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Finally, more stuffed toy slugs

Stuffed toy Hug Me Slugs by Elizabeth Ruffing, assorted colors and sizesI have an array of Hug Me Slugs up in my toy shop, in a variety of sizes. It made me feel better to see them smiling at me.

Stuffed toy Hug Me Slugs by Elizabeth Ruffing, 12. 9, 8, and 7 inchThese are 12, 9, 8, and 7 inches tall.

Stuffed toy Hug Me Slugs by Elizabeth Ruffing, assorted colors and sizesI will keep working at getting more up, along with some other creatures.

Glass-headed quilting pinsI went out and picked up some supplies. I was surprised by how much the prices went up. I got what I needed on sale, but the regular price for this many glass-headed quilting pins, two packs of the kind I like to use, would be $17.98! And my stuffing is now at $11.99 a bag. Even on sale, they are still expensive.

Gray kitty, hiding behind a tree, Elizabeth RuffingTemperatures here are running between 95 and 101 degrees, but we had appointments for two strays, who have been showing up at my neighbors’ houses, to get them fixed and vaccinated. I only have a couple of photos, from afar, this handsome guy. He looks like Sasquatch peeking out from behind that tree.

I have been leaving food out for a week, in a trapping spot, and tried to trap from before 6am until after 10pm in the heat, with no luck. His friend, a gray-and-white cat, was next to the trap at one point during the night, but it was the moment I went to check the trap. He ran away.

Gray kitty from afar, Elizabeth RuffingThe rest of the day was ridiculous, with one extremely talented girl kitty, a neighbors’ pet, who was an expert at cleaning all the food out of the trap, without stepping on the trip plate. She even carefully licked it off a piece of cardboard I put over the trip plate, to make the area more sensitive. I would come to check the trap, and it would either be open and empty, or closed because it had been jostled.

Then there was food that was left out, when I needed everyone to be hungry. It was hopeless. I got very tired, sweaty, and frustrated. Another kitty is going to take the second vet appointment, after the first had to be canceled. We will wait until the heat breaks, and try again in another spot, with the snack thief inside, I hope.

Santana and Trouble, one sneaking up on the other, Elizabeth RuffingDuring my trapping fiasco, these guys got into a fight again. This time, I went inside and got a bowl of food to break it up instead of risking getting bitten. Santana reluctantly gave in to the food.

Trouble likes to follow me around. Trouble is the black-and-white cat’s name. Santana sees him as a rival. I didn’t see Santana on the other side of my dad’s car, when I said hello to Trouble, who had followed me home. This seemed to set Santana off again. I think Santana gets extremely jealous. He jumped on Trouble and fur was flying again. Trouble seems fine. Santana was limping a little. I didn’t get bitten.

Trouble, black and white cat, hiding behind plants, Elizabeth RuffingBoth belong to neighbors. I think they will eventually sort it out. This has happened with other neighbors’ cats and they adjusted. I like them all, and so I hope they can be friends. Most of the time they seem to tolerate each other.

Oliver Bunny, stretched out in hallway, Elizabeth RuffingI was done in, and didn’t want to even go outside or talk to anyone after all that. Oliver Bunny helped calm me down. He has been relaxing in the heat, with the air conditioning on, sometimes by himself, and sometimes with friends.

Oliver Bunny, stretched out in hallway with tabby cats, Elizabeth RuffingI don’t quite trust these two tabby girls with him, but they are very insistent about having bunny time. Oliver is popular and interesting. He is also brave. If they bother him, he grunts at them and I go shoo them away.

Oliver Bunny, stretched out behind toilet, Elizabeth RuffingWhen he wants to be left alone, he stretches out next to the toilet, which is cooler.

Oliver Bunny's piles of cilantro, Elizabeth RuffingHe used to eat dandelion leaves, but he has been boycotting them. Instead, he has been eating huge amounts of cilantro. He is being picky. I got him some green leaf lettuce, and he didn’t want that either. Romaine is okay, but green leaf, not so much. He wants cilantro, carrots, and most of all, his banana slice in the morning. Banana slices make him very happy. A friend suggested he needs his own banana tree. I said he needs a tiny banana tree, that grows one slice at a time. He is little.

Oliver Bunny, sitting in his Twigloo, with his salad, Elizabeth RuffingI am going to go get some bunny time, and some toy time in, and hide for a while. Tomorrow is Father’s Day. Happy Father’s Day! We will be having cake.

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Gracie, miniature American Shorthair cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max Bailey

Gracie, miniature American Shorthair cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyGracie is a handmade miniature original, one-of-a-kind cat art doll, hand painted and hand sculpted in paperclay by artist Max Bailey.

Gracie, miniature American Shorthair cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyThis is Gracie. She’s an American Shorthair silver tabby kitten with yellow-green eyes.

Gracie, miniature American Shorthair cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyGracie cordially invites you to her afternoon tea party.

Gracie, miniature American Shorthair cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyShe has a lovely flowered porcelain tea set complete with its own porcelain tray.

Gracie, miniature American Shorthair cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyGracie will have the tea ready to pour. Please bring cookies.

Gracie, miniature American Shorthair cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyGracie will be pleased to have a polite and friendly conversation.

Gracie, miniature American Shorthair cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyShe’s gotten all dressed up in her nicest blue dress. It has a white collar and white cuffs, trimmed with a rose border, and there is a lovely rose flower at the neckline.

