The Art of Elizabeth Ruffing

Two tutus...ta da

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Ruffing) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:58:00 +0000

These are Opal (above) and Celeste (below), our two new Pixie Kitten original art dolls. They are a collaborative project, made by myself and Max Bailey. We've taken some very pretty photos of Opal with a bouquet of lavender chrysanthemums. Once I've edited the photos, we'll put together a web page for Opal.

We'll make a run to pick up some cut flowers for Celeste as well. There were flurries here this morning, but we're making an effort to at least create the illusion of spring.

I'll keep you updated on our blog migrations. I've been looking into re-uploading them at their same addresses. I'm going to have to devote a lot of time over the next two months to our web sites, but I'll try to keep posting our new dolls. I'm not too pleased right now with Blogger and their blog migration plans, but I'm trying to look at this as an opportunity to switch things around in a way that may, ultimately, be easier to manage. I prefer having our web content in our own FTP folder, as opposed to hosting it on Blogger, and so I'm working on switching to Wordpress as a blogging platform. I feel a bit like I'm cramming for exams, given the short notice of Blogger/Google shutting down their FTP uploading option.

I'll feel better about it all once I get a handle on what I'm doing. I'll keep you posted. As I keep saying, if anything disappears temporarily, please check either of our home pages, ruffings.com or elizabethruffing.com or our Ruffing's Facebook page, for updates.

Two tutus to do

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Ruffing) — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 15:40:00 +0000

This is just a sneak peek at one of the Pixie Kittens that Max Bailey and I made. Two of them have been waiting for tutus for a long time. I had been waiting for my other sewing machine to be repaired, but now I'm forging ahead without it.

This tutu is for fitting only, but the final one will be in the same color.

I've been working on the Ruffing's site, trying to make some necessary changes so I can switch our hosting accounts over to Linux. I'm looking into using Wordpress instead of Blogger, but it has some features that appear to work better, or that are at least easier to implement, on Linux. Again, if you're on Facebook, please join the Ruffing's fan page. I will use that as a place to post an announcement, if I run into any problems over the next two and a half months, while I attempt to get everything moved. I'll also post any announcements on our home pages of each of our sites, but just in case those pages are down, I'll use the Facebook page as a backup plan.

My neck and shoulders are so sore and prickly from working at the computer! Ah well. Hopefully we'll be getting a new computer soon too, as this one is groaning away. Lots to do...

Our second snow of the winter

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Ruffing) — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 16:33:00 +0000

We had a beautiful snow last night. In the dark, the solar lamps looked like pinwheels of light on the white, and the trees were collecting little clumps of snow on every branch, no matter how small. Our kitty went out to watch the snow fall in the light from the front porch. He looked up at it for a while, and then decided to come back in the house. He's just not an outdoorsman anymore.

Again, we had one track of kitty prints going down the front steps, and one track coming back. That's it. Today he's commandeered my workroom chair and is engaging in some intensive napping. I added one track of human prints down and back too, so I could take some photos. I will probably add some more later, so I can go for a walk in the snow.

More amazing than having a second snow this winter, my mom claims to have seen a plow this time! She also claims to have never seen one here before. We went to get some food last night, and even the cashier knew about our ice-covered hill from a couple of weeks ago. "Is that the only way out of there?" Yes. "Well, you wouldn't want to go down that and end up in the lake." No.

So, this is a nice snow.

I'm waiting for a book on using Wordpress for your website. I'm still considering the options I have for our two blogs. Whatever I end up doing, the announcement will be on the home page of both elizabethruffing.com and ruffings.com. I have to at least start new blogs at addresses other than the current addresses because of Blogger discontinuing the option to upload your files to your FTP folder. In fact, I may even move the blogs to the home pages of our two sites. I now have until May 1st, but I'm hoping to resolve the issue before then. I'm not sure the fix Blogger is offering will work with our setup, and I'm not sure I want to use their fix. I have to look into it some more, and I'm still waiting for them to come out with their migration tool. If anything goes really wonky in the meantime, please check our home pages or the Ruffing's Facebook page for an update. Hopefully, everything will go at least somewhat smoothly.

Valentino is someone's Valentine

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Ruffing) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:26:00 +0000

Today is "Valentino the Hug Me! Slug's" big day. He's been waiting to hear who his new adoptive parent(s) will be.

He's been talking about it to all his friends. As you can see, he's developed quite a following around here, lots of admirers.

Well, here's the big news...........Sam A. is our big winner. I will get in touch with you (so glad I figured out who you were!) to get a shipping address. Thank you so much to everyone who entered and left such lovely comments!

Valentino still has slug friends who are looking for homes over in my Etsy shop. I've added some special "I (heart) you" tags as an additional option to naming your own slug.

I hope you all have a terrific Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day Slugs and Toad Tags

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Ruffing) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 23:50:00 +0000

I finally got my drawing done for my "Hug Me! Toad" hang tag. I don't know what took me so long. I must have been making slugs like crazy. I'd like to grab some time to make some more toads and sock hippos especially, some sock zebras too.

I'm still playing with slug sizes. These are the newer "small" slugs, about 8 inches tall, next to the "large" I've been making all along. As I was saying before, I'm aiming for two sizes, instead of having a "medium". I'll try making the large a little smaller soon.

I made a batch of Valentine's Day "Hug Me! Slugs" too and put them up in my Etsy shop. They are in my original small size, about 7 1/4 inches tall, and they're made of cuddly fleece.

I think this magenta pink one is my favorite. I love his (her?) whimsical expression.

But then, it's hard to pick a favorite. I enjoy discovering how they each seem to have a personality once I'm done sewing and photographing them.

They're an amusing bunch.

There is still time to enter for a chance to win "Valentino the Hug Me! Slug". I'll be announcing the winner tomorrow on my blog.

Speaking of my blog, Blogger.com is making some changes in mid-March. They are discontinuing the ability to upload your blog to your FTP folder. That doesn't effect most people who use Blogger, from what they say, but it does effect us unfortunately. They are promising a "migration tool" but it won't be ready for another couple of weeks. So, I can't say for certain yet where our new blog addresses will be, but they will change soon. I plan to post announcements on the blogs. If anything should go wrong with that, and hopefully it won't, please check the home pages of our websites, ruffings.com and elizabethruffing.com, or our Ruffing's Facebook page for the announcement. If you're on Facebook, please "become our fan" on the Ruffing's page.

