stronger with craft and technique. Together they were able to fill in the gaps everyone finds in their education. This is when their serious art work camp began.

Kara's fine art projects were heavily influenced by Carol Ann's fiber background. Kara was always bringing fashion to fine art. In fact in college she was nicknamed "the shoe girl" since she was constantly drawing shoes and accessories. To add to this symbiotic relationship Kara would share her layout and marketing skills with Carol Ann. After graduation, Kara began working graphic design jobs while Carol Ann taught classes for two years at her college fiber design program. Working full time jobs left less time to make handmade items at first, but Kara quickly learned she's a maker. Carol kept designing devore scarves, working with fiber reactive dyes and burning out the designs. As Kara would assist Carol Ann with the process they soon began a partnership that keeps building.

Always hungry for knowledge, in fall 2008 Carol Ann moved to Savannah, Georgia to attend Savannah College of Art and Design masters fiber program. Kara stayed in Buffalo working as a Graphic Designer. They were miserable apart. Kara kept researching about textile and accessory businesses while Carol Ann was gathering information @ SCAD. June 2009 Carol Ann returned home full of ideas and armed with more knowledge they started working on more projects together and that is how, rice rafferty, their cottage industry was born. Kara designs the accessories, marketing materials, researches trends, and new ways of production. Carol Ann teaches art classes and continues making new garments, statement necklaces and devore scarves. They specialize in making one of a kind accessories items; statement necklaces, bridal veils, devore scarves, silk scarves, copper jewelry, hair accessories, aprons and tutus.