Art Dolls Archives - Page 2 of 34 - Ruffing’s

Posted on June 28, 2024June 28, 2024 by Elizabeth Ruffing

Himalayan Cat Art Doll Figurine and Pocket Kitten, finishing touches

A Himalayan cat art doll in a blue floral pinafore sits with a Himalayan kitten in her pocket.

My mom and I have been creating away. Mom has been hopping between one art doll project and the next, as her clay and paints dry. We are happy to announce her Himalayan original one-of-a-kind cat art doll is now fully clothed! And her kitten has a nice pocket into which she is comfortably nestled.

I’ve been taking short videos of us working for some fun behind-the-scenes peeks. Here I am measuring her for her new pinafore while our calico kitty, Ruby, plays with my supplies, and my mom is at her work table sculpting a new little cat doll: https://youtube.com/shorts/DtTYYsp1YmY

Ruby is so helpful! She looks like she knows what she is doing. Just ask her.

A calico cat with big gold eyes stands in front of a watercolor painting of a Carolina wren and peach colored peonies by artist A E Ruffing.

I had to make all the little pattern pieces, and I have to admit my brain had to do some twists and turns while trying to work that out. Those shoulder ruffles gave me quite a time as well. I sewed so much of this pinafore by hand, with a needle and thread: https://youtube.com/shorts/qJtzrVy6sPw

Then I had to make that pocket the right size for the kitten and sew that on by hand as well. Finally, everything came together and I breathed a sigh of relief! https://youtube.com/shorts/9aQF3Fx2Roc

We wrote a story and a detailed description of the kitties and my mom gave them names. I need to take some photos and add my bit about the pinafore. Then I will get her official post together with her description and she will be up for adoption! Whew. Stay tuned!

Hope you all have been staying cool in the heat wave we have been having. It is good weather for staying inside and sewing and sculpting and painting.

Posted on May 16, 2024May 16, 2024 by Elizabeth Ruffing

Himalayan Kitten Art Doll Figurine, Pocket Kitten in Progress

Himalayan kitten art doll figurine the palm of the artist's hand

It’s baby kitty time. My mom is painting the dress on her little Himalayan kitten art doll figurine.

Artist Anne Ruffing painting at her desk with her calico cat sitting nearby — Artist Anne Ruffing painting at her desk with Ruby

Ruby, our calico cat, helped herself to a drink out of her water pitcher, while my mom was painting. The water was clean at the time! Here is a video showing my mom, artist Anne Ruffing, painting her kitten: https://youtube.com/shorts/FIOv8eSGTNA

This tiny Himalayan kitten will sit in the skirt pocket of the Himalayan cat art doll she just finished painting. I need to design and sew a pinafore with a pocket that will be just he right size for the Himalayan kitten.

Himalayan cat art doll in a deep blue painted blouse with a pink flower at the neck, and pink painted bloomers with striped blue socks. — Himalayan cat art doll in progress

My mom sculpted this kitten from paperclay. She and her mama are both original, one-of-kind artist dolls and will be together as a set.

Himalayan kitten art doll figurine in a mauve painted pinafore and yellow blouse — Himalayan kitten art doll figurine

I have been working on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/elizabethruffing

Ruffing’s Artist Dolls and Toys and The Little House of Cats YouTube channel

In addition to making videos of our art dolls, I want to design and make sewing patterns for doll clothing, and make some sewing instruction videos. I first learned to sew by making doll clothing, and I would like to pass that knowledge on to other people. I eventually made my own clothing through high school and college. I think people may find sewing, especially garment sewing, somewhat intimidating, and I think doll clothes are a great place to start, even if you don’t have a sewing machine. I started sewing by hand, and I still like sewing by hand!

While we have been hard at work, the cats are lounging around on this very nice day. Chester says hello from the porch. steps

Chester, a buffy orange and white cat, lounging on gray wooden steps — Chester lounging on the porch steps

Posted on May 13, 2024May 16, 2024 by Elizabeth Ruffing

Himalayan Cat Art Doll with a Pocket Kitten, part two, three, and four

Ruby the calico cat sniffs my mom’s Himalayan cat art doll in progress

My mom is painting again! She is making progress on her mama Himalayan cat art doll. I have been taking video of her painting, while trying not to get in the way. Our calico cats, Ruby and Emily, like to help.

First my mom painted her cat doll’s lace cuffs and collar. Then she painted her blouse a deep blue. She added some pale pink kitty “knickers” and then striped socks, in two shades of blue.

Himalayan cat art doll with pink bloomers and blue striped socks

Here is the video of her painting the lace cuffs: https://youtube.com/shorts/_oeGiyBrQ6A

This the video of my mom painting her blouse: https://youtube.com/shorts/-GRqKqvpYUg

And the video of her painting her blue striped socks: https://youtube.com/shorts/lOX0XZvPRFA

It takes a steady hand to paint those stripes with one hand, while holding her doll in the other hand.

I mailed off these two custom fleece Hug Me Slug stuffed animal art toys. They were made to celebrate an eleventh birthday and their recipient picked out the colors he wanted, including the colors for the eyes, which were custom printed on fleece. I hand stitched them on with a blanket stitch.

Light green and dark purple Hug Me Slug stuffed animal art toys by Elizabeth Ruffing

I’ve also been puttering around with vintage dolls and their clothing. My favorites are my Ideal Toni dolls, American Character Sweet Sue dolls, and Effanbee Honey dolls, from the 1940’s and 1950’s.

Vintage P-91 Ideal Toni doll in a pink cotton pinafore with cotton voile top

I’ve been washing their clothing and working on making sewing patterns for them. I’ve also been cleaning the dolls and need to restring some of them.

Vintage Toni doll clothing, air drying after hand washing

My goal is to make some handmade doll clothing to sell, along with sewing patterns for doll clothes.

My handmade bodice pattern from an original Toni doll dress

I added a doll from this century to my doll clothing models. I think she is my first doll from the 2000’s! She is a Ruby Red Fashion Friends doll named Sara, and she is very sweet. I even made an “unboxing video” because I always see those and thought it might be fun to record my reaction. Here is my unboxing video: https://youtu.be/jIaRhIDIE DM

Ruby Red Fashion Friends Doll, Sara, Dianna Effner Sculpt, Unboxing and Review

I think she is quite charming and she has already made friends with Lila Lovebunny and Chelsea the Maine Coo n cat.

Posted on May 4, 2024May 16, 2024 by Elizabeth Ruffing

Himalayan Cat Art Doll with a Pocket Kitten, part one

Himalayan cat and kitten art dolls in progress

My mom is getting back to making our cat art dolls after a long break. These are a mama Himalayan cat with her little baby pocket kitten. She sculpted them years ago, and had them in a box. I have been encouraging her to get back to her art. She is going to finish painting these kitties.

Mom picked out the floral fabric she liked the best from my stash, and I will be sewing up a pinafore for her cat art doll. It will have a pocket in it to hold the kitten.

We are excited to have new dolls after this long break. Emily, one of our calico cats, loves to watch everything my mom does. She is excited too.

Himalayan Cat Art Doll with a Pocket Kitten, part one

We got out of the house today and took a walk, before making this short video of the dolls. It was a pretty spring day here, and we got back before the rain.