Author: Elizabeth Ruffing

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Larissa and Piper, Original, One-of-a-kind White Cat and Kitten Anthropomorphic Art Doll Figurine by Max Bailey

Larissa is an original, one-of-a-kind anthropomorphic Turkish Angora cat art doll figurine, hand sculpted in paperclay and hand painted by artist Max Bailey. Larissa stands 6 1/2 inches tall. She comes with a hang tag, a certificate of authenticity, and a copy of her story.

Larissa’s story:

Larissa is a lovely white Turkish Angora cat who has three kittens and a nice little home business. She makes very fashionable hats.

Ever since Larissa created her first hat, orders have been pouring in. All she did was wear it once, when she went to town. The ladies gasped! They each had to have one, and now Larissa’s hats are all the rage.

Larissa usually allows her kittens to participate in the making of her creations. They tunnel under the yards of felt, tumble through the cascade of pretty ribbons, and toss around the colorful silk flowers until they get suddenly tired, as kittens do. Little Piper has fallen asleep right on the brim of Larissa’s latest creation, a tan felt hat with an artful arrangement of pink, blue, and yellow flowers, created just for Miss Sophia.

Soon the doorbell will ring, and Miss Sophia will arrive to pick up her new hat. Poor Piper. As sweet as she looks asleep on the brim, Larissa will have to carefully pick her up and put her to bed with her brother and sister.

Larissa looks very pretty in a mauve long-sleeved dress dotted with little off-white flowers, over which she wears a country blue pinafore with a sash that is tied neatly at the back in a bow. Her fluffy white tail emerges from the off-white petticoats that show below her dress.

Larissa is an original one-of-a-kind work of art, and is meant for display only. She has been free sculpted, and no mold was used to make her. Larissa, her kitten Piper, and the flowered hat are hand sculpted from paperclay, and entirely hand painted using acrylic paints. Larissa’s whiskers are made from stiffened cotton thread.

Larissa 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.

Larissa is 6 and 1/2 inches tall.

Update: Larissa and Piper have been adopted. Thank you!

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Slug love

Students with their Fleece Hug Me Slugs by Elizabeth RuffingI received these great photographs from two architecture students who celebrated the passing of their exams with some Hug Me Slug love. They have been taking tests for four years, and “SLUG” is the term they have used for the series of difficult exams they have had to take. They were both very happy to have some fun slugs as a reward for all their hard work. Congratulations to them both and thank you for these photos! I love them.

Fleece Hug Me Slugs by Elizabeth Ruffing, out to lunchThey had a celebratory get-together at a new restaurant, and the slugs went too! And, it would appear that the slugs like mac-n-cheese and salad! It looks like they all had a happy day. I think the slugs look very pleased with all the food. I’m told the waitress was quite taken with them as well.

Fleece Hug Me Slugs by Elizabeth Ruffing, out to lunchLots of other slugs have been shipping out all over the country, and the world. Here are some more that went on their way to their new homes recently. I will be posting my new handmade stuffed animal toys in our Ruffing’s shop.

Fleece Hug Me Slugs by Elizabeth RuffingI am still catching up, with more custom orders to finish, and some doll clothes to make. I made a fleece kitty pattern design I am waiting to sew too.

Fleece Hug Me Slugs by Elizabeth RuffingThe weather has been beautiful here, and warm. I want to get outside and do some gardening.

Fleece Hug Me Slugs by Elizabeth RuffingThe azaleas have started blooming, and the dogwood flowers are just opening.

Fleece Hug Me Slugs by Elizabeth RuffingI have an extra assistant now, one who steals all my pens. This is Josephine, formerly Frosty, planning an attack on a ballpoint pen. She has plenty of toys, but pens are of special interest to her. I think she may want to be a writer when she grows up.

Fleece Hug Me Slug by Elizabeth Ruffing, Kitten stealing my penOr a thief. That might be closer to her true aspirations.

Fleece Hug Me Slug by Elizabeth Ruffing, Kitten stealing my pen

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She made herself at home

Grandma and a Scotty dogHappy birthday to my grandma this month. She just turned ninety-six and is still doing well. On a sad note, about the same time as her birthday, we got news that my cousin, Steve, who has been battling peritoneal cancer for the past several months, is back in the hospital, and his cancer, which the doctors thought was gone, has returned, or had never entirely left. We are all hoping for the best, and hoping he can feel better. He is such a nice guy, and a great person, to be going through such an awful thing.

