June 2011 - Ruffing’s Artist Dolls and Toys

Posted on June 30, 2011July 31, 2019 by Elizabeth Ruffing

Hug Me Slugs helping cats and kittens

I have twenty 7-inch slugs up for adoption. Five dollars from the sale of each of them will go to a local cat rescue, Alley Cats and Angels of NC. I will be posting my new handmade stuffed animal toys in our Ruffing’s shop.

I have a limited number of Hug Me Slugs in the 7-inch size, as I pre-cut my fabric to stay organized. Sometimes I have a small piece of fleece, and there is just enough room for a little slug like these, which means there are some unusual prints in with this group too.

Some of these prints are really neat, like these stars, and the stripes below.

The 7-inch Hug Me Slugs fit right in a toddler’s hand, like this adorable little boy’s.

These red slugs grew a bit more than I expected, and they are a little taller and more slender than the others. A friend dubbed them “super model slugs” 🙂

As always, Josephine has been helping me, but today, she was extra helpful, obsessively helpful, you might say.

She felt the need to pitch in with my, or “our”, computer work more than usual. She has been an integral part of all my photo editing and posting today.

Jack has been doing great. He is in a foster home awaiting adoption. Stormy, who is Josephine’s cousin or half-sister’s sister (no one knows for sure as the mamas in their colony were sharing mothering duties), was adopted by Jack’s fosterer. Stormy is crazy about Jack, as you can see in this photo from a couple of weeks ago. Update: Jack has been adopted.

I have more art toys to finish, crowds of them. These custom slugs went out this week. One went to someone on Buckingham Palace Road, in London. I thought that was so cool. Had the slug gone to the actual palace, that would have tickled me tremendously, but she is pretty nearby. I wish people would send me more photos of their slugs in their new homes. I always enjoy that.

I got a new camera this week. The sensor on mine went. I need to learn a whole lot about this new camera! I am looking forward to working on my camera skills. I haven’t even read the manual yet. I was relieved just to be able to take these photos!

Posted on June 29, 2011July 31, 2019 by Elizabeth Ruffing

In memory

In memory of my cousin, Steve. April 11, 1963-June 16, 2011.

Steve, Elizabeth, and Dave.

Posted on June 26, 2011July 22, 2011 by Elizabeth Ruffing — 1 Comment

Marnie, Original One-of-a-kind Maine Coon Cat Art Doll by Max Bailey

Marnie is a Maine Coon cat. She’s not sure where Maine is, but she thinks it’s probably very nice there.

Marnie likes where she lives. In the winter, the snow doesn’t get very deep, and it’s only cold at night while she sleeps in her warm little bed. In the spring, she tends to her catnip garden and sits on her porch reading about places where she’s never been.

“I could go water skiing in Maine,” Marnie announced to her friend one day. “I could go fishing too, and catch lots of great big fish.”

“You would get all wet,” her friend replied. “And besides, if you went to Maine, I would miss you.”

Marnie put her book down. “I would miss you too,” she said. “I guess it’s pretty nice here. I think I’ll go make us some catnip tea.”

Marnie is wearing a pretty taffy colored pinafore with ruffles that go over her shoulders.

It has tiny blue flowers and green leaves, and looks just right with her cream colored blouse with blue bands around the neck, cuffs, and hem.

Her little kitty feet are covered by tan high-button shoes over blue tights. Under her dress are white pantaloons, from which her striped tail emerges.

Marnie 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.

Marnie’s curled tail enables her to sit prettily all 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.) Marnie is meant for display only.

Marnie is signed and sealed with matte varnish for protection and preservation. She is 8 and 1/2 inches tall.

Update: Marnie has been adopted! Thank you!

Marnie’s friend is Lucinda the black cat (coming soon).

Posted on June 12, 2011July 31, 2019 by Elizabeth Ruffing

Ever-growing piles

My workroom is getting very full! I took this video last week, and now there are at least twice as many art toys in progress, squeezing me into the center of the room.

I received such a nice email from a lady who purchased a Hug Me Slug for her daughter’s eleventh birthday. She said her daughter gave her a list of ten things she wanted for her birthday, and a Hug Me Slug was number one! Not only that, but iPod was number two! She told me I beat the iPod out. How cool is that?

I will be posting my new handmade stuffed animal toys in our Ruffing’s shop.

For some time now, I’ve been meaning to make a big Hug Me Slug for my cousin, who is still battling peritoneal cancer, and who has been unable to eat for weeks now. I found it hard to do, I guess because I felt so sad about the whole situation. I sent this blue guy out and I hope he gives my cousin a smile.

Over the past two weeks, I have been stuffing toys by the bunches, mostly in the smaller sizes, but I stuffed one extra in the 12-inch size, for no one in particular. This Friday, I received a request for a custom 12-inch Hug Me Slug, and in the color I had just happened to have chosen. From the gift note, it sounded like the Hug Me Slug was for a seriously ill person. I checked and it was indeed for a baby, who was potentially going into the hospital this weekend, and who may need a bone marrow transplant and chemotherapy. I am so glad I had that slug ready! I will be able to get her out right away on Monday. I hope that little girl gets all well very soon, and I hope her new friend gives her some comfort.

I wanted to make a special card for her. I digitally colored the card above, using Painter and Photoshop Elements. This is one of my first efforts. I am still very much uncoordinated with the Wacom tablet and pen, and I still feel lost when I open Painter. I was pleased I was able to sign my name with the pen! I still have trouble even staying in the lines. I wanted a card that was simple, that would appeal to a baby. I hope to make more pictures for kids, once I get the hang of this.

Josephine has been helping me in every way she can. She tried to take my Wacom pen away many times. She still takes all my pens, turns on the Wacom tablet, and jumps on the keyboard. She even tries to call people on Skype!

“nnn” is not on our contact list. One day she may pick someone who is.

Marie, who is fostering Jack, brought him over for a visit. Jack is doing very well. He played in his carrier, with a fresh catnip knot I made.

He’s been healing up nicely.

Eventually, he wanted to come out and play too. He had just had his leukemia test, which came out all clear. So, he was able to run around with the other cats.

Once he discovered the Bigfoot cat gym, he was obsessed. Jack loves to climb! That’s not surprising, considering I found him living in a tree.

He was determined to make it to the top, as small as he is.

Of course, he made it, because he is a go-getter. 🙂 I hope he gets his own cat tree in his new home, once he is adopted. Marie is still taking care of him, and he’s still got that stitch to get, to reattach his lower lip, but he’s been doing great. Update: Jack has been adopted.