MELBOURNE

 Arrival Date: 8/29/22

Size: 14.5"

Year: 2022

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $91

Thoughts: Melbourne is a quokka. My biggest issue with him is that he really doesn't look like a quokka. Quokkas are one of those animals that is so damn quirky and adorable that they look like living plushies. I think they should have left the muzzle fur the same color as the rest of his head. They can have a little bit lighter fur there, but it would have been fine the same color as the rest. Then he needed chubbier cheeks and shorter fur on the face. They've got such a distinctly shaped head that the long fur is covering what cheeks he does have. Don't get me wrong. I think he's adorable, especially now that I have him in hand and can see his smile. Which I failed to photograph, but it's there. I just love quokkas and think they missed the mark a bit. Like Australia, he's got a little pouch, which technically makes him a her, but I don't like forcing genders on my plush unless they're a specific character, and I definitely lean more toward having male plush, so male he shall be and we'll just forget about the pouch. I'm really excited for the next two that should be out. Sydney the echidna is second quarter like Melbourne, so I imagine he's next. And then Chester the tree kangaroo is third quarter and some of those are starting to come out. Those two look quite a lot like their animal inspirations.

HARLEY

Arrival Date: 8/29/22

Size: 11"

Year: 2021

Edition Size: 350 (Mine is #48.)

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Features: Mohair

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $266

Thoughts: Harley was originally going to be my combined birthday and Christmas gifts back in 2021, but she was delayed so long that I ended up paying for her myself along with Charms. I'm glad to finally have these two out of layaway! Harley is a teeny tiny bear. Not minimo tiny, but still, she's quite small. Very rarely does a mohair "choose me" as the bear people say, but Harley definitely did. While I brought Charms and Runes home thinking they'd sell well if I didn't bond, I never thought I wouldn't bond with Harley, because it takes a very special mohair bear to get my attention and my money. 

CHARMS (Rehomed)

Arrival Date: 8/29/22 (Rehomed 6/23)

Size: 14"

Year: 2021

Edition Size: 400 (Mine is #317.)

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Features: Mohair

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $343

Thoughts: Charms actually came in stock before Runes, but alongside Harley, so being as I couldn't afford two mohairs at the same time, I had to put both on layaway and freed them at last. I like Charms better than Runes (he was kind of apple green) so I plan on keeping her for a while, though she is one I may sell down the line. I like this one's expression and little short hairdo.

SHORTCAKE (Rehomed)

Arrival Date: 8/24/22

Size: 14.5"

Year: 2022 Best Friends Club Collection

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: CB Direct

Cost: $101

Thoughts: I was lucky enough to get Shortcake, even though I had to hide in the bathroom at work to struggle at placing the order on my phone. 6PM was such a bad time for a launch. Ugh. She was the only one I liked from this year's BFC and I'm still not 100% into her. She's a pretty pink bear, but I'm not positive I'll end up bonding with her. She is nice and soft though. She's got that in her favor. I like the color and the dark tipping on the fur. I'll probably end up keeping her for a while. 

GUSTO

Arrival Date: 8/23/22

Size: 16"

Year: 2022 Secret Collection

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: CB Direct

Cost: $136

Thoughts: My first dog! I've never been drawn to any of the CB dogs before. I have Lovell the wolf and other wild canines, but no domesticated dogs. There was something about Gusto that drew me to him. Maybe it was the warm brown color. In person, he's even better because he is tyber! Oh, so soft. He'd incredibly cuddly, as are all tybers. They're really worth the extra cost. He may be the only dog for a long time, but I'm glad I added him to my collection.

PECAN PIE

Arrival Date: 8/23/22

Size: 15"

Year: 2022 Secret Collection

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: CB Direct

Cost: $124

Thoughts: Pecan Pie is the Secret Collection sibling to Bumbleberry Pie and Blueberry Pudding. I was honestly expecting someone a little smaller, but he's the same 15" they are. If you like those two, you'll want him also. Or if you like their style but want someone a little more downplayed in color, you'll want Pecan. He has the different-colored face like the other two, but his is more of a blue-gray, so he'd be better for those that didn't like brighter-colored bears. 

BLUEBERRY PANCAKE

Arrival Date: 8/13/22

Size: 12"

Year: 2022 Paw Store Exclusive

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Features: Plumo

Purchased From: CB Direct

Cost: $119

Thoughts: Ah, I've been waiting for these two to come out. Jam Scone and Blueberry Pancake go so well together! Both are tiny and adorable. I love the animal print mixed with both the bright and natural colors. 

JAM SCONE

Arrival Date: 8/13/22

Size: 12"

Year: 2022 Cuddle Time Exclusive

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Features: Plumo

Purchased From: CB Direct

Cost: $119

Thoughts: Ah, I've been waiting for these two to come out. Jam Scone and Blueberry Pancake go so well together! Both are tiny and adorable. I love the animal print mixed with both the bright and natural colors. 

TWODDLE

Arrival Date: 8/4/22

Size: 19"

Year: 2015

Edition Size: 1500

Designer: Charlie

Purchased From: Fellow collector on FB

Cost: $125 (Retail $114.95)

Thoughts: I saw a really cute Twoddle a few months ago, but they didn't ship to the US. I've kept a casual eye out and this one appeared on Facebook. I adopted him and he's glorious. I didn't appreciate this guy enough back when I was considering getting Twanky to go with Twinky. Twoddle is just as good and I still haven't found just the right Twanky. Twoddle is a tall, very heavy fella. This set of four bears has longer fur at their toes and around their eyes, which was quite unique for back in 2015. I think they're an awesome and very underrated foursome.

JIGSAW (Rehomed)

Arrival Date: 7/28/22 (Rehomed 1/23)

Size: 22"

Year: 2013

Edition Size: 2400

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: Fellow collector on FB

Cost: $120 (Retail $151.95)

Thoughts: Oh, wow. I fell for this guy from the same seller as Higgins and I kiiiiiiinda didn't research his size. He's HUGE. Thankfully, he fits right in on the Big Boy bottom shelf with Elijah, Ryder and Ambassador. He's got lovely long fur and such a sweet face. 

HIGGINS

Arrival Date: 7/28/22

Size: 15"

Year: 2011

Edition Size: 3000

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: Fellow collector on FB

Cost: $50 (Retail $65.95)

Thoughts: Ah, what a little crabgrass. I love a good grumpy bear. I saw Higgins posted several times on FB before I could afford him. He's floppy, squishy, soft and cuddly. I love him!