CHESTER

Arrival Date: 12/20/22

Size: 15"

Year: 2022

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: Lovely Bears Australia

Cost: Gift (Retail $106.95)

Thoughts: I LOVE Chester. I've wanted them to do a tree kangaroo for ages and unlike some of the others I really wanted (quokka), they did a great job of capturing the animal's likeness in the plush. If you know what a tree kangaroo is, you know immediately that Chester is one. Like a lot of the modern Bearhouse, he's made of many different fabrics. The warm brown on his body feels like it's tyber, it's that soft. It could be. I'm just not used to them using it for the Bearhouse line. I loved the expression on this particular guy. He's very sweet and hopeful. Definitely the best Bearhouse of the year so far. 

PAUL

 Arrival Date: 12/20/22

Size: 13"

Year: 2010

Edition Size: 1800

Designer: Christine Pike

Purchased From: Collector on FB

Cost: $25

Thoughts: Paul! I've wanted this guy for years. I figured I'd have to import, which is why I haven't gotten him before. He's popular, so he can be in the $150-200 range once shipping is factored in. But a seller on FB recently had him and I got him for an absolute steal. He's missing his paper tags, but who cares? It's Paul! If I can get a good deal on a bear within the US, I don't care if he's got tags or not. He's well worth it. He's a total stocky chub like Sid, who is my only other one from his particular designer. I wish she'd done more. I love her work. 

GALILEO

Arrival Date: 12/17/22

Size: 14"

Year: 2022 

Edition Size: 1200

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Features: Plumo

Purchased From: ebay (Cindy Lewellen)

Cost: $107.10 (Retail $126)

Thoughts: Wow. I thought this guy was cute in the catalogue, but he was a bit pricey for his size, so I ended up skipping him. When people started posting pics, I again thought he was cute and kept peeking at QVC and Amazon to see if he'd be offered in either place. I figured the shipment arriving with my stockist would be all taken and I wanted him now. So when this one popped up on ebay, I totally fell for his face AND he was 15% off! The total of bear, ebay tax and shipping came out less than his retail cost! When I opened him after work tonight, I realized why he's more expensive for a 14" bear. He's tyber! And plumo. His mohair is actually super soft for once. I really like it. He's a wonderfully soft little cuddler with the cutest face. I'm so glad I treated myself!

MAGDA

Arrival Date: 12/14/22

Size: 15"

Year: 2021

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $71.95 (Retail $109.95)

Thoughts: I've had my eye on this Magda ever since BAMS got her in. I had almost enough rewards points but then spent them on the Birthday Bear instead. So when Valerie did her huge post-Black Friday sale and I saw Magda, I had to grab her. I didn't have her shipped til I got home from vacation and she arrived today. I just got home from having a tooth pulled, so Magda will be a nice recovery companion. She's got a very sweet, concerned look on her face. She's a light biscuity color with a very soft, textured fur on her limbs and ears. Her toes, torso and head are all a longer pile, soft fur. She's got quite a bit of weight to her, considering her smaller 15" size. I think she's great.