Elizabeth Ruffing, Author at Ruffing’s | The Little House of Cats

Posted on June 4, 2015 by Elizabeth Ruffing

Cornflowers and cats

I’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.

I 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.

Santana has forgiven me for breaking up his argument with Trouble, and for scolding him.

Or I think he has, for the most part. I am watching out for those paws. He is an unpredictable guy.

Trouble 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 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.

I 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.

I 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.

I 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.

Posted on May 27, 2015December 29, 2015 by Elizabeth Ruffing

Buffie, miniature orange cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max Bailey

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

Buffie is a buff-orange tabby kitten with earnest blue-gray eyes and a pretty pink nose.

Buffie is a tomboy, although with her sweet face and feminine clothes, you would never think so.

She loves to wrestle with her brothers. She can climb trees faster than they can, and can climb much higher.

In every race, she is first to the finish line.

Today, Buffie is dressed in her light turquoise pinafore.

She wears it over a pale yellow blouse that has a white collar and white cuffs.

Buffie’s wooden chair has a woven tan seat. She has declared it her personal chair, and it comes with her.

Buffie 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.

Buffie 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.

Buffie is 1:12 scale. (One inch equals one foot.) She is 1 and 1/2 inches tall, not including her ears.

Update: Buffie has been adopted. Thank you!

Posted on May 24, 2015 by Elizabeth Ruffing

Eyeballs, fingers, and delays

I was on the verge of getting a group of Hug Me Slugs done and ready to photograph. I made eyeballs of fleece in four sizes. I stuffed bodies. I sewed smiles. It was coming together. Then this happened…

Multiple deep puncture wounds. Swelling hand. Pain. A trip to the doctor. Antibiotic capsules and ointment.

As I’ve mentioned before, cats from different neighbors’ homes like to come visit here, and I like to see them. Usually, they coexist fairly peacefully. Unfortunately, one thinks it is funny to sneak up on another, who doesn’t like that. He likes to be left alone and nap on the porch or in the flowers. They got into a fight, which I broke up. The cats all seem to be fine, but I got bitten up quite badly.

I was told to keep a careful watch on it, keep it clean, ice it, and go for an X-ray if it looks suspicious at all, as cat bites can be serious and the infection can get in the bone. I can bend the knuckle on the back of my hand today, which is when I took this photo, but the chomped-on middle knuckle is still stiff. Between the goo on my hand and the swelling, working is not working out.

So, I am making like Oliver Bunny and trying to relax. The antibiotics are making me feel weird, or I hope it is the antibiotics!

Oh, I did manage to join Pinterest before this, if anyone would like to follow Hug Me Slugs and Friends by Elizabeth Ruffing there. I saw a lot of people had pinned my toys and I thought I would join, and thank people, as I like to do.

Posted on May 20, 2015December 29, 2015 by Elizabeth Ruffing

Iris, miniature Russian Blue cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max Bailey

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

This is Iris. She’s a Russian Blue kitten with green eyes and a very sweet disposition.

Iris has a happy life, and loves to play.

She runs really fast and sometimes bumps into things.

She jumps very high and sometimes misses her landing place, but it’s all part of the fun.

Iris is dressed in an elegant orchid pink dress with a soft lilac rolled collar that comes down in front to the waistline.

She perches on a soft ottoman upholstered in a fabric with pink and lilac-blue flowers.

Iris 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.

Iris 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.

Iris is 1:12 scale. (One inch equals one foot.) She is 1 and 1/2 inches tall.

Update: Iris has been adopted. Thank you!