stuffed-animals Archives - Page 14 of 25 - Ruffing’s

Posted on May 10, 2012July 28, 2019 by Elizabeth Ruffing

Festival photos

I borrowed these photos from Alley Cats and Angels rescue of NC, to show you my toys at the festivals this past weekend. They visited Peak Fest in Apex, Meet in the Street in Wake Forest, and OutRaleigh in Raleigh. Thanks very much to everyone at Alley Cats and Angels for taking them along and spending so much time and effort.

The rescue also had cat beds and catnip toys there, which are still available from them. They use potent catnip. Our cats love the toys they got. They are all handmade by volunteers.

I currently have some more toys with portion going to animal charities as well. I will be posting new toys in our Ruffing’s shop.

Most of these are from Meet in the Street, in Wake Forest. The one below is from OutRaleigh. The banner says “A cat’s love knows no gender or color.” As most have probably heard, North Carolina has been engaged in a heated debate over Amendment One, which is an embarrassment to a great many of us, including me. I wish people would learn to leave each other alone. Why is that so hard? It’s something I’ve never understood. I find it so upsetting.

I admire people who spend their lives trying to help other people and animals and the world around them. I don’t have tolerance for those who try to inflict harm. Just think how much better everything would be if people spent their time thinking of ways to help, and acting on those ideas, rather than spending their time attacking and hurting each other. I wish there were more kindness being expressed. All the hate and anger sickens me.

I try to surround myself with positive, supportive people. And I try to recognize the negative, poisonous ones and get away from them as fast as possible. A friend gave some valuable advice saying it isn’t worth spending any time thinking about people who treat you in an uncaring way; just get away from them and don’t look back. I think that goes for people who treat others in an uncaring way too.

Thankfully, there are people who do care, and do spend their time doing positive, generous things. I’d rather focus on them.

Posted on May 6, 2012July 28, 2019 by Elizabeth Ruffing

Oodles of slugs and one bug

Here’s a Hug Me Slug update. I will be posting my new handmade stuffed animal banana slug toys in our Ruffing’s shop, along with new Hug Me Bugs too.

I have Hug Me slugs in bright red, burnt orange, mauve, pink with stars,

orchid, honeydew green, and two pretty, soft yellows.

Below are orders waiting for Monday’s trip to the Post Office. Some sock kittens and Hug Me Slugs found homes at the festivals they attended this weekend too. They were at Peak Fest in Apex, Meet in the Street in Wake Forest. and OutRaleigh in Raleigh. Thanks to everyone at Alley Cats and Angels for taking them along and babysitting them. I’ll borrow some photos and post them next time.

This is one of my tabby cat helpers with my fleece remnants. She’s been keeping me company while I watch movies and hand embroider eyes, and hearts, and smiles on my toys.

Bertie also likes to be helpful. She gets as close as possible to projects to make sure she is ready, if needed.

I made the girls some very easy cat toys this week. They have a favorite tattered scrap of fake fur they love to carry around, meowing, and sometimes putting it in the water bowl. I cut 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inch pieces of fake fur, rolled them, and stitched across one end. They happily accepted them.

Below is the old one with Bertie. At least half the fur is gone off of it. They still play with it anyway.

This is Phoebe waiting for her turn. Lately, Phoebe has been chasing the other cats. She thinks this is funny, but at least one older boy doesn’t care for it. I joined in, to see what would happen, and Phoebe seems to like the idea of my chasing her around the house. I make sure not to scare her, and she seems to know it is a game. It’s good to be able to interact with her, since she is too shy to be handled.

Posted on April 30, 2012July 28, 2019 by Elizabeth Ruffing

Three more festivals for this Saturday

My toys were at the Cleveland Strawberry Festival in Clayton, NC this past Saturday. Here are some pictures of the Alley Cats and Angels booth. Thanks, Ashley and Laura, for spending their whole day there, and for organizing the event, and to everyone involved.

It was very crowded and busy when we came by. I got lost, and it took me a couple of hours to get there, being unfamiliar with the area, and getting the wrong street from my Internet map. NC is fond of naming two streets in the same area, the same thing, even when they are not connected. There are two Technology Drives in Clayton. I was way off! My parents came along, and my dad patiently asked about five people for directions before we happened across a lady who had just been there. Then we walked the whole length of the festival before finding the booth on our fourth pass through. I got lucky and found a security guard who had been by the booth earlier and remembered seeing it. I was glad when I finally found it and was able to get some pictures. It would have been terrible to go home without finding it!

The rescue is going to take my toys along to this coming Saturday’s events too. They’ll have booths at three festivals, Peak Fest in Apex, Meet in the Street in Wake Forest, and Out Raleigh in Raleigh. Please come if you are in the area. They’ll all be on May 5, 2012.

In truth, I am nervous having the toys away from the house! I’m used to doing everything from home, and I fret that something will happen to them. This takes some adjusting.

Aside from finding the booth, I was glad to get some more catnip cigars. The kitties love them, as you can see. Proceeds go to help the rescue.

Here’s Phoebe enjoying her nap in the sunshine after an active morning of playing.

Today I finished some more 7-inch Hug Me Slugs. I will be posting my new handmade stuffed animal toys inour Ruffing’s shop.

I am still sewing through a pile of toys I have stuffed, but not yet detailed. I’d like to try something different soon, for variety. Doing the same task for hours can be productive, because I get used to what I’m doing, but it can get boring.

I feel encouraged when my workroom gets emptier. It feels good to get the toys finished and put away. For months, I’ve had a large number of toys all around me in there.

There is slightly more breathing room now, but still plenty more to go.

Posted on April 27, 2012July 28, 2019 by Elizabeth Ruffing — 1 Comment

The Cleveland Strawberry Festival in Clayton, NC

Some of my toys are going to the Cleveland Strawberry Festival in Clayton, NC tomorrow. This is the first time I’ve tried them out at an event. It’s their first time out of the house too 🙂 They’ll be at the Alley Cats and and Angels booth.

I put them in cello sleeves to keep them clean, and fit as many as I could into the bin I got. I made a whole lot of tags for them, not knowing how many I’d need. I had picked out almost again as many toys as are in this box.

$10 from the sale of the Alley Cat Angels, $5 from the Hug Me Sock Kittens, and $5 from the 7-inch Hug Me Slugs will go to Alley Cats and Angels of NC to help cats and kittens in need.

Please come out if you are in the area.

I made this little sign for the side of my box.

There will also be catnip toys (kickers, cigars, and pouches), cat beds, and cookies, all made by volunteers, at the rescue booth. These cigars are a big hit in our house. (I borrowed these two photos below from the rescue.) I have to get some more of those.

They made a huge number of catnip knots, and put them all in cello sleeves with tags on them. I gave them a PDF of the tags I did before, along with some cello sleeves, and they came out nice. Very cheerful.

Hope you’ll come out and have a look around.

Cleveland Strawberry Festival
Near the junction of Highway 40 & 42
I-40, Exit 312
919-773-8448