hug-me-slugs Archives - Page 11 of 36 - Ruffing’s

Posted on July 9, 2012July 28, 2019 by Elizabeth Ruffing

Custom slugs and some more sock toads

This is Buddy the Hug Me Slug. Buddy has a special mission. He was ordered by such a nice lady, to give comfort and cheer to her friend who is going through some difficult challenges right now. So that he would be full of extra love, I gave him two hearts, one on top of the other, purple for bravery, and red for love. Teal is her favorite color. I was so glad I had some teal fleece, when I was asked.

I tried to fill him with well wishes, and I hope his new friend will be all better soon. He went on his way this morning. I added a pretty card and gift bag so he would arrive in style.

This grass green slug went to welcome a new baby boy into the world,

and this purple slug went to welcome someone home.

I finished up more Hug Me Sock Toads, in shades of orange.

These three polka-dotted toads look like they are wearing white undies, so I’m told.

New toys will be posted in our Ruffing’s shop.

I got all those batik Hug Me Bugs and Hug Me Slugs I was working on last time I wrote, posted too.

I leave a path of fabric scraps and paper in my wake.

I often find these sticky-backed paper hearts stuck to the bottoms of my feet, and to the soles of my shoes. A friend said this is a photo showing “both heart and sole” 🙂

My kitty helpers have been napping a lot in the heat.

Some of them are very good at passing out.

Some look like they are dreaming of acrobatics,

or sailing through the air.

But they help whenever they can. Kitties love crafts projects in between naps.

Bertie is hiding from everyone here. No one could possibly ever find her.

Just look how inconspicuous she is.

Posted on June 19, 2012July 28, 2019 by Elizabeth Ruffing

All eyed and hearted

This is what I’ve been up to for the past two weeks. I picked up more batiks, feeling inspired after going to a trunk show that featured colorful paper-pieced quilts by Deb Karasik.

I started with greens. I finished the edges of my fabric and prewashed it before I cut and sewed a batch of Hug Me Slugs and Hug Me Bugs.

The batik toys, and cotton toys in general, take more time to make and are a fussier to work with than the fleece toys, with so many curves to clip and Fray Check on the inside.

After the machine sewing and the stuffing are done, the hand sewing begins. Their bottoms are sewn on by hand. I embroidered their smiles and attached the whites of their eyes with a blanket stitch and floss. They looked like zombies. Then I moved on to the hearts and pupils. Now they can see!

I still have to photograph them individually, and post them in my Etsy toy shop.

Hope everyone enjoyed Father’s Day. This is my dad holding me when I was new to the world.

Our lawn was covered with and abundance of pretty dandelions this week, and the butterfly bushes and the shoal creek chaste tree have been in bloom.

The bees and butterflies love them, and they are such beautiful shades of lavender, blue, and purple.

The one above is the shoal creek chaste tree, and below are the two, the butterfly bush arching over the other.

And this is a special sleepy cat flower.

Posted on June 7, 2012July 28, 2019 by Elizabeth Ruffing

A couple of slugs for Thursday

These Hug Me Slugs have already been spoken for and are on their way to their new homes, but I thought I share them anyway. I finished them today.

I also thought I’d share this mysterious pile of night-traveling newspapers. This was a three-cat job, at least.

Posted on May 29, 2012July 28, 2019 by Elizabeth Ruffing

Rainbow bugs and slugs

The rainbow bugs and slugs I was working on in my last post are all up and ready.

I will be posting my new handmade stuffed animal toys in our Ruffing’s shop.

I’m still sewing together Hug Me Toad bodies.

I finished some solid color slugs too.

We are starting to get some hot days. I ordered a bike trainer so I could ride my bike in the living room, where I can enjoy air conditioning.

I thought the “kittens” would be afraid, but they were both curious, especially Phoebe, who is the nosier of the two. They may be getting big to call kittens, especially Bertie, but they still look like kittens to us.

I have a climbing block on the front tire to keep the bike level.

My mom took some photos of me and I stitched these two together, clones of myself.

I have more photos to edit of Max Bailey’s cat and kitten dolls. I’m in the process of getting these posted over on our Ruffing’s blog. The kittens above are, from left to right, Ingrid, Francine, Mitzi, Stephanie, and Lola.

I’m also going through my rescue cat and kitten photos of the past couple years, seeing what might work for the Alley Cats and Angels’ fundraiser calendar.