June 16, 2010 - Ruffing’s Artist Dolls and Toys

Posted on June 16, 2010March 9, 2014 by Elizabeth Ruffing — 3 Comments

Sunflower the Ginger Tabby Kitten, Original One-of-a-kind Art Doll Figurine by Max Bailey

This ginger tabby kitten was named Sunflower, perhaps because of her bright little face and her sunny disposition, or perhaps just because there was a sunflower farm nearby. The name seemed to suit her.

When Sunflower was told the giant and impressive flowers had the same name as her own, she marched off to visit them. She thought she might pick one to bring home, but most of the flowers were far bigger than her head, and way too heavy to carry.

Seeing her problem, the sunflower farmer found the littlest sunflower, and presented it to her.

“Thank you kindly” Sunflower said to him. “I am very pleased and honored that all these wonderful flowers were named after me.”

With a big smile, Sunflower headed for home, and with a big smile, the farmer watched her go.

Sunflower is an original one-of-a-kind work of art, and is meant for display only. No molds are ever used in my work. She and her sunflower are hand-sculpted from paperclay, and are entirely hand painted with acrylic paints.

Her bright yellow dress is patterned with little blue flowers, and the soft blue jumper she wears over it has scalloped sleeves and a scalloped hem. It ties in a big bow at the back. Her striped orange tail emerges from the white petticoats that show beneath her dress. Sunflower’s whiskers are made from stiffened cotton thread.

Sunflower is signed and dated and sealed with matte varnish for protection and preservation. She rests firmly on a turned wooden base that is stained and sealed in golden oak.

Sunflower is an itty bitty kitty. She stands only 4 and 5/8 inches tall. She comes with a hang tag, a certificate of authenticity, and a copy of her story.

Update: Sunflower has been adopted. Thank you!

Sunflower’s kitten friends are Katie the Tabby Kitten (left) and Violet the Siamese Kitten (center).

Posted on June 16, 2010 by Elizabeth Ruffing

Catching up with the kitties

I’m moving right along now, getting things done, like editing new doll photos and making up their web pages. These two kittens are Max Bailey‘s latest original one-of-a-kind folk art doll figurines.

This is “Katie the Tabby Kitten“, and below is “Sunflower the Ginger Tabby Kitten“. Katie’s brother gave her is kite because she admired it so much. She painted flowers all over it to make sure he didn’t ask for it back!

A sunflower farmer gave Sunflower her gift, which she is certain was named after her. She’s very flattered that all the flowers on his farm were named after her too. That’s a pretty big compliment.

Katie and Sunflower join “Violet the Siamese Kitten” in Max’s series of Itty Bitty Kitties. I can tell you, Max’s eyes are aching for something larger, and his next creations are going to be a bit bigger. I have to supply him with some more doll bodies to get him going on some other jointed original one-of-a-kind folk art dolls we have planned as well.

To see more of Katie, Sunflower, and Violet, and read their stories, please visit the links below:

Katie the Tabby Kitten

Sunflower the Ginger Tabby Kitten

Violet the Siamese Kitten

Posted on June 16, 2010September 19, 2013 by Elizabeth Ruffing — 1 Comment

Katie the Tabby Kitten, Original One-of-a-kind Art Doll Figurine by Max Bailey

Katie is a tabby and white kitten. She loves to go up to the top of the hill on a windy day and watch her brother and his friends fly their kites.

Her brother’s blue kite is her favorite. It sails recklessly in the wind, swaying back and forth in the sky. It is so beautifully blue that it sometimes disappears against the blue of the sky, and Katie holds her breath until it reappears against a white cloud.

One morning, Katie’s brother handed her his blue kite. “You can have this one,” he said. She was greatly surprised, but she thanked him for his generosity, took the kite, and ran home.

No one saw Katie all afternoon. While Katie isn’t very athletic, she is very artistic. She took out her paints and brushes and painted all her favorite flowers on the blue kite, until it was as flowery as a kite could be. She made pretty little bows out of her favorite hair ribbons and tied them on the tail of the kite.

“There!” said Katie, when she was satisfied with her creation. “Now he won’t ask for it back!”

Katie is an original one-of-a-kind work of art, and is meant for display only. No molds are ever used in my work. She and her kite are hand-sculpted from paperclay, and are entirely hand painted with acrylic paints. Katie’s soft pink dress has puffy sleeves, and smocking on both the front and the back. It ties at the back with a big bow. Her striped tabby tail emerges from the white petticoats that show beneath her dress. Katie’s whiskers are made from stiffened cotton thread.

Katie is signed and dated, and sealed with matte varnish for protection and preservation. She rests firmly on a turned wooden base that is stained and sealed in golden oak.

Katie is an itty bitty kitty. She stands only 4 and 1/2 inches tall. She comes with a hang tag, a certificate of authenticity, and a copy of her story.

Update: Katie has been adopted. Thank you!