Most likely, the new blog addresses will be blog.ruffings.com and blog.elizabethruffing.com. I haven't published anything to those addresses, as of today, though. I'll post more information about that when I have some.

Mostly, I've just been sewing and sewing and sewing, while watching so many movies that I can't even remember what movies I've watched.

Good night. I will talk to you tomorrow when I post "Valentino's" adoptive parent's name on my blog :)

My 300th post, 3 year blog anniversary, Valentine's Day giveaway extravaganza

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Ruffing) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:21:00 +0000

In honor of my 300th post and my 3 year blogging anniversary, not to mention Valentine's Day...I am having a giveaway! The handsome, debonair, and very red prize will be Mr Valentino, the Hug Me! Slug! Thanks, Miko, for the idea!

Update: Thank you all so much for the great comments and compliments! And thanks very much for entering, and for reading my blog too! Sam A. has won the draw for "Valentino". Congratulations, Sam! I have some more Valentine's Day "Hug Me! Slugs" over in my Etsy shop as well. Please click here for the "official" announcement.

"Valentino the Hug Me! Slug" is an original, one-of-a-kind art toy, designed and made by me. He's about 7 1/4 inches tall, and he's made of soft, fuzzy fleece. His "Son of the Sheik"-inspired headdress is made of 100% cotton striped fabric.

His arresting eyes are hand sewn on using a blanket stitch. He has a purple heart because he is also very brave, in keeping with his romantic-hero personality.

He is, of course, also mysterious, irresistible, and cuddly.

I'm curious to know who you are, and so to enter to win "Valentino the Hug Me! Slug", please leave a comment here, between February 1 and 7, 2010, saying hello and whatever you might like to say by way of introduction. Please include your name so I can put your name in a hat, and a link, if you have one, where I can find you (your web site, your Etsy/eBay page, blog, Facebook page, whatever you'd like). Otherwise, you can separately send me an email address where I can reach you if you win. I'll be accepting entries up until a week before Valentine's Day, February 7th, to allow for shipping time. Please check back here on February 8th, when I'll announce the winner.

If your comment doesn't show up right away, don't worry...I have comment moderation in effect. As long as you leave a comment (click "comments" or "post a comment" at the end of this post to get there, type your message in the "leave your comment" box, and click "publish your comment", for anyone who might not have used that before), and it is in my mailbox when I get up in the morning on February 8th, I'll include your name in the draw. One winner will be chosen from a random draw. Thanks for visiting my blog, and happy posting!

Snow day

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Ruffing) — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 22:14:00 +0000

When the sun came up this morning, the snow really did look pretty. I wasn't sure what to expect, since it had been sleeting. We even had some frost on the front door.

Snow is looking unfamiliar to our kitties, I think.

One brave kitty soul took a quick run down the steps and back.

No one has plowed here, not even the highway. So, it may be midweek, when the temperature might rise above freezing, before I get to the Post Office to mail any orders. I'm sure the hill to the main road is slick right now.

That should keep me focused on my projects for a couple of days at least. One of those projects is a surprise. My next blog post will be my 300th post. Well, actually this is my 300th post, if we count the one that said "Just testing" that I deleted :) It will also be my 3rd year blog anniversary! That sounds lucky to me. So, I'm going to try something I've been thinking about for a while, a little blog giveaway. It's going to be Valentine's Day themed, and I think I'll run it until a week before Valentine's Day, February 7th, to allow for shipping time. I'm curious to know who you are, and so to enter, I'll be asking you to leave a comment saying hello and whatever you might like to say by way of introduction. I'll ask you to leave your first name so I can put your name in a hat, and if you want to, a link where I can find you (your web site, Facebook page, whatever you'd like). Otherwise, you can check back on the 8th. I'll have more information about the prize in my next post.

Cuteness

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Ruffing) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 22:00:00 +0000

I just wanted to share this adorable little boy and the "Hug Me! Slug" he got for Christmas. What a smile! His "Hug Me! Slug" had a "disappearance", and I am right now helping him have a reappearance. I tried to make "Marigold II" look as close as I could to "Marigold I" :)

Harry Potter and the Temple of Hug Me! Slugs

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Ruffing) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 21:25:00 +0000

Before I forget...I set up a brand new fan page for Ruffing's over on Facebook. I'm posting photos of art from each of us, and my videos, and anything new that comes up. Please "become a fan" if you are over that way. To those of you who already became a fan, thanks very much!

We are getting some snow and sleet here, the only snow we've had so far this year. I hurried to get a couple of "Hug Me! Slug" orders out ahead of the storm, just in case we got snowed in. There isn't much snow, but I don't know how the ice will be.

You might notice I am playing with my slug sizes. Super Slug is a little bigger than the other small-sized slugs. I'm still experimenting. I'd like to just have a small and large size, instead of having a medium in between. I might even leave the Super Slug a bit larger than the other slugs. He is super, after all.

I made his cape fuller too. It's easier to do more with his cape when he's bigger like this.

He came out about 8 1/2 to 8 3/4 inches tall, instead of the 7 1/4 inches of the small slugs. I might make them closer to 8 inches tall. I'm fiddling.

I also changed my web site photo. I asked my mom to take some new photos of me. I was going for more casual, a little more nerdy.

I find this one amusing, and the next really sad.

But I do think my eyes look really cool in that one, even if I look forlorn. Click on it and you'll see what I mean. Kind of cat like, with the light center and the dark rim. It's interesting how whatever you stand in front of brings out different aspects of your appearance.

These are one of three or four cheapo reading glasses I use. I have different strengths, depending on the focal length I need.

People have been having fun on Facebook talking about my photos. So far, I've been compared to Princess Diana....

and Harry Potter! Haha!

Husqvarna Viking sewing machine repair problems, the ongoing saga

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Ruffing) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 16:15:00 +0000

As I said in my last post about my Viking sewing machine repair ridiculousness, I was wishing to have my machine back after more than two months of waiting for parts. At first, I meant I was hoping to get it back repaired, and then I lowered my expectations and hoped to get it back as it was when I brought it to the repair shop. Well...

