NIMBUS

Arrival Date: 3/29/21

Size: 19"

Year: 2014

Edition Size: 2000

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: ebay

Cost: $86

Thoughts: Nimbus also arrived today and oh, man, do I love him. I think of Nimbus in a set with Mercury (I have him) and Bobsleigh (probably won't get him). I threw in a bid on Nimbus not at all thinking of winning, but I was at work when the auction ended and I ducked into the back to watch the last few minutes. I tossed in another couple bids and I still can't believe I won for less than $100! I mean, that's less than retail even and I know this is a popular bear. He's super soft like Mercury and I rearranged things so they can sit together. He's a big chunky guy, too. A bit wobbly-jointed like a lot of the older larger bears. He's adorable! 

HUEY

Arrival Date: 3/29/21

Size: 13.5"

Year: 2011

Edition Size: 3000

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: Mostly Bears

Cost: $66

Thoughts: Huey was a random purchase. One of the FB group members posted a list of a stockist's older bears and the poor stockist was then inundated with a bunch of us asking for pictures. I asked about 5 of them and Huey was the only one in stock. (The list that was posted was sadly old.) But Huey is adorable. He's actually a very pale blue, but photographs more white. I've got him sitting with Tatum, who's similar in that her blue doesn't photograph well. He's tiny, but soft and cuddly.  

ALISON

Arrival Date: 3/22/21

Size: 14.5"

Year: 2017

Edition Size: 1760

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: FB collector

Cost: $30 (Retail $77.95)

Note: No paper tags

Thoughts: Oh, dear, poor Alison. I saw someone on FB selling bears for incredible prices, so I jumped on getting Alison here. The lady was very nice, but clearly has no idea what's going on in her home. Or someone else's home if the bears weren't hers. Alison smelled like the home she lived in never changed about a dozen cat litter boxes. My mom IDed the smell immediately and I knew she was right, because we'd just taken care of 3 cats next door and that's exactly what their apartment smelled like. Alison is an absolutely adorable, sad-faced bear with unusual fur that feels more rough and coarse like a mohair might. I've spent the past couple days working on cleaning her up. I don't recommend putting your bears through the washer, but sometimes it is necessary and this sure was. So she's been through the wash and then sat in the laundry room covered in a couple nice-smelling dryer sheets since. Just today I moved her into an open space (away from other toys) in my toy room and I'll monitor her scent over the next few days. I won't put her with my other bears until I'm sure the smell is gone. If I have to wash her again, I will. But we'll get there, Alison. We'll get you clean. 

CUBBY HOLE

Arrival Date: 3/10/21

Size: 18.5"

Year: 2021

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: All Nations Trading (local stockist)

Cost: $91 

Thoughts: Cubby Hole was a late add to my pre-orders. I thought he might become really popular after they showed the live video presentation and Will focused on him for a while. I knew he was coming in soon, so I was really excited, but then disappointed, because my stockist only got 3 and I didn't get one. I decided to go check out a local stockist, since I knew their shipment came in and I found 3 to choose from. I'm glad they changed the eyes on him and made him much cuter than the promo. He's absolutely gorgeous in person with all the colors! 

ALANNA (Rehomed)

Arrival Date: 3/9/21 (Rehomed 6/23)

Size: 12.5"

Year: 2009

Edition Size: 3000

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: Fellow collector 

Cost: $81 

Thoughts: I've seen Alanna for sale a few times over my collecting years and always thought she was cute. The same seller had all three of these recent additions and I got really excited to bring Alanna home. Alanna is slightly odd because she's super tiny, but in photos, she always looks pretty big! She's very wobble-jointed and I love her chubby tummy. She's sitting nicely with Kerri, which makes me really glad I didn't end up selling Kerri.

SHANE

Arrival Date: 3/9/21

Size: 19.5"

Year: 2018

Edition Size: 1500

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: Fellow collector 

Cost: $90

Thoughts: Ah, Shane. I passed on this guy when he first came out because I had such limited room and was really picky on bigger bears. I've since seen him for sale several times in the past few months and I decided I need him in my hug. He's happily sitting beside Brady right now. I love his colors and while he's stocky, heavy and a bit stiffer than the majority of my bears, he's still awesome and I think he'll give good cuddles.

SHARDUL

Arrival Date: 3/9/21

Size: 15"

Year: 2012 Secret Collection

Edition Size: 4000 (Mine is #1868.)

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: Fellow collector 

Cost: $90

Thoughts: Poor Shardul has lived on my low-key wishlist for several years. I actually want all four of the standing, animal print bears in this series, but he was the one I most wanted. Thankfully, a lovely fellow collector had him and then I adopted a couple others from her, too. I'm always worried about standing bears being less cuddly because their feet are hard, but Shardul seems pretty snuggly regardless. I love his tiger colors. 

THINGYMABOB

Arrival Date: 3/8/21

Size: 15"

Year: 2020 Secret Collection

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: 40 cents! I used my rewards. (Retail $104.95)

Thoughts: I wasn't planning on getting Thingy, because I had Whatchamacallit and wasn't bonding with him at all. But I do love me some red, black and white, and this one's face won me over. She's contentedly sitting with the other bears on the red shelf and it may be a little bit before she gets cuddles, but she will get there eventually. 

CRIN

Arrival Date: 3/8/21

Size: 19"

Year: 2020 

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $167.95

Thoughts: Ooh, Crin! I love Roger, who's the companion bear to Crin, but I swear she's somehow even more lush than he is. The price is high, but that tyber fur is so worth it. Super cuddly, super luxe, super gorgeous.

CLINTON

Arrival Date: 3/8/21

Size: 15"

Year: 2020 Secret Collection

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $90.95

Thoughts: Oh, Clinton. Clinton and Bambino came out pretty early on last year, but our US stockists only just got them now. I caved and bought Bambino months ago from QVC, but I decided to wait on Clinton because I really wanted to pick a face and because I didn't like him as much. I wasn't even 100% sure I wanted him. However, when I saw Valerie's selection, I saw so many cute ones! I ended up with my first choice, this little guy. He's a bit wider-eyed than others were and I think he's so much cuter for it. He's got thicker, soft fur and I know he's going to be so cuddly. 

WISHES

Arrival Date: 3/1/21

Size: 14"

Year: 2016 Secret Collection

Edition Size: 750

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: ebay

Cost: $50

Thoughts: Wishes is a little bear I've wanted for a few years. I first saw him available on CB Direct but never ended up ordering one. Then I saw him a few times on ebay and never imported one, but it was clearly because I was meant to have this great deal from a US seller. Look at those big sad eyes. I love him. He's small and simple, but also soft and adorable. Sometimes simplicity is just fine.