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Posted on November 29, 2011July 30, 2019 by Elizabeth Ruffing — 2 Comments

My 300th toy shop sale, yay!

I reached my 300th toy shop sale in my Etsy toy shop today. Yay! Thank you so much to everyone for your support! It is so nice to think about that many people having toys I made and enjoying them. I appreciate everyone who has collected my toys through Etsy, through our blog, through Facebook, as well as everyone who has requested one through email or in person. I also appreciate the positive messages and compliments you all have sent my way. I will be posting my new handmade stuffed animal toys in our Ruffing’s shop

I’ve made toys for as long as I can remember, but I wasn’t so sure of myself when I started making them for other people to collect. I can remember saying I didn’t know how to be sure something was cute, because I thought that everyone else’s taste would be different from my own, but I have been pleasantly surprised to find that my innocent, smiling creatures have appealed to so many.

I am, right now, tripping over fleece and boxes at every turn, trying to prepare for the holidays. I am still taking some custom orders, and will continue to until I think I can’t keep up. I will see how that goes. I can never predict. I’m starting to feel a little swamped right now, and the first two weeks of December tend to get booked up suddenly. I have more ready-made toys waiting to be detailed too.

Posted on November 27, 2011July 30, 2019 by Elizabeth Ruffing

Tulip Hug Me Bunnies, Hug Me Slug handmade stuffed animal toys, and a new original tabby cat art doll

I hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving. I got a little sewing in. These are my tulip bunny Hug Me Bunny stuffed animal toys. I’ve had this fabric for a long time, and could never decide what I should make with it. It is very bright, cheerful, and showy, and needed a project where it could stand alone.

These two red rabbits are about 12 inches tall.

I finished some more 12-inch fleece Hug Me Slug handmade stuffed animals as well. This yellow one already has a new home. I’m sending him and some others out tomorrow. I hope the lines at the Post Office will be reasonable. From what I’ve heard, Monday is when people run in to start mailing all the things they braved Black Friday to purchase as gifts.

I’ve been avoiding the stores myself this weekend, but still need to make a run for some food. I’m not crazy about the idea of diving into the crowds.

I will be posting my new handmade stuffed animal toys in our Ruffing’s shop

I did get to the fabric stores this week though, and picked up some pretty new prints I intend to use for more bunnies. I have a couple of sock kittens to dress as well, but I am using solid colors and some decorative machine stitching on their clothes.

We just posted a new original, one-of-a-kind tabby cat art doll named Meredith on our Ruffing’s blog. She is another very pretty doll by Max Bailey.

The kitten sisters had their big spay day on Monday, and they got their microchips and their booster shots. They needed to rest for a couple of days. They are back to their usual selves now, and staying out loose in the house after bedtime. They have been surprisingly well behaved and quiet at night.

They still do plenty of tearing around, in between napping. They’ve been getting along well with the other cats here. Bertie asked for this bath.

They are trying out the various cozy spots for naps. There has been a lot of competition for this one particular perch, which is Josie’s favorite. Phoebe keeps stealing it and will not budge.

Posted on November 27, 2011October 3, 2017 by Elizabeth Ruffing — 1 Comment

Meredith, Original One-of-a-kind Tabby Cat Art Doll by Max Bailey

Meredith is a typical tabby, beautifully multicolored with dramatically dark stripes, and very expressive.

There is no need to ask how Meredith is feeling at any given time. Her little face will always tell you. There is also no need to ask her opinion. What she thinks will be clearly written on her face, and in her big yellow eyes.

Meredith will approve or disapprove. She will like something or detest it. She will find something to be amusing, or absolutely dreadful.

You will always know when Meredith is cheerful, and when she is blue.

Meredith is cheerful today. She’s wearing a pretty little pink pinafore covered in rose and gold flowers and sprays of green leaves. Under her pinafore she wears a darker pink blouse with ecru bands around the neck, cuffs, and hem. It has gold trim and tiny gold buttons.

Meredith’s striped tail emerges from her white bloomers. Her tights have bands of pink and gold. Tan high-button shoes cover her pretty kitty feet.

Meredith is a one-of-a-kind work of art, created from my own design and pattern. She is made from 100% cotton fabric which has been sewn, stuffed, and completely hand painted with acrylic paints. Her whiskers are made from stiffened cotton thread.

Meredith’s paws are needle-sculpted, and her arms are button-jointed so that she can pose. Her face was sculpted from paperclay smoothed into her fabric head.

Meredith’s curled tail enables her to sit cheerfully by herself on a shelf or on a table, or in a cabinet. She can also sit on a chair or stand with a doll stand. (Chair and doll stand not included.) Meredith is meant for display only.

Meredith is signed and sealed with matte varnish for protection and preservation. She is 8 and 1/2 inches tall.

Update: Meredith has been adopted. Thank you!

Meredith’s tuxedo-cat friend is Echo, who can be found by clicking here.

Posted on November 16, 2011July 30, 2019 by Elizabeth Ruffing

Photographing art dolls

Yesterday, in addition to photographing fleece bunnies and my sock kitten, we also photographed nine new original, one-of-a-kind cat art dolls by Max Bailey. I was in charge of ironing their outfits, and putting the right outfits with the right dolls.

I thought I had it all right, but I switched one dress with another. I thought the one dress looked especially pretty on the doll I accidentally dressed in it, and so we went with the dress exchange.

I then ironed our backdrop, which is quilting cotton, a blend of pink, blue, and yellow.

We set up foam core, on a box, on a table, to get the dolls the right height compared to the camera and tripod.

We take our photos outside on our porch, to get natural light. We always have to wait for the direct sunlight to pass over the house, so we don’t get harsh shadows. I’m trying out my new micro lens for these. The photos look good so far, but it will take me a while to get them all edited and posted. We’ll be posting our new original one-of-a-kind cat art dolls, and stuffed animal toys, in our Ruffing’s shop.

The kittens have been loose in the house during the day. We round them up at night, for bedtime in the laundry room. In the morning, they are raring to go, and start meowing to let us know it is time for them to come play.

Josephine has been very happy to have the girls to play with her. They are closer to her own age than her other friends.

Phoebe doesn’t want any people touching her, but she is the more adventurous of the two kittens. I find her watching me, and hanging out around me too, even though she will still hiss or scoot if I try to pet her. I can tell she likes me, in spite of that. She just wants to set her own rules about people.

Phoebe was the first to try out the cat gym. Josephine is showing her around. Bertie joined them later, but Bertie likes to relax in the bedrooms more, trying out the fuzzy blankets.

They are both settling in very well. They’ll have their spay day soon, and get their microchips, which is good, because they probably will start refusing to go to bed in the laundry room. Already, bedtime keeps getting bumped up until later because they want to keep playing and running around.