Before I even touch on how tired I am of this entire process, or how frustrated I am with the Viking business as a whole, I think I'll just voice my suggestions for Husqvarna Viking that might help avoid all the problems I've had:

1) Sell the sewing machines directly from the Viking company. Post them on the Husqvarna Viking web site with set prices that everyone can see. Allow customers to purchase them online, directly from the Viking web site, or allow them to purchase sewing machines through dealers who take their orders, send them to the company, and have the machines sent directly to the customers from the company. That way, dealers can still get a commission, and there is no intrigue as to whether or not a warranty is valid or a dealer is "authorized". There is no wondering if a machine has been tampered with or refurbished. There is no room for price gouging. It's a cut-and-dried transaction. Staples does it. You can go in to Staples, look at a desk, have someone there order it for you, and it comes to your house. Easy.

2) Post the complete warranty conditions on the Viking web site. No making it up as you go along.

3) Allow customers to have the option to send machines in for repair, directly to the company, where they have people specifically trained to work on their machines. Post set prices for cleaning, repair, and servicing directly on the Viking web site, with instructions on how to send your machine to them. Again, there is no room for price gouging, and there is no burden on the customer to ascertain if their local repair person/Viking dealer is honest or qualified to repair their machine. Allow customers to go to dealers for repair if they choose, but have the option available to them to mail their machines directly to the company, if they choose.

I think that would solve a lot of the problems with this company that I have been through so far. At any rate, I've got my Platinum 775 back, and it's in worse shape since the trip to the authorized Viking dealer's repair shop. I was afraid this would be the case, but I didn't want to say that in my last post, out of hope that it wouldn't be true. I have no choice now, but to report this to the original seller who agreed to fix my machine. He has his own warranty on the machine, for defective parts. I think the parts should have been covered, but now the waters have been muddied. I'm hoping he will still replace them.

I had a choice of of going to one of two authorized dealers that were within a reasonable driving distance from me. The other was one that I had misgivings about before, when I tried to buy my machine. At the time, she had a half-off sale on all her discontinued models, and I asked to try one. Then I noticed another, the same model I have now, that hadn't been marked with a price. She told me she had completely forgotten about that one, since no one ever looked at it, and everyone who came in wanted the newer models instead. It was an older, discontinued, used floor model, but once she saw I was interested in it, she refused to sell it to me for half off. She decided to stick close to he price point of the other fancier model, that came new in the box, that I had looked at, assuming, I guess, that that was how much she could get me to spend. That really turned me off. I liked that model though, and after calling the other local dealer to find out they didn't have it, I found it online instead, brand new. Really liked the sewing machine. No problems until now.

So, I went to the only other local authorized dealer for repair. As I said before, the price for repair more than doubled, without anyone notifying me, over the course of the two plus months I waited to get it back. I left out of my last post that in between the repair man telling me were were already "up to $700" and his agreeing not to charge me, there was a lot of negotiating, which my dad stepped in to help with. I felt like I was being taken advantage of.

The NC dealer I went to also told me he thought the machine had been worked on before, that it had major damage, and that "whatever gremlins got in there must have had a party." It's all been very confusing and upsetting. I personally don't believe in gremlins, and even if I did, I can't imagine how they'd get inside the machine without an authorized dealer to open it up. I used my eBay-bought copy of the service manual to get into service mode to check the clock on how much use the machine had had, in case it really was a well-disguised used machine. There have been only 33 hours and 12 minutes that it's been on at all, and only 11 hours and 55 minutes that it's actually sewed. I did most of my sewing on my other machine, and saved this one for detailing. I also unplugged it between use, and kept it on a surge protector. There have been a lot of insinuations by the Viking company and their dealer, about my machine and the person who sold it to me, but I don't know who to believe. Right now, I'm wishing I had just sent it to the original seller to fix in the first place. It hasn't been repaired, and no one I've dealt with so far has behaved in a businesslike manner.

This has all been much more complicated than necessary and I still have no idea how this is going to go. Contrary to what Viking has been pushing at me, I don't wish that I had bought my machine from one of the local dealers. I feel like I would have just paid more for the machine and received the same poor service I've gotten so far. Viking used to be a good company, from what I've heard, and although I really liked my machine while it was still working, I'm very disgusted with the company.

I hope to be able to just get back to my sewing, on my older Sarah, my other Viking sewing machine, without having to think about this nonsense every day. It's been very distracting and disheartening, not just for myself but for my family. Since we work together, there have been projects piling up that haven't been gotten to because of this.

My Husqvarna Viking sewing machine repair problems continue

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Ruffing) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:11:00 +0000

I wish this were a photo of my Viking Platinum sewing machine home from repair, all ready to go back to work, but it's not. These are photos of my new sewing machine when it first arrived here. In reality, it is still sitting in the repair shop, where it has been for over two months. Unfortunately, it looks like it will be MIA for an indefinite period of time.

Everything in regard to repairing it has been ridiculous so far. As I mentioned before, there was a problem with the feed dogs. I turned the machine on to work one day, selected a stitch as usual, and the machine just began sewing backwards, with the machine feeding the fabric in reverse. Nothing unusual happened at the time. I had really just started my day. I don't think I even had anything else turned on yet, and the machine was on a surge protector. I wouldn't have had the iron on, since I hadn't as yet sewed anything to iron. No lights dimmed, no circuits popped, nothing strange happened. I brought it to the local Viking dealer to see if he could fix it, and he thought, at first, the feed dogs had been accidentally popped out of place when I got some fabric caught in the throat plate.

Later he told me that he thought the entire electrical panel needed to be replaced, along with the buttons, to the tune of maybe $250-300. I had the option to send it back to the dealer who sold it to me, but it seemed safer to just let this dealer fix it, rather than mail it across the country. I contacted the Viking company about transferring my warranty, which would have covered parts in question, to the new dealer, but they said they would not honor it since I bought the machine over the Internet. They told me their dealers aren't allowed to sell machines over the Internet, and they implied that, for all they knew, it was stolen. They told me they only honored warranties on machines bought from authorized dealers.

