HIGGLEDY

Arrival Date: 5/13/23 and 5/15/23

Size: 16"

Year: 2023

Designer: Charlie

Purchased From: Artisanal Bears (left) & BAMS (right)

Cost: $84

Thoughts: I loved Higgledy in the catalogue, because he looked like Kaleidoscope but with darker colors that were more to my liking. (I love Kaleidoscope, but darker jewel tones are a weakness.) The catalogue model had red on his face, so that's what I wanted. When I saw the one on the left, I loved him, but my stockist was adding her pictures soon, so I waited to see if she'd have one similar. Thankfully, she put up the photos later the same day and I saw the only one with more red on the face wasn't one I liked. I was drawn to the green-faced one on the right, so I bought him, then also bought my red-faced guy on the left. I don't have twins often, but these two are so different and each in an appealing unique way, that I had to have them both. Higgledy is a soft-furred cuddly bear with a skinnier body and large feet. He's excellent if you want someone more colorful and no two will ever be alike!

TUSK

Arrival Date: 5/13/23

Size: 15.5"

Year: 2023

Designer: Alison Mills

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: Free with rewards (Retail $98)

Thoughts: I was very surprised to learn my first two 2023 arrivals would be from the 2nd quarter! The US is the first to get these guys. I was really expecting Cave and Stompy from Q1, but Cave at least should be coming later in the month. Tusk was one of my most wanted from this year's plush collection. I've loved prehistoric creatures since I was little and he's adorable! I love the shorter hair on his head and he's actually a giggler with an open mouth that's hidden from the front. He also has bent legs at the knee so he perches on your arm when you carry him. It makes him extra cuddly.

GRANDDAD

Arrival Date: 5/6/23

Size: 19"

Year: 2022

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: QVC

Cost: $175

Thoughts: Granddad didn't catch my eye in the catalogue last year, but I thought his actual bears were cute when my stockist got hers in. I still wanted to give him an audition first, so when he hit QVC, I planned to order one and I'm not a bit disappointed. He's a good-sized, chunky, heavy guy, but he's got this cottony soft fur and he seems like he's going to be very cuddly. He reminds me of the rounded quality bears like Cinnamon and Kermode have. Very cute face, too. He definitely does not look like a Granddad to me! I'll have to come up with a different name. 

KATHLEEN (Rehomed)

Arrival Date: 5/5/23 (Rehomed 2023)

Size: 18"

Year: 2022

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $132

Thoughts: I've been eyeing this Kathleen from my stockist and I finally got around to adding her to an order. She's basically the same as Vernon only in different colors and I love him. I love grumpy Kathleen slightly less, but only because Vernon sets the bar pretty high. She's an awesome bear in a pretty unique color combo and she's cuddly like Vernon is.

BLITZEN (Rehomed)

Arrival Date: 5/5/23

Size: 14"

Year: 2022

Designer: Alison Mills

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $182

Thoughts: I like the Signature Collection, but they tend to be out of my price range and a lot of them are standing, which is not my thing. I have to really love a standing bear to get him. The reindeer aren't standers and there was something about Blitzen that I really liked, so I ended up with him. I think he's very stately and handsome, but I definitely do not see the price reflected in the product. He's also possibly the least cuddly plush I own aside from my couple standing tiny bears. I tried snuggling with him and the antlers and rough fabric coat are just not good enough. I still like him, but I'm considering him a lesson learned on the Signature pieces. I'll just admire them in other people's pics. 

LONDON (Rehomed)

Arrival Date: 5/5/23 (Rehomed 12/23)

Size: 15.5"

Year: 2022

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $104

Thoughts: I wasn't 100% on London and I've still not bonded with him, but he's also barely arrived and I think I will bond eventually. I picked one with a starey expression, because I liked it. He's very well-done and detailed. I think I'll love him. I just haven't had much time with the newbies.

HOUSTON

Arrival Date: 4/19/23

Size: 19"

Year: 2022

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: Lovely Bears

Cost: About $97 (Retail $112)

Thoughts: Houston the shoebill stork was one of my most wanted from 2022's collection. I was very upset when I saw both Australia and the UK get him twice when we haven't had him once. The last time that happened to me, I waited over 2 years to get Angelica. That was not happening with this big guy, so I ordered him from Australia. I may keep my preorder if my stockist has one I really love. I liked the glowering Houston from the promo pic, but I'm not sure any of them actually glower. Otherwise, I'll cancel his preorder and replace it with someone else. I always try to do that. Anyway, Houston is as glorious as I expected. He's huge! The shorter gray fur is tyber, so he's super soft on his head and body. His bill is quite soft, too. His wings have multiple feathers, though they're hidden by the shaggy fur. I love his eye color. He's simply amazing and I'm so happy to have him. 

HAYLEY

Arrival Date: 3/25/23

Size: 23"

Year: 2022

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: QVC

Cost: $182

Thoughts: Hayley was not on my radar for the longest time. She's been out for quite a while now and she's been on QVC. Recently, I've been noticing more and more pretty photos of her on the Facebook groups, and after I returned my two Artful Dodgers, I decided to give her a try. Big bears are not really my thing, mostly because I don't have a ton of space and because I tend not to find them as cuddly as the ones a few inches shorter. Hayley might just be an exception though. When I picked her up, I was surprised how cuddly she is, because she really is quite massive. She's comparable in size to Ambassador, but her fur is longer so she looks even bigger. She's got a nice squishy tummy though and she's lighter than she looks. She's very photogenic, too. I think she's going to be sticking around, though I won't know for sure until she's had her cuddle time. She had the somewhat poor luck of arriving on the same day as I bear I've wanted for years, so she's got a little wait before it's her turn. 

MARZIPAN

Arrival Date: 3/25/23

Size: 16"

Year: 2013 Secret Collection

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: ebay

Cost: About $128

Thoughts: Marzipan has been one of my most wanted bears for years. He turns up very infrequently. I knew I'd have to import and I finally saw one on ebay. Totally fell for this guy and bought him right away. What a face! What colors! While I'm not 100% certain he's tyber, he sure feels that soft. He fits right in with Charlie's more recent guilt-free treats designs. I absolutely love him and I'm so happy he's finally made it home. 

SHRUB (Rehomed)

Arrival Date: 3/20/23

Size: 12"

Year: 2022 

Designer: Charlie

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $65.95

Thoughts: And here's Shrub. I love this stripy little grump face. I originally preferred Shrub, then switched to Sapling after getting my first pick, but now in person, it's back to Shrub. They're both adorable so it's the barest of differences.