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Huggy Kitty, New Original Cat Doll by Elizabeth Ruffing

Huggy Bunny and Huggy Kitty by Elizabeth RuffingHuggy Bunny” has a new friend, “Huggy Kitty”.

Huggy Kitty by Elizabeth Ruffing Huggy Kitty has a lavender onesie with burnt orange and white flowers, yellow polka dot buttons, and a red polka dot heart.

Huggy Kitty by Elizabeth Ruffing She has gold “fur” and a curly tail. She is made from 100% cotton quilting fabrics that have been fused to a layer of cotton sheeting for added durability.

Her eyes and mouth are hand embroidered, and the edges of her onesie, her tail, her nose, and the pink parts of her ears are machine appliquéd.

Huggy Kitty by Elizabeth Ruffing Huggy Kitty has no loose parts, and she is stuffed with Poly-fil polyester stuffing.

Update: Huggy Kitty has been adopted. Thank you! Please visit Elizabeth’s Etsy toy shop for more original art toys.

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“Huggy Kitty” New Original Cat Doll by Elizabeth Ruffing

Huggy Bunny” has a new friend, “Huggy Kitty”.

Huggy Kitty has a lavender onesie with burnt orange and white flowers, yellow polka dot buttons, and a red polka dot heart.

She has gold “fur” and a curly tail. She is made from 100% cotton quilting fabrics that have been fused to a layer of cotton sheeting for added durability.

Her eyes and mouth are hand embroidered, and the edges of her onesie, her tail, her nose, and the pink parts of her ears are machine appliquéd.

Huggy Kitty has no loose parts, and she is stuffed with Poly-fil polyester stuffing.

To see my available original, one-of-a-kind soft dolls and toys please click here.

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Stitch-along, Bluebird Quilt Block Part 3, Satin Stitch

Back to the bluebird block…I finished embroidering the raw edges of the branch using the blanket stitch. I experimented with an alternate stitch, but liked the blanket stitch better. For the rest of my raw edges, for the most part, I used a satin stitch. The satin stitch was pretty easy and it looked very nice. Just a rundown on the basic steps first…Poke your threaded needle through your fabric from the wrong/back side to the right/front side of the fabric, just to the inside of your raw edge. I’m using a purple line in my photos to represent the actual edge of your appliqué. (You can click my photos to make them larger.)

On the right/front side of your fabric, poke your needle through to the back of your fabric along your raw edge, and, in one movement, back out to the front of your fabric, just inside the raw edge, and just next to the point where your first stitch emerged.

Pull your stitch gently taut without making it tight enough so that your fabric puckers. You will be repeating these basic steps over and over along your edge to finish your raw edge.

Take your next stitch just under your first stitch as you repeat the same steps.

Keep an even tension on your stitches by pulling your floss gently.

Continue along your raw edge until you have reached the end of the shape you are working on. You will switch colors of embroidery floss depending on the color of your appliqué shapes. Again, I made a little knot in the back when I ended a color or ran out of floss on my needle. Since the block will be quilted, it shouldn’t matter too much.

You will need:
  • Assorted colors of embroidery floss depending on your fabric choices (I used DMC black/310, white, 168, 260, 317, 370, 392, 646, 726, 742, 783, 797, 826, and 842)
  • An embroidery needle (I think mine was a size 10)
  • A hoop (I used a 9 inch wooden hoop for an 11 1/2 square of fabric. If your square is smaller, you might want a smaller hoop.)
Following the edges of each colored shape, follow the basic satin stitch steps to finish each edge.

I took a few random stitches here and there just for effect, like on the bird’s belly and chest.

I added a little white stitch in his eye for a highlight.

His claws are also done in a satin stitch. You can see the blanket stitch along the edges of the branch in this picture too. I tried using a lighter gray on the top of the branch, and a slightly darker gray along the lower edge of the branch. Where the branch got very narrow, I used a satin stitch right over my fabric because I felt it was too thin to hold up on its own.

