Posted on

Hug Me Toad and Cat stuffed animal sock toys and machine appliquéd Hug Me Slug decorative throw pillows

Mary the Hug Me Sock Toad by Elizabeth RuffingThis is Mary the Hug Me Toad. Mary had to wait a little while before taking the trip to her new home, due to the ice storm we had the other day. This morning, the roads were clear, and Mary happily hopped into her box and left for Kentucky.

Mary the Hug Me Sock Toad by Elizabeth RuffingMary had a couple of new friends to play with in my workroom, while we waited for the ice to melt. This turquoise Hug Me Sock Kitten has an orchid fleece heart. I love her sweet face.

Turquoise Hug Me Sock Kitten by Elizabeth RuffingI had quite a time trying to photograph her and the rest of the sock animals this morning. The wind was blowing and it was so cold outside. Icicles were dripping on us, and on my camera. I even had to blow dry a Hug Me Toad, when she got a drop of icicle water on her head! I think we were all glad to get back inside.

Turquoise Hug Me Sock Kitten by Elizabeth RuffingThis dark pink Hug Me Toad with white polka dots is one of triplets I made earlier. Her sisters have already been adopted. I actually have lots and lots of socks waiting to grow up to be Hug Me Toys, but I just happened to like this pattern and made three in a row. I tend to be that way.

Dark Pink with White Polka-dots Hug Me Sock Toad by Elizabeth RuffingI will be sure to add some new sock animals in different colors and patterns to my menagerie soon.

Dark Pink with White Polka-dots Hug Me Sock Toad by Elizabeth RuffingI’ve also had these two decorative Hug Me Slug accent pillows for a while. The are made with cotton fabrics sewn by machine appliqué.

Turquoise, Purple, and Oatmeal Hug Me Slug Decorative Pillow by Elizabeth Ruffing

Gold, Brown with Polka Dots, Light Blue, and Oatmeal Hug Me Slug Decorative Pillow by Elizabeth Ruffing

Posted on 4 Comments

Feral Cheryl, TNR Demo Cat

Feral Cheryl the TNR Demo Cat, sock cat by Elizabeth RuffingFeral Cheryl is a sock kitten with a job to do. She’s the brainchild of my friend Marie, who commissioned me to find a sock kitten with the courage to help show people how to TNR, which stands for Trap Neuter and Return. It’s really Trap Vaccinate Spay/Neuter and Return, sometimes called TVNR. Cheryl isn’t afraid of traps. She’s not afraid of anything.

Feral Cheryl the TNR Demo Cat, sock cat by Elizabeth RuffingFeral Cheryl will be joining the Alley Cats and Angels’ TNR task force, for the TNR 101 workshops Princess Marie is leading. Cheryl will fearlessly enter the safety traps they use to capture real-life feral kitties, so that this knowledge can be passed on to others, and other feral cats can be saved from the cycle of over population. It’s a serious job.

Feral Cheryl the TNR Demo Cat, sock cat by Elizabeth RuffingCheryl is fully prepared. Marie thought it would be a good idea if Feral Cheryl were to show her fierceness a little, just so people would be reminded not to hug a feral cat. So, Cheryl obliged and displayed her teeth and claws.

Feral Cheryl the TNR Demo Cat, sock cat by Elizabeth RuffingCheryl also told me she wanted a tattoo. So, I did my first tattoo! It says “Tom”, some guy Cheryl knows, I guess.

Feral Cheryl the TNR Demo Cat, hang tag by Elizabeth RuffingI even did a little digital editing on her hang tag, so the picture would share her left ear crop. For anyone who might not be familiar with the ear crop, it’s a way to identify cats in feral colonies who have already been spayed and neutered. It lets rescue groups know to re-release a feral cat who has already received his or her trip to the veterinarian.

Feral Cheryl the TNR Demo Cat, sock cat by Elizabeth RuffingIf you’d like to learn more about Alley Cats and Angels and their TNR program, please visit their web site by clicking here. They also have lots of friendly cats and kittens who are up for adoption. They are a great group of people and kitties.

Sheet of ice on the deckIn other news, this is our deck today. A sheet of ice. We will have to wait for it to melt before any toys are delivered to the Post Office or anywhere else. I’m sure Cheryl will keep them all entertained while they wait.

Posted on

New Etsy shop for a new year

Ruffings' new Etsy shop banner by Elizabeth RuffingHappy new year everyone! In honor of 1/1/11, I got up this morning and opened a new collective Etsy shop for Ruffing’s. Now we won’t have to debate over whose shop should have whose jointly-made art. This shop will be for all the fine art by myself, Elizabeth Ruffing, my mom, A E Ruffing, Max Bailey, and Abby Laurence, and everything made by any combination of the aforementioned thereof 🙂 Since we share a workspace, supplies, and advice for each other, it makes sense. Update: All our art will now be on our Ruffing’s website. Please visit our Ruffing’s shop.

We’ll be migrating our art, including all my whimsical, play-with-me-type art and toys, from my Etsy toy shop and our Ruffing’s Etsy shop, over to our Ruffing’s shop on this website, until it is all organized.

I even made a new banner for our Ruffing’s shop this morning before I had breakfast. How is that for tackling a new Year’s resolution? I hope 2011 is full of wonderful things to come!