I wanted to try out the cookie-baking tips I read the other day in this NY Times article. I picked the Ghiradelli Macadamia White Chip Cookie recipe from the back of the Ghiradelli Classic White Chips bag. This is the first time I made these, but the recipe is similar to the well-loved Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe, only with macadamia nuts and vanilla chips. The Times article, among other suggestions, recommended refrigerating your dough for at least 24 hours, preferably 36 hours before making your cookies. I have to say, what they said would happen seems to be true. The nutty flavor seemed to permeate the cookies, along with a nice toffee flavor. They were quite delicious. It was also true that the dough did get a bit dry and crumbly, but I was able to mold it into balls with my hands. I tried to make larger cookies since they said they would be chewy in the centers and crisp on the edges, but I think they came out small because my dough was still very chilled. I’m not sure. They were chewy in the middle and crisp on the edges, just the same. All and all, it was a good experiment.
Fiona the Calico Kitten, Original One-of-a-kind Folk Art Doll by Elizabeth Ruffing
This is Fiona. Fiona has a lovely, well-mannered family.
Well, almost. Sometimes, she and her little brother, Ziggy, get a little wild on their bicycles.
Sometimes Mama yells and waves her paws in the air. It’s funny when she does that.
Sometimes Fiona and Ziggy play Pat-a-cake.
Or they play with Ziggy’s car, on the handmade quilt Mama made just for Fiona. It has a hand-embroidered blue butterfly in the center. Fiona and Ziggy pretend it’s real and try to pounce on it.
When Fiona gets tired, she loves to take a nap under her quilt.
Mama hand stitched her quilt from pieces of cotton fabric she had from the dress she made for Fiona. It has a pretty blue ribbon at the waist. Fiona tries to keep it clean and neat, like Mama says.
Fiona like to pretend she is a kitty model while she wears it. She imagines she is on the catwalk and everyone is taking her picture.
Sometimes she even pretends she is a kitty underwear model, but only in her room with the door shut!
Then she usually takes another nap.
Once she’s rested, it’s time for another bike ride with Ziggy!
Fiona is approximately 10 inches tall when standing and approximately 6 1/4 inches tall when sitting. Her curled tail helps her to sit up. She is made from 100% cotton fabric which is painted with acrylic paint. Her face is sculpted from paperclay with painted thread whiskers that were inserted before the clay dried. She is from my own original pattern and was handsewn and handsculpted by me, Elizabeth Ruffing. No molds were used. She is a completely original and one-of-a-kind art doll. Fiona is signed and dated, and She is sealed with matte varnish for protection and preservation. She is meant for display only. She comes with a hang tag, a certificate of authenticity, and a copy of her story.
Fiona comes with her handmade doll quilt and her lovely original dress. They are also made from my own design and patterns, as is the hand embroidered butterfly in the center of Fiona’s quilt. The quilt measures inches square and it painstakingly quilted with little hand stitches. It is made from 100% cotton materials. (Bicycles, doll stands, and other dolls shown are not included. Little brother Ziggy can be found here and Mama Hedda can be found here.)
Fiona and her doll quilt are currently available for $650.00. Please inquire to [email protected]
Loxie the Red Fox, Original One-of-a-kind Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max Bailey
Loxie is a beautiful red fox. She is greatly admired, yet seldom seen.
Loxie glides through the woods, her forest green dress blending in with the ferns that cover the forest floor.
She doesn’t stay still for very long. If you look away for a moment, when you look back she may have vanished.
Now and then, Loxie ventures out into the meadow. As she is a redhead, she always wears her straw hat in the bright sunshine.
Loxie 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 hat are hand sculpted from paperclay, and she is entirely hand painted using acrylic paints.
Loxie’s whiskers are made from stiffened cotton thread. Her old-fashioned green dress has tiny gold flowers, with gold buttons and gold bands around the cuffs. She wears a pale green apron that ties in a big bow in the back. Her fluffy tail emerges from the white petticoats that can be seen below her dress.
Loxie 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. Loxie stands 7 and 1/2 inches tall. She comes with a hang tag, a certificate of authenticity, and a copy of her story.
Loxie is available for $600.00. Please inquire to [email protected]
Loxie’s bear friends are Miranda the Panda (left) and Patsy the Brown Bear (right).
Miranda the Panda, Original One-of-a-kind Art Doll Figurine by Max Bailey
Miranda the Panda is a handmade original, one-of-a-kind anthropomorphic panda art doll, hand painted and hand sculpted in paperclay by artist Max Bailey.
Miranda loves flowers.
Should she offer you a lovely flower, don’t hesitate. Take it.
If you should look out your window, and see Miranda heading for your garden gate, run outside and try to distract her.
Tell her what a pretty red dress she is wearing.
Talk about what a lovely day it is.
Tell her what beautiful brown eyes she has.
Miranda loves flowers. She thinks they’re yummy! The prettier they are, the better they taste!
Miranda’s pretty flowered dress has a gold border around the neckline and the hem, and a big gold sash that ties in a bow at the back. Her ivory colored petticoats can be seen below her dress.
Miranda the Panda 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 rose are hand sculpted from paperclay, and they are entirely hand painted using acrylic paints.
Miranda 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. Miranda stands 4 and 7/8 inches tall. Miranda comes with a hang tag, a certificate of authenticity, and a copy of her story.
Miranda the Panda is available for $450.00. Please inquire to [email protected]
Miranda’s friend is Patsy the brown bear cub.
