hug-me-slugs Archives - Page 15 of 36 - Ruffing’s

Posted on November 29, 2011July 30, 2019 by Elizabeth Ruffing — 2 Comments

My 300th toy shop sale, yay!

I reached my 300th toy shop sale in my Etsy toy shop today. Yay! Thank you so much to everyone for your support! It is so nice to think about that many people having toys I made and enjoying them. I appreciate everyone who has collected my toys through Etsy, through our blog, through Facebook, as well as everyone who has requested one through email or in person. I also appreciate the positive messages and compliments you all have sent my way. I will be posting my new handmade stuffed animal toys in our Ruffing’s shop

I’ve made toys for as long as I can remember, but I wasn’t so sure of myself when I started making them for other people to collect. I can remember saying I didn’t know how to be sure something was cute, because I thought that everyone else’s taste would be different from my own, but I have been pleasantly surprised to find that my innocent, smiling creatures have appealed to so many.

I am, right now, tripping over fleece and boxes at every turn, trying to prepare for the holidays. I am still taking some custom orders, and will continue to until I think I can’t keep up. I will see how that goes. I can never predict. I’m starting to feel a little swamped right now, and the first two weeks of December tend to get booked up suddenly. I have more ready-made toys waiting to be detailed too.

Posted on November 27, 2011July 30, 2019 by Elizabeth Ruffing

Tulip Hug Me Bunnies, Hug Me Slug handmade stuffed animal toys, and a new original tabby cat art doll

I hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving. I got a little sewing in. These are my tulip bunny Hug Me Bunny stuffed animal toys. I’ve had this fabric for a long time, and could never decide what I should make with it. It is very bright, cheerful, and showy, and needed a project where it could stand alone.

These two red rabbits are about 12 inches tall.

I finished some more 12-inch fleece Hug Me Slug handmade stuffed animals as well. This yellow one already has a new home. I’m sending him and some others out tomorrow. I hope the lines at the Post Office will be reasonable. From what I’ve heard, Monday is when people run in to start mailing all the things they braved Black Friday to purchase as gifts.

I’ve been avoiding the stores myself this weekend, but still need to make a run for some food. I’m not crazy about the idea of diving into the crowds.

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

I did get to the fabric stores this week though, and picked up some pretty new prints I intend to use for more bunnies. I have a couple of sock kittens to dress as well, but I am using solid colors and some decorative machine stitching on their clothes.

We just posted a new original, one-of-a-kind tabby cat art doll named Meredith on our Ruffing’s blog. She is another very pretty doll by Max Bailey.

The kitten sisters had their big spay day on Monday, and they got their microchips and their booster shots. They needed to rest for a couple of days. They are back to their usual selves now, and staying out loose in the house after bedtime. They have been surprisingly well behaved and quiet at night.

They still do plenty of tearing around, in between napping. They’ve been getting along well with the other cats here. Bertie asked for this bath.

They are trying out the various cozy spots for naps. There has been a lot of competition for this one particular perch, which is Josie’s favorite. Phoebe keeps stealing it and will not budge.

Posted on November 8, 2011July 30, 2019 by Elizabeth Ruffing — 2 Comments

Hug Me Slug handmade stuffed animal toy shop update

I finished a new group of Hug Me Slug handmade stuffed animals. One already went on his way to a baby shower. I will be posting my new handmade stuffed animals in our Ruffing’s shop.

I’ve been getting organized. I even pressed and put away the big pile of quilting cottons that was taking over my ironing board.

I also narrowed down my colors for custom Hug Me Slugs. I’m putting a limited number of listings up for custom slugs in November, and I will probably hold off on taking custom orders past the first of December so I can get everything out on time without feeling frantic. I will see how it goes.

These first two sets are the colors I chose for the 9-inch custom Hug Me Slugs.

These second two sets are the colors I chose for 12-inch custom Hug Me Slugs. I still have many more colors than these, but I am going to try to make them into ready-made toys to increase the selection I have.

I often wish I could make more than I do, and make everything more quickly than I do. There is just no rushing these, when sewing so much by hand. I like the handmade look, and I like to make things well. So, I am going to use my time as wisely as I can, and concentrate on doing a nice work.

The kittens came out to run around the house today. They had lots of fun. We’re still settling them into bed in the laundry room at night. We lure them in with Fancy Feast and baby food. They’ll be ready to pop back out the laundry-room door in the morning. I’ll have to get some photos of them exploring and playing.

Posted on November 2, 2011July 30, 2019 by Elizabeth Ruffing

November is here and my toy workshop is in full swing

This is a small peek into my workroom today, and these are a small number of the Hug Me Slugs and other art toys, waiting for me. This is the time of year when I get very nervous and try very hard to get as much as I can get done, done.

Piles of fleece are cascading from the tops of shelves and other piles of fleece.

I’ve prewashed yards and yards of fabric.

Scraps are organized by color so I can find them for hand-sewn hearts. In between, I tweak my patterns, and try some new things too. This is a new character, my Hug Me Bug. I have to draw his picture for his hang tag.

I received these fantastic photos of my beautiful Hug Me Toad collector, Emily. Emily drew this great family portrait of her Hug Me Toads, all with their names above their heads. I just loved seeing these, and I love that all the Hug Me Toads have their own slippers to nap in.

Emily’s PJ’s and her slippers are perfect too. Those Hug Me Toads are in good company!

I love Emily’s portrait. Look how she got all the details. I just love it. Thank you Emily! Say hello to Davey, Mary, Chloe, and company for me! 🙂

The kittens are now out into the bedroom adjoining the laundry room, during the day. They were excited to discover carpeting, and they love galloping around. They are just finishing up some medicine for Giardia, which they probably got from drinking yucky water when they lived outdoors.

Soon they can go mingle with the other kitties. Phoebe and Bertie both went to the vet and had their vaccines. Phoebe got her blood test and doesn’t have either leukemia or FIV. They didn’t like their vet visit at all, but they seemed to forget all about it in no time, once they were back home.

Phoebe (below) is looking contented now. She doesn’t look like a scared kitten anymore, most of the time. She still doesn’t like to be petted, but she looks happy to see us, and likes to watch us. Bertie (above) is friendly and sociable. She isn’t keen on being picked up, but she loves to sit in my mom’s lap.

They are wonderful at playing together. They will each take one end of this string and pull on it. They’ve been having lots of fun, trying out new things, like sitting on the bed. They’ll get spayed and microchipped later this month. They’ll get their second booster shot then. Soon they will be running all over the house.

Josephine has been waiting for the kittens to come out and play. She has plans, I’m sure, to show them her own games. Josephine has always been an enthusiastic computer-helper, and now she has discovered she likes to help me with my crafts projects too. In addition to stealing ballpoint pens, she now attempts to steal the sports tape I use to protect my fingers when I sew. I won’t let her have it, no matter how cute she is.