20th  December  2013

I would like to thank you for your custom in 2013  and wish you a very Merry Christmas and  an exciting, happy New Year. Thank you for making Little Scruffs a part of your life, whether by adopting bears and animals , or just by being supportive . It means so much to me.

Take Care
Big Hugs
Jean and the Little Scruffs

http://www.miniaturemohairbears.co.uk

2nd December  2013

Hello and welcome to this months blog

. Last month went by in a flash for Little Scruffs  and it was the best month ever thanks to you.
I have just heard from the two writers who have done such a wonderful job on the bear book- unfortunately we still haven't got that elusive publisher yet but they are determined it is too good to give up on and they  continue to send  the book out to various agents
Here are a few bears added recently, including a new  design called The Visitors who come with their own little leather suitcase. (Which  my husband as taken over making!)
I am sure there is lots I should be telling you about but I think I had better start a new bear or maybe a dog  quickly  just in case the  viewing on our home today turns out positive like the Estate Agent thinks it will

Don't forget you can reserve bears if you are interested. Just drop me an email
Hugs for now from Little Scruffs

19th October 2013

Wow a new blog in less than a month!! Now what have I been up to? We have just come back from a working holiday in France. We had our great friends Rob & Wendy helping us and managaed a couple of days out too. Visited the village of Oradour where over 600 villagers were killed  in June 1944. the village which was burned down on the same day remains the same today. If you get chance take a look at the website relating to it.- so sad
I managed to squeeze quite a few bears out as well and now have a few months where I will concentrate just on them.
This weekend we have our youngest daughter Amy with us and her boyfriend from Sicily. We enjoyed a night at our local Arts Centre last night watching "We will Rock You"  I love watching Amateur dramatics, wish I could still remember lines these days  to do it myself, but that is now in the past (Although I still remember my opening lines as Dandini at the Old Rep in Birmingham over 30 years ago lol!!)
Back to bears and dogs etc. Here are a few of this months Little Scruffs

Until next time,

Bye for now

Jean and the Little Scruffs

23rd September 2013

Another couple of months have passed me by!! If you ever want to know what is happening with the Little Scruffs please just go to my website which I update regularly as my poor blog is very often left for months at a time. Also if you would like to be the first to be  notified when new bears, dogs and other creatures go onto my website please email me to go onto the list  

I have dropped off lots of new dogs and cats at Teddy Bears of Witney today ready for when their catologue comes out which this year should be  the end of October. I will send photos of mine in the next Newsletter or blog

The little chic above is my latest creation who I do think is rather cute. I am also working on bears and other animals on wheels

Here are a couple that are available on my website at the moment so please do take a look at these and others

I hope you have a good week and thanks for looking at my blog

5th July 2013

5th July 2013

A dog, a cat and 2 or 3 bears . Just a few of the creations made in Little Scruffs land in the last few weeks. Please go to the website to see what else is new.

I always feel a bit strange writing about what I have been up to as I don't think anyone would really want to know lol. We have had a week in Spain visiting family and at the other end of the scale we hired The Rug Doctor, carpet cleaner today- how exciting !!!! It worked very well.

This is just a very quick catch up blog . We are having lots of sunshine here in the UK at the moment so  I hope you are able to get out and make the most of it.

Hugs

Jean

16th May 2013

Gosh my last blog was the end of March!! My apologies but I think more people look at my website than my blog  anyway .
I shall be doing a give away for an open mouthed, double jointed necked polar bear which I made many years ago from someone else's pattern this month. All you need to do is email me with your favourite Little Scruff or Little Scruff style bear?dog whatever from my website. The draw will be on 16th June so take your time in deciding . I will put photos of the bear up on the website in the next couple of days
What's been happening other than bears, dogs and other animals? Nothing much really. We have been over to France and had the house rewired so we might be able to start on the upstairs soon. At the moment you can see the stars if you look up so if we get some insulation up it might be a little warmer!!
back here in England we are about to put the apartment up for sale again. We should have had a viewing yesterday but they didn't show up- I will say no more!
My two daughters are on the move again. Anna is moving from a flat into a lovely little house in a couple of weeks time- she is only moving down the road so it shouldn't be too bad. Amy, who has been living in Sicily for the last 2 years has an interview in Bristol at the beginning of June so she might be coming back to live in the UK

Pop along and see the Little Scruffs on my website and remember you can reserve for up to 5 weeks.

