folk-art Archives - Page 57 of 76 - Ruffing’s Artist Dolls and Toys

Posted on June 16, 2009January 9, 2019 by Elizabeth Ruffing

Finishing Emily’s dress

I’m still here! We took a little trip to the beach last week, which was beautiful, and then I caught up on my doll dress sewing. I got some pretty roses too 🙂

I tried out a whole bunch of decorative machine stitches on this skirt, and added a partial underskirt with a ruffle.

As you can see, I went with my simplest color combination from my selections. I thought that would show off the stitching the best.

I got a new iron too! Then….ta da!…

Emily’s new outfit. She reminds me of Mary Poppins in this photo, about to lift off, with me trying to hold her down long enough to take her picture. It was raining, and so I was afraid to put her down anywhere. I’ll get more photos once it is dry outside. See you later!

Posted on May 30, 2009January 18, 2019 by Elizabeth Ruffing

Choosing fabrics

I’ve been doing a little fabric audition for “Emily and Edwin”. I pulled out all the fabrics I had that I thought might be a good fit. Right now, I’m leaning toward the ones above because, to me, they have a circus feel, which works well with the elephant idea.

Earlier today, I was leaning toward the combination above. I did a sketch of how I thought they’d be assembled, a polka dot ruffle underneath the gingham skirt, with an embroidered white apron on top, maybe a decorative ribbon on the apron as well.

Then there was the plain and simple look, with a solid green over skirt and a subdued purple underskirt that matched Edwin the Elephant’s base. Decisions.

I ran out to mow our field of dandelions this morning. There’s a country wedding out here today, and that wouldn’t do for a backdrop. No, not my wedding, although that would be a funny story if I ran out to mow a field before the ceremony!

Posted on May 15, 2009 by Elizabeth Ruffing

Crocus the Siamese Kitten, Original One-of-a-kind Folk Art Cat Doll Figurine by Max Bailey

Crocus is a sweet little Siamese kitten. She was born in the spring at the same time the first crocus bloomed.

Crocus is very earnest, and quite serious. She cannot comprehend how a bowl, which is always supposed to have food in it, can possibly not have food in it.

“This has to be a mistake,” she will say, as she looks at the empty bowl in shock and disbelief.

“This can’t be right,” she will sigh, as she paces back and forth in the kitchen.

“This is a HUGE oversight,” she will cry, her voice getting louder and louder.

“How could this happen?” she will howl in dismay, and, sure enough, someone will put her food in the bowl, and listen to her quietly purring.

Crocus has extraordinary blue eyes that look out from her dark little face. Her pale pink dress is covered with tiny blue flowers, and has a big ruffled collar edged in blue, with blue cuffs. Her blue sash is tied in a big bow at the back, where you can see her dark little tail. Ivory petticoats show below her hemline. She carries a very empty rose and white bowl.

Crocus is an original one-of-a-kind work of art, and she is meant for display only. No molds are ever used in my work. She and her bowl are hand sculpted from paperclay, and entirely hand painted using acrylic paints. Her whiskers are made from stiffened cotton thread.

Crocus 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.

Crocus is an itty bitty kitty. She stands only 4 ½ inches tall.

Update: Crocus has already been adopted. Thank you!

Posted on May 8, 2009 by Elizabeth Ruffing

Kitties in dresses

These are our first photos of the original folk art cat dolls that Max Bailey and I have done together, wearing their dresses, and posed on the background we picked out. “Loretta and Lulu”, the Siamese mom and her pocket kitten are on the far left. “Chelsea” the Maine Coon Cat, with her birthday cake, is in the middle. “Heidi and Helga” are on the right. Helga is Heidi’s goose.

Emily the ginger tabby cat, and Beatrice the lop rabbit haven’t got their outfits on yet. That’s little Beulah the lop rabbit in Beatrice’s lap.

Heidi was our first cat doll we did together. Then came Loretta and Lulu. Chelsea was the third addition. We’ll be taking more photos before these go up for adoption over in our online doll gallery. They’ll be on the page for jointed dolls eventually, but not until they are all ready. I’ll be sure to post here on this blog, and on the Ruffing’s blog when they are ready for adoption. First, I have some photos of Max’s art doll figurines to edit. I’ll try to get those done as soon as I can.

I believe we are going to create a tuxedo cat doll next, but there is a lot to finish up before we get to her…him? We’ll see. I think we will have to try some mister kitties soon.

I took an extended weekend last weekend and did some fun things, including some first-time-ever things. One of those was taking a ballroom dancing lesson for the first time ever! I love watching Dancing with the Stars, but I have no clue when it comes to doing any of that sort of thing. So, that was a treat. We tried the the rumba and the waltz. I can’t tell you how many tries it took to get me to walk in a circle correctly. I’m still not sure it wasn’t an accident when I finally got it right!

I went to the airport for the first time ever. I have never been on a plane. I still haven’t been! I did watch the planes take off however, and, I admit, I shuddered just watching them lift off the ground. I also got the tour of what you do at the airport, before you get on or off the plane, things I’ve only seen on TV and in the movies. Then I goofed and missed seeing the plane I meant to wave at as it took off.

I also got to see The Soloist, which I really liked a lot. I worked on my Wolverine imitation, but failed to convince anyone to take me to see that:

“Ka-chang! Ka-chang!” (Elizabeth doing “Wolverine fingers”…a sort of distant relative to jazz hands only meaner-looking, and with blades.)

“No!”

“Why not?”

“Because you are going to keep doing THAT!”

So, no Wolverine for me.

In the middle of the week, I finished getting a ton of fillings done. Yuck. I thought I was taking good care of my teeth, but they rebelled and got little cavities in them. My tongue is still numb and prickly. I hope that goes away soon.