May 2010 - Page 3 of 4 - Ruffing’s Artist Dolls and Toys

Posted on May 6, 2010January 9, 2019 by Elizabeth Ruffing

Out of the nest

I knew today would be their big day when I saw them all standing on the edge of their nest before bedtime last night.

I got up very early to make sure no kitties were napping on the porch. At first, I thought I was wrong about flight day, because all the babies were still half asleep in their nest.

But, once breakfast began, they sprang right out.

Except for one. One wanted to stay.

I watched this one take his (her?) first flight. She sat peeping on the branch for a long time,

thinking it over,

thinking it looked like a long way down,

and then going for it!

She made it!

So proud of herself. Or himself.

Their little crests on their heads weren’t visible until they were about to fly. I don’t know if it was fear, or excitement, or even bravado that made their crests arch up, but just before leaping, up they came, like the full-grown cardinals, a sign of growing up.

Posted on May 4, 2010January 9, 2019 by Elizabeth Ruffing

Birds and blueberries are growing

The baby cardinals are getting bigger…and louder. They are developing some feathers now, and their eyes are open. It’s getting harder for all four to fit in the nest.

They’re all in there, but it’s hard to see them all at once. They have to sit or climb on each other. The only time I’ve seen all their heads at once is when their mom and dad arrive with food. Then all their beaks pop straight up in the air.

My blueberry bushes are forming blueberries! I never knew that the blueberries develop from the cup parts that held the flowers, and the little outermost points of the cup curl in to become the centers of the blueberries.

The Mexican primroses are back too. We accidentally pulled them out one year, before they bloomed, thinking they were weeds. So, we planted new ones last year. They’re blooming in profusion now.

I’ve been working on our Ruffing’s blog. I wish all my work were more noticeable, because that would feel more rewarding, but I’m trying to take care of as much as possible before I put it up on our web site. I’m redoing lots of older doll photos, and I’m fixing up the old blog posts. I’ve got my working draft temporarily over on Blogger at a Blogspot address. I’ll import it to our site once it’s better organized, and then I’ll just redirect everything. It’s going to be a big job, but I’m working on it.

Posted on May 3, 2010 by Elizabeth Ruffing — 1 Comment

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

When 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.

“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 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 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 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.

Update: Jessie and Jeannie have already been adopted. Thank you!

Posted on May 3, 2010March 13, 2022 by Anne Ruffing

Tulip the Dutch Bunny, Original One-of-a-kind Black-and-white Rabbit Art Doll Figurine by Max Bailey

Tulip the Dutch Bunny, Original One-of-a-kind Black-and-white Rabbit Art Doll Figurine by artist Max Bailey

Tulip is a handmade original, one-of-a-kind black-and-white Dutch bunny rabbit art doll, hand painted and hand sculpted in paperclay by artist Max Bailey.

I am pleased to introduce Tulip, a hard working Dutch bunny with a very serious nature.

Tulip was named after her very great great grandmother Tulip, the illustrious founder and President of Tulip’s Tulip Farm, where the most spectacularly beautiful tulips in all the world are grown.

Someday, Tulip will be President of the farm. For now, she loves to go out into the fields in the fall, and dig perfect little holes with her front paws. Her brothers and sisters follow along behind her, rolling tulip bulbs carefully into the holes. Cousins and second cousins follow along behind them, filling in the holes with dirt to cover the bulbs.

In the spring, when the tulips burst into bloom, all the Dutch bunnies dance through the fields in celebration of the beauty they have helped to create. Tulip loves the lavender tulips the most. You can tell from the lavender tulip pockets she has sewn on her sky blue dress.

Tulip is an original one-of-a-kind work of art, and she is meant for display only. No molds are ever used in my work. She is hand-sculpted from paperclay, and entirely hand painted with acrylic paints. Her whiskers are made from stiffened cotton thread.

Tulip 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.

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

Tulip is available for $149.99, plus shipping. Please inquire to [email protected]

Her friend, Matilda the Tuxedo Kitten, on the right, has already been adopted.