BRADY

Arrival Date: 4/2/18

Size: 20"

Year: 2018

Edition Size: 1870

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: Beacon's Glow

Cost: $104.95

Thoughts: Brady was an unplanned purchase. He didn't catch my eye in the catalog, but when Valerie (from BAMS) got him in, I fell in love with a particular one. Unfortunately, Brady is very, very popular and the one I loved was the first to get picked. Then went the other one I was interested in. And all the others. So I waited for Beacon's Glow to get their shipment in and Brenda helped me find the right Brady for me. Using Valerie's pics, we both felt this one was closest to the original one I'd fallen for. He's a little more mature-looking and serious than several of the others I've seen, which is what I liked about that original bear. Brady made me break my vow of no more bigger (over 17") bears other than what I'd pre-ordered, because I'm running out of space for such large ones. I spent last Thursday reorganizing and freeing up a shelf for Brady and the Year Bear, who hopefully will be coming in soon. But at 21", he's one of my four biggest bears! The others are Shades and Graeme, also at 21", and Ozzie at 21.5".

KARL

Arrival Date: 3/30/18

Size: 17"

Year: 2018

Edition Size: 2000

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: QVC

Cost: $99.94

Thoughts: I decided to give Karl a test drive (test hug?), because while I liked people's owner pics of him, I wasn't 100% sure on him. Then I got home from work and hugged him and he was fabulous. His brown fur is very thick and dense for a softness unlike any of my other bears. And at 17", he's tall, but not that tall. Mine also has freckles I haven't seen on other Karls, so I love that. He's atypical for my collection, because he's a plain, unpatterned panda in natural colors, but he was worth taking a chance on.

PAIGNTON

Arrival Date: 3/30/18

Size: 17"

Year: 2017

Edition Size: 1270

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: ebay

Cost: $27 (Retail $61.95)

Thoughts: I always thought Paignton was cute and should have picked him up from QVC during the September show, but I never did. Then he appeared on ebay and I won him for the fab price of $27 plus shipping! Guess it was good to wait after all. He's wonderful quality, despite not being jointed. The detailing is gorgeous and he's so soft. He makes me extra excited for the two Bearhouse characters I have on pre-order!

LIME PICKLE

Arrival Date: 3/29/18

Size: 15.5"

Year: 2018

Edition Size: 999

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: Retail $89.95

Thoughts: I love green, so green bears are some of my favorites. Lime quickly became the bear I was second most excited for (after Bundle) from the 2018 catalog, so I'm thrilled to have him in hand already. The fur on this pair is wonderfully soft and they're a great size. They don't seem very popular because they're so different, but different will always have a place in my collection!

CHUTNEY

Arrival Date: 3/29/18

Size: 15.5"

Year: 2018

Edition Size: 1200

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: Retail $89.95

Thoughts: My first 2018s from my stockist! I was pleased these two were 1st quarter bears and even more pleased they arrived first. Bundle was my first love from the 2018 catalog, but Lime Pickle was my second and I started getting more excited about this guy by extension. I only have one other yellow bear (Mix) so Chutney's a welcome addition to add some more color to my shelves. (He doesn't have white on his face. The fur there is a bit gelled, so it reflects the flash.) I love the ribbons on these two and their soft fur. I'm glad I preordered both!

TC

Arrival Date: 3/26/18

Size: 13"

Year: 2018 Secret Collection

Edition Size: 1450 (Mine is #1006.)

Designer: Alison Mills

Purchased From: QVC

Cost: Retail $87.84

Thoughts: TC caught my eye right away thanks to his unusual blend of colors. What you can't tell from this photo is that he's part of the hat collection and comes with a red fez that's sewn on. Well, that didn't last long! He's based on a fez-wearing comedian I'm not familiar with, so apologies to him, but I freed those cute ears as soon as I could. I love the black eye detailing and his longer face. Like there's a good gap between his eyes and his stitched nose, and his entire face looks longer for that. He's definitely still quite the character, even without the hat, and very soft and cuddly!

MISHMASH

Arrival Date: 3/26/18

Size: 16.5"

Year: 2018 Secret Collection

Edition Size: 1100

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: QVC

Cost: Retail $92.76

Thoughts: His name is two separate words, but I'm mashing them together. I have HodgePodge on order and will do the same with him, too. And I'll likely end up with more of this year's patchwork bears. MishMash is from the Secret Collection so I'm thrilled we're getting him so soon after the UK. His arms and legs are soooooooooo soft! And I'm a big fan of black and gray, so all those lovely shades mixed together are right up my alley.

HIGGLE (Rehomed)

Arrival Date: 3/26/18

Size: 16"

Year: 2018

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: Gift

Cost: Retail $89.95

Thoughts: Higgle was on my pre-order list, then dropped off it, but he decided to find his way to me anyway! He's got a longer muzzle than the bears I usually buy, which is cool, and I love his giant poofy backwards ears. They're white on the back, which would normally be the color used for the ear lining instead. He also has mismatched paw pads! He's a heavy guy, much heavier than I expected, and he sits nicely with Kerri and Ainsley.

FLAPJACK (Rehomed)

Arrival Date: 3/26/18

Size: 12"

Year: 2018 Secret Collection

Edition Size: 1850

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: QVC

Cost: $59.48

Thoughts: I liked Flapjack when people in the UK started getting him, but I wasn't 100% sold until I saw the video of him on QVC. Then he was a must. He's a little guy, but his lush fabrics and loads of detail make him a very richly-designed bear, despite his smaller stature. And that face!

AINSLEY

Arrival Date: 3/26/18

Size: 15"

Year: 2018

Edition Size: 2200

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: Gift

Cost: Retail $81.95

Thoughts: I tend to favor the shorter-haired bears, but every now and then an exception comes. Ainsley is stunning. I love his eye markings, the occasional patch or freckle in his fur, and the material used for his arms and legs. I think he's going to be a good cuddler!