Gracie, miniature American Shorthair cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyGracie is a one-of-a-kind work of art, and is meant for display only. She was sculpted from paperclay in multiple stages, to allow for drying and detailing.

Gracie, miniature American Shorthair cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyGracie was painted under a magnifying light, with tiny brushes, one hair at a time. She is signed and sealed with matte varnish for protection and preservation, and comes with a certificate of authenticity.

Gracie, miniature American Shorthair cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyGracie is 1:12 scale. (One inch equals one foot.) She is 1 and 1/2 inches tall, not including her ears.

Gracie, miniature American Shorthair cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyUpdate: Gracie has been adopted. Thank you!

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Carly and Cora, miniature tabby cat art dolls, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kittens by artist Max Bailey

Carly and Cora, miniature tabby cat art dolls, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kittens by artist Max BaileyCarly and Cora are handmade miniature original, one-of-a-kind cat art dolls, hand painted and hand sculpted in paperclay by artist Max Bailey.

Carly and Cora are very curious little tabby kittens who have just discovered something on the kitchen table that smells really good.

Carly and Cora, miniature tabby cat art dolls, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kittens by artist Max Bailey“What is that?” Cora asks Carly.

“I think it’s a grilled cheese sandwich,” Carly answers.

Carly and Cora, miniature tabby cat art dolls, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kittens by artist Max Bailey“Is it ours?” asks Cora. Her green eyes get very big.

“It might be, if we eat it right now,” Carly says. “Let’s split it. You eat the bread half and I’ll eat the cheese half.”

Carly and Cora, miniature tabby cat art dolls, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kittens by artist Max Bailey“Will we get in trouble?” Cora asks.

“Well, okay, let’s just lick it,” Carly answers. “No one will ever notice.”

Carly and Cora, miniature tabby cat art dolls, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kittens by artist Max BaileyCora nods solemnly in agreement.

Carly and Cora, miniature tabby cat art dolls, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kittens by artist Max BaileyCarly wears a green pinafore with darker green trim on the shoulder ruffles. Her blouse is soft ivory.

Cora’s pinafore is sunny yellow with gold trim. She wears it over a pale blue-green blouse.

Carly and Cora, miniature tabby cat art dolls, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kittens by artist Max BaileyCarly and Cora sit on flowered cushions decorated with golden roses and green leaves. Their white kitchen chairs have wooden seats that match the round kitchen table with the white pedestal base.

Carly and Cora, miniature tabby cat art dolls, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kittens by artist Max BaileyCarly and Cora were painted under a magnifying light, with tiny brushes, one hair at a time. They are signed and sealed with matte varnish for protection and preservation, and come with a certificate of authenticity.

Carly and Cora are 1:12 scale. (One inch equals one foot.) They are 1 and 1/2 inches tall.

Carly and Cora, miniature tabby cat art dolls, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kittens by artist Max BaileyUpdate: Carly and Cora have been adopted. Thank you!

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Cornflowers and cats

Cornflowers by Elizabeth RuffingI’m on the mend, and no X-rays of my cat bites were needed. No toys to show for myself yet. So, I thought I would share my pretty cornflowers instead.

Cornflowers by Elizabeth RuffingI can bend my finger but I’m still making slug eyeballs before finishing any toys. My finger still hurts if I bump it into anything, and fleece eyeballs are so small, bumping into them isn’t an issue.

Petting Santana the Peeping Tom Cat by Elizabeth RuffingSantana has forgiven me for breaking up his argument with Trouble, and for scolding him.

Santana the Peeping Tom Cat looking mischievous by Elizabeth RuffingOr I think he has, for the most part. I am watching out for those paws. He is an unpredictable guy.

Trouble (the cat) following me by Elizabeth RuffingTrouble has come back without fail. That is him next to my catalpa tree. I wish I had had my camera just before I took that picture, because he came over with his brothers, Scooter and Fish, in a pack, and they all took a walk with Jude and me. They find his harness and leash fascinating.

Trouble (the cat) following me by Elizabeth RuffingTrouble likes to do things with me, plant trees, trim kudzu, mow the lawn. He and Santana watched me a few feet apart since their spat, with no more than some dirty looks.

Cornflowers by Elizabeth RuffingI managed to get some mowing done, but not the push mowing, since that has definite bumping potential. Trouble watched me ride back and forth on the rider mower, at least twenty times. Then he decided to run out and leap in front of me. I think he wanted me to chase him on the mower. I’ve discovered he likes to be chased sometimes, which may be what got him into trouble with Santana, who chases him all the way back into his garage, when Trouble sneaks up on him.

Cornflowers by Elizabeth RuffingI think they get lonely when no one is home, and then they come to see me. No one seemed to be around for a while, when they all came over. I asked if there was an emergency, and offered to look after them if there were. I didn’t hear back. Hopefully everything is okay.

Tabby cat playing with a catnip lobster by Elizabeth RuffingI found a catnip lobster online for Miss Henrietta, who was very appreciative. The lobster came in a group of toys, all made of corduroy. She makes a nest out of them and sleeps in them. They are from HuggleKats. I found them on the Foster and Smith site.

Well, I think am good to sew, if anyone is waiting for me to put some toys in my shop. Feel free to ask me if I have a slug almost ready, if you would like one. I know I have plenty of eyeballs.