I gave them the serial number, which is right on the mailing label with their distribution center's address on it, along with a bar code that they must have scanned at some point, so they could trace it to the dealer address which was also on the box. I had managed to successfully register my warranty on the Viking web site, using my serial number, and I received an email confirmation of my warranty registration. So, I thought, the serial number must have already been in their computer system. I asked them how anyone could sell hundreds of their machines, for years, without any authorization from them, and without their knowing who the dealer was, or without them reporting machines that were possibly missing. Where else could he possibly be getting so many machines, but from them? I got no answer to my questions, just an apathetic response repeating that they wouldn't honor their warranty.

Apparently, the dealer here who was ordering parts for my machine asked them some similar questions, and was told that the person who sold me the machine was in fact a Viking dealer...he just isn't anymore. So, because of that they couldn't honor the company warranty, supposedly because they don't know what might have happened to the machine between the time they sold it to him and he sold it to me, as if that is something they could tell about any machine. The label on the box says it was sent from their factory to their distribution center in 2007, before going to the dealer, and I bought it from the dealer in 2008, new and sealed in the box. That seems like a normal turn-around time to me, not really enough time for it to have been used, abused, reconditioned, and repackaged from the factory without any note about it being refurbished anywhere on the box. It was working perfectly when I got it, and it seemed brand new to me. Plus, the dealer I got my machine from is still selling them, along other models that came out after mine. If he was no longer a dealer at the time I got my machine, how did he get machines that came out after mine?

Anyway, it seemed obvious that no matter what, the Viking warranty was useless. They told me my only option was to send the machine to the original dealer for repair, since he had his own warranty on it. I decided to just wait for the parts, and get my machine back. Over two months, I called and called, but no parts arrived from the Viking company. Finally, when I went in to look for a new presser foot, I was told my parts had just come in, but the dealer was too sick to fix my machine. After a couple of weeks, and some more calls, he told me it had turned out that the new parts didn't do the trick, there was still something wrong with the feed, and that he would probably need to send my machine to Tennessee for them to figure it out. I asked how much all of this would cost, and he told me we were "already at $700." I asked him if he could take those parts and send them back to the company, and he said he would. He's not going to charge me anything, thank goodness, and now I don't have to pass out cold on the floor.

So, right now, I'm out a couple of months time. Plus, I've had so much frustration with the Viking company itself. I've never heard of such nonsense over warranties and repairing a machine. Why don't they just have a place you can mail the more complicated electronic and computerized machines to for repair yourself? And all this warranty intrigue...what's that? If the company has a conflict with a dealer, that shouldn't be my problem. The warranty should be on the machine, and not dependent upon how they feel about the middleman involved. How can I know who is following their rules and who isn't when I buy a machine? How can I even know what their rules are? There is nothing in the language of the warranty about the Internet either. It's not like it's illegal, or even uncommon, to sell merchandise on the Internet, although their email to me made it sound like I should expect underhanded dealings if I dare to buy something there.

You find out that you are completely dependent on the dealer from whom you purchased your machine, and their own warranty on it, which makes purchasing a machine about ascertaining if someone is personally a good egg or not. Even so, if that person retires, I'm not sure what the Viking company says about your warranty, since they seemed to have said that if someone is no longer a dealer at the time you purchase your machine, the warranty is no good. And how can any potential customer know this about anyone? The idea is, supposedly, that you can transfer your Viking warranty to a dealer closer to you, if you live more than 50 miles from the original dealer, but that didn't work for me, obviously.

I feel like I've fallen into some kind of sewing machine soap opera. I wish it were over now, but I have to start from scratch. This time I'm just sending it to the original dealer, and I'm going to hope that he is honorable about his own warranty, and that he knows how to fix my machine. I have the service manual myself, but they make their machines so they can only be opened with tools they sell to their dealers. The electrical aspect is well beyond my scope at any rate.

I don't know what people who sew are supposed to do anymore. Viking, Pfaff, and Singer were all bought up by the same company. It was so important to me to get my machine before they began their production in China, but it seems like even though I like my machine a lot, the customer service of the company just doesn't measure up if you have a problem. Two months to send parts to their dealer? We've been talking about getting a Kenmore as a stand-in, but there are so many complaints about Sears' customer service now as well. They've been bought up by Kmart. It just seems like every company gets bought up by someone bigger, and their products begin to be made more cheaply, and their customer service becomes more detached. And even when your dealer tries to do right by you, he or she still needs to get parts from the company. The dealers must suffer because of these things too. So, who knows how long it will be before I see my machine sewing forward again, if I do. Fingers crossed.

Retro Thursday

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Ruffing) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 02:26:00 +0000

I had a bad headache today, and so I scanned some old photos to take my mind off of it, and off my frustration over the long delay in my sewing machine being repaired. This is me in the 12th grade. This photo was one of several proofs I still had from the photographer. Each one had a different expression, ranging from peaceful and dreamy-eyed to very annoyed. I think I was trying hard to be patient while posing for my senior photo. As I recall, that black thing they insisted all the girls wear was drafty and way too small for a self-conscious teenager. Somehow I managed to look composed anyway. Hm, this might be a theme here, me trying to be patient and maintain my composure. I'm going to be very happy once I don't have a headache and I have my machine back in working (knock on wood) order.

A nice surprise for today, one of the sluggies I put up just yesterday jumped right into an Etsy treasury. Thanks, Aimee, for including her! This is Aimee's very first treasury, and so that's extra nice of her.

Meanderings

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Ruffing) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 23:44:00 +0000

Before I forget to mention it, I finally figured out how to add one of those "Follow my blog" boxes over on the sidebars of each of our blogs, if anyone is interested in joining in. There's one over on the Ruffing's blog too. Everyone who uses Blogger seems to have one, and if you host on Blogger, it's easy to add one by going to your settings. I just don't happen to have our blogs hosted on Blogger, which made it a little trickier. The "Follow" boxes allow you to easily add blogs to your reader list in Google or in Blogger, so you can check all the updates on your favorites in one place.

I just finished up a small batch of "Hug Me! Slugs" and sent two along their way, off to their new homes. Two others are up for adoption in my Etsy shop,

including this soft orange one, and the turquoise-blue one below. I'm letting their new slug parents name them this time around. I still don't know which people prefer, naming them themselves, or having me name them. I've been asked to name a slug here and there, and that's okay with me too.

As I mentioned in my last post, I've been trying out some ideas for children's stories, something I used to work at much more, when I had just gotten out of college. I put that on hold for a long time, but I've been exploring the idea again. I had thought that once I had children of my own, I would be better able to relate, but since I don't, I've decided it's just time for me to regress ;) I'm trying to find my way.

