ELSPETH II

Arrival Date: 8/30/18

Size: 13"

Year: 2018

Edition Size: 585 (Mine is #476.)

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Features: Standing

Purchased From: Charlie Bears Direct

Cost: $55

Thoughts: Elspeth got recalled earlier in the year, so I sent mine back, not wanting her to fall apart. (Honestly, only a complete idiot would not send back a defective bear.) Her replacement finally arrived today. She's definitely got more of a purple tone to her pink now and her lighter face is much more full. I love the new key and she's a lot softer than she was!

TADAM

Arrival Date: 8/20/18

Size: 9"

Year: 2017

Edition Size: 1500

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $50.95

Thoughts: Tadam was a very late arrival from the 2017 collection. He and several others only just made it to the US recently. I always liked him, but didn't have him on preorder. When I remembered to go look at his photos in the BAMS album, I fell in love with this particular one and purchased him over the weekend. He's a fat little grump and I love it.

WINTER (Rehomed)

Arrival Date: 8/9/18

Size: 11"

Year: 2017 Secret Collection

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: QVC

Cost: $49.80

Thoughts: Winter was an unplanned QVC purchase. I always thought she and Summer (who's basically Winter but brown) were cute, but not cute enough to import. I was pleased with the opportunity to buy her within the US. Winter is a standing bear and her tiny size makes her able to be displayed just about anywhere. She has a cute, itty bitty face and soft limbs.

ELIZABETH

Arrival Date: 8/9/18

Size: 14"

Year: 2017 Secret Collection

Edition Size: 1600

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: QVC

Cost: $59.98

Thoughts: I have wanted Elizabeth since she debuted probably almost a year ago in the UK. We Americans had thought she was coming for the spring QVC show, but she got bumped to July/August's. She is absolutely stunning in person. She isn't the softest bear, but she makes up for it by being singularly beautiful. I love her!

BUMBLE BEE (Rehomed)

Arrival Date: 8/6/18

Size: 16"

Year: 2017 Secret Collection

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: QVC

Cost: $68.48

Thoughts: I wasn't sold on Bumble (I leave off the Bee) when the UK got him, but seeing him in action on our QVC show made me want to try him out. My mom really loves him and while he's my least favorite of today's six arrivals, he's by no means a slouch. It's just hard to compare to ones I've wanted since the catalog came out or stunners like Jan and Sharon. He's actually living in Mom's room so she can smile at him. Maybe he'll become her bear! I do plan on taking him out for cuddles though, when it's his turn. (He's kind of got a long line ahead of him, poor guy.)

JAN

Arrival Date: 8/6/18

Size: 15.5"

Year: 2018 Secret Collection

Edition Size: 1950

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: QVC

Cost: $79.48

Thoughts: First thing's first, that's Jan with a Y sound, the male name. Not Jan like Janet. (The people calling him the female name are annoying me.) Jan was another surprise like Sharon and I was super thrilled to get him. He sold out while the show was still on air! I have his brother Hakatan on pre-order from the regular 2018 collection and he's not supposed to come in 'til fourth quarter, so I'm extra happy to have Jan here early. He's extremely soft and I love his dark brown color. (Hakatan is black.)

SHARON

Arrival Date: 8/6/18

Size: 15"

Year: 2018 Secret Collection

Edition Size: 1100

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: QVC

Cost: $79.20

Thoughts: Sharon was one of the QVC offerings this go 'round that I was pleasantly surprised to see. I wanted her when the UK got her, but didn't import. (I figured she'd come over here eventually, because she's named after an American CB employee.) I got two Sharons to pick from and both were just stunning. She's sister to Ainsley (I got him last QVC show) and Stuart (I need him still).

LOWRY

Arrival Date: 8/6/18

Size: 16"ish (He's described as 12.5", but he's bigger.)

Year: 2018

Edition Size: 1050

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $62.95

Thoughts: Lowry was the other Bearhouse offering for 2018 that I was really excited for. I love African painted dogs and he looks spot on. He's so gorgeous! He's made of several different types of plush and he has a long tail you can't see in the photo. His expression is very intelligent and I just adore him!

DRINGLE

Arrival Date: 8/6/18

Size: 16-18"ish (He's described as 12", but he's more like 13" seated and then his legs and claws add several more inches.)

Year: 2018

Edition Size: 1790

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $53.95

Thoughts: Dringle is from the Bearhouse range, which means he's not jointed like regular Charlie Bears. There is literally no other difference though, because the details on the Bearhouse animals I have actually far surpass the majority of the regular CBs I own. Dringle was my second most wanted of the 2018 collection after Bundle. I adore sloths. They're one of my favorite animals. (They're like top 2 with tapirs.) Dringle was supposed to be first quarter, but he got delayed and he was worth waiting for. He's quite big and hefty with a weighted rear, and his long claws are actually poseable. He's the best sloth I've ever seen that wasn't alive!

BUNDLE

Arrival Date: 8/6/18

Size: 15.5"

Year: 2018

Edition Size: 1530

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $81.95

Thoughts: Bundle was my very favorite from the 2018 catalog. He jumped out at me right away. The only other one to even come close was Dringle and they're in different categories. I was thrilled to be able to get this particular Bundle, because he has a very full muzzle and none of the others did. It gives him some sass and I think it goes nicely with his tubby belly. Bundle is gorgeous colors and while he's not the softest bear, his face and colors make up for it.