tabby-cat-art Archives - Page 28 of 29 - Ruffing’s Artist Dolls and Toys

Posted on January 11, 2008 by Elizabeth Ruffing — 1 Comment

Ginnie, Original One-of-a-kind Ginger Tabby Cat Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max Bailey

Every Saturday morning Tony the Baker takes a batch of freshly baked gingerbread kitties from the oven, and decorates them with colored frosting, currant eyes, and candy buttons. They are his specialty. He sets them on trays and proudly places them on display in the bakery window.

Tony knows that shy little Ginnie, the ginger tabby cat with the sweet face, will stop on the sidewalk to admire them. She always does.

She will look wistfully at the cookies, her head tilted slightly to one side, then sigh softly and continue on her way. Tony will gaze at Ginnie through the window, admiring her beautiful coloring, her amber eyes, and her graceful ways.

Ginnie has two loves in this world so far………the color green, and gingerbread kitties.

On this particular Saturday, Tony the Baker appears suddenly in the doorway, holding two gingerkitty masterpieces he has just made especially for Ginnie.

“I made these for you,” Tony manages to say as he holds them out to her.

“Oh, I couldn’t, Mr. Baker,” Ginnie tells him, and only she knows that she is blushing. “I have to watch my waistline.”

“There could be no harm in a little nibble now and then,” answers Tony. “Here is one for you, and one to give to a friend.”

Ginnie thinks how pleased her friend will be when she gives her the gingerkitty with the green shirt. She takes it and puts it in her pocket, for she is generous of heart. She extends her paw for the other.

“Thank you kindly, Mr. Baker,” she tells him, and holding her gingerkitty somewhat near her heart, Ginnie continues down the sidewalk, glancing back at Tony the Baker only once, or maybe twice.

Ginnie now has three loves in this world so far.

Ginnie’s dress is her favorite color green, with a darker green sash that ties in the back in a very pretty bow, and a stripe of darker green across the pocket and around the hem. Antique white ruffles set off the dress at the neckline and at the bottom of the sleeves. Below her dress, you can see her many petticoats, one white, then each a different shade of green.

I hand sculpted Ginnie (and her cookies) from paperclay, and used stiffened cotton thread for her long graceful whiskers. She is an original one-of-a-kind work of art, meant for display only. No molds are ever used in my work.

Ginnie is completely hand painted with acrylic paints, then signed and dated and sealed with matte varnish for protection and preservation. She rests firmly on a turned wooden base that is stained and sealed in golden oak, and she stands 9 1/2 inches tall.

Update: Ginnie has already been adopted. Thank you!

Ginnie’s friends are Belinda and BoBo (above right).

Posted on January 9, 2008 by Elizabeth Ruffing

Belinda and BoBo, Original One-of-a-kind Folk Art Tabby Cat and Kitten Doll Figurine by Max Bailey

Every morning, Belinda bundles up her little baby boy, and takes him for a walk through the neighborhood. With the greatest pride, she shows him to her neighbors. She politely, and with much sincerity, asks for their opinions.

“Is he not the most beautiful baby you have ever seen? Is he not more beautiful than the moon and all the stars in the heavens?” Belinda asks.

“Surely he is,” they reply, and they nod and smile in agreement.

“Does he not have the brightest little eyes and the cutest little whiskers?” she asks.

”Oh yes indeed, Belinda,” they reply.

“Does he not have the prettiest little pink nose?” she wants to know.

“Beyond any doubt at all,” they answer.

BoBo loves his morning walks. He basks in the sunshine, and in the compliments. If you look carefully, you might see his tiny smile. If you listen quietly, you might hear him purring.

Belinda is a tabby and white cat, as is her kitten BoBo. They have yellow eyes with a touch of green. Belinda’s old-fashioned dress is soft yellow with a pattern of pale blue flowers. The blue collar and cuffs with lace edging, match her blue apron, which ties in a big bow at the back. Her white petticoats swirl in a pattern beneath the bottom of her skirt.

BoBo is tucked into a sage green blanket decorated with the moon and stars. Only his head and one little white paw are showing.