I hit a bonanza of children's books at the local used book store, after Christmas. People must have dropped off books of which they already had copies. I found quite a few that are very charming. I wanted to see what other people were creating, and I do pick up ideas that don't always occur to me when I write, like adding dialogue and action! I tend to do a lot of describing when I write, and so it is good for me to be reminded to take off in different directions like that sometimes.

I'm also very much enjoying reading The Gormenghast Novels by Mervyn Peake right now. I just finished the first one, Titus Groan. There was a wonderful miniseries, also called Gormenghast, based on the books on PBS years ago. They are surreal, imaginative fantasy-type novels, but not the kind with magic in them. They are wonderfully odd.

While reading the Gormenghast trilogy, I started thinking of another fantasy novel I read a couple of years ago, Stardust. It had been a Valentine's Day gift that was, well, ungifted. You know how sometimes people get you a gift that is really for themselves? Well, I decided to just get my own copy on eBay. It's not new like "my" other one, but I'm pretty sure I get to keep it. It's also illustrated, kind of like a children's book, but it's more for adults.

And, I have two new friends. These are my new hamster and my new owl. They're watching over my pile of fleece that I use to make hearts and eyes for my own creatures. I think the hamster loves me. That's what he says anyway.

I have a few new fabrics on my table waiting to be prewashed too. My sewing machine is still...can you believe it?...in the repair shop. It took the Husqvarna Viking company two months just to send the part that needed to be replaced, and now the man who repairs the machines is sick. This isn't making me happy with the Viking company at all. I've written to them about that, and about some problems with my warranty, which they aren't honoring since I bought my machine over the Internet, even though there's nothing about that in the language of the warranty. I've had some questions for them about Internet sales, and where sellers are getting their supply of machines to sell, if they aren't sanctioned by the company. I've gotten nothing but a very apathetic response from them, which is giving me a bad impression of them.

It's just so sad, depressing really, that companies don't seem to try to do right by consumers anymore, or to protect them. We've been talking about getting another sewing machine, for backup, but it's so hard to decide what brand to even go with anymore. You pay more for the "top of the line" machine brands, and then, when they don't really give you better service than you'd get anywhere else, you just feel like everyone is trying to take advantage of you.

I guess you just try to do the right thing yourself, and the best you can do. I know it's not enough for me to not do my best with anything that I make or sell, and I know it's important to me that people who receive things I've made are happy with them. I just wish we could all feel like we're being treated fairly, and with respect, in every interaction we have with other people, business or personal. I get very discouraged sometimes about things like this. I'm so glad I have the opportunity to work on my own, and have as much control as possible over what I do.

Our hearts go out to the people of Haiti right now too, and to their families wherever they may be.

Goodbye to a(nother) decade

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Ruffing) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:30:00 +0000

I'm still getting some orders out that were placed just before Christmas, and I'm recuperating from my mad dash before Christmas to get them all out on time. Already New Year's is approaching, and it's a big one this time around, the turning of a decade. At first I was reflecting on this past year, but when I tried to take in the whole decade, I realized a lot really has happened for me personally.

I moved from a place I'd lived all my life to a place I'd never even seen before, leaving some good friends behind, for a place where I knew no one. I moved from the country to the city, and back to the country again.

I hoped to "find someone" and maybe start a family. I met and dated a few people I wish I'd never met, yet alone dated. Yikes.

I watched ten more birthdays go by, and managed not to freak out about most of them.

I learned how to use a computer, and got one for the first time. I learned about digital photography and printing, and made my first art prints. I learned about web design, and launched two websites. I read lots and lots about having an online business, and started one.

I got a more fuel-efficient car, and a fancier sewing machine.

I painted a few paintings, and made a lot of toys.

I hope that I learned a few things, like to when to stick up for myself, and when to refuse to settle for what I don't want, even during those times when it looks like that's all there is available to me. I hope I learned that things change, and often for the better. I hope I learned to stop trying to be nice to everybody, all the time, especially if in doing so, I end up not being nice to myself. I hope I learned when to say no, without feeling guilty about it.

I lost three kitties to illnesses, and miss them very much. I gained three kitties that people left behind. "Nature hates a cat vacuum," someone said to me. Still, I thought about Mr Laurence, when my last birthday came around. I wish he'd been here to eat a hole in the top of the cake when no one was looking, just like he always tried to do.

I got a clock for my last birthday, a kitty with a tail that wags, like I used to have as a child. I now have a clock in my workroom, something new for me too. I've got lots of ideas for things I want to try, including revisiting the idea of some illustrated stories for children. Most immediately, I'm planning to finish some art doll projects, try a couple of new toy sizes, and experiment with making some handmade books, just to see what I can do.

Most of all, as I look back on this decade, I hope that I won't ever give up on myself or what I want to do. I don't intend to. Sometimes I have some big disappointments, and quite a few small ones too. I want to keep trying, and I want to believe I can. I was just trying to finish that last sentence, but I think that's what I mean, I want to believe "I can," as opposed to "I can't." I want to believe in myself and in the presence of goodness in my life, and I want to have hope for the future. Thank you for following my journey, round-about as it may be at times. I wish you all the best on your journey as well. Happy new year to you, and all the best for the coming decade.

Merry, merry Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Ruffing) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 20:53:00 +0000

The stockings are hung by the chimney.

The presents are almost all wrapped.

We haven't any snow.

But we're ready anyway. Happy Christmas to all of you!

Mini shop update

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Ruffing) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:59:00 +0000

I'm putting up the ready-made "Hug Me! Slugs" that I just finished this afternoon. I'll be listing the ready-made slugs in my Etsy shop. Above is "Izzie".

"Carson", above, just got snatched up as I was writing this.

This is "Julie", above.

This is "Merlin".

Above is "Dustin".

And this is "Marigold", above. She's just been spoken for too.

We're planning to ship the Christmas orders tomorrow morning. Priority Mail usually takes about two to three days. The Post Office doesn't guarantee that delivery time period, but they try extra hard to make sure the Christmas packages arrive on time. Some people are opting for Express Mail, which costs quite a bit more, but I can adjust an invoice for anyone interested in that.

