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Batik slugs, fleece slugs, and one running slug

Green, turquoise batik Hug Me Slug stuffed animal art toy by Elizabeth RuffingI had a request recently for another batik Hug Me Slug. A customer adopted three of them, three years ago, for his three nephews. Since then, he has gained a forth nephew, who keeps trying to steal “Sluggy” from his brother, who loves him too much to share. So, we needed another slug to come to the rescue.

I made a test slug first, the one above, who is over in our shop at the moment, although someone just wrote to say he’d make a perfect birthday present for his daughter. I wanted to make sure I had the same pattern, since I have adjusted my patterns since then.

Green, turquoise batik Hug Me Slug stuffed animal art toy by Elizabeth RuffingI sent him some photos of batiks to choose from and then made the one above, with a pretty apple green fleece heart. He is on his way, and I hope he restores peace on earth.

Orange, yellow, purple fleece Hug Me Slug stuffed animal art toys by Elizabeth RuffingI also posted the fleece Hug Me Slugs I had ready, in all different colors, orange, yellow, purple, watermelon, red,

Red and watermelon fleece Hug Me Slug stuffed animal art toys by Elizabeth Ruffingand in all different sizes, 7, 8, 9, and 12 inches tall.

Purple fleece Hug Me Slug stuffed animal art toy with a headband by Elizabeth RuffingI had another special request for a Hug Me Slug with a headband. A man wanted him for his girlfriend, who was organizing a marathon. He had to be an athletic slug. I wasn’t sure how that would work, since slugs don’t have foreheads. I managed to attach it over his eyes. He called him a “little runner slug” and I added that to the hang tag.

Oliver bunny hops into my workroom Elizabeth RuffingI am plugging away in Slug Land. Oliver Bunny loves to come running in when my workroom door is open. He sits in the hallway like a couch potato, but once the door is open, he is in there, well, quick as a bunny. I caught him on video, getting excited about running inside, dashing in and out.

There is a small bowl of pebbles, meant for potted plants, under my work table, that he enjoys playing with. But then, he enjoys playing with whatever he can get into in there. I have to watch him.

Oliver bunny peeking out from under my work table Elizabeth RuffingThe menagerie have been keeping me busy. These are members of my kitty fan club, below, who, when they are free, wait for me on the borderline between our house and theirs. Sometimes they get impatient and come over.

My kitty fan club waiting by the woods Elizabeth RuffingSantana has been being so good about going to the back step and sitting there, when I ask him to, which I do, when the cats come closer. He has had too many squabbles and injuries. Last weekend, I thought we were doing great. The cats all came over, while I was walking Jude, and everyone seemed to be getting along. Trouble and Santana even went exploring together in the back yard. No problems. I was happy and thought they were finally making friends.

The kitty crowd even watched me set up our laser Christmas light, which must have been even more exciting for cats than a laser pointer. They were sitting in the driveway, staring up at the tree I had “decorated”, admiring it.

Santana the cat, sitting on the step, Elizabeth RuffingThen, the next morning, I heard cat noises. I jumped out of bed, ran out in my pajamas, and Trouble and Santana were in the driveway. Santana was badly hurt, three deep, cringeworthy punctures under the base of his tail (I will spare you the photo I took to get a better look). Ouch ouch ouch. I felt terrible. I found fur next to the back step, where I taught him to go when the cats came over. That made me extra sad, since he must have been trying to be good. Trouble had a little blood on his leg, but he appeared to be okay. I checked him over as best I could and didn’t see anything. He may have been coming to look in the back door, or maybe he thought it was fun to sneak up on Santana, who didn’t think it was fun, again. I don’t know.

Santana was bleeding a lot, and seemed to be in a bit shock. I called his mom and we flushed out the wounds. He went to the vet for a Convenia antibiotic shot. He was shaken for the first day, and tired, but the next day he was in a good mood. He is doing well now, and has even come up with a new game to play with me. He hides between the railing and the bushes by the back step, and waits for me. He jumps out when I come up the steps, and meows, like he is saying, “Surprise!” I wonder if he learned that from Trouble, who likes to sneak up and jump. They seem to do okay during the times I am around, but when I am not, in the early morning before I get up, and in the evening when I am inside and busy, are when the problems happen.

