GOLIATH

Arrival Date: 4/29/19

Size: 16"

Year: 2019

Edition Size: 1400 (Mine is #826.)

Designer: Alison Mills

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $97.95

Thoughts: Now China the bull should have been my first from the Queen's Beasts series, but since the US is the redheaded stepchild of the CB world, we're still waiting on China. And Sly Fox. And a lot of other 1st quarter characters. I'm not complaining because I prefer China to Goliath, but it would be nice if they kept us up better. Anyway, isn't Goliath adorable? I ended up with not one but two darling lions this year. I love the little bit of white on his chin and I like that he's on the skinny side. He's very different from Dandy and he's going to look great sitting with the other big cats.

CARA

Arrival Date: 4/29/19

Size: 15"

Year: 2019

Edition Size: 2010

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $84.95

Thoughts: Of the pair of sisters, it was Cara that caught my eye first. I knew she was going to be gorgeous. Candice hovered off my pre-order list until the very end and I'm so glad I got both, because I adore my Candice. When I chose my Cara, I knew I wanted one a bit different from Candice, so she didn't look like a recolor. I picked this one with adorable wide-set eyes to help them look different.

HENRY

Arrival Date: 4/22/19

Size: 17.5"

Year: 2013

Edition Size: 2000

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: Kitty

Cost: $85

Thoughts: Henry is another older bear that caught my eye when he was cheap on ebay years ago. I didn't get that one (but someone got a $46 steal!) and he remained on that low-key want list. Kitty, who I've bought several bears from, happened to show this one's pic on Facebook to see if anyone wanted him before she put him on ebay. Even though I'd just bought Bindi, I said yes. Henry's got an unusual face for CBs. There's a lot of personality there in a different way than most of the other bears. He's also a bit nostalgic for me, because my grandmother had a large brown plush bear with a red bow that I played with for years, and here's Henry all brown with a red scarf, so he reminds me of that bear. He's super soft and nicely weighty, too. I think he'll be a good cuddler.

BINDI

Arrival Date: 4/22/19

Size: 14.5"

Year: 2014

Edition Size: 2000

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: ebay

Cost: $70

Thoughts: Sweet Bindi was an impulse ebay purchase. A nice lady was selling bears to earn money for her dog's vet bills and Bindi caught my eye. Bindi was actually one of the bears I was interested in about 3 years ago when I started collecting. The particular one I was looking at sold, but I kept her on my low-key want list. She used to appear a lot more often, but lately I haven't seen her in quite a while, so I made a $70 offer on her and it was accepted. She's super adorable and I love her.

ISNEE

Arrival Date: 4/19/19

Size: 8"

Year: 2018 Bearhouse Collection

Edition Size: 2500

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: QVC

Cost: $30

Thoughts: Isnee is one of the tiny Bearhouse line. There was one I really liked from my stockist, but he sold before I could buy him. He wasn't a huge priority or anything, so I let him sit and I regret it a bit. Lesson learned! So when QVC had free shipping and 6 Easy Pays, I decided to give Isnee a try. He's really adorable and well-made as always. I might have to hunt down Jonjare now.

BUD (Rehomed)

Arrival Date: 4/12/19 (Rehomed 1/23)

Size: 12"

Year: 2019 Secret Collection

Edition Size: 1000

Designer: Heather Lyell

Purchased From: CB Direct US

Cost: $60

Thoughts: Bing's brother Bud made a surprise appearance on our US CB Direct and I had to have him. He's the more colorful of the two with his animal print. I would love an entire bear in this print. The sky blue bits are gorgeous. Bing and Bud were definitely not on my list of wants, just maybes thanks to their terrible stock photos, but they're gorgeous in person.

DIDDUMS

Arrival Date: 4/12/19

Size: 9.5"

Year: 2019 Secret Collection

Edition Size: 1830

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: CB Direct UK

Cost: $58.68

Thoughts: I didn't have it in mind to get Diddums with my second membership coupon. I was actually after Zadie, but the US site wasn't taking my coupon and I saw him on the UK site the next morning and said "Why not?" I'm glad I did because he is ADORABLE. He's a tiny little guy, but he's also quite a chunk so he doesn't feel only 9.5" tall. He's so soft, too! I love him.

KODA

Arrival Date: 4/12/19

Size: 12.5"

Year: 2017 Secret Collection

Edition Size: 1030

Designer: Alison Mills

Purchased From: CB Direct UK

Cost: $66.34

Thoughts: FINALLY. I have waited YEARS for Koda. The US got massively screwed on this set. We were told not to import Kiri, because we were getting her on the first QVC show. This was true. But then we were pretty much told not to import anything, and that was a big mistake. I waited ages for Kimiko and Koda. I finally gave in and got Kimiko a few months ago on ebay, and I decided to use one of my membership coupons on Koda, so I've at last got the complete set! Koda the least cute of the trio, but that's no fault of his face or anything. It's just that he's solid and not a print color scheme, so he's a bit more plain. I'm thrilled to finally have him though!

BRISCOE (Rehomed)

Arrival Date: 4/9/19 (Rehomed 3/8/21)

Size: 15"

Year: 2019 Secret Collection

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: QVC

Cost: $90

Thoughts: I didn't get Briscoe with my initial QVC order this time around, but when I saw him on the show the next morning, I decided to pick him up. It was either him or Neil and Briscoe won out. He was the last ordered, so he didn't ship as fast as my first batch, but came in with my second Molly Coddle. However, that first Briscoe had an eye problem and he got returned. I ordered another, deciding that if he was also flawed, I would send him back and not try again. Well, he arrived today and sat in the package hub all day because I was a double. I rescued him on the way back home and was happy to see he's very cute. I swear he's lighter than the first one I got. I love the tipped paws they're doing.

MOLLY CODDLE (Rehomed)

Arrival Date: 4/3/19

Size: 16.5"

Year: 2018 Secret Collection

Edition Size: 1300

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: QVC

Cost: $79.92

Thoughts: I've wanted Molly since she debuted in the UK what feels like forever ago. We were hoping to see her on the fall QVC show, but she got delayed until this March show. So, months later, she's finally home. I know they're a UK company, but honestly I wish just once they'd have to wait for something like we do all the time. The UK is already on Q2 bears and we're still waiting on several from Q1! Ugh. Anyway, I ordered 2 Mollys, because I know this style has a lot of variation. This girl here got to me last week and I didn't get the second one until today. She was incredibly different and I ended up going with the first one, which I pretty much knew I would, because I was already attached to her. I love her soft, dusty mauve color. It's kind of a mushroomy shade. And of course, she has the super soft fur like Jan and Hakatan.

BING

Arrival Date: 4/1/19

Size: 12"

Year: 2019 Secret Collection

Edition Size: 1000

Designer: Heather Lyell

Purchased From: QVC

Cost: $59.75

Thoughts: I saw Bing in the Sneaky Peeks and Secrets catalog and thought he was cute, but not super special. Turns out he just had a bad promo photo that didn't show his colors. Mine has more of the darker blue and yellow on his back, but I still like him. I may order a second eventually to see if I can get one with more varied colors on the face, but I'm not sending this guy back.