Over the weekend I took out a couple of projects that were in need of a small amount of work to be “finished”. I made this nursery quilt back in 2004, when we were having another hot August. It was entirely done by hand. I drew the illustration, traced it onto freezer paper, hand appliquéd the pieces on, and then hand stitched all the blocks and strips together. The one thing I stopped short of doing were the hand-embroidered eyes and nostrils on the cow, and my hand-embroidered signature. This is what I finished over the weekend. It is a glorious thing to behold really, so colorful and cheerful.
Tag: original-one-of-a-kind
Mini Art Quilts
I made this set of mini art quilts mostly from cotton batiks, with an occasional cotton print thrown in. I started by paper piecing the backgrounds where I could. In a couple of places, like on the background for the sun, I made a pattern piece in a curved shape and cut it out from my paper-pieced section, then sewed it to another section.
I used fusible interfacing to stiffen the moon, star, and sun shapes before I machine appliquéd them onto my backgrounds. I experimented with different machine stitches along the raw edges of the shapes.
I used Pigma pens, which are permanent ink markers, to draw the faces on my moons, sun, and flower.
I added layers of organic cotton batting and cotton duck/canvas underneath my designs, then did some machine quilting on the surfaces.
I had intended to sew bias strips around the edges, but opted to use cotton terrycloth as a backing right up to the edges. I placed the terrycloth and the designs right sides together, sewed a 0.25 inch seam, left an opening, then turned them right sides out. I also added loops of cotton which were folded and top stitched to the tops for hanging. The openings were then slip stitched closed. I used some embroidery floss for ties in several places on the back just for stability.
Original designs, art quilts, and photos copyright Elizabeth Ruffing, all rights reserved.
A(nother) Star is Born
“Leah”, my new star baby is born! Leah is a one-of-a-kind original art doll, made from my own design and pattern. She is jointed at the hips and shoulders so she can sit or lie down. Leah’s body is made from 100% cotton fabric, which is entirely hand painted with acrylic paint and sealed with matte varnish for protection.
Leah is a very friendly, good-natured, and happy baby.
Please click here to visit Leah’s web page.
I took the colors for Leah from my “Moon and Star” watercolor painting. I have a giclée print of it available in our Ruffing’s Etsy shop, It makes a great a companion piece for Leah.
Greta the Baby Chrysanthemum Flower Fairy Original Art Doll by Elizabeth Ruffing
Greta is a handmade original, one-of-a-kind chrysanthemum flower fairy art doll, handmade and hand painted by artist Elizabeth Ruffing.
This is Greta. She is a baby chrysanthemum fairy. Chrysanthemums are a symbol of hope.
Sometimes when Greta is sitting in the garden, bees come to visit her, mistaking her for a flower. She doesn’t mind. They kind of tickle.
She likes to lie on her back under the chrysanthemums and watch the bumble bees buzz around with the butterflies.
Sometimes she flies around with them. She fits right in with her pale green butterfly wings.
She has an adorable profile, with little pointed ears.
Greta has hidden button joints so she can move her arms and legs to express herself.
Greta has an oak-colored stand that lifts her in the air so she can practice flying, and running through the air. She enjoys that.
It fits in behind her hand-quilted wings.
Greta the chrysanthemum flower fairy original art doll is entirely handmade by me. Her body is made of 100% cotton, from my own pattern, and is painted with acrylic paint. Her bottom is weighted so she can sit nicely. She has an antique reproduction baby face made from papier mâché. Her ears and head are made from paperclay. Her chrysanthemum hat is made of fabric flower petals, joined together with paperclay.
Greta is approximately 7 inches tall when seated, and approximately 9 inches long when lying down. She is approximately 11 inches tall while hovering on her stand. Greta is a work of original art and is meant for display only.
Greta the chrysanthemum flower fairy original art doll also comes with a hang tag. It is signed as well. The picture on her hang tag is “Fairies and Butterflies,” printed from an original watercolor painting by me, Elizabeth Ruffing.
The image goes very nicely with Greta’s green onesie, her yellow buttons and collar, her pale green chrysanthemum petals, and the green of her wings.
Greta’s flower fairy friend is Rosa the rose flower fairy.
It’s nice to have a friend to fly around with.
They like to watch the bumble bees and butterflies together too.
Update: Greta and Rosa the flower fairy original art dolls have been adopted. Thank you!
