BLOTCH

Arrival Date: 9/24/21

Size: 10"

Year: 2021 

Designer: Charlie

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: Free with rewards points (Retail $48.95)

Thoughts: I finally got to choose my Blotch! We're so behind here in the US that we've forgotten the quarter system and are just getting whatever we can. Blotch was a 2nd quarter bear, I think, and we're still waiting on his big brother Kaleidoscope. I'm hoping he comes soon. Blotch is one of those very random plush bears where none of them are ever going to look even remotely alike. I had 17 to choose from and the variations were amazing! I had it down to two and this little guy won me over. The other one I was considering had more colors more prominently, but his face wasn't nearly as cute. I love the black and white stripes coming up from his eyes and I wanted orange on his face and there it is. Well, technically, it's pink and yellow blended but it gives an orange appearance. He's teeny, bright and darling. Love him!

SNICKERDOODLE

Arrival Date: 9/16/21

Size: 17"

Year: 2021 

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: CB Direct UK

Cost: $157

Thoughts: Snickerdoodle is just a regular 2nd quarter bear, but I ordered him from CB Direct UK, which I don't tend to do with normal releases. His photo in the catalogue is really not flattering at all, so when people started showing owner photos of him, I thought he was really cute. I resisted for quite a while, but then I caved a few days ago. He's one of those bears that looks a bit grumpy or forlorn. Every one I've seen has had the same look. And I can be a sucker for that. He's tall but skinny and pretty lightweight. And he's soft, but not Tyber level. I really like him so I'm glad I splurged a bit. 

JULIANNA

Arrival Date: 8/16/21

Size: 14"

Year: 2021 

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $97.95

Thoughts: SO CUTE. I love this bear. I'm not sure what it is about her, but I adore her. She's just darling. I originally liked all four from the pages in the catalogue she was on, but I think I was drawn most to her. That feeling went away as the months passed, but it's back. She's got a lot of personality for a little thing!

DARWIN

Arrival Date: 8/16/21

Size: 16"

Year: 2021 

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $73.95

Thoughts: Darwin is a wombat, so again, you know this is a Bearhouse character. Gah, he is so cute. You'd think Signals would be my favorite from this batch of arrivals, but no, it's Darwin. I've been eager to hold him since I picked him out! he doesn't disappoint. He's unusual, sure, but he's adorably so and that's just what I like.  

PERU

Arrival Date: 8/16/21

Size: 15.5"

Year: 2021 

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $72.95

Thoughts: Peru is a capybara, so you know this is a Bearhouse character. That's where the most unusual ones are. There was a more perfect one to choose, but like Tasmania, this lady won me over with her happy face. 

SIGNALS

Arrival Date: 8/16/21

Size: 16.5"

Year: 2021 

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $160.95

Thoughts: Signals was my only first quarter pre-order and here I am, getting him in August. Everything is screwed up this year. Signals is gorgeous. I still prefer Grumbleweed and his darker green, but I'll take these dragons in any color. He's soft and so well-detailed. Better late than never!

PLUM CRUMBLE

Arrival Date: 8/14/21

Size: 13"

Year: 2021 Cuddle Time Collection

Edition Size: 200 (Mine is #166.)

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Features: Mohair

Purchased From: CB Direct

Cost: $280

Thoughts: Oh, now this one. This was a very unplanned purchase. When I saw Sneaky Peeks, I loved all the mohair, but knew I couldn't afford one. I'm already eventually getting the two mohair dragons this year and my mom is getting me Harley for my birthday. But when the show came on and she came on screen, I rushed to see how the cost would break down and clearly ended up with her. I'm very thankful for Afterpay, Paypal Pay in 4, Klarna, etc. They've helped me get some things that I could easily afford spread out every two weeks, but didn't have the full amount right away. I love Plum's little face and her triangular nose. (A lot of people don't like those, but I do. For her anyway.) But it was her colors that got me. I love the kind of light burgundy tone that's tipped in the light green. I'm not sure how to describe that color. It's a pale yellow-green. Not bright enough for chartreuse. Not green enough to be an "apple" shade. Whatever it is, everything comes together on her and she may be my favorite mohair. Even over Snapdragon. 

DAMON

Arrival Date: 8/14/21

Size: 10.5"

Year: 2021 Cuddle Time Collection

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: CB Direct

Cost: $78

Thoughts: Whew! Damon is random plush and some of them have been really dominantly white on their faces. I crossed my fingers I'd get a dark one, because while I wouldn't have minded white on the body, I didn't want it on the head much because he has a large white muzzle. So I'm very pleased with this very dark little fellow. He looks slightly cranky, too, which I always like.   

JENNY

Arrival Date: 8/14/21

Size: 14"

Year: 2021 Secret Collection

Edition Size: 3000

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Features: Plumo

Purchased From: CB Direct

Cost: $100

Thoughts: Ah, Jenny. I loved her from the catalogue. I had thought she was supposed to go to stockists this last delivery, but she didn't, so I grabbed her from CB Direct. Mine isn't perfect, but she's pretty regardless of her small flaws. I might do twins of her, as I have first choice with my stockist. I adore orange bears so. 

TIA (Rehomed)

Arrival Date: 8/10/21

Rehomed: 1/2/22 

Size: 15.5"

Year: 2016

Edition Size: 2300

Designer: Heather Lyell

Purchased From: Fellow collector (on Facebook)

Cost: $85

Thoughts: Tia is one of those random plush that I get really picky about. She was never on my list way back in 2016 when she came out, but my stockist had one that I really loved. I always meant to get her and then she was gone. I remember she had black lines around her eyes that almost reminded me of Jetta's facial zigzag (only black on white fur instead of white makeup on pale skin obviously). I've seen several Tias over the years, but never one that was good enough to remind me of that lost bear. This one though caught my eye. She's got definite attitude markings and she was a good deal, so she's taken her place on the black and white (and Byte) shelf beside Inkspot.