That's all for now

Hugs, Jean

30th March 2013

A very happy Easter  to all of you. We have our daughter Amy home from Sicily and it is a non stop week of catching up with friends, partying and shopping for her before she goes back on Monday. Both the girls treated me to a Mum and Daughters spa day with afternoon tea followed by meeting up with the men for a lovely Tai meal on the night. Having just come back from 3 weeks in France which my husband spent ripping the bathroom apart and having to go to the local swimming baths for a shower, that spa day was most welcome!!!!
Of course before that I did the Hugglets bear fair in London. The day went by so quickly and was wonderful as always with many Little Scruffs finding new homes.
My website has a page for all the Little Scruffs that are available with the button saying Bears. There now seems to be as many dogs and other animals finding their way onto it  and causing confusion with people  so I have added an "Available" button also. One day I will give the website a revamp when I get another pair of hands!

Lots of new animals have gone onto the website this week including Maguire, below and a cat, mouse, dogs and of course bears

Once again enjoy your Easter break. The sun is shining here in Evesham

1st February 2013

Hello,
Long time no blog! This is just a little mention of the Hugglets Bear Fair that I will be having a stand at on 24th February. It is at Kensington Town Hall and is a wonderful day out . My table is Number 54 in Hall One . Here are some of   the bears and other animals  that I have made to take

Hopefully  I have got news coming in the next week or so  to share with you and more photos but until then I will say bye from me and the Little Scruffs

21st December 2012,

It is very nice to know  that the end of the world didn't materialise today ! I have just popped on to wish each and every one of my fantastic customers, friends and followers a very happy Christmas with a photo of  this lovely Santa and his sack which I picked up for 30 pence. I didn't have many bears to put in the sack this year but I shall make sure I have lots for next year.

I have had a great year with the bears and dogs and lots of exciting things in the pipeline. It has been another special year for me getting to know my lovely collectors who give me such encouragement and ideas. I have also been amazed at the wonderful unexpected gifts I have received from as far away as Canada. Yesterday I received the most beautiful bouquet   and  last month I had a painting of one of my bears from the talented Helen Jones which I shall treasure
Here is a little dog I finished last night. he is supposed to be a black labrador but he might be a cross breed!!!

 I shall be doing the Hugglets Bear Fair in London  February so if anyone wants free tickets please let me know as soon as possible. I would love to see you there

With much love for a happy and healthy Christmas
Jean and the Little Scruffs

4th December 2012
Well looking at the last time I blogged  I wouldn't rely on coming here to find out about Little Scruffs! Just go straight to my website above  which I update most days.

The trouble is I have never been any good at letter writing , coupled with the fact that I am lucky enough to have been extremely busy with the bears....  and dogs of course... oh and don't forget the girafes, and I forgot about the cats!!!  Here are a few  above but there are 14 pages of them in my Galleries if you want to see any others.
No news  on the book at the moment.The agent has been away and hasn't seen it yet so it won't be out for Christmas unfortunately.
My very good friends Rob & Wendy bought me, amongst other things, a wonderful old bear last week and I thought I would try replicating him. Here they both are below

I will finish now, thank you for reading my blog.

17th July 2012
Well since my last blog I am pleased to report that my website is now sorted. A big "Thank you" to David Smith who sorted in minutes what  my hosting company and me couldn't between us in 9 days!

I just got the website up and running when Mike and I came down with a horrible virus (I was far worse than he was of course!!!) All okay now so lets get these bears and dogs born ! 
I seem to be making more dogs than ever at the moment and I was pleased to be asked to make a dachshund. I do groan a bit inwardly when asked to make specific styles of bears and dogs as they do take such a lot more planning and work   but it does push me on and adds variety.

Lucky is a vintage looking dog that I finished today.

I am taking a break for a couple of weeks at the beginning of August. I am saying that now so that I am not tempted to just keep going !!! Really I have to finish all my orders and I know it will clear my head and stop me stressing about them if I get them out of the way.

Bye for now

Jean and the Little Scruffs

I am having so much trouble with my website at the moment. I have spent nearly a week trying to sort it out and still not sure what it is. I cannot upload any images to it at the moment so I am hoping that I can upload new bears ( and dogs) here to my blog. If so and you see anything you like  please email  me  on littlescruffs@yahoo.co.uk for further details.

