art-doll-figurines Archives - Page 46 of 59 - Ruffing’s Artist Dolls and Toys

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 November 12, 2010January 9, 2019 by Elizabeth Ruffing — 2 Comments

Lots of soft and fuzzy

I cut out a gargantuan pile of fleece over the past two days. I’m not sure how long it will take me to turn this into toys, maybe a couple of years! And that isn’t all of it.

I cut out fleece in two sizes. I think I have plenty now.

I also got Daisy the Dachshund’s web page up today. Daisy is one of Max Bailey’s original, one-of-a-kind art doll figurines. To me, her eyes look very soulful, just like a real Dachshund’s eyes. There is a little Dachshund who lives near us who likes me to rub her belly. She looks just like Daisy, only she doesn’t wear dresses, which is good because she would look very undignified rolling on her back with her paws up in the air, while wearing a dress.

I got to pet some kittens last weekend too. Marie’s camera has a broken part, and so I went over with mine. It’s easier for me to get a clear photo, the more light I have, and so we tried stepping out the back door for some. These are indoor-only rescue kittens. Sunny didn’t care for the great outdoors at all. We couldn’t blame her, since she had had a bad head wound from an animal bite. It has healed up amazingly well with all the care she has gotten through the rescue group. She is one lucky girl.

Once we went back inside, she was happy again, and got right back to playing.

This is Frosty (Update: Frosty is now our very own Josephine!), Sunny’s little sister, from another litter with the same Shoeshoe father. She’d only had human contact for a few days, but you’d never know it. She was very cuddly and sweet. I sat and held her for a long time. Her blue eyes are so sad and beautiful.

Windy, Sunny’s sister, below, was the only one of our subjects who actually enjoyed the sun on her face. She turned into a purring puddle o’ Windy. Frosty started to doze off a bit too. Maybe it was the fuzzy blanket.

We got them back in the house as soon as we could, and they all got Trader Joe’s Bench & Field Holistic Feline Treats. I’d never seen these before, and they all went cuckoo for them, chasing them across the floor, and hunting them down. I picked some up later, and our kitties went crazy for them too. Windy and her other sister, Cloudy, stopped to play with a stray litter pellet while hunting for cat treats. Marie says those are their favorite toys, even though they have bunches of cat toys.

They must have thought I was a giant cat toy. They all checked out my sneakers, very thoroughly. Sunny also inspected my camera. I kept getting “camera shake” only to discover her swinging from my lens cap. She is definitely going to be a helper cat.

Stormy, from the same litter as Sunny, Windy, and Cloudy, was very timid, but she still came out for treats and toys. She wanted to select one of her own from the toy bag. All the girls were really sweet, and I had a lot of fun visiting. Marie is really nice too. I put more kittens photos up on my Flickr page.

After playing, and petting, and cuddling with kittens, it’s a wonder I didn’t take them all home with me, but we do have a full house here too. My kitties wanted to know where I’d been. My sneakers were probably thoroughly sniffed on my return too.

These kittens will be adopted out when they are old enough to be spayed/neutered and vaccinated. Please consider adopting a pet, and please spay and neuter your pets.

Posted on June 16, 2010March 9, 2014 by Elizabeth Ruffing — 3 Comments

Sunflower the Ginger Tabby Kitten, Original One-of-a-kind Art Doll Figurine by Max Bailey

This ginger tabby kitten was named Sunflower, perhaps because of her bright little face and her sunny disposition, or perhaps just because there was a sunflower farm nearby. The name seemed to suit her.

When Sunflower was told the giant and impressive flowers had the same name as her own, she marched off to visit them. She thought she might pick one to bring home, but most of the flowers were far bigger than her head, and way too heavy to carry.

Seeing her problem, the sunflower farmer found the littlest sunflower, and presented it to her.

“Thank you kindly” Sunflower said to him. “I am very pleased and honored that all these wonderful flowers were named after me.”

With a big smile, Sunflower headed for home, and with a big smile, the farmer watched her go.

Sunflower is an original one-of-a-kind work of art, and is meant for display only. No molds are ever used in my work. She and her sunflower are hand-sculpted from paperclay, and are entirely hand painted with acrylic paints.

Her bright yellow dress is patterned with little blue flowers, and the soft blue jumper she wears over it has scalloped sleeves and a scalloped hem. It ties in a big bow at the back. Her striped orange tail emerges from the white petticoats that show beneath her dress. Sunflower’s whiskers are made from stiffened cotton thread.

Sunflower 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.

Sunflower is an itty bitty kitty. She stands only 4 and 5/8 inches tall. She comes with a hang tag, a certificate of authenticity, and a copy of her story.

Update: Sunflower has been adopted. Thank you!

Sunflower’s kitten friends are Katie the Tabby Kitten (left) and Violet the Siamese Kitten (center).

Posted on June 16, 2010 by Elizabeth Ruffing

Catching up with the kitties

I’m moving right along now, getting things done, like editing new doll photos and making up their web pages. These two kittens are Max Bailey‘s latest original one-of-a-kind folk art doll figurines.

This is “Katie the Tabby Kitten“, and below is “Sunflower the Ginger Tabby Kitten“. Katie’s brother gave her is kite because she admired it so much. She painted flowers all over it to make sure he didn’t ask for it back!

A sunflower farmer gave Sunflower her gift, which she is certain was named after her. She’s very flattered that all the flowers on his farm were named after her too. That’s a pretty big compliment.

Katie and Sunflower join “Violet the Siamese Kitten” in Max’s series of Itty Bitty Kitties. I can tell you, Max’s eyes are aching for something larger, and his next creations are going to be a bit bigger. I have to supply him with some more doll bodies to get him going on some other jointed original one-of-a-kind folk art dolls we have planned as well.

To see more of Katie, Sunflower, and Violet, and read their stories, please visit the links below:

Katie the Tabby Kitten

Sunflower the Ginger Tabby Kitten

Violet the Siamese Kitten