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Potholder Project

I made this set of potholders by sandwiching one layer of cotton duck/canvas between two layers of organic cotton batting, then sandwiching those between two layers of cotton terrycloth (I used cotton washcloths), all roughly 9.5 inches square. I used my walking foot to quilt the layers together. Then I trimmed them down to 8.5 inches square with my rotary cutter and ruler.

Since I didn’t have enough of my polka dotted cotton to make a true bias, I cut 2.5 inch strips and sewed them on the edges of the potholders without turning the corners. I put the strips right sides against the terrycloth, on one edge at a time, sewed a 0.5 inch seam, turned each strip over to the back, turned under the raw edge to match the front, slipped stitched it down, and then top-stitched it down from the front side. I did all four edges this way, turning under the corners where necessary so no raw edge was left out, but leaving about 5 inches of the strip loose at the final corner.

At the final corner, I took the 5 inches of the strip I left loose, turned under the raw edge, then flipped it over on itself to make a loop for hanging, which I then sewed down by hand on the back of the potholder.

We then tested them out on some homemade cheesecake, and they worked great 🙂

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Leah the Star Baby, Original One-of-a-kind Art Doll by Elizabeth Ruffing

Leah the Star Baby, Original One-of-a-kind Art Doll by Elizabeth Ruffing

Leah the Star Baby, Original One-of-a-kind Art Doll by Elizabeth RuffingThis is Leah. She is very new to the universe.

Leah the Star Baby, Original One-of-a-kind Art Doll by Elizabeth RuffingLeah is impatient to learn all she can about the solar system, other galaxies, all the planets, moons, other stars, and especially Earth.

Leah the Star Baby, Original One-of-a-kind Art Doll by Elizabeth RuffingEverything is new to her.

Leah the Star Baby, Original One-of-a-kind Art Doll by Elizabeth RuffingLeah especially enjoys comets and the occasional rockets she sees go by.

Leah the Star Baby, Original One-of-a-kind Art Doll by Elizabeth RuffingShe always waves to them. Sometimes they wave back. Leah is always friendly.

Leah the Star Baby, Original One-of-a-kind Art Doll by Elizabeth RuffingShe is a remarkably good-natured and happy baby.

Leah the Star Baby, Original One-of-a-kind Art Doll by Elizabeth RuffingLeah is an original one-of-a-kind work of art, created from my own design and pattern.

Leah the Star Baby, Original One-of-a-kind Art Doll by Elizabeth RuffingShe is signed and dated.

Leah the Star Baby, Original One-of-a-kind Art Doll by Elizabeth RuffingLeah is entirely handmade. Her body is made of 100% cotton, and painted with acrylic paint. Her bottom is weighted so she can sit nicely while she looks around, and she is also jointed at her shoulders and hips, in case she gets tired and needs to lie down to take a nap.

Leah is approximately 8 1/2 inches tall when seated, and approximately 11 inches long when lying down.

Leah the Star Baby, Original One-of-a-kind Art Doll by Elizabeth RuffingLeah also comes hang tag, a certificate of authenticity, and a copy of her story.

Update: Leah the Star Baby has been adopted. Thank you!

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A(nother) Star is Born

“Leah”, my new star baby is born! Leah is a one-of-a-kind original art doll, made from my own design and pattern. She is jointed at the hips and shoulders so she can sit or lie down. Leah’s body is made from 100% cotton fabric, which is entirely hand painted with acrylic paint and sealed with matte varnish for protection.

Leah is a very friendly, good-natured, and happy baby.

Please click here to visit Leah’s web page.


I took the colors for Leah from my “Moon and Star” watercolor painting. I have a giclée print of it available in our Ruffing’s Etsy shop, It makes a great a companion piece for Leah.

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My Second Treasury List on Etsy (that I know of)

Linda Pare at Crafts from the Heart added my “Frost Angel” giclée print to her “Help me I’m hot…I’m dreaming of winter” treasury list on Etsy. Thanks, Linda!

I’m having winter fantasies myself. Making snow angels sounds very appealing in this heat.

“The Frost Angel” is available in my Etsy shop, as well as through Ruffing’s.