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Eyeballs, fingers, and delays

Toy eyeballs made of fleece by Elizabeth RuffingI was on the verge of getting a group of Hug Me Slugs done and ready to photograph. I made eyeballs of fleece in four sizes. I stuffed bodies. I sewed smiles. It was coming together. Then this happened…

Cat bites on my finger, Elizabeth RuffingMultiple deep puncture wounds. Swelling hand. Pain. A trip to the doctor. Antibiotic capsules and ointment.

As I’ve mentioned before, cats from different neighbors’ homes like to come visit here, and I like to see them. Usually, they coexist fairly peacefully. Unfortunately, one thinks it is funny to sneak up on another, who doesn’t like that. He likes to be left alone and nap on the porch or in the flowers. They got into a fight, which I broke up. The cats all seem to be fine, but I got bitten up quite badly.

I was told to keep a careful watch on it, keep it clean, ice it, and go for an X-ray if it looks suspicious at all, as cat bites can be serious and the infection can get in the bone. I can bend the knuckle on the back of my hand today, which is when I took this photo, but the chomped-on middle knuckle is still stiff. Between the goo on my hand and the swelling, working is not working out.

Oliver Bunny relaxing by Elizabeth RuffingSo, I am making like Oliver Bunny and trying to relax. The antibiotics are making me feel weird, or I hope it is the antibiotics!

Oh, I did manage to join Pinterest before this, if anyone would like to follow Hug Me Slugs and Friends by Elizabeth Ruffing there. I saw a lot of people had pinned my toys and I thought I would join, and thank people, as I like to do.

 

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Iris, miniature Russian Blue cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max Bailey

Iris, miniature Russian Blue cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyIris is a handmade miniature original, one-of-a-kind cat art doll, hand painted and hand sculpted in paperclay by artist Max Bailey.

Iris, miniature Russian Blue cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyThis is Iris. She’s a Russian Blue kitten with green eyes and a very sweet disposition.

Iris, miniature Russian Blue cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyIris has a happy life, and loves to play.

Iris, miniature Russian Blue cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyShe runs really fast and sometimes bumps into things.

Iris, miniature Russian Blue cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyShe jumps very high and sometimes misses her landing place, but it’s all part of the fun.

Iris, miniature Russian Blue cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyIris is dressed in an elegant orchid pink dress with a soft lilac rolled collar that comes down in front to the waistline.

Iris, miniature Russian Blue cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyShe perches on a soft ottoman upholstered in a fabric with pink and lilac-blue flowers.

Iris, miniature Russian Blue cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyIris 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.

Iris, miniature Russian Blue cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyIris 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.

Iris, miniature Russian Blue cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyIris is 1:12 scale. (One inch equals one foot.) She is 1 and 1/2 inches tall.

Iris, miniature Russian Blue cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyUpdate: Iris has been adopted. Thank you!

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

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

Nicholas, miniature Blue Persian cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyNicholas is a Blue Persian kitten.

Nicholas, miniature Blue Persian cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyHis friends call him Nautical Nicholas.

Nicholas, miniature Blue Persian cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyHe loves sailboats and loves to sail them in the stream that runs behind his house.

Nicholas, miniature Blue Persian cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyHe’s lost so many sailboats that now he ties a string on them so that he can retrieve them if they sail down the stream faster than he can run to catch up with them.

Nicholas, miniature Blue Persian cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyNicholas is wearing his favorite sailor suit.

Nicholas, miniature Blue Persian cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyIt has navy pants and a white shirt that has blue stripes and a red tie.

Nicholas, miniature Blue Persian cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyHis sailboat is green and red with a green and white striped sail.

Nicholas, miniature Blue Persian cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyNicholas is a one-of-a-kind work of art, and is meant for display only. He was sculpted from paperclay in multiple stages, to allow for drying and detailing.

Nicholas, miniature Blue Persian cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyNicholas was painted under a magnifying light, with tiny brushes, one hair at a time.

Nicholas, miniature Blue Persian cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyHe is signed and sealed with matte varnish for protection and preservation, and comes with a certificate of authenticity.

Nicholas, miniature Blue Persian cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyNicholas is 1:12 scale. (One inch equals one foot.) He is 1 and 1/2 inches tall.

Nicholas, miniature Blue Persian cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyUpdate: Nicholas has been adopted. Thank you!

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Happy Spring, Happy Mother’s Day

Mock Orange blossoms by Elizabeth RuffingIt looks like I’ve been missing since February. Happy spring and happy Mother’s Day!

