stuffed-toys Archives - Page 22 of 26 - Ruffing’s

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.

Posted on October 14, 2011July 30, 2019 by Elizabeth Ruffing

Big slugs and little slugs, Hug Me Slug handmade stuffed animal toys

I finished four 12-inch Hug Me Slugs and four 9-inch Hug Me Slugs, and got them photographed. I will be posting my new handmade stuffed animal toys in our Ruffing’s shop. These are all made of fuzzy fleece.

The soft rainbow blend below is unusual. I got it a long time ago. I don’t have a lot of it, but it is very pretty. I may see if I can purchase more, or something similar, online.

I am going to try to get as many ready-made toys as I can together before the holidays. I am usually swamped with requests for custom toys at that time, and I can never keep up. Most people wait, and ask all at once. So, I am hoping to have more toys that are ready to go. I will likely cut back on the number of custom colors I offer, just so I can keep track of what I have, and offer more of a variety of ready-mades instead.

I’ve tried to imagine the holidays have been here all year round, to keep myself going. I know I am never ready when they arrive! I am considering putting up the Christmas lights now, for inspiration 🙂 I’ve even made a couple of ornaments, but forgot to photograph them today, with the Hug Me Slugs, and the art dolls.

Posted on October 6, 2011July 30, 2019 by Elizabeth Ruffing

Twins and triplets

I just finished a red polka-dotted Hug Me Toad for my number one toad collector. I made “Davey”, on the left, a toad sibling, on the right, for good measure. I will be posting my new handmade stuffed animal toys in our Ruffing’s shop.

I had to sew these toad triplets by hand because the pattern on the socks was so complicated that was the only way I could line up the stripes and flowers.

I like stripes, and often pick up socks with striped patterns, even though I know I will need to sew them by hand. My toys take a lot longer to make than people probably imagine! I use a lot of hand sewing and hand embroidering. I’ve realized that things take as long as they take to make. Rushing never works for me.

I also finished two new pink fleece Hug Me Slugs, a medium pink, and

a deep watermelon pink.

I’m tempted to call these two twins as well, but they are more likely part of quadruplets or even sextuplets. Phoebe, on the left, and below, is still withdrawn, but she is starting to run away less. Bertie is making great strides. Even though she is still skittish, she comes up to us for pets and snacks. We were able to get her to the vet to get checked out, and she is negative for leukemia and FIV, which is great.

We’ve been giving them some medicine for the past week to clear up a little bacteria that was causing minor digestive tract issues, and they are doing well. We’re hoping Phoebe will come around in the next couple of weeks and let us pet her too. Then they can both go in for vaccines. Once they have they vet work done, they will enjoy playing with the other cats in the house.

We have a lot of cat dolls to photograph. Please see Max Bailey’s new original, one-of-a-kind gray-and-white cat doll, Ida, here (right). We just posted her story today. Her friend, Lucinda the black cat is here (left).