Author: Elizabeth Ruffing

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Butterfly bushes and baked goods

I took these photos of Painted Lady Butterflies on our butterfly bush a couple of years ago. The butterfly bushes aren’t in bloom quite yet, but…I finally planted the one I have had sitting in a pot by our chimney for as long as I’ve had these photos. I can’t believe it has survived this long in a pot, and I’m hopeful that it will continue to persevere.

We’ve had an overcast day, which is good for transplanting. Here’s hoping it takes off like the one in these photos. This one is enormous, and the butterflies, moths, and bees visit it all summer long.

I have some more gardening to tend to, that I have been putting off doing. I used to garden with a passion, but the hard clay in the North Carolina soil has put me off a bit. I’d love to get my iris beds divided too.

I’m trying to do the things I have been putting off, one at a time, including making progress on all things doll related.

I also made both banana oat muffins and soft pretzels today. Mm…salty pretzel goodness. I had a craving for soft pretzels while at the mall recently. I almost stopped for one, but I kept thinking, “I could just make those!” So, that became one more thing on my to-do list. It was well worth the effort.

While I was out, I also picked up a copy of Quilting Arts new special issue, Stitch, Creating with Fabric & Thread. The pretty pillow on the cover is “Tuesday Pillow” by Malka Dubrawsky. The instructions are included in the magazine.

What really made me purchase the issue though, were the cute stuffed toys, “Pretty Cat, Baby Bear and Mini-Mouse”, by Heidi Boyd. The patterns are in the foldout in the center of the magazine, and the instructions are in the back. They’d make adorable gifts.

I’ve got my own pile of toys to sew and doll dresses to make. So, I probably won’t be trying these out right away. I’m sure I’m more likely to get some new idea before then, to add to my list of things to do, but I thought perhaps some of you would enjoy making them! Enjoy your weekend!

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Kitties in dresses

These are our first photos of the original folk art cat dolls that Max Bailey and I have done together, wearing their dresses, and posed on the background we picked out. “Loretta and Lulu”, the Siamese mom and her pocket kitten are on the far left. “Chelsea” the Maine Coon Cat, with her birthday cake, is in the middle. “Heidi and Helga” are on the right. Helga is Heidi’s goose.

Emily the ginger tabby cat, and Beatrice the lop rabbit haven’t got their outfits on yet. That’s little Beulah the lop rabbit in Beatrice’s lap.

Heidi was our first cat doll we did together. Then came Loretta and Lulu. Chelsea was the third addition. We’ll be taking more photos before these go up for adoption over in our online doll gallery. They’ll be on the page for jointed dolls eventually, but not until they are all ready. I’ll be sure to post here on this blog, and on the Ruffing’s blog when they are ready for adoption. First, I have some photos of Max’s art doll figurines to edit. I’ll try to get those done as soon as I can.

I believe we are going to create a tuxedo cat doll next, but there is a lot to finish up before we get to her…him? We’ll see. I think we will have to try some mister kitties soon.

I took an extended weekend last weekend and did some fun things, including some first-time-ever things. One of those was taking a ballroom dancing lesson for the first time ever! I love watching Dancing with the Stars, but I have no clue when it comes to doing any of that sort of thing. So, that was a treat. We tried the the rumba and the waltz. I can’t tell you how many tries it took to get me to walk in a circle correctly. I’m still not sure it wasn’t an accident when I finally got it right!

I went to the airport for the first time ever. I have never been on a plane. I still haven’t been! I did watch the planes take off however, and, I admit, I shuddered just watching them lift off the ground. I also got the tour of what you do at the airport, before you get on or off the plane, things I’ve only seen on TV and in the movies. Then I goofed and missed seeing the plane I meant to wave at as it took off.

I also got to see The Soloist, which I really liked a lot. I worked on my Wolverine imitation, but failed to convince anyone to take me to see that:

“Ka-chang! Ka-chang!” (Elizabeth doing “Wolverine fingers”…a sort of distant relative to jazz hands only meaner-looking, and with blades.)

“No!”

“Why not?”

“Because you are going to keep doing THAT!”

So, no Wolverine for me.

In the middle of the week, I finished getting a ton of fillings done. Yuck. I thought I was taking good care of my teeth, but they rebelled and got little cavities in them. My tongue is still numb and prickly. I hope that goes away soon.

After we get some errands taken care of, I will be back to sewing and photo editing.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend. It is getting very warm here in North Carolina.

I’ll have some new doll dresses to show you soon, hopefully.

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy these.