It's been a long, busy weekend, and tomorrow will probably be busy too. After that, I'll try to accommodate any orders that come in for ready-made toys, but the custom-made ones will take about a two-week wait. I'm in need of a rest! Hope you are all enjoying the holiday season!

I think I'm having a slug-themed birthday party tomorrow

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Ruffing) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:52:00 +0000

Although that wasn't my intention! I've been very busy.

These are Monday and Wednesday's slugs. They're on their way to their new homes, or many have probably already arrived.

I'm going to mail at least two more tomorrow, but I'd been hoping to get more done by then. There is a rumor that we may have snow, and so I will be amending my plans to make sure I mail the slugs I promised to send on Friday, out in time.

I imagine many of the folks who buy and sell on Etsy saw today's NY Times article on Etsy businesses. I read that this morning and thought I'd better take those examples to heart, and pace myself. It's been crazy lately. I'm happy for all the interest in my toys, but I also realize I don't want to end up, someday, being someone who works thirteen-hour days, like some of the people in that article. I want to make sure I am doing what I want to do, and enjoying it.

Anyway...I'm amazed I got all these done. My mom has been helping address boxes, and trimming and clipping seams, and turning slugs right side out for me. Thanks, mom!

I hope all these little guys and girls will be a big hit for the holidays. I like to think about them being unwrapped and making someone smile or laugh.

I have a few fleece slugs almost done, in royal blue, gold, orange, light turquoise, cream (with blue eyes), and denim-colored blue. I don't think I'll get a chance to get them up and photographed this weekend, as I had planned though. I think there are only three finished slugs left in my Etsy shop, for now, as I'm writing this.

I just put this fuchsia-pink slug up this morning. I named her Holly. I can't figure out if people would prefer to name their own ready-made slug, or if I should just leave that as an option for the custom-made slugs.

Okay, just checking in, and now I've got to get back to work! Hope you are enjoying the holiday season!

The holiday parade of slugs marches on

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Ruffing) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 15:45:00 +0000

These are some of the "Hug Me! Slugs" that went out on Thursday and Friday this week. That's "Laylee" above, in medium pink. I'm busy at work on quite a few more.

My goal is to get them all out to their new homes this week. There may be some more orders though. So, hopefully, I'll have the ones that have already been ordered done midweek.

The orange slug above is for a little one who loves looking at pictures of my slugs. He coos and squeals when he sees them on the computer. His mom is excited to get him a real one for Christmas.

My birthday is this coming Friday. I don't know if I'll get the day off. I'd like to make sure everyone gets their slugs for Christmas.

I've been trying to make a few extras, for last minute shoppers, but the current shoppers have already shopped in my stash of extras. I'm going to keep trying to add to that group of slug standby's. I've got some new colors to add too, like the bright yellow, and the bright tomato red, that are drying on the rack shown above.

Thanks everyone, for your orders! It's been great. I'm enjoying making toys and hearing from you. I know I say it often, but I hope you know that I really do appreciate it. Being able to do something that spreads a little happiness around is a great pleasure.

Christmas Parade

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Ruffing) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 01:53:00 +0000

I made sure to get back from running errands on time to take my mom to the Christmas parade in town, this past weekend. Seeing as how I feel like one of Santa's elves lately, with all the toy making, I could hardly miss seeing him.

As always, there were lots of vehicles, starting with these great tractors, all shiny and polished by their owners for the parade.

Then, of course, there were the motorcycles.

This one says "Jesus in Lord" on the side.

Some of these guys look pretty serious.

I'm not sure if this gentleman is pointing to the star on his Christmas tree or if he is just having a conversation with someone in the crowd. Maybe he's telling his wife where to meet him at the end of the parade.

There are always the men in the little cars. The one over on the left ran out of steam and had to be towed, just after I took this shot.

There are so many cars, all with waving folks inside. A couple of years ago, the cars that had the hydraulic lifts inside, so they went up and down, were popular, but these with the doors that go up and down, sort of like a jack knife, seem to have taken their place.

There were plenty of homemade floats.

This lady was leading a song as she went by.

The Mary and Joseph float went by. Mary waved and smiled at me.

Lots of kids ride on the floats. They wave more enthusiastically at the beginning of the parade.

Then they get tired, by the end of the parade.

This little girl seems to have run out of waving energy, but her companion is still forging on.

There were at least three beauty queens. They seem to hold up better with their waving. I think they must practice.

This one had a beautiful skirt.

Some of the kids get pretty silly by the end of the parade. This little boy in the firetruck was making all kinds of faces out the window. Another little boy went by yawning.

There were even dogs strutting along in the parade, with their festive red coats.

They seem to have more endurance than some of the kids. But then they didn't have to wave or dance or jump around.

There were even dogs watching the dogs in the parade.

And there was a tiger.

He was helping pass out flyers for the karate school guys.

There were colorful flags,

and kids waving sparkling pom poms. This one was getting tired too, I think.

After just about everyone went by, there was a lull. People started moving into the street, and I thought they might be heading home. When I saw the people in front of us start to dance in the street, I realized they were moving off the curb to get a better look at the Helping Hand Mission Marching Band.

There are lots of dancers and bands in the parade, but the Helping Hand Mission really gets the crowd excited. They stop to perform frequently, which is why there was a lull, I guess. This girl on the left was doing a good job of keeping up with the girls in the group.

I had to step out into the street to get photos at this point. My mom told me there was another guy with a camera squatting down in the middle of the road, and he stayed there until they were almost to him.

They stopped just in front of us to dance and play the drums.

The one guy blows his whistle to signal when they stop or go, I think.

One lady in front of us kept dancing along. When she passed me and realized I had a camera, she looked a little embarrassed. I was enjoying that she was having fun. I felt a little embarrassed that she looked embarrassed.

An army truck went by, driven by a man with such a sweet-faced baby. I tried to get a better photo of her, but they passed by before I knew it.

And for the big finale....Santa, of course! He made sure to wave at everyone. He can't afford to get tired out. He's got lots to do these next couple of weeks!

And so do I! I'll post some of the toys that went out this week. I've got plenty to get ready for transit this coming week!

Tonight people will be lighting the first candle of Hanukkah too...Happy Hanukkah!

