Posted on 2 Comments

My 300th toy shop sale, yay!

Light orange and pear green Hug Me Slug art toys by Elizabeth Ruffing, ready to shipI reached my 300th toy shop sale in my Etsy toy shop today. Yay! Thank you so much to everyone for your support! It is so nice to think about that many people having toys I made and enjoying them. I appreciate everyone who has collected my toys through Etsy, through our blog, through Facebook, as well as everyone who has requested one through email or in person. I also appreciate the positive messages and compliments you all have sent my way. I will be posting my new handmade stuffed animal toys in our Ruffing’s shop

Orange and yellow fleeceI’ve made toys for as long as I can remember, but I wasn’t so sure of myself when I started making them for other people to collect. I can remember saying I didn’t know how to be sure something was cute, because I thought that everyone else’s taste would be different from my own, but I have been pleasantly surprised to find that my innocent, smiling creatures have appealed to so many.

Mailing boxes pileI am, right now, tripping over fleece and boxes at every turn, trying to prepare for the holidays. I am still taking some custom orders, and will continue to until I think I can’t keep up. I will see how that goes. I can never predict. I’m starting to feel a little swamped right now, and the first two weeks of December tend to get booked up suddenly. I have more ready-made toys waiting to be detailed too.

Posted on

Tulip Hug Me Bunnies, Hug Me Slug handmade stuffed animal toys, and a new original tabby cat art doll

Red, orange, yellow, blue tulip print Hug Me Bunny rabbit art toys by Elizabeth RuffingI hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving. I got a little sewing in. These are my tulip bunny Hug Me Bunny stuffed animal toys. I’ve had this fabric for a long time, and could never decide what I should make with it. It is very bright, cheerful, and showy, and needed a project where it could stand alone.

Red, orange, yellow, blue tulip print Hug Me Bunny rabbit art toy by Elizabeth RuffingThese two red rabbits are about 12 inches tall.

Red, orange, yellow, blue tulip print Hug Me Bunny rabbit art toy by Elizabeth RuffingI finished some more 12-inch fleece Hug Me Slug handmade stuffed animals as well. This yellow one already has a new home. I’m sending him and some others out tomorrow. I hope the lines at the Post Office will be reasonable. From what I’ve heard, Monday is when people run in to start mailing all the things they braved Black Friday to purchase as gifts.

Bright yellow fleece Hug Me Slug art toy by Elizabeth RuffingI’ve been avoiding the stores myself this weekend, but still need to make a run for some food. I’m not crazy about the idea of diving into the crowds.

Dark pink and medium pink fleece Hug Me Slug art toys by Elizabeth RuffingI will be posting my new handmade stuffed animal toys in our Ruffing’s shop

Art Nouveau cotton print fabricsI did get to the fabric stores this week though, and picked up some pretty new prints I intend to use for more bunnies. I have a couple of sock kittens to dress as well, but I am using solid colors and some decorative machine stitching on their clothes.

Meredith, Original One-of-a-kind Tabby Cat Art Doll by Max BaileyWe just posted a new original, one-of-a-kind tabby cat art doll named Meredith on our Ruffing’s blog. She is another very pretty doll by Max Bailey.

Tabby kittens and Josie on cat tree, by Elizabeth RuffingThe kitten sisters had their big spay day on Monday, and they got their microchips and their booster shots. They needed to rest for a couple of days. They are back to their usual selves now, and staying out loose in the house after bedtime. They have been surprisingly well behaved and quiet at night.

Bertie gets a bath, by Elizabeth RuffingThey still do plenty of tearing around, in between napping. They’ve been getting along well with the other cats here. Bertie asked for this bath.

Josie and Bertie asleep in adjoining cat beds, by Elizabeth RuffingThey are trying out the various cozy spots for naps. There has been a lot of competition for this one particular perch, which is Josie’s favorite. Phoebe keeps stealing it and will not budge.

Josie and Bertie asleep in adjoining cat beds, by Elizabeth Ruffing

Posted on 1 Comment

Meredith, Original One-of-a-kind Tabby Cat Art Doll by Max Bailey

Meredith, Original One-of-a-kind Tabby Cat Art Doll by Max BaileyMeredith is a typical tabby, beautifully multicolored with dramatically dark stripes, and very expressive.

Meredith, Original One-of-a-kind Tabby Cat Art Doll by Max BaileyThere is no need to ask how Meredith is feeling at any given time. Her little face will always tell you. There is also no need to ask her opinion. What she thinks will be clearly written on her face, and in her big yellow eyes.