Purple Iris in bloom by Elizabeth RuffingI feel like I may have been lost in the woods for a while, but I have been busy. Winter was one medical visit after another with my parents, but thankfully, we’ve gotten through all of that. Hopefully, all will be well and we have that behind us.

Piles of quilting fabrics with a Hug Me Slug peeking out by Elizabeth RuffingI have been sewing and sewing, trying to get my Hug Me Slugs and Friends toy shop going again. After selling out of all my popular toys before Christmas, for two years in a row, I didn’t have enough toys partially done to keep rolling. I estimate I have about 180 bodies sewn now, in an assortment of sizes and colors. Not stuffed or detailed, but sewn. It’s a start.

Hug Me Slugs plush toys by Elizabeth Ruffing, 7 and 8 inchI just recently added some 7 and 8 inch Hug Me Slugs to my shop. I hope to get my other characters together too, like my Hug Me Toads, Monsters, Bunnies, and Kittens and Cats, but first, I am doing more slugs.

Hug Me Slugs plush toy on apple green by Elizabeth Ruffing, 7 inchI have so many pretty colors to try out, like this new Granny Smith apple green. It will take me years to sew all the fabric I have. If you are looking for a Hug Me Slug in a particular size and color, feel free to ask if I have on in the works. I’m doing my best to get everything up and running.

Jude, gray and white cat going for a walk on a leash by Elizabeth RuffingFor a few months, I have been struggling with feeling sad, and tired, and overwhelmed, but I feel like I am doing better now. I’ve been trying guided meditation, which has helped. I have CD’s from Roberta Shapiro and Belleruth Naparstek, which I would recommend to anyone wanting to try it. Both have CD’s available online.

Gumbo, black and white cat going for a walking in the woods by Elizabeth RuffingWhen I meditate, I always envision a forest. I decided I needed more trees, and so I have been planting lots of them. I hope someday, there will be a forest outside for me. Or more of a forest. There is a wooded area here, but I want it to be bigger.

Gumbo, black and white cat going for a walking in the woods by Elizabeth RuffingThese are my neighbor’s cats, Gumbo (black and white, above) and Scooter (gray and white, below), following me, and above is Jude, my cat I take for walks on his purple leash. They all like to see what the others are doing, even though Jude makes a fuss when the others walk up to him. That doesn’t stop him from heading over to see them. I cat-sat for Gumbo, Scooter, and their brothers, Fish, and Trouble for months. Scooter always asks me for treats. He likes pets too. They all do, although Trouble is shyer about the pets.

Scooter, gray and white cat going for a walking in the woods by Elizabeth RuffingRecently, all four brothers and a stray they befriended, all came wandering over to see what I was doing in the back yard. I didn’t have any treats. They wanted attention. I think they were lonely.

Catnip lobsterSometimes, I go say hello to them, and Scooter runs ahead of me into his garage, begging for snacks. I decided to fix a couple of their toys I found there. They had a ripped-open catnip chipmunk and this lobster whose Velcro closure wouldn’t close up again. It made such a hit here, while I was trying to close it, that I am wondering whether I should try to make a pattern for one, or buy one online. The Velcro pouch was too small and didn’t work, and so making a new pattern would probably be better.

Oliver Bunny playing with a toilet paper roll, by Elizabeth RuffingOliver Bunny prefers to play with toilet paper rolls. I have saved a ridiculous number of these. If anyone stops by, they are going to think we use an awful lot of toilet paper.

Oliver Bunny playing with a toilet paper roll, by Elizabeth RuffingBindi brought Oliver her favorite squeaky bunny toy, but he isn’t sure what to do with those. He does like to toss the kitty jingle balls around.

Santana, orange cat sleeping on a pizza box, by Elizabeth RuffingThis is our other neighbors’ cat Santana, on one of his favorite napping pots, his pizza box. We can’t throw it away. I think it is funny that the box says, “100% Satisfaction Guarantee” because he looks 100% satisfied.

Santana, orange cat sleeping at the top of the porch steps, by Elizabeth RuffingHe guards our porch, but falls asleep on duty. He doesn’t like other cats to come up on our porch, which he sees as his personal sanctuary. A couple of them come anyway. One also looks in our door when he wants treats. The other runs away when Santana chases him. We don’t leave food out. We seem to have a social gathering location for cats.

Thanks for stopping by.