I love hearing people's toy stories

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Ruffing) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 15:43:00 +0000

"Percy and Macy"

Yesterday morning, I got this awesome email from that made my day:

Hey Elizabeth, Sam and Sophie opened their slugs yesterday. I think they arrived on Wednesday---just in case you keep track. They are Divine----I know that's a weird word, but they are truly DIVINE!! My husband and I are so amazed as to the way the children have taken to these little critters. In this world of technology, they are usually drawn to things that have batteries. I thought they would sleep with the Slugs, but I didn't know they would play with them. I have to tell you about Sam and the Super Slug. He started throwing him into the air and he tells me that Percy can fly since he is a super slug and that was why he had shooting stars on his cape. I didn't pay nearly enough attention to the fabric on the cape, but Sam did. He then told me that Percy uses his cape as parachute when he has to land. They are thrilled!! Thank you so much. I want to order more and am trying to find the time to sit down and shop---maybe my life is too complicated and there is a lesson to be learned from all of this "slug" business!! Have a great day. ~Glynis

Isn't that the most wonderful thing? It is for me. Thanks so much, Glynis, for sending me such a thoughtful email. What a great story. (Those are Sam's Super Slug and Sophie's Hug Me! Slug above.)

I came into my workroom yesterday, and the sun was coming up, shining through my window and in between my slugs.

My new fleece was all stacked on my ironing board, waiting to be put away or put to use. I have some new colors, but I haven't even gotten to listing them or photographing them. By the end of the day, there were even more slugs to be made.

In contrast, today is dark and rainy, which means my kitty assistant is hunkered down for some serious napping. His bed of choice for daytime napping is my new chair. Hm. One of us might have to find another chair. I'm thinking it might be me! I've tried the whole sharing thing, and he just ends up stomping onto my table or maneuvering his way onto my lap. Either way, my sewing coordination becomes impaired! He doesn't understand this at all. He seems quite sure he is being helpful.

Fortunately, I have lots of hand sewing to do, which I might as well do in front of the TV instead. I'm not sure I feel like watching TV, but it sort of sounds less humiliating than accepting that I've been ousted from my workroom by my cat :)

A feature, some questions, and some answers

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Ruffing) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:25:00 +0000

My "Hug Me! Slugs" were featured in Zertuchina's holiday gift guide post here. Thank you, Zertuchina! I thought it was funny that she happened to also pick for her feature a Janine King bag in the same print that I've been eying. I have one of Janine's bags, and the workmanship is super.

Also this week, a student who is studying textiles wrote to ask me some questions regarding my textile work, in particular my dolls and toys, for a project for school. She is working on an original doll with assorted clothing for her coursework. I thought maybe someone else would be interested in the same things, and so I thought I'd post my answers here. I'm sure I could have expanded on any of my answers, but here they are:

What inspires your work?

I find inspiration in all kinds of things. It can come from anywhere really. I might see a combination of colors I like together, or maybe some fabric that appeals to me. I love animals, and I like to try to create them in doll or toy form. I enjoy experimenting. The creative process itself can be inspiring.

How long does it take for you to create your work?

It varies. A small toy can take a couple of hours, and a more complex doll, like the art dolls that are hand painted and have hand-sculpted parts can take a couple of weeks.

Which fabrics do you use?

I use 100% cotton quilting fabrics, cotton sateen sheeting, and polyester fleece. I also use socks for some of my dolls and toys. I pre-wash all my fabrics in fragrance-free, hypoallergenic detergent to make sure they don't run, to pre-shink them in case they ever need to be spot cleaned, and to get rid of the new-fabric smell (which I just don't like).

Do you have to do practice attempts before you create a product you are happy with?

Yes. I start with sketches, and rough drawings of my pattern pieces, as I think they will need to be. Then I sew a prototype. There are sometimes small changes that need to be made because when a doll is stuffed, it often looks much different than it did on paper. They often get taller and thinner, and I need to compensate for that. Sometimes the stuffing doesn't sit right in a certain shape, and I need to re-draw the pattern to compensate for that as well.

Thanks, L.B., for the compliments. I hope your project comes out great. I look forward to seeing it!

The latest roundup

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Ruffing) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:43:00 +0000

The latest batch of slugs are on their way to their new homes today. They are probably driving off from the local Post Office right now, or at least riding in the back of the truck. I have some photos of them to share, but first I'd like to thank some of the people who have been featuring my work.

"The Rabbit Dances" makes an appearance on Annette's Etsy treasury this week. Annette is in Scotland, and her treasury is meant to help raise funds for the Buckeye House Rabbit Society, in Ohio, which is holding a holiday raffle where you can make a donation and enter to win an original rabbit painting. The details on the Buckeye House Rabbit raffle are here. Entries for that raffle need to be postmarked by December 1st, but Annette told me she also has a raffle of her own going on to benefit a rabbit and guinea pig rescue group in the United Kingdom. You can make a small donation for the rescue group, and enter for a chance to win one of several rabbit-themed prizes she has, that were made by various artists. You can check out more information on Annette's blog. It's open to anyone, and the artists involved are donating the shipping costs of the prizes, worldwide.

"The Frost Angel" was featured on another Etsy treasury by Christine.

Christine picked out some very pretty winter images for her treasury. It hasn't snowed here (yet), and it is nice to look at frost without freezing!

And finally, my "Marmalade the Hug Me! Toad" was featured on the Found Handmade blog.

Thank you, Annette, Christine, and the folks at Found Handmade!

So, here they are...this Monday's postal travelers, plus...one "Name this slug" slug. Yes, I managed to get one done! I was pretty happy I was caught up with my custom orders, but that only lasted for about twenty-four hours!

This batch included a custom, small-sized "Super Slug". His name is Percy.

I think I'm going to make up an Etsy listing for more custom "Super Slugs". I always thought the idea of a Super Slug was funny, but I'd only made one large one before.

I'm still experimenting with his cape, with how full I want it to be. It is sewn into his back so it won't fall off while he's flying through the air, or just slugging along.

This is the "Name this slug" slug, in gold and orange. If someone doesn't grab her before I can list her, she (or he...not sure there) will be over in my Etsy shop soon.

I enjoy photographing the slugs in pairs. They seem to interact with each other, especially when they are looking in different directions.

