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Daisy Chains by Max Bailey

Daisy Chains Bunny Rabbit Print by Max BaileyA simple spool of thread and some field daisies are all it takes to keep these two little girl bunnies occupied and very pleased with themselves. Their grandmother showed them how to line up the stems of the daisies and wind the thread around them, to make crowns, necklaces, bracelets, and even ankle bracelets.

The one sitting on the tree stump, who has done all the work, has a huge sense of pride and accomplishment in her creations. The other knows, even without a mirror, that she has become far more beautiful than she was before.

Daisy Chains Bunny Rabbit Print by Max Bailey“Daisy Chains” is an original watercolor painting. I am making a limited number of reproductions of this image as a signed giclée print as well, which may be ordered by emailing us at [email protected]

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Natasha and Ivan, Original One-of-a-kind Russian Blue Cat Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max Bailey

Natasha and Ivan, Original One-of-a-kind Russian Blue Cat Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyNatasha is a lovely Russian Blue cat.

Her favorite doll is Ivan. He’s a puppy dog doll with a sad little wrinkled face.

Natasha and Ivan, Original One-of-a-kind Russian Blue Cat Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyNatasha’s friends find it scandalous that she carries around a doggie doll, but Natasha prides herself on being open-minded.

“Not all doggies are the same”, she tells them. “Some of them are very friendly and are nice to kitties.”

Her friends don’t believe her. They won’t allow Natasha to bring Ivan to their tea parties.

Natasha and Ivan, Original One-of-a-kind Russian Blue and Blue Persian Cat Folk Art Doll Figurines by Max BaileyNatasha worries that Ivan feels left out. She cuddles with him at naptime and tells him that she loves him, and not to be sad.

They can have their own tea party.

Natasha and Ivan, Original One-of-a-kind Russian Blue Cat Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyNatasha’s brilliant yellow eyes have a touch of bright green. She wears a dusty rose dress scattered with pale pink flowers that match the pink yoke and pink sash that ties in a bow at the back. Ivory ruffles adorn the neckline and sleeves, and her ivory petticoats can be seen below her dress.

Natasha and Ivan, Original One-of-a-kind Russian Blue Cat Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyNatasha is an original one-of-a-kind work of art, and is meant for display only. No molds are ever used in my work. She and her toy dog Ivan are hand sculpted from paperclay, and entirely hand painted using acrylic paints. Her whiskers are made from stiffened cotton thread.

Natasha and Ivan, Original One-of-a-kind Russian Blue Cat Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyNatasha 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. She stands 9 and 1/2 inches tall. She comes with a hang tag, a certificate of authenticity, and a copy of her story.

Natasha and Ivan, Original One-of-a-kind Russian Blue Cat Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyNatasha and Ivan are available for $750.00. Please inquire to [email protected]

Natasha and Ivan, Original One-of-a-kind Russian Blue Cat Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyNatasha’s kitty friend is Hyacinth the Blue Persian.

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Sock Kitty!

I love Sock Kitty! I also miss Sock Kitty because he is a birthday gift for a friend.

Sock Kitty is made from a sock stuffed with Polyfil. His eyes, nose, and hearts are polar fleece, embellished by hand with embroidery floss in a blanket stitch. I used embroidery floss to hand stitch his whiskers and his smile too. His ears are lined with cotton batik fabric.

Sock Kitty is nice and squishy. His paws even have little toes I sewed with upholstery thread.

He is a perpetually happy cat. I am going to have to make him a sibling to keep for myself, a twin perhaps.

In other news, I am tossing around the idea of collaborating with Max on some folk art cat dolls, the dressed and jointed kind with the sculpted faces. I’ve been spreading myself too thin for a long time, and I think if we put our efforts in the same direction, we both might be more productive. Collectively, we have at least three doll sizes, and some possible variations as to type of critter. We are terribly behind with a backlog of dolls waiting to go on our website right now. So, that is the first thing to resolve.

Over the past year, I spent a lot of time trying to have a separate business from our family business, in large part to accommodate someone else’s desire for me to have a separate income, but that has been like trying to spin twice as many plates in the air as I was already spinning. The end result was only that I had to neglect one business to spend time trying to get the other off the ground. All in all, I only got more behind and more scattered, and then we all ended up behind. Now I need to get us all back on track. My desire to please other people gets me in trouble sometimes, and really, as I’m sure we all know…if you need to knock yourself out to please someone else, it never turns out to be worth it. Please yourself, and surround yourself with people who appreciate you for who you are and who want you to be happy.

On a lighter note, is anyone else already hitting the Halloween candy? I am! Naughty 😉
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Sasha the Siamese Kitten, Original, One-of-a-kind Anthropomorphic Cat Art Doll Figurine by Max Bailey

Sasha is an original, one-of-a-kind anthropomorphic Siamese cat art doll figurine, hand sculpted in paperclay and hand painted by artist Max Bailey. Sasha stands 4 1/2 inches tall.

Sasha’s story:

Here is Sasha, the pretty little Siamese kitten.

Sasha loves vanilla ice cream cones.

The ice cream tickles her tongue and freezes the back of her throat all the way down to her tummy.

It makes her whiskers twitch and her little body shiver with delight.

Sasha will let you have a lick of her ice cream cone if you give it back right away. Her bright blue eyes will be fixed on it until you do.

Sasha wears a pretty blue dress covered with pale lilac blue flowers that match the blue of the ruffle at her neckline, and the sash that is tied in a big bow at the back. Her ivory petticoats can be seen below her hemline.

Sasha is an original one-of-a-kind work of art, and she is meant for display only. he has been free sculpted, and no mold was used to make her. She and her ice cream cone are hand sculpted from paperclay, and entirely hand painted using acrylic paints. Sasha’s whiskers are made from stiffened cotton thread.

Sasha 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.

Sasha is an itty bitty kitty. She stands only 4 1/2 inches tall.

Update: Sasha has already been adopted. Thank you!

Sasha’s kitty friend is Emmy the Tuxedo Kitten.