CAROUSEL

Arrival Date: 11/22/20

Size: 22"

Year: 2020

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $168

Thoughts: My big guy is here! Carousel was the first one in the 2020 catalog to really jump right out at me. I recognized that black fur with the neon red tipping right away as Together's fur. I adore Together, so Carousel was a must have. Being this stunning black and red would have been enough, too, but I really love Together's fur. Actually, I think the brighter red on his paws and ears is the same as Cherry Pie, who's another big favorite. Carousel is enormous at 22", though he doesn't have the girth of Christian, who is I think only an inch taller. I need to note that is NOT Carousel's necklace. I preferred this one that Valerie included, so I removed the heart he came with. I haven't cuddled with him yet, but I think he's going to be a great one for it.

BANJO

Arrival Date: 11/21/20

Size: 17"

Year: 2015

Edition Size: 1800

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: Fellow collector on Facebook

Cost: $62 shipped

Thoughts: I fell in love with a Banjo quite a while ago and the transaction never went through. The seller was very difficult about me sending the money a certain way (the correct way) via Paypal when she'd never asked for her way (the wrong way) up front. if she had, I would have automatically refused to buy. I loved that bear though and I was very sad I couldn't adopt him. It's been worth the wait though to finally get him from a nice fellow collector, who saw my name by Banjo on the CB North America Facebook wishlist. She reached out to me while I was on vacation and I was able to finally bring home this adorable guy. He's an older bear from 2015, back they were made more like this. He's got really oversized feet and he's floppy in a good way and cuddly in a great way. I love him. 

MORITZ

Arrival Date: 11/17/20

Size: 19"

Year: 2020 Secret Collection

Edition Size: 3000

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Features: Plumo

Purchased From: QVC

Cost: $136

Thoughts: I wasn't completely sold on Moritz, but when he popped up on CB Direct and I couldn't order because we were leaving for vacation shortly, I was annoyed. Thankfully, he appeared on QVC while I was away and I was able to order before he sold out. Based on owner pics, I still wasn't positive on him and I'm glad I went the QVC route just in case, but he was to surprise me. I think mine is the best one I've seen yet. He's practically perfect. He's tyber, so he's incredibly soft, and his fur has purple undertones, so he's going to be pals with Carson and share that shelf. He's also plumo, so his ears and muzzle are both mohair. Some plumos are more patchy, which happens with mohair, but Moritz is looking good. I'm glad I got him!

GRIFF

Arrival Date: 11/2/20

Size: 22"

Year: 2020

Edition Size: 2000 (Mine is #288.)

Designer: Alison Mills

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $160.95

Thoughts: Oh, Griff. I kept seeing people's that were so cutesy and kinda goofy because he's prone to looking a little cross-eyed. I hoped I'd find one that was more stern and hoo boy, did he not disappoint. My Griff is more over it than you will ever manage to be in your life. If you play around with the fur over his eyes, he can also pull off looking very smirky. The detail level on him is fantastic and I adore him.  

LEE

Arrival Date: 11/2/20

Size: 19"

Year: 2020

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Features: Plumo

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $128.95

Thoughts: Lee was the one I anticipated liking least of today's arrivals, but he actually won me over really quickly. He's partially tyber, which is always a great thing, and he's so silky soft when you hold him. He's taller and sleeker, too, so he's going to be a really good cuddler.  

LOLLYGAG (Rehomed)

Arrival Date: 11/2/20 (Rehomed 1/23)

Size: 13"

Year: 2020

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $104.95

Thoughts: Lollygag is definitely a very popular bear. I've seen a lot of him all over the various CB Facebook groups. Honestly though, she's (mine's a girl) my least favorite of today's four arrivals. I still think she's way overpriced for a Bearhouse (non-jointed) offering. The detail is there, but others have equal detail and cost less. She's still cute though and I do like her.  

CHEESE WHIZZ

Arrival Date: 11/2/20

Size: 19"

Year: 2020

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $118.95

Thoughts: I recently got Soda Pop and now Cheese Whizz is home. Definitely the male of the three siblings and also my favorite. He's more loosely stuffed so he's squishy and the cuddliest of the three. I love his golden yellow! I don't have many yellow bears.