Arrival Date: 6/27/22
Size: 19.5"
Year: 2022 Secret Collection
Designer: Isabelle Lee
Purchased From: CB Direct UK
Cost: About $112
Thoughts: I became obsessed with Kirsteen after seeing people in Australia with her, so I imported her via CB Direct UK. She's super cuddly and soft! I'm really smitten with her and definitely glad I imported.
Arrival Date: 6/24/22
Size: 15.5"
Year: 2022
Designer: Isabelle Lee
Purchased From: CB Direct
Cost: $140
Thoughts: Battenberg almost made it onto my regular pre-order list. Her companion Garibaldi (same style, shades of brown) did make it. These two remind me of Howie (my first CB ever) and Eton (who I have now but not Howie). I saw owner pics of Battenberg and decided I wanted her after all, but opted to wait for the Direct option so I could return her if we didn't bond. I think she'll be safe though because she's quite cuddly and a little wobble-jointed so she flops nicely. I like her close-set eyes and how she's a different style to their usual pieces.
Arrival Date: 6/21/22
Size: 15"
Year: 2022
Designer: Isabelle Lee
Purchased From: CB Direct via Amazon
Cost: $126
Thoughts: I kept seeing pictures of Stef and wondering if she was the same tyber plush as Stuart's arms and legs. I love Stuart and his plush so I grabbed Stef when she was on Amazon. (She's since sold out from Amazon and CB Direct, but would be with stockists if you want one.) Turns out she is similar but darker and more honey-colored. She's a pretty classic bear done in an unusual fabric and I love the blue toes. She's incredibly soft, which is why she costs more despite her smaller size.
Arrival Date: 5/30/22
Size: 14"
Year: 2022 Secret Collection
Designer: Isabelle Lee
Purchased From: CB Direct
Cost: $91 after BFC coupon (Retail $111)
Thoughts: Oh, wow! I'm surprised again! His stock picture does not to do this guy a single bit of justice. Travis is lovely colors and the darker eye patches and ears really stand out. I think his ear and eye marking fur is the same as Poncho's main fur, while his main body fur is what was used on Tilly's ears and toes. Kind of a soft cocoa color with black tipping. Travis is softer than Tilly, though nothing close to tyber-level. He's so much better than I imagined. Love him!
Arrival Date: 5/23/22
Size: 13"
Year: 2022
Designer: Isabelle Lee
Purchased From: BAMS
Cost: Free with Rewards (Retail $101.95)
Thoughts: Oh, wow, what a surprise! Shirley was already an unplanned adoption. I had my rewards points from my past two orders and planned to use them on one of two other bears, but when I saw this Shirley, I really liked her. Then she became available very quickly and I had to grab her. So first surprise is that I didn't plan to get a Shirley. Second surprise is that in her catalogue photo she looks off-white, cream, maybe a little beige. She is not. She's PEACH! Her fur is shorter and swirly, revealing a darker color underneath. I think it's dark brown but it could be a brown-toned black. So not only do I love her grumpy little face, but she's also a color I prefer and she's super soft. She's more wobble-jointed so she's a good cuddler despite her small size. I'm so glad I chose her! Or she chose me, as they say.
Arrival Date: 5/21/22
Size: 14"
Year: 2022
Designer: Isabelle Lee
Purchased From: BAMS
Cost: $114.95
Thoughts: Oh, what a cutie! I'm so glad we got this first shipment of 2022 bears pretty quickly. This guy was my other major want for Q1 aside from Zach and he does not disappoint at all. SO ADORABLE. He's like a little lion bear. I'm not sure if his arms and legs are tyber but they could be. They're very silky soft. (I'm not a good judge of tyber when it's short pile like this. It's easier to tell when it's longer like Zach's fur.)
Arrival Date: 5/21/22
Size: 13.5"
Year: 2022
Designer: Isabelle Lee
Purchased From: BAMS
Cost: $104.95
Thoughts: Remember how I said I might end up with two Zachs? Yup, it happened. He's so soft and cuddly that I don't mind one bit. The first one is in his spot on my shelf but this one got a spot on the bed so I can reach him easily. I always like to choose a sleeping cuddling companion before I get into bed, but sometimes I'm too lazy and I just reach for someone that's on the bed. I think I'll be reaching for him a lot. He's got a less frightened/concerned expression than my other one and they're both adorable but definitely different.
This new one is on the left and my first is on the right.
Arrival Date: 5/20/22
Size: 15"
Year: 2022 Secret Collection
Designer: Isabelle Lee
Purchased From: CB Direct via Amazon
Cost: $133
Thoughts: Michaela was not on my radar at all until someone posted an arrival pic. Then I decided I wanted her. She arrived today and she's really cute. I like her animal print combined with the tufted toes and the more plush actual toes. Those are two of my favorite newer features CB has been doing. Michaela's a shorter bear and she's skinny, so she's pretty lightweight. I like her a lot.
Arrival Date: 5/19/22
Size: 20"
Year: 2022 Secret Collection
Designer: Isabelle Lee
Purchased From: CB Direct via Amazon
Cost: $196
Thoughts: Ah, the big guy. I had his name written down from the Sneaky Peeks and I saw him on CB Direct but only briefly. I don't think I had the funds just yet and then he was gone, but lo and behold, CB Direct is also on Amazon and if I buy there I can use Affirm and their blessed 12-month payment plans (which I pay off early so I pay as little interest as possible). So I was able to order my Graham (and then Michaela after seeing owner pics). He arrived today and he's definitely a big, beefy guy (to use the QVC presenter's word for Jason from way back when), but he's actually really lightweight. He doesn't feel overwhelming at all. He's gorgeous, too. Definitely a keeper!
Arrival Date: 5/16/22
Size: 14"
Year: 2021
Edition Size: 400 (Mine is #273.)
Designer: Isabelle Lee
Purchased From: BAMS
Cost: $342.95
Thoughts: So all my mohair pieces that were supposed to be spread out last year arrived in two concurrent shipments. Sigh. I was able to buy Runes in full thanks to Paypal Pay in 4 but Charms and Harley will be in layaway for a bit. I like Runes a lot but I'm not quite in love. He may be moving on to another home eventually. I think I want to get Charms here first and see if I prefer one or the other. I have Snapdragon, who is the ultimate mohair dragon, and I try to limit my mohair pieces because they feel like extravagances to me. Runes is gorgeous and he's currently enjoying sitting with Grumbleweed, the original green dragon. I may rearrange those top shelves once Lantern and Charms get here. I'd like Charms by Scorch and Runes by Signals but I don't have enough space at the moment.