Lots of people have wanted this royal blue color, and I'll try to find some more. (Update December 1, 2009: I did find some more at the store. So I do currently have it!) I have another appealing royal blue, but it isn't this dark. I have at least one dark royal blue small slug left.

I think Super Slug is checking out his friend Ludwig's heart here. He must like purple.

Okay...off to Slugland. By the way, I'd like to do some "Name your own" "Hug Me! Toads" too, but I'm not sure if I should try to show some of the socks I have to choose from, or if I should just make them and have them as "Name this toad" toads. Or both. Just thinking.

I also have some neutral fleece colors, like gray, darker charcoal gray, various tans, and brown, in case anyone happens to want a more masculine slug. I have some plans for the neutral colors. I'm going to try my earlier "Huggy Kitty" and "Huggy Bunny" using them. That might take some more experimenting....and more time, if I have some.

Guess what I'm doing

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Ruffing) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:54:00 +0000

It has nothing to do with "Hug Me! Slugs". Okay, it does so. They are currently everywhere, sharing the tabletops with cascading piles of multicolored fleece. So, here's the plan...Once the batch for Monday's mail run is ready, I'm going to try to make up some "Name this slug" slugs, for the last-minute holiday shoppers, who want to personalize a slug for someone, but didn't order a custom slug early enough. That way, I can make up a personalized hang tag, which won't mean more than a day or two wait before shipment. I can probably keep up with the custom slug requests for another week or so, and still get them out in time for Christmas. But, it will depend on how many people want them. We'll see how is goes.

I'm going to try to get some other ready-made name-your-own creatures and dolls made also. I don't know how far I'll get before the holidays. I expect things to be a little hectic before then, but I can't predict exactly what will happen. Again, thanks so much, everybody, for your interest in my creations. I really do appreciate it. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving yesterday, and that you will enjoy your weekend.

Slugs and surges

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Ruffing) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:11:00 +0000

Large, small, and medium "Hug Me! Slugs", all in a row. One is from the first batch of slugs I ever made, and one is from this past week. They were initially inspired by a teasing suggestion that I add a slug to my list of "Huggy" animals, but they've turned out to be embraced by people of all ages, in a way I hadn't expected. That's really nice. Thanks everybody, for your enthusiasm. It's a joy to hear that they are loved and that they making people happy. I appreciate hearing your stories. It's a lot of fun.

This Monday, "Green Bean" left for a baby shower.

I was proud of myself for carefully matching that green plaid. I had to stop to admire how it dovetailed along the seam lines :)

Little "Rupert" is going to surprise someone's dad for Christmas. Slugs are his favorite animal.

Oh, wait. How did he get in there? That's my buzzard. According to Gund, he is supposed to be a toucan, but I'm pretty sure he's a buzzard. He just stuck to me in the store, while I was out shopping with my mom. She threatened to buy a stuffed dog that sang Christmas carols if I didn't put him back on the shelf. But I said no. I told her to go ahead and get the singing dog (she didn't). I was getting my buzzard.
As I've mentioned, my sewing machine went to the shop with electrical problems. The owners of the sewing machine repair service told me that those issues are usually caused by power surges, but I had a surge protector on my machine all along. There were no unusual electrical "happenings" at the time, no surges or lights dimming, and I wasn't running any other small appliances or electrical devices at the same time. So, most likely, it was caused by something else. Still, to be safe, we thought we'd get a new surge protector. My friend M sent me some information on how electronic sewing machines are also sensitive to both surges and to low-voltage occurrences, or "browns". He suggested I get a surge protector with line conditioning, to protect my machine from surges and from browns.

To be safe, we also wanted to make sure there wasn't anything wrong with the service to my workroom. My dad made an interesting discovery, by checking the wattage on all the things I was using in my room. We had never noticed that I have a 1700 watt iron. Right away, my dad said, "That's awfully high!" I had noticed, at other times, that the lamp on my desk dimmed when the iron reset itself, which would indicate there wasn't enough power on the circuit for both the lamp and the iron to be on at the same time. My dad double checked, and the recommended limit on your standard 15 amp household circuit is 1440 watts! That's means everything you have plugged in and turned on in one room usually! The mathematical limit is a little higher, 1800 watts, but still...the iron all by itself was exceeding the recommended amount of electricity being used on one circuit. Adding the lamp was too much. So sure, low voltage occurrences were probably happening all the time, when the iron needed more electricity than was available, making my lamp dim.

Luckily for me, my dad has been an electrician, something he learned from his dad...whew. He cut a hole under the circuit box, ran 50 feet of wire to my workroom, cut a hole in my wall for a new outlet, and put in a new 20 amp circuit and outlet for my workroom. The recommended limit on a 20 amp circuit is 1920 watts, with a mathematical limit of 2400 watts. Now I have both a 15 amp and a 20 amp circuit in my workroom. The iron and the lamp are plugged into the 20 amp outlet, and my sewing machine gets the 15 amp outlet, with a separate circuit, which protects the sewing machine from any fluctuations caused by anything else that's on in the room.

Complicated? A little. But good to know if you have sensitive electronics, like sewing machines with fancy push buttons and other electronic features. Most people who sew also iron, but there wasn't any warning about damaging anything on or inside the box. All the directions said were to avoid plugging the iron in with other high wattage appliances, but even the lamp was too much. That's not a high wattage appliance, and neither are most sewing machines. So, I guess you can get a low wattage iron, or just avoid plugging it in on the same circuit as your electronic sewing machine.

Anyway, thanks, Dad for saving the day and safeguarding my sewing machine! And thank all of you for reading my blog and for your support. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

Slug onslaught

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth Ruffing) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:42:00 +0000

I'm still here! Somewhere in the middle of all the slugs. This is the group of "Hug Me! Slugs" that went out on Monday, this week, to their new homes. Yep, these are all spoken for already. I'm working on the next batch this week. I'm currently running at about a two-week time span to finish new custom slug orders.

In this group are my first "Mommy and Baby" slug sets. The babies' hearts match their mommies' bodies, and vice versa.

I like the way they look at each other.

They couldn't wait to get to their new homes. They jumped right into their boxes before I could even get their tags on them. I had to take them out, one at a time, and tie their hang tags around their necks, but they were wiggling all over the place. Slugs just love to travel and they just go crazy with excitement when they get adopted. I'm sure the next bunch will be no different.