That is about it for finishing the embellishment on this block. It will be trimmed down and squared off later when I set it into its destination. It’s finished size will be 9 inches, which means it will be trimmed down to about 9 1/2 inches to include seam allowances. I will be careful not to cut through any of my embroidery stitching to make sure it doesn’t come out later. But, we will wait to trim it for now. I am still debating over how I will use the block. We shall see…
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Ginnie, Original One-of-a-kind Ginger Tabby Cat Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max Bailey

Ginnie, Original One-of-a-kind Ginger Tabby Cat Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyEvery Saturday morning Tony the Baker takes a batch of freshly baked gingerbread kitties from the oven, and decorates them with colored frosting, currant eyes, and candy buttons. They are his specialty. He sets them on trays and proudly places them on display in the bakery window.

Tony knows that shy little Ginnie, the ginger tabby cat with the sweet face, will stop on the sidewalk to admire them. She always does.

Ginnie, Original One-of-a-kind Ginger Tabby Cat Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyShe will look wistfully at the cookies, her head tilted slightly to one side, then sigh softly and continue on her way. Tony will gaze at Ginnie through the window, admiring her beautiful coloring, her amber eyes, and her graceful ways.

Ginnie, Original One-of-a-kind Ginger Tabby Cat Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyGinnie has two loves in this world so far………the color green, and gingerbread kitties.

Ginnie, Original One-of-a-kind Ginger Tabby Cat Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyOn this particular Saturday, Tony the Baker appears suddenly in the doorway, holding two gingerkitty masterpieces he has just made especially for Ginnie.

Ginnie, Original One-of-a-kind Ginger Tabby Cat Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max Bailey “I made these for you,” Tony manages to say as he holds them out to her.

Ginnie, Original One-of-a-kind Ginger Tabby Cat Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max Bailey“Oh, I couldn’t, Mr. Baker,” Ginnie tells him, and only she knows that she is blushing. “I have to watch my waistline.”

Ginnie, Original One-of-a-kind Ginger Tabby Cat Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max Bailey“There could be no harm in a little nibble now and then,” answers Tony. “Here is one for you, and one to give to a friend.”

Ginnie, Original One-of-a-kind Ginger Tabby Cat Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyGinnie thinks how pleased her friend will be when she gives her the gingerkitty with the green shirt. She takes it and puts it in her pocket, for she is generous of heart. She extends her paw for the other.

Ginnie, Original One-of-a-kind Ginger Tabby Cat Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max Bailey“Thank you kindly, Mr. Baker,” she tells him, and holding her gingerkitty somewhat near her heart, Ginnie continues down the sidewalk, glancing back at Tony the Baker only once, or maybe twice.

Ginnie, Original One-of-a-kind Ginger Tabby Cat Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyGinnie now has three loves in this world so far.

Ginnie, Original One-of-a-kind Ginger Tabby Cat Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyGinnie’s dress is her favorite color green, with a darker green sash that ties in the back in a very pretty bow, and a stripe of darker green across the pocket and around the hem. Antique white ruffles set off the dress at the neckline and at the bottom of the sleeves. Below her dress, you can see her many petticoats, one white, then each a different shade of green.

Ginnie, Original One-of-a-kind Ginger Tabby Cat Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyI hand sculpted Ginnie (and her cookies) from paperclay, and used stiffened cotton thread for her long graceful whiskers. She is an original one-of-a-kind work of art, meant for display only. No molds are ever used in my work.

Ginnie, Original One-of-a-kind Ginger Tabby Cat Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyGinnie is completely hand painted with acrylic paints, then 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, and she stands 9 1/2 inches tall.

Ginnie, Original One-of-a-kind Ginger Tabby Cat Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyUpdate: Ginnie has already been adopted. Thank you!

Ginnie, Belinda and BoBo, Original One-of-a-kind Tabby Cat Folk Art Doll Figurines by Max BaileyGinnie’s friends are Belinda and BoBo (above right).