Kitten steals someone elseDuring this time, since I last wrote, I have also been kitten-sitting, for Frosty, who is now Josephine. She had another potential adoptive home lined up, far away, but that didn’t turn out to sound like the best option for her. She didn’t mind. She had already decided she wanted to stay here, and we all wanted her to stay too. So, it did work out, after all, and she has brought us some good cheer.

Kitten sleeps on a teddy bear, Beau Bear, Vogue patternShe has been trying out all the cat beds, and toys, and furniture, and has found it all to her liking. She was very shy, and liked to hide in small spaces, when she first arrived, but she has rapidly changed.

Kitten steals my chairShe is out and about now, participating in all we do around here, in between playing and napping.

Kitten steals a new bedI went out and bought new cat beds (actually these are dog beds from Petsmart) because Josephine kept taking everyone else’s, but she took a new one too, along with the new blankets that came with the beds.

Kitten steals pillows and blanketShe is a big fan of our kitty gym, and now sits up at the top of it. No more hiding for her.

Kitten on the kitty gymJosephine seems to be very happy, and is friendly to eveyone. I thought she needed a new name, since she isn’t “frosty” at all. I thought a more self-assured name would be fitting. I renamed her after Jo March of “Little Women” and Empress Josephine. I later read that Empress Josephine had somewhat embarrassing teeth, which made me smile, because kitten Josephine has funny teeth herself.

Kitten rolls in the sunshineI had tried out different names, saying them to her, and she seemed to like this one. She mewed back at me. I took that as a sign of approval.

Hug Me Toad by Elizabeth Ruffing, in a blog feature of stuffed toysIn art toys news, my Hug Me Toad was in this very cute blog feature from Harmonica Mama, and my toys continue to show up in treasuries on Etsy. Toys make me smile too. I enjoy making them, and I like that they brighten someone’s day.

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Zelda, Original One-of-a-kind Black-and-white Tuxedo Cat Art Doll by Max Bailey

Zelda, Original One-of-a-kind Black-and-white Tuxedo Cat Art Doll by Max Bailey Despite her exotic name, Zelda appears to be sedate, serious, and practical minded. Her soulful yellow eyes look directly out at you, so that you would never think to question her honesty.

Zelda, Original One-of-a-kind Black-and-white Tuxedo Cat Art Doll by Max Bailey No one suspects that Zelda leads two lives. At night, especially on moonlit nights, Zelda could be seen singing and dancing wildly in her back yard, if anyone thought to look. She sings all of her favorite songs, whirling and twirling in the moonlight, bursting with creative energy.

Zelda, Original One-of-a-kind Black-and-white Tuxedo Cat Art Doll by Max Bailey “Was there a party last night?” the neighbors ask.

Zelda, Original One-of-a-kind Black-and-white Tuxedo Cat Art Doll by Max Bailey “I didn’t hear anything,” Zelda responds, and smiles mischievously to herself.

Zelda, Original One-of-a-kind Black-and-white Tuxedo Cat Art Doll by Max BaileyToday, Zelda wears her daytime red flowered pinafore with a ruffled bib. It has a pattern of orange, white, and blue flowers. Her red scalloped shirt and red tights match the pinafore, and her high-button black shoes match her black fur.

Zelda, Original One-of-a-kind Black-and-white Tuxedo Cat Art Doll by Max Bailey Zelda is an original one-of-a-kind work of art, created from my own design and pattern. She is made from 100% cotton fabric which has been sewn, stuffed, and completely hand painted with acrylic paints. Her whiskers are made from stiffened cotton thread.

Zelda, Original One-of-a-kind Black-and-white Tuxedo Cat Art Doll by Max Bailey Zelda’s paws are needle-sculpted, and her arms are button-jointed so that she can pose. Her face was sculpted from paperclay smoothed into her fabric head. Her curled tail enables her to sit by herself on a shelf or a table, or in a cabinet. She can also sit on a chair, or stand with a doll stand. (Chair and doll stand not included.) Zelda is meant for display only.

Zelda, Original One-of-a-kind Black-and-white Tuxedo Cat Art Doll by Max Bailey Zelda is signed and sealed with matte varnish for protection and preservation. She is 8 and 1/2 inches tall.

Zelda, Original One-of-a-kind Black-and-white Tuxedo Cat Art Doll by Max BaileyUpdate: Zelda has been adopted. Thank you!

Zelda’s friend are Amy the white cat, and Melody the Siamese cat.