The cats are closed up for now, and no one seems to be home next door. Santana is probably happy about that too. I hope a cat sitter is coming this time. I haven’t seen one, but I can leave some food if I have to. I kind of feel like I am taking care of animals in every direction sometimes. I start when I get up and I am still doing it until late at night, while trying to fit work and errands in between. I did get another tree planted though. Go me.

I will post about my Spoonflower fabric samples in a separate post, since this one has already grown so long.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

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Willa, miniature angel Blue Persian cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max Bailey

Willa, miniature angel Blue Persian cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyWilla is a handmade miniature original, one-of-a-kind cat art doll, hand painted and hand sculpted in paperclay by artist Max Bailey.

Willa is a Blue Persian angel kitten who is very sweet and terribly earnest.

Willa, miniature angel Blue Persian cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyWilla wishes with all her heart for good things to happen, and she does her best to make the wishes come true.

Willa, miniature angel Blue Persian cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileySometimes she wishes so hard that she closes her eyes, puts her paws together, and holds her breath until she rises right up from the ground and into the sky. It’s a good thing she has wings.

Willa, miniature angel Blue Persian cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyWilla looks pretty in her pale orange robe. It sets off her copper-colored eyes.

Willa, miniature angel Blue Persian cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyWilla 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.

Willa, miniature angel Blue Persian cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyWilla 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.

Willa, miniature angel Blue Persian cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyWilla is 1:12 scale. (One inch equals one foot.) She is 1 and 7/8 inches tall.

Update: Willa has been adopted. Thank you!

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Callinda, miniature angel bi-color Ragdoll cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max Bailey

Callinda, miniature angel bi-color Ragdoll cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyCallinda 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 Callinda. She is a bi-color Ragdoll angel kitten who takes her job very seriously.

Callinda, miniature angel bi-color Ragdoll cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyIt’s true that Callinda will often slide down rainbows and take little cat naps on puffy clouds. She wakes up when she hears a kitten cry.

Callinda, miniature angel bi-color Ragdoll cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyIt is Callinda’s mission to find kittens who are lost, and help them find their way. If they are hungry, she will feed them. Most importantly, she helps to find homes for little kittens who have none.

Callinda, miniature angel bi-color Ragdoll cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyCallinda’s robe is pale ice-blue and sometimes blends in with the sky so that you have to look very hard to see her.

Callinda, miniature angel bi-color Ragdoll cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyCallinda 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.

Callinda, miniature angel bi-color Ragdoll cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyCallinda 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.

Callinda, miniature angel bi-color Ragdoll cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyCallinda is 1:12 scale. (One inch equals one foot.) She is 2 inches tall.

Update: Callinda has been adopted. Thank you!

Callinda, miniature angel bi-color Ragdoll cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyCallinda’s angel friends are (from left to right) Angie, Leila, and Daphne.

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

Astrid, miniature angel tabby cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyAstrid 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 Astrid. She’s a tabby angel kitten with a very important job.

Astrid, miniature angel tabby cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyAstrid is an accountant of sorts. She keeps a ledger in which she records all of the angel kittens’ good deeds.

Astrid, miniature angel tabby cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyEvery time the good deeds number one hundred, Astrid makes a star. She throws the star up into the heavens where it will help to light the way of all the angel kittens looking for kind and helpful things to do.

Astrid, miniature angel tabby cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyAstrid’s robe is blue-green and looks just right with her gold star.

Astrid, miniature angel tabby cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyAstrid 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.

Astrid, miniature angel tabby cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyAstrid 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.

Astrid, miniature angel tabby cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyAstrid is 1:12 scale. (One inch equals one foot.) She is 2 inches tall.

Update: Astrid has been adopted. Thank you!