KIMIKO

Arrival Date: 12/15/18

Size: 13"

Year: 2017 Secret Collection

Edition Size: 900

Designer: Alison Mills

Purchased From: ebay

Cost: $82.73

Thoughts: I have wanted Kimiko since she came out! I hoped she and Koda would make it to US QVC like Kiri, but they never have. In November 2017, they were both on CB Direct, but they don't combine shipping, so I was looking at $52 in shipping costs for a box the same size as one larger bear for $26 shipping. I didn't like that, so I wavered on buying the pair and then Kimiko sold out. I haven't seen her for sale often since then. I remember one that was damaged, but the seller wouldn't lower the price accordingly. Well, finally, today I got my Kimiko! She came on ebay the same day Annuska restocked at CB Direct, so one is a Christmas present from my mom and the other I'm paying her back for. Kimiko is stunning. She's just like Kiri, but with different colors. The same chubby belly, cute face, little feets, thick tail and super soft fur. I love both of them and I need Koda now!

ANNUSKA

Arrival Date: 12/8/18

Size: 14"

Year: 2018 Secret Collection

Edition Size: 600

Designer: Alison Mills

Purchased From: Charlie Bears Direct

Cost: $85.88

Thoughts: Annuska caught my eye in the Secret Collection catalog and I've been eagerly awaiting her to become available. So of course she did everywhere else first! She's still not available within the US, but we Americans can order her (if we want to pay almost $27 in shipping) from CB Direct in the UK. I missed her the first time she was offered and was very upset, but then caught her the next morning. She arrived today, which I was not expecting at all, because she was supposed to come on Monday. UPS doesn't deliver on Saturday, but I'm thinking they made an exception for this huge snowstorm we're supposed to get these next few days. Annuska's bigger than I expected and she's SO SOFT. I think she's the softest CB I own. She's just amazing and gorgeous and wonderful.

BIRTHDAY BEAR 2018 (Rehomed)

Arrival Date: 12/4/18 (Rehomed 2/25/21)

Size: 14"

Year: 2018

Edition Size: 2,000

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Features: Plumo

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $74.95

Thoughts: I haven't blind pre-ordered the birthday bear since Malcolm two years ago. I didn't do it this year. I waited along with everyone else to see what the mystery bear looked like and was surprised to see an original design. BB2018 was clearly inspired by a couple mohairs. She resembles the mohair year bear, but also Trinity, who must be one of the most popular mohairs ever. I think this is the first time they've done a plumo for the birthday bear, too. I didn't let myself get too attached to her, because I wasn't sure I'd get one, but my stockist must have had a cancellation and I was able to get her after all. She's very cute and unlike any other bear in my collection. If she was tipped in a lighter pink, I don't think I would have wanted her, but the darker really works well with her creamy main color. She doesn't have a name, but mine is Flora for the moment. It may change.

HANK (Rehomed)

Arrival Date: 12/4/18

Size: 11"

Year: 2018

Edition Size: 899

Designer: Alison Mills

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $66.95

Thoughts: Hank was not one of my initial pre-orders, but when I saw owner pics from the UK, I added him on. He's just too cute! I love hippos. He has excellent detailing, as usual for CBs. He was supposed to be 3rd quarter release, but we got him a bit late.

BIANCA

Arrival Date: 11/30/18

Size: 14"

Year: 2016

Edition Size: 2830

Designer: Alison Mills

Purchased From: QVC

Cost: $69

Thoughts: When you see an unusual face, it's gotta be an Alison Mills. (Except Gary.) I saw some glorious sad Biancas in the Facebook CB groups and I really wanted one, so I decided to take a gamble and hope I got a sad one from QVC. And I'm not disappointed. She can look pretty sad, but also very grumpy, depending on how her fur lays. I like her a lot.

BLAISE (Rehomed)

Arrival Date: 11/30/18

Size: 17"

Year: 2015

Edition Size: 1800

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: QVC

Cost: $35

Thoughts: Blaise is growing on me. His striped fur is more like Fawsley's with more of a quality feel. I didn't initially like him much though. then I squished his face around and positioned his muzzle in a better spot. I do love his ears! And he has knees like the others. I find it funny that the 2015 Bearhouse I initially almost did not order, Fawsley, is actually the one I ended up liking the most. No regrets checking any of these out and I'd lose a bunch sending them back, so I'm keeping them, but the difference in quality is really obvious.

TATTON (Rehomed)

Arrival Date: 11/30/18

Size: 17"

Year: 2015

Edition Size: 1500

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: QVC

Cost: $38

Thoughts: Tatton is another 2015 Bearhouse. He's more like Greystoke in that his fur is just regular plush, but he's got more detail, so he cost a smidge more. He's cute, but nothing really makes him stand out from other plush tigers.

GREYSTOKE (Rehomed)

Arrival Date: 11/30/18

Size: 18"

Year: 2015

Edition Size: 1200

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: QVC

Cost: $34

Thoughts: Greystoke almost doesn't look like he belongs on these pages, does he? Of all the 2015 Bearhouse characters I purchased from QVC, he's the one who most looks like a regular plush toy. Don't get me wrong, he's super cute. This photo doesn't show his adorable open mouth so he looks like he's smiling all the time. But the fur is just regular plush, nothing special like Fawsley's. I do like the detail on the feet and of course, the knees.

CABOODLE

Arrival Date: 11/30/18

Size: 16.5"

Year: 2018

Edition Size: 1150

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: Free! (Regular $86.95)

Thoughts: Grover was my 10th bear purchased on my current rewards card, which meant that I earned my rewards dollars! Since Botticelli was one of the ten, I had quite a bit of bear bucks and that meant Caboodle came home for free. This bear is STUNNING. I'm a big fan of MishMash, who's the same design in black and shades of gray, but Caboodle is perfect for autumn. His warm tones are just glorious. I think he's going to be another underrated bear!

MERLIN (Rehomed)

Arrival Date: 11/30/18

Rehomed: 12/31/21

Size: 20"

Year: 2011

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $65.21 (25% off regular $86.95)

Thoughts: Merlin has been on my low-key want list for ages. Probably well over a year. He's a big guy at 20", but he's not particularly hefty. His main feature is his long, scraggly fur that makes him look like the bear that lives under your bed. I've got mine seated next to Curly, being the two boys with the most unusual fur in my collection.