I hand sculpted Belinda and BoBo from paperclay, and used stiffened cotton thread for their whiskers. They are original one-of-a-kind works of art, meant for display only. No molds are ever used in my work. They are completely hand painted with acrylic paints, then signed and dated with matte varnish for protection and preservation.

Belinda rests firmly on a turned wooden base, with a rustic wood grain, which has been sealed in golden oak. She stands 9 1/2 inches tall.

Update: Belinda and BoBo have already been adopted. Thank you!

Bobo’s older sibling, Crybaby (above left) has also been adopted.

Posted on November 28, 2007June 1, 2011 by Elizabeth Ruffing — 1 Comment

Crybaby, Original One-of-a-kind Tabby Kitten Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max Bailey

She used to have another name, but nobody remembers it anymore. Everybody calls her “Crybaby”.

She cries when she’s too hot. She cries when she’s too cold. She cries when her mother leaves the room, and she cries when her mother comes back.

She cries when her bowl is empty, and sometimes she cries when it’s full.

No one ever asks “Where’s Crybaby?” They know where she is.

There’s just no stopping her. Poor Crybaby!

Crybaby’s little tabby cat self is painted in a multitude of tabby colors…silver gray, buff, ivory, and gold, with lots of black stripes on her head and tail. Her eyes are blue-green with a touch of yellow. The top of her nose is wrinkled and she has her mouth wide open so you can see her little tongue. Her white whiskers (made from stiffened cotton thread) stand out from her face as she wails away.

Crybaby holds an empty yellow-green bowl. She wears a pink polka dot pinafore that is tied in a big bow at the back. Her blue blouse has a white collar, white cuffs, and little gold buttons, and her vibrant rose and blue petticoats can be seen below her dress. Crybaby rests firmly on a turned wooden base that is stained and sealed in golden oak.

I hand sculpted Crybaby from paperclay, and she is an original one-of-a-kind work of art. No molds are ever used in my work. She is hand painted using acrylic paints, and is signed, dated, and sealed with matte varnish for protection and preservation.

Crybaby is 8 inches tall. She is a work of art and is meant for display only.

Update: Crybaby has already been adopted. Thank you!

Posted on November 12, 2007June 1, 2011 by Elizabeth Ruffing

Frannie, Original One-of-a-kind Tabby Cat with a Balloon Folk Art Doll Figurine by Max Bailey

“What if I let go of my beautiful red balloon?” thought Frannie, the pretty little tabby cat. “The wind will take it up into the blue sky where it will soar above the puffy white clouds. The birds will be amazed at what a wonderful thing it is. People will see it and say, ‘Isn’t that Frannie’s beautiful red balloon?’ ”

“Maybe it will glide over the hill, and when the wind dies down, maybe it will land in a tree in my friend Jessie’s back yard. Maybe Jessie will climb up the tree and get it, and show it to her mother, and her mother will say, ‘Oh Jessie, that balloon looks just right with your pretty dress.’ ”

“No,” thought Frannie, “I think I will hold on tight to my beautiful red balloon.”

Frannie’s fur is painted in a multitude of tabby colors….silver gray, buff, ivory, and gold, with black stripes. She has yellow eyes with a touch of green, a pink nose, and pretty white whiskers made from stiffened cotton thread.

Frannie’s old fashioned dress is soft gold, with little white daisies in a field of red polka dots. Her dress is set off by a red apron with a white scalloped edge tied in a big bow at the back. Her striped kitty tail emerges from the ruffled white petticoats that can be seen below her dress.

I hand sculpted Frannie and her balloon from paperclay. There is a little hole through her paw where the wire ‘string’ of the balloon can be inserted or removed. Her skirt swirls behind her as though a gentle wind is blowing. She stands firmly on a turned wooden base that is stained and sealed in golden oak.

Frannie is 9 1/2 inches tall, and 13 inches tall when holding her balloon.

Frannie is an original one-of-a-kind work of art, meant for display only. No molds are ever used in my work. She is hand painting using acrylic paints, and is signed, dated, and sealed with matte varnish for protection and preservation.

Update: Frannie has already been adopted. Thank you!

Frannie’s friends are Crybaby (below left) and Millicent (below right).