Meredith, Original One-of-a-kind Tabby Cat Art Doll by Max BaileyMeredith will approve or disapprove. She will like something or detest it. She will find something to be amusing, or absolutely dreadful.

Meredith, Original One-of-a-kind Tabby Cat Art Doll by Max BaileyYou will always know when Meredith is cheerful, and when she is blue.

Meredith, Original One-of-a-kind Tabby Cat Art Doll by Max BaileyMeredith is cheerful today. She’s wearing a pretty little pink pinafore covered in rose and gold flowers and sprays of green leaves. Under her pinafore she wears a darker pink blouse with ecru bands around the neck, cuffs, and hem. It has gold trim and tiny gold buttons.

Meredith, Original One-of-a-kind Tabby Cat Art Doll by Max BaileyMeredith’s striped tail emerges from her white bloomers. Her tights have bands of pink and gold. Tan high-button shoes cover her pretty kitty feet.

Meredith, Original One-of-a-kind Tabby Cat Art Doll by Max BaileyMeredith is a 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. Her whiskers are made from stiffened cotton thread.

Meredith, Original One-of-a-kind Tabby Cat Art Doll by Max BaileyMeredith’s paws are needle-sculpted, and her arms are button-jointed so that she can pose. Her face was sculpted from paperclay smoothed into her fabric head.

Meredith, Original One-of-a-kind Tabby Cat Art Doll by Max BaileyMeredith’s curled tail enables her to sit cheerfully by herself on a shelf or on 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.) Meredith is meant for display only.

Meredith, Original One-of-a-kind Tabby Cat Art Doll by Max BaileyMeredith is signed and sealed with matte varnish for protection and preservation. She is 8 and 1/2 inches tall.

Meredith and Echo, Original One-of-a-kind Tabby and Black and White Tuxedo Cat Art Dolls by Max BaileyUpdate: Meredith has been adopted. Thank you!

Meredith’s tuxedo-cat friend is Echo, who can be found by clicking here.

Posted on

Photographing art dolls

Photographing art dolls, organizing cat doll dresses, photo by Elizabeth RuffingYesterday, in addition to photographing fleece bunnies and my sock kitten, we also photographed nine new original, one-of-a-kind cat art dolls by Max Bailey. I was in charge of ironing their outfits, and putting the right outfits with the right dolls.

Photographing art dolls, organizing cat doll overalls, photo by Elizabeth RuffingI thought I had it all right, but I switched one dress with another. I thought the one dress looked especially pretty on the doll I accidentally dressed in it, and so we went with the dress exchange.

Photographing art dolls, dolls organized with their outfits, photo by Elizabeth RuffingI then ironed our backdrop, which is quilting cotton, a blend of pink, blue, and yellow.

Photographing art dolls, ironing the backdrop, photo by Elizabeth RuffingWe set up foam core, on a box, on a table, to get the dolls the right height compared to the camera and tripod.

Photographing art dolls, tripod and backdrop, photo by Elizabeth RuffingWe take our photos outside on our porch, to get natural light. We always have to wait for the direct sunlight to pass over the house, so we don’t get harsh shadows. I’m trying out my new micro lens for these. The photos look good so far, but it will take me a while to get them all edited and posted. We’ll be posting our new original one-of-a-kind cat art dolls, and stuffed animal toys, in our Ruffing’s shop.

Tabby kittens at play, Josephine chasing Bertie, photo by Elizabeth RuffingThe kittens have been loose in the house during the day. We round them up at night, for bedtime in the laundry room. In the morning, they are raring to go, and start meowing to let us know it is time for them to come play.

Tabby kittens at play, Phoebe playing with Bertie, photo by Elizabeth RuffingJosephine has been very happy to have the girls to play with her. They are closer to her own age than her other friends.

Tabby kittens at play, Phoebe playing with Bertie, photo by Elizabeth RuffingPhoebe doesn’t want any people touching her, but she is the more adventurous of the two kittens. I find her watching me, and hanging out around me too, even though she will still hiss or scoot if I try to pet her. I can tell she likes me, in spite of that. She just wants to set her own rules about people.

Tabby kittens at play, Phoebe trying out the cat gym, photo by Elizabeth RuffingPhoebe was the first to try out the cat gym. Josephine is showing her around. Bertie joined them later, but Bertie likes to relax in the bedrooms more, trying out the fuzzy blankets.

Tabby kittens at play, Phoebe exploring the mantle, with Josephine on the cat gym, photo by Elizabeth RuffingThey are both settling in very well. They’ll have their spay day soon, and get their microchips, which is good, because they probably will start refusing to go to bed in the laundry room. Already, bedtime keeps getting bumped up until later because they want to keep playing and running around.