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Posted on April 20, 2011August 1, 2019 by Elizabeth Ruffing — 2 Comments

Mini slug-shop update

I have a few new ready-made Hug Me Slugs, and have more to post once I finish a few more details. In the midst of this small crowd is my new fleece Hug Me Kitten design. I will show you more photos of her once I draw her hang tag picture, and I then will get her posted too. I will be posting my new handmade stuffed animal toys in our Ruffing’s shop.

I couldn’t resist running next door to photograph this mauve-pink slug in my neighbors’ azaleas.

I think this is purple salvia, from our flowerbed, with this dark purple slug.

My mom took a photo of the grass-green slug with me holding him, because the wind was making my photos out of focus.

I held this olive-green slug steady too.

I managed to balance this orange slug on the deck railing, and this gray slug held his own.

This red slug is posing in front of our pink dogwood tree. He’s already found a new home and has been sent on his way there.

I had a doll skirt to make also, for one of Max Bailey‘s kitty dolls.

This is Minnie the Tabby Cat, original one-of-a-kind anthropomorphic cat art doll by Max Bailey.

Josephine has been very busy helping me. She loves the computer, and takes all my pens. Every single one. She was very excited over the fleece kitty photos I have coming up, and threw herself at the screen, batting at them with her paws.

I’ve been taking my fleece scraps and making catnip knots with them. They are for a local cat rescue, for fundraising, but someone keeps trying to take the whole bag. I let him choose a couple of his own.

The knots are very easy to make. I made them following the instructions in this video, if anyone else would like to give them a try. No sewing required.

Posted on April 19, 2011June 2, 2011 by Elizabeth Ruffing — 2 Comments

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

When she was born, her mother gave her the name Minerva, but only her mother ever called her that. Everyone else called her Minnie.

Minnie grew up to be a lovely tabby. Her fur is a mix of tabby colors…silver gray, buff, ivory, gold, and black.

Minnie extends a warm welcome to everyone who comes calling. In the afternoon, she sits on her porch and waits for the children to walk home from school.

They wave to her as they pass by, and she lifts her paw to greet them. Sometimes they stop by to visit with her, which makes Minnie very happy. She purrs loudly.

Today, Minnie is wearing a tan blouse patterned with blue flowers with red centers. It has a blue collar and blue cuffs.

Her tights have matching tan and blue stripes. The high-button shoes she wears have red buttons down the sides.

Minnie’s tan skirt has delicate white lace around the hemline.

Her blue apron is decorated with a line of red ribbon. Her skirt and apron were designed and created by artist Elizabeth Ruffing.

Minnie is an original 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.

Minnie’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. Her curled tail enables her to sit by herself on a shelf or 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.) Minnie is meant for display only.

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

Update: Minnie has been adopted. Thank you!

Posted on April 12, 2011September 10, 2019 by Elizabeth Ruffing

Larissa and Piper, Original, One-of-a-kind White Cat and Kitten Anthropomorphic Art Doll Figurine by Max Bailey

Larissa is an original, one-of-a-kind anthropomorphic Turkish Angora cat art doll figurine, hand sculpted in paperclay and hand painted by artist Max Bailey. Larissa stands 6 1/2 inches tall. She comes with a hang tag, a certificate of authenticity, and a copy of her story.

Larissa’s story:

Larissa is a lovely white Turkish Angora cat who has three kittens and a nice little home business. She makes very fashionable hats.

Ever since Larissa created her first hat, orders have been pouring in. All she did was wear it once, when she went to town. The ladies gasped! They each had to have one, and now Larissa’s hats are all the rage.

Larissa usually allows her kittens to participate in the making of her creations. They tunnel under the yards of felt, tumble through the cascade of pretty ribbons, and toss around the colorful silk flowers until they get suddenly tired, as kittens do. Little Piper has fallen asleep right on the brim of Larissa’s latest creation, a tan felt hat with an artful arrangement of pink, blue, and yellow flowers, created just for Miss Sophia.

Soon the doorbell will ring, and Miss Sophia will arrive to pick up her new hat. Poor Piper. As sweet as she looks asleep on the brim, Larissa will have to carefully pick her up and put her to bed with her brother and sister.

Larissa looks very pretty in a mauve long-sleeved dress dotted with little off-white flowers, over which she wears a country blue pinafore with a sash that is tied neatly at the back in a bow. Her fluffy white tail emerges from the off-white petticoats that show below her dress.

Larissa is an original one-of-a-kind work of art, and is meant for display only. She has been free sculpted, and no mold was used to make her. Larissa, her kitten Piper, and the flowered hat are hand sculpted from paperclay, and entirely hand painted using acrylic paints. Larissa’s whiskers are made from stiffened cotton thread.

Larissa is signed and dated, and sealed with matte varnish for protection and preservation. She rests firmly on a turned wooden base that is stained and sealed in golden oak.

Larissa is 6 and 1/2 inches tall.

Update: Larissa and Piper have been adopted. Thank you!

Posted on April 7, 2011August 1, 2019 by Elizabeth Ruffing

Slug love

I received these great photographs from two architecture students who celebrated the passing of their exams with some Hug Me Slug love. They have been taking tests for four years, and “SLUG” is the term they have used for the series of difficult exams they have had to take. They were both very happy to have some fun slugs as a reward for all their hard work. Congratulations to them both and thank you for these photos! I love them.

They had a celebratory get-together at a new restaurant, and the slugs went too! And, it would appear that the slugs like mac-n-cheese and salad! It looks like they all had a happy day. I think the slugs look very pleased with all the food. I’m told the waitress was quite taken with them as well.

Lots of other slugs have been shipping out all over the country, and the world. Here are some more that went on their way to their new homes recently. I will be posting my new handmade stuffed animal toys in our Ruffing’s shop.

I am still catching up, with more custom orders to finish, and some doll clothes to make. I made a fleece kitty pattern design I am waiting to sew too.

The weather has been beautiful here, and warm. I want to get outside and do some gardening.

The azaleas have started blooming, and the dogwood flowers are just opening.

I have an extra assistant now, one who steals all my pens. This is Josephine, formerly Frosty, planning an attack on a ballpoint pen. She has plenty of toys, but pens are of special interest to her. I think she may want to be a writer when she grows up.

Or a thief. That might be closer to her true aspirations.