Mario

Winston-red mohair

Clarence black mohair

Harrington WW1 soldier bear style

Frankie. cute little  baby bear

We have just come back from a month in France. We got a few things sorted and now have a new loo  and a woodburner fitted. We were also worried that we didn't have space to put our 4 guests up later in  the year  but voila- I managed to find an old caravan for £80!!
Everywhere seems to be having the strangest weather. Coming back on the boat I have never seen so many people being sea sick!
Unfortunately I have wasted so much time this week that I had better get on and make some more bears! I seem to be able to update my website with words, just no photos so I will let you know when I am adding them to the blog if I still don't get it sorted soon.
Take care and bye for now
Hugs
Jean and Little Scruffs
http://www.miniaturemohairbears.co.uk 

13th May 2012
When  I get round to doing my blog it always seems to be on a Sunday. Even though Sundays shouldn't be any different to me as I work every day, somehow they are.
 I haven't actually blogged for over 2 months which I find hard to believe so I had better try and find something interesting to talk about!!! Now what has been going on - let me think?
Actually not that much. I have had a pretty quiet month on the website as I have been getting up to date with orders and making a few more unusual bears so that Norman, the Photographer has got lots of choice for the book. In fact I have just made a 15 inch bear which seems enormous after the 3" one I made last week!

Here is the little one with his parents

We have put our property up for sale again - horror of horrors we have to try and keep it tidy! Working from home  makes it almost impossible- I CANNOT be restricted- I like to be surrounded by all my fur and tools so  after every viewing  I  am trying to find  lost bits and bobs!
The girls are great. Have just returned my grandkitten to Anna who has been away the weekend. Amy is just coming to the end of her teaching year in Sicily and has managed to find herself another teaching job which will see her through another year with minimum hours and lots of beach time!!!!

I will sign off for now, thanks for looking
Hugs
Jean,
Little Scruffs
http://www.miniaturemohairbears.co.uk 

5th March 2012

5^th March 2012

Well it has been a week since Hugglets and life has not been dull!! The Fair was a fantastic day and I met some great people, some who I had been corresponding with online for years and some who I met for the first time last Sunday. Like the 92 year old lady who was telling me that when she was 4 years old she went to visit her “boyfriend” with her Mother. After they had left her Mother asked her what she had got under her coat and she had to confess that she had stolen the little boy’s teddy bear!

A couple of years ago I made a surprise bear from a mum to her daughter. The daughter had lost her beloved bear and her mum sent me photos for me to copy him. The mum and the daughter (with the bear of course!) made a special trip to meet me last week all the way from Spain! It was a very special moment.

I am not going to mention names as I have such a bad memory I am sure I would miss someone special out but I did have 3 ladies come up to me and say hi Jean I’m Nicky which got me right confused!

And finally I was very excited to meet at last, the lovely David and Norman, (did I say I wasn’t going to mention any names??) 2  well established authors who are in the middle of writing a book on bears and the Little Scruffs have  hopefully got themselves major parts!  I will keep you informed.

We stayed overnight in London and then travelled down to France the next day, arriving at our cottage at 10.30pm. Mike had been on his own the visit before and the water had been cut off so we were pleased to discover when we turned on that we had water for a much needed cuppa. If only we had known! Half hour later after unpacking the car  etc we opened the door to the bathroom and laundry area to find it completely flooded. After turning the water off again we retired to bed- a very damp bed where I was convinced that Mike had put wet sheets on! So day 2 started with me with a stinking cold and Mike fixing one leak after the other- oh and maybe even worse finding that my hair straighteners wouldn’t work!!!

I have been making some of my orders while I have been here and whenever I do repeat bears my mind starts wondering and trying to think up  new styles. I bought a vintage dog from a car boot when I was here before and thought I would have a go at doing one similar to him which had the body and legs all one piece and a jointed head. Well here is a photo of the first prototype - he needs lots of adjustments including longer arms   but I thought I would show you what I spent the last 24 hours doing. I think his better half will be on hold for a while.

Well bye for now and speak soon

Hugs

Jean

Little Scruffs

http://www.miniaturemohairbears.co.uk