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Scrapbook for Grandma

I’ve been spending most of this week scanning and editing old photos, and arranging them onto scrapbook pages. My grandma has recently gone to live in a nursing home. My uncle had been trying to look after her in her home, but she needed around-the-clock care. It’s very sad that she can no longer remember things she once knew, or recognize some of her family or, often, her own belongings. She does seem to be cheerful most of the time in her new home, and has plenty of people around her, as she has always liked to have. But I am not sure she knows me, or many of us in the family anymore.

So, I have been putting this book together, matching our photos with our names, and descriptions of who we are. I’ve been told not to expect her to know anyone, and I’m adjusting to that idea. Still, I’m hoping something will look familiar to her, and will give her a sense of who her family are and where she came from, if only for a few seconds at a time. I’m also saving the pages on a CD so everyone in the family who wants a copy can have one.

This is my grandma in front of her old house with the hollyhocks I started from seed. They grew much better at her house than they ever did at mine.
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Patsy the Brown Bear Cub, Original One-of-a-kind Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max Bailey

Patsy the Brown Bear Cub, Original One-of-a-kind Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyPatsy once heard a story about a little girl bear named Cinderella, and a little boy bear who was a prince.

She likes to pretend that she’s Cinderella, and that her teddy bear is the prince, which, of course, is why she named him “Prince”.

Patsy the Brown Bear Cub, Original One-of-a-kind Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyPatsy can’t remember the details of the story very well, but it seems that Cinderella had a beary godmother who made her a lavender polka dot dress and glass shoes. Then Cinderella went to a big fancy dance at the palace and met the prince.

The prince thought Cinderella was the nicest little bear at the dance, and that she definitely had the prettiest dress.

Patsy the Brown Bear Cub, Original One-of-a-kind Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyNot being the most graceful of dancers, Cinderella stumbled and lost her shoe. She was so embarrassed she ran home.

The next day, the prince came directly to her house, not only to give back her shoe, but to bring her some wonderful pumpkin cupcakes. They sat and ate them together, and all was just right in the world.

Patsy the Brown Bear Cub, Original One-of-a-kind Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyPatsy’s lavender polka dot dress has a pale turquoise scalloped trim around the neckline and sleeves, and a pale turquoise sash tied in a big bow at the back.

The three tiers of her petticoats are painted turquoise, orchid, and lavender blue.

Patsy 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 teddy bear are hand sculpted in paperclay, and they are entirely hand painted using acrylic paints.

Patsy the Brown Bear Cub, Original One-of-a-kind Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyPatsy 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. Patsy stands 4 and 3/4 inches tall. Patsy comes with a hang tag, a certificate of authenticity, and a copy of her story.

Patsy the Brown Bear Cub, Original One-of-a-kind Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyUpdate: “Patsy and Prince” have been adopted. Thank you!

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Henry the Owl, New Giclee Print by Elizabeth Ruffing

“Henry the Owl”, my second watercolor on Claybord, is printed and available in our Ruffings Etsy shop.


I used my Claybord tools to scratch out the whitest feathers on his head and add lots of fine details. Henry’s eyes are particularly striking. He’s a sweet little fellow, kind of shy 🙂

Here’s my second video, of me painting “Henry the Owl”. I just put it up over on my YouTube channel. Please visit my online personal journal for more in depth information about my paintings, and the latest on what I’m up to in my studio.