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Emerging Art

I think I painted about eight million hairs on this kitten doll, when two million might have done just as well. I have her shoes, socks, and pantaloons left to paint and I’m feeling terribly slow. I may be coming down with a cold. It’s gotten everyone else here so far. I really want to get my doll done so I can photograph her with Ziggy. They look great together.

I don’t think that I believed how labor-intensive this kitten-making would be. Max had moved on, at least temporarily, from making the sewn, stuffed, and dressed dolls because, with all the sewing, they were extra involved and time consuming to make, and because Max prefers the sculpting and painting end of things to the sewing and stuffing end. I thought since I enjoy sewing, it would be right up my alley, which it may be. Oh, but all these hairs…I think I went a little nuts.

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Fluffy, Original One-of-a-kind Persian Tabby Kitten Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max Bailey

Fluffy, Original One-of-a-kind Persian Tabby Kitten Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyMy Name is “Fluffy”. It’s not a very original name, but I didn’t pick it, did I?

Fluffy, Original One-of-a-kind Persian Tabby Kitten Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyI would have picked a fancy name like “Floradora”, or maybe an exotic name like “Esmeralda”. But not “Fluffy”. No way.

Fluffy, Original One-of-a-kind Persian Tabby Kitten Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyAt least I wasn’t named “Puffy”. I wouldn’t like that one bit.

Fluffy, Original One-of-a-kind Persian Tabby Kitten Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyFrom now on, maybe I just won’t come when I’m called.

Fluffy, Original One-of-a-kind Persian Tabby Kitten Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyI have a red velvet cushion that has “Fluffy” embroidered on it in gold. It has real gold tassels on it too. I like the way the tassels bounce up and down when I swat at them. If I wasn’t named “Fluffy”, it wouldn’t be my cushion anymore, would it?

Fluffy, Original One-of-a-kind Persian Tabby Kitten Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyI also like my pink flowered bowl. It says “Fluffy” on the side of it. It’s my bowl. Just thinking about it makes me hungry.

Fluffy, Original One-of-a-kind Persian Tabby Kitten Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyI hope you understand that underneath all this fur is a tiny little kitten who needs a lot to eat.

Fluffy, Original One-of-a-kind Persian Tabby Kitten Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileySomeone just called “Fluffy”. It must be dinner time. Maybe “Fluffy” is a pretty nice name after all.

Fluffy, Original One-of-a-kind Persian Tabby Kitten Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyI wonder what’s for dinner? I think I’ll go see.

Fluffy, Original One-of-a-kind Persian Tabby Kitten Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max Bailey I’m back. I ate, and I feel much better. As I was saying, my name is Fluffy. I’m a Persian tabby kitten, and I’m just a baby, so my eyes are kind of blue. I’m wearing a really pretty dress. It’s mauve, and has pale gold flowers with wine-colored centers. It’s got a white collar and ruffled cuffs, and lots of swirly white petticoats. I’m wearing a pale turquoise jumper over it. Best of all, I like the big yellow-gold bow at the front.

Fluffy, Original One-of-a-kind Persian Tabby Kitten Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyMax Bailey hand sculpted me from paperclay. (He’s the one who named me Fluffy.) My whiskers are made from stiffened cotton thread. I’m a one-of-a-kind original work of art, and meant for display only. No molds are ever used in Max’s work, so nobody else looks like me and never will!

Fluffy, Original One-of-a-kind Persian Tabby Kitten Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyI was completely hand painted with acrylic paints, then signed and dated and sealed with matte varnish for protection and preservation. I rest firmly on a turned wooden base that is stained and sealed in golden oak, and I am 7 and 1/8 inches tall.

Fluffy, Original One-of-a-kind Persian Tabby Kitten Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max BaileyUpdate: Fluffy has already been adopted. Thank you!

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Doll Bicycles

I found these great bicycles on Easter clearance. They had bunnies attached, but I carefully removed them, along with the candy that came in the baskets.

I used some paint and epoxy remover to get the glue off the seats, eventually managed to pick it off. I then patched, sanded, and painted the seats over, closely matching the the bike frames.

I think they are so charming, and they fit my kitten just right.
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Kitty Couture

I designed and made this dress for my latest kitten doll. I went way overboard altering the outer and inner bodice pieces to give a faux piping effect around the neck and armholes. In reality, the thin line of turquoise fabric that shows is about 1/16 of an inch wide! A matching band of turquoise is set in along the bottom hem too, with a row of light blue Rick Rack anchoring it in place.

I hand stitched a blue ribbon at the waistline and tacked on a matching bow. I find the dress captivating all by itself and its small size makes it even cuter.