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Catching up with the kitties

Sunflower the Orange Tabby Kitten, Original One-of-a-kind Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyI’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.

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

Sunflower the Orange Tabby Kitten, Original One-of-a-kind Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyA 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.

Sunflower the Orange Tabby Kitten, Original One-of-a-kind Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyKatie 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

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

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

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

Katie the Tabby Kitten, Original One-of-a-kind Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyNo 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 the Tabby Kitten, Original One-of-a-kind Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyKatie 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 the Tabby Kitten, Original One-of-a-kind Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyKatie 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.

Katie the Tabby Kitten, Original One-of-a-kind Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyUpdate: Katie has been adopted. Thank you!

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

 

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At work on our Ruffing’s site

Hyacinth the Blue Persian Cat, Original One-of-a-kind Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyThis is Hyacinth the Blue Persian cat, an original, one-of-a-kind folk art doll figurine by Max Bailey. She’s in Kitty College, studying human psychology. I hear she’s got it down pat. Hyacinth is one of the many dolls getting their photos redone on our Ruffing’s site. You can read all about Hyacinth and her theories on human behavior here. I’ve been spending most of my time giving our doll photos makeovers, and organizing our blog posts on Blogspot, before I give our web site an overhaul. Below are some of the art doll figurines that are getting their photos redone.

Redoing the site is a lot of work, but I’m excited about what the end result will be. I feel like it’s going to be good, even if it takes me some time. I want it to be a site that really puts our art front and center.

Original One-of-a-kind Folk Art Doll Figurines by Max Bailey, screenshotEverything is still currently where it was on the Ruffing’s site. I just have a copy of the blog on Blogspot, where I’m cleaning it up and reorganizing it before I import it. Then it will be time to redirect the old pages to the new. This feels like a marathon, but I think it’s got a lot of promise.

I’m also still taking my computer classes at the Apple store. One of my Apple trainers submitted the Ruffing’s site to Apple, for possible inclusion in their “Best of One to One” showcase of web sites by people being trained in their One to One program, which was really nice of him. I have to say, they’ve all been so nice and helpful there, and I couldn’t be doing all the things I’m doing now on that old computer. I’m moving right along now, by leaps and bounds. I have an enormous amount of work to do, but I feel like I’m getting where I need to go now.

I don’t know how long it will take me to get the Ruffing’s site all fixed up, probably months, but in the end, I think it’s going to have been worth it. I am a little worried now though, that the people at Apple will come over right in the middle of things being in disarray, but I’m doing my best to get it organized as much as possible before the switch. There will be some bumps in the road, for sure, but I feel like I’m becoming a better navigator every day 🙂

Be sure to join us on Facebook for updates too!

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Jessie and Jeannie, Original One-of-a-kind Art Cat Doll Figurine by Max Bailey

Jessie and Jeannie, original white kitten figurine by Max BaileyWhen Jessie woke up this morning, her soft little kitty doll Jeannie was right next to her, just where she was supposed to be.

“What do you want to do today?” asked Jeannie, who is one of those dolls who can talk, and always does.

Jessie and Jeannie, original white kitten figurine by Max Bailey“Sleep some more,” mumbled Jessie, opening one eye. But it was such a lovely spring day, filled with sunshine and adventures yet to happen. Jessie took Jeannie over to the window to look out on the garden below, and they purred together at the beauty and excitement of their little world.

Jessie and Jeannie, original white kitten figurine by Max BaileyJessie dressed Jeannie in her favorite blue dress, the one with the lilac ruffles at the neck and at the bottom of the sleeves, with matching lilac pantaloons and little black shoes. She picked out the pale pink petticoats that exactly matched her own. Jessie dressed herself in a light beige dress with blue flowers and pink polka dots. Over it she wore a rosy pink jumper that she tied in the back with a big bow.

Jessie and Jeannie, original white kitten figurine by Max BaileyJessie and Jeannie are original one-of-a-kind works of art, and are meant for display only. No molds are ever used in my work. They are hand-sculpted from paperclay, and are entirely hand painted with acrylic paints. Jessie’s whiskers are made from stiffened cotton thread.

Jessie and Jeannie, original white kitten figurine by Max BaileyJessie 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.

Jessie is an itty bitty kitty. She stands only 4 3/8 inches tall.

Jessie and Jeannie, original white kitten figurine by Max BaileyUpdate: Jessie and Jeannie have already been adopted. Thank you!