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Brown Alumni Magazine, The BAM Holiday Gift Guide 2017, Hug Me Slugs Featured

Medium green and yellow Hug Me Slugs, plush toys by Elizabeth RuffingGuess who was featured in the Brown Alumni Magazine Holiday Gift Guide for 2017? My Hug Me Slugs! I submitted them to Brown Alumni Magazine for their annual holiday gift guide on almost the last day for submissions, and was surprised when Kerry Lachmann, who is in charge of the magazine’s annual holiday guide, wrote back in little more than an hour, accepting them and asking me to send them along to Providence, RI. She said, “The slugs are absolutely adorable! Can’t wait to see (‘meet’) them.” 🙂 Thank you, Kerry! I was very excited, and I think the slugs were too.

Brown Alumni Magazine, The BAM Holiday Gift Guide 2017, That Holiday GlowI mailed them to off to Brown University, and when they arrived, I got another message from Kerry, saying, “They have arrived and they are adorable!!! I took them around the office and introduced them to the staff (-: So sweet. Thanks!” The slugs must have been eating up all that attention. They have to compete with the cats and the bunny around here.

Brown Alumni Magazine, The BAM Holiday Gift Guide 2017, That Holiday Glow, Hug Me SlugsThis week, the print issue of the 2017 December/November Brown Alumni Magazine arrived, and there they were, peeking out from the page. They are back home now, and in my Etsy toy shop, waiting to be adopted. Update: I will now be posting my new toys on our own website, in our Ruffing’s shop.

Brown College Gates, Main Campus, photo by laaaaandyyyyyHere are some wintry photos of the Brown University campus. I walked through these gates every day my first year there, on my way across campus to go get my mail, or head to class.

Brown Main Campus, photo by danlo1996This is the main campus. In the warmer weather, it is covered in students.

Brown CVan Wickle GatesThese are the Van Wickle Gates. It is customary for first-year students to walk through them when starting at Brown, and then again when graduating. I participated in neither march through the gates, I have to say. I was a transfer student from Yale, and I went home before graduation!

Elizabeth home for Christmas break from collegeHere I am home on Christmas break from Brown. I think I had just turned twenty-one here. I was wearing a headband that only just fell apart a few weeks ago, and is lying on the chair next to me as I write this. My mom was always trying to get me to take that thing off. Ha. It does look silly.

Elizabeth came home from college with a catI came home with a cat from Brown. Her name was Tishi. She accompanied me home on Thanksgiving break, my first year there. Someone had dropped her inside the gate around my dorm, and she was yelling at the basement window. I fed her turkey strips from the salad bar, which I sneaked out of the dining hall, until I was able to get some cat food. She stayed at home with my very tolerant parents who cared for her while I was away at school. I missed her, but she was safer there. Brown doesn’t allow pets in dorms. You aren’t supposed to steal turkey from the salad bar either, no matter how much your cat you aren’t supposed to have in your room likes it.

Assorted Hug Me Slugs, stuffed slug toys and figurines by Elizabeth RuffingFortunately, they do allow Hug Me Slugs there. I have a bunch more I have been working on and posting in our Ruffing’s shop.

Super Slugs, Hug Me Slugs, stuffed slug toys by Elizabeth RuffingI have Super Slugs,

Wonder Bunnies, Hug Me Bunnies, stuffed bunny rabbit toys by Elizabeth Ruffingand Wonder Bunnies,

Hug Me Bunnies, stuffed bunny rabbit toys by Elizabeth RuffingHug Me Bunnies,

Hug Me Kittens, stuffed kitty cat toys by Elizabeth Ruffingand Hug Me Kittens.

Sage green Hug Me Kitten, stuffed kitty cat toy by Elizabeth RuffingPeople have asked for little slugs, smaller than I can sew, and now I have slug figurines,

Hug Me Slug figurines by Elizabeth Ruffingand bunny rabbit figurines,

Hug Me Bunny Rabbit figurines by Elizabeth Ruffingand kitty cat figurines too.

Hug Me Kitten figurines by Elizabeth Ruffing

I will try to post more photos of my toys in more posts. Sorry to have been missing all year. We lost my dad last Christmas Eve. Last year, we were busy caring for him, and this year, adjusting to his not being with us.

Sending love your way and wishing you all a lovely holiday season.

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

Crystal, miniature white cat angel art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyCrystal is a handmade miniature original, one-of-a-kind white cat angel art doll, hand painted and hand sculpted in paperclay by artist Max Bailey.

Crystal, miniature white cat angel art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyThis is Crystal. She is a lovely white angel kitten with a pretty pink nose and bright blue eyes.

Crystal, miniature white cat angel art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyShould you meet Crystal, you will be greeted in a soft little voice, and you will feel happier than before you met her. That is what is so special about angel kittens.

Crystal, miniature white cat angel art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyCrystal keeps her white robe spotless, and adds a fresh rose every day. Today’s rose is ivory, with a center of golden orange.

Crystal, miniature white cat angel art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyCrystal 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.

Crystal, miniature white cat angel art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyCrystal 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.

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

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Tiptoe, miniature black-and-white tuxedo angel cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max Bailey

Tiptoe, miniature black-and-white tuxedo angel cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyTiptoe is a handmade miniature original, one-of-a-kind cat art doll, hand painted and hand sculpted in paperclay by artist Max Bailey.

Tiptoe, miniature black-and-white tuxedo angel cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyEveryone calls her Tiptoe . She is very shy and rarely makes a sound, except for the flutter of her wings.

Tiptoe, miniature black-and-white tuxedo angel cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyTiptoe is a very young tuxedo kitten. Her watchful eyes are still blue, but will turn yellow when she grows up a little.

Tiptoe, miniature black-and-white tuxedo angel cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyTiptoe is a helpful little angel with a heart full of kindness. She likes to perch in high places and hide in little out-of-the-way spots. When you most need her help, she may come out of nowhere and surprise you, and bring you joy.

Tiptoe, miniature black-and-white tuxedo angel cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyTiptoe wears a coral rose on her white angel robe.

Tiptoe, miniature black-and-white tuxedo angel cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyTiptoe 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.

Tiptoe, miniature black-and-white tuxedo angel cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyTiptoe 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.

Tiptoe is 1:12 scale. (One inch equals one foot.) She is 1 and 7/8 inches tall.

Update: Tiptoe has been adopted. Thank you!

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

Serenity, miniature Siamese angel cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileySerenity is a handmade miniature original, one-of-a-kind cat art doll, hand painted and hand sculpted in paperclay by artist Max Bailey.

Serenity, miniature Siamese angel cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileySerenity is a Siamese angel kitten known far and wide for her lovely singing voice. It isn’t every day that you meet a kitten who sings so loudly and in such beautiful clear tones.

Serenity, miniature Siamese angel cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileyTall and slender, Serenity is loved not only for her prettiness, but for her charm and grace. It is her loving heart and sweet personality that make her so endearing, and of course, that wonderful voice.

Serenity, miniature Siamese angel cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileySerenity wears a red rose on her white angel robe.

Serenity, miniature Siamese angel cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileySerenity 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.

Serenity, miniature Siamese angel cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileySerenity 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.

Serenity, miniature Siamese angel cat art doll, handmade original, one-of-a-kind kitten by artist Max BaileySerenity is 1:12 scale. (One inch equals one foot.) She is 2 and 1/4 inches tall.

Update: Serenity has been adopted. Thank you!