CHILLBLAINE

Arrival Date: 3/11/19

Size: 16"

Year: 2018

Edition Size: 2000

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $89.95

Thoughts: I went back and forth a bit on Chillblaine. I debated cancelling his pre-order a couple times, then decided to wait until I saw the final product. Once people in the UK started getting him, all of them looked great, so I was pretty sure I wanted him. When I got to pick mine, this one jumped right out at me. He looks like he's patiently listening to you, but also judging every word you say!

HAKATAN

Arrival Date: 3/11/19

Size: 15.5"

Year: 2018

Edition Size: 2000

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $89.95

Thoughts: I finally paid off my last layaway of 2018 bears! Hakatan was one of the first ones I was most excited about from the 2018 catalog. He's an adorable little bear. And he's not black. He's actually the darkest shade of blue I've ever seen!

SPLODGE

Arrival Date: 3/11/19

Size: 12"

Year: 2019

Edition Size: 2074

Designer: Heather Lyell

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $58.95

Thoughts: Yep, I have two Splodges! This one was actually my first choice, because his markings are absolutely perfect.

SPLODGE

Arrival Date: 3/6/19

Size: 12"

Year: 2019

Edition Size: 2074

Designer: Heather Lyell

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $58.95

Thoughts: This is actually my second Splodge! I bought two! I've never gotten CB twins before, even though some people regularly buy twins and triplets. I have neither the room nor that level of disposable income. Yeesh. But Splodge is easily the most varied bear I have ever seen. Every one is distinctly different. My initial pick was not this guy, but one you'll see soon. He had more even distribution of all the colors, whereas this guy is dominantly red and yellow on the face with that one blue ear. I fell in love with this one, too, though and asked to adopt him if no one else who had pre-ordered picked him. I was so happy when he was still available! I call him Ol' Blue Ear and the other one will be Splodge. He's dark chocolate brown, by the way. In a lot of photos, he's so dark he looks black, but he's dark brown, red, yellow and blue with a pale orange stitched nose.

BERTHA (Rehomed)

Arrival Date: 3/6/19

Size: 25"

Year: 2018

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $179.95

Thoughts: Ah, big Bertha! She wasn't initially on my pre-order list, but I added her after paying off my 6-month layaway on Botticelli. She's my second most expensive bear after him, because she is HUGE. She's the size of a freakin' toddler and HEAVY. I finally paid her off, as well as bringing a 2019 pre-order home. She's gorgeous and I'm glad I decided to go for her, even though she's far bigger than my ideal size. She's sitting nicely on my hallway bookcase with Year Bear 2018 and Trudy.

RUBY

Arrival Date: 2/25/19

Size: 12"

Year: 2009

Edition Size: 3000

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: ebay

Cost: $26

Thoughts: Ruby was a surprise find on ebay. I could not believe her price! $19.99 opening bid, but $26 Buy It Now?!! I  was shocked! And quickly grabbed her. She was never one on my want list, but I always thought she was cute, and she's even cuter in person.

MERCURY

Arrival Date: 2/23/19

Size: 20.5"

Year: 2014

Edition Size: 1600

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: Kitty

Cost: $130

Thoughts: I've wanted Mercury for probably at least a year now. The few times he's popped up on ebay, I had no money. I managed to luck into one from an awesome US seller I've bought from several times before, after seeing someone else get one from her. I'm so thankful she had two! So here he is, my first new bear in my new apartment. He's so soft!

CANDICE

Arrival Date: 2/11/19

Size: 15"

Year: 2019

Edition Size: 1660

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $84.95

Thoughts: I automatically wanted Candice's sister Cara from the catalogue. She's shades of pink, gray and black. But Candice grew on me and ended up in my preorders. When people started getting theirs, I was less sure, because quite a few pics had her looking kind of scruffy. But when she arrived with my stockist and I saw photos, I fell in love with this one. And another one, too. It took me probably almost an hour to make all my selections! She is lovely in person and not a bit scruffy if you comb her fur.

MUFFIN

Arrival Date: 2/11/19

Size: 12.5"

Year: 2019

Edition Size: 1860

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $68.95

Thoughts: I loved Muffin and Bakewell right away in the catalog. Muffin's color is this rich, luxe, deep blue. It's simply stunning. I love that his paw pads and tickly toes are also blue, while the outer parts are cream. Mine looks like he's lost in thought, which I always love on bears, and I'm amused that his little arms are so thick! He's tiny, but he works out.

TOADSTOOL

Arrival Date: 2/11/19

Size: 13"

Year: 2019

Edition Size: 1460 (Mine is #843.)

Designer: Alison Mills

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $85.95

Thoughts: I fell in love with Toadstool immediately upon seeing the catalogue. I love greens, but especially rich dark greens, and I love his little leafy hat. Then people started getting theirs and I saw some with the cutest little wide-eyed squish faces and I'm so glad I was able to pick one of them! He's soooooooooo cute!