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Posted on July 15, 2009January 9, 2019 by Elizabeth Ruffing

Pixie Kitten in progress

A kitten in a tutu. My latest project. She has hand-quilted wings that I borrowed from another project that I hadn’t finished. Max is going to work some magic on her next. She’ll be taking on some Siamese (or Himilayan, or Ragdoll…not sure yet) kitten features soon. We were thinking “fairy kittens” but then I liked “Pixie Kittens” better. It sounds more mischievous. There may just be a “Pixie Cat” to follow…

Dealing with the tulle has been hysterical. Purchasing it was interesting. We piled the bolts up in our arms, and when we got to the cutting counter, the guy there seemed really angry to see us! He looked up and said, “Oh, you’re killing me!!” After the twelfth bolt or so, cutting half yards at a time, he seemed to recover a bit. Maybe that was because the end was in sight, or maybe he was due for a break. I prewashed the tulle, and then had to fold and iron it. It does take some patience. It’s true.

I cut strips with my rotary cutter, each half an inch greater in skirt length than the next, and basted them together, two at a time. Then I basted the two sets of two together, and pulled up the basting stitch to gather the edge. The longest skirt length goes on top/outside, and the shortest goes on the bottom/inside, so the tutu fans out from the body. The whole thing is sewn to a band, which is then folded under and hand stitched closed. I closed it with a snap in the back, and added a ribbon rosette in the front.

I got a couple of new presser feet too. On the left is my new clear 1/4 inch piecing foot with guide, and on the right is my new clear edge joining foot. The first one allows you to butt your 1/4 inch seam up against the guide, to keep your seam even. I used that when I sewed my doll body. Being able to see through the foot helped me make those tiny, sharp turns. I did mess up the bottom surface of my new foot a little when I sewed over some Fray Check that hadn’t dried yet. So, I will avoid doing that again. I tried removing it with some alcohol, but the surface seems a little damaged. It may have reacted chemically with the coating of the foot somehow.

The clear edge joining foot will help attach lace to dresses, and it also acts as a guide for sewing a decorative stitch down a center line.

I used the clear edge stitching foot I bought before to sew my gathered tulle onto my waistband, as I wanted to sew past my gathering stitches, which had built up from so many layers of basting.

To those of you who sent your well wishes for my family, and your kind sentiments, thank you very much. My mom is doing much better, and hopefully she will be all better soon.

Posted on July 5, 2009January 9, 2019 by Elizabeth Ruffing

A ride in the countryside

My mom is still under the weather, but getting a little better each day, just slowly. I thought a drive might provide an enjoyable change of scenery, and so we took a tour. We drove past such a pretty pasture, with goats, horses, and cattle, all on a hillside. I couldn’t get a good vantage point for a photo of all the animals, but I did capture a shot of this pasture-guarding kitty. She even has plastic eyes, like a doll.

We saw lots of green, green fields. Very pretty and peaceful.

I found these bright pink zinnias and got them as cheerful, get-well flowers for my mom.

I have a couple of new doll ideas I’m working on, in addition to trying to catch up on the photos for the dolls we have already. I just might snatch these fairy wings from an older project to use on my new project. You never know when a new idea might seem even more appealing than the first idea you had. It’s the same thing that happens when you buy fabric for something, and as soon as you get it home, you think up ten more exciting somethings to make with it.

Posted on July 2, 2009April 24, 2019 by Elizabeth Ruffing

Tabitha, tabby cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max Bailey

Tabitha original one-of-a-kind tabby-and-white cat anthropomorphic art doll by artist Max Bailey

Tabitha is a tabby and white kitten with bright yellow eyes and a sweet disposition.

Her favorite toy is a soft green ball, made especially for her. She always knows where it is, whether it has rolled under the bed, or behind the door, or under the stove.

It is filled with catnip. She delights in sneaking up on it, pouncing on it, and rolling around with it for hours.

Today she is wearing her best pink dress with little mauve flowers that encircle the skirt, and a matching mauve bow at the neckline. A big mauve sash ties in another bow at the back. Tabitha’s ivory petticoats show beneath the hemline of her dress. They match her big ivory collar. At the back you can see her striped kitty tail.

“Don’t muss up your pretty dress,” her mother cautions her.

And so Tabitha stands very still, holding her catnip ball, and wondering what in the world to do with herself until she can change back into her play clothes.

Tabitha is an original one-of-a-kind work of art, and she is meant for display only. No molds are ever used in my work. She and her ball are hand sculpted from paperclay, and entirely hand painted using acrylic paints. Her whiskers are made from stiffened cotton thread.

Tabitha is signed and dated, and sealed with matte varnish for protection and preservation. She rests firmly on a turned wooden base that is stained and sealed in golden oak.

Tabitha is an itty bitty kitty. She stands only 4 and 1/2 inches tall. She comes with a hang tag, a certificate of authenticity, and a copy of her story.

Update: Tabitha has been adopted. Thank you!

Posted on June 30, 2009 by Elizabeth Ruffing

Claudia the Maine Coon Kitten, Original One-of-a-kind Folk Art Cat Doll Figurine by Max Bailey

This is Claudia the Maine Coon kitten.

Her favorite doll is a tuxedo cat doll named Herman. He was especially made just for her by her favorite aunt.

Claudia talks to Herman in a soft little chirping voice. She tells him all her secrets and shares with him all her kitty dreams.

Wherever Claudia goes, Herman goes too.

Today Claudia is wearing her dark rose dress with pale pink polka dots. Her pinafore is pale pink and has a dark pink flower and green leaves on the bib. It’s tied in the back with a big bow.

Claudia’s ivory petticoats can be seen below the hemline of her pretty dress.

Claudia is an original one-of-a-kind work of art, and she is made for display only. No molds are ever used in my work. She and her cat doll are hand sculpted from paperclay, and entirely hand painted using acrylic paints. Her whiskers are made from stiffened cotton thread.

Claudia is signed and dated, and sealed with matte varnish for protection and preservation. She rests firmly on a turned wooden base that is stained and sealed in golden oak.

Claudia is an itty bitty kitty. She stands only 4 ½ inches tall.

Update: Claudia has already been adopted. Thank you!