art-dolls Archives - Page 89 of 93 - Ruffing’s

Posted on April 9, 2007January 30, 2019 by Elizabeth Ruffing — 2 Comments

Spring Fairy Art Doll in Progress

I am getting my hands dirty now…

First, I thought Plastic Wood would be a good modeling compound to use on my doll, just for a change, and it might have been. Unfortunately, I had no recollection of its ability to bond with, well…me. After much grumbling over my encrusted palms and fingers, I finally got it off with nail polish remover, the kind with acetone in it, which stung a bit. I was quite relieved just the same. At least I didn’t bond one hand to the other!

I also relieved myself of the Plastic Wood, which is now in the trash. No offense to DAP…I’m sure it’s great if you mind the warnings not to get it on your skin. Mea culpa.

So, I am back to Creative Paperclay, which cleans up nicely with water. I also used some carpenters’ wood glue (Titebond Original Wood Glue, which also cleans up with water) to attach these big green flower petals to the head of my fairy art doll, and then made a cap and stem from the Paperclay. Her be-petaled head reminds me, for some reason, of those funny flowered bathing caps my grandmother used to wear to keep her hair dry while swimming. She and her best friend Lottie used to have a humorous assortment of them. I can still see them, perched on the edge of the pool, cooling their feet in the water, tucking their hair carefully away, talking whispering talking talking whispering…

Posted on April 3, 2007January 30, 2019 by Elizabeth Ruffing

Order out of chaos

Finally! I’ve sewn and stuffed and attached all my previously adrift doll parts. They look like little fencing champions, all lined up in white. Are there only ten? Oh, but it feels like there must be more! Perhaps I just had two more in mind.

To celebrate, I made Swedish Lucia buns which, according to our old Betty Crocker’s International Cookbook, are traditionally served in Sweden to celebrate their Queen of Light Festival, also known as Saint Lucia Day, which comes at the beginning of the Christmas season. Once again, I am a bit off with my holiday traditions.

They are wonderful, however, and similar recipes can be found online, like this one.

Copies of the old Betty Crocker’s International Cookbook can still be found on EBay, which reminds me…I’d like to get an extra copy for myself. Ours is getting tattered.

Posted on March 29, 2007June 20, 2019 by Anne Ruffing — 1 Comment

Rosalie the Red Rose Fairy, Original One-of-a-kind Art Doll by Max Bailey

Rosalie the red rose fairy is a handmade original, one-of-a-kind art doll, handmade and hand painted artist Max Bailey.

According to my grandmother, we had fairies to thank for all things beautiful on the earth. From her imagination (and from mine), here is Rosalie, the Red Rose Fairy.

In the spring, Rosalie flutters lightly through gardens like a butterfly, bending gracefully over the delicate buds of the red rose bushes, touching each with her rose-tipped wand to make them open.

Blue-eyed and raven-haired, she is dressed all in teal blue, with a cascade of roses, rosebuds, and leaves that flow down her body to her toes. The golden three-leaf motif at her neckline also encircles her wrists, and her colorful wings bear portraits of her favorite flower.

If this year, your red roses have elegant, exquisite, and heavenly blooms that sweetly perfume the air, it is very likely the enchanting Rosalie has paid your garden a visit.

Rosalie is 12 1/4 inches tall, and her wings measure 8 inches across. She is made from 100% cotton fabric which is sewn, stuffed, and completely hand-painted with acrylic paints. I quilted her wings and attached them separately. She holds a wand made from wire, with a rose at the tip that I created from ribbon.

There is a small loop in the back of Rosalie’s head, should you wish to hang her up. She can also sit in a chair or on a shelf, or stand with a doll stand. (Chair and doll stand not included.) She is signed and dated, and sealed with matte varnish for protection and preservation.

Rosalie is an original one-of-a-kind work of art, created from my own design and pattern. She is meant for display only.

Update: Rosalie has already been adopted. Thank you!

Posted on March 15, 2007January 30, 2019 by Elizabeth Ruffing — 2 Comments

Dr Frankenstein plays with dolls

I was planning a sincere effort to add new Paperclay feet with shoes to my doll project when it occurred to me that it would be a much better idea to do all my paperclay-ing at once. I knew I had a few unfinished dolls sitting around. So, I pulled them out and discovered that a lot of their bits were missing their pieces. I started cutting and sewing and stuffing. I’d been sewing arms and legs for a couple of days when, again, it occurred to me that it would be a much better idea to just make new legs for my doll, legs with new and improved feet…feet that already have shoes. Then I wouldn’t need to make her new paperclay feet at all.

So, I made more legs.

Looking at this pile of body parts, I’m not sure if I have actually created more or less to do. I think it may be a matter of perspective.