INKSPOT

Arrival Date: 1/8/21

Size: 16.5"

Year: 2012

Edition Size: 2700

Designer: Heather Lyell

Purchased From: ebay

Cost: $50 (Retail $73.95)

Thoughts: Inkspot is one of those bears that's in random patterns so every one looks different. I figured I'd have to import one, so I was very picky about his face. Then this one turned up from the same US seller as Molino. I'd prefer more gray on the face, but all the ones I'd seen were white on the face. This one is very black and I'm okay with that. I prefer it to the white. You can see his eyes better in person.  

FUDDY

Arrival Date: 1/8/21

Size: 12.5"

Year: 2010

Edition Size: 3000

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: ebay

Cost: $40 (Retail $42.95)

Thoughts: Fuddy is a tiny little bear that my mom fell for, so he's her first official bear. He really is adorable. We got him from the same seller as Molino and Inkspot and couldn't believe the low prices we got on all three. He's really cute so I'm happy to have him here, too.

MOLINO

Arrival Date: 1/8/21

Size: 13"

Year: 2014 Secret Collection

Edition Size: 1000

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: ebay

Cost: $40

Thoughts: I've wanted Molino for a few years now, but never got around to importing him. I was thrilled to see him for sale from a US seller and even more thrilled no one else bid! He's a little squishy cuddly bear made from fur that's somehow both soft and bristly at the same time. I love his unusual colors, too. 

BLACK FOREST GATEAUX

Arrival Date: 1/7/21

Size: 19"

Year: 2020

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $125.95

Thoughts: I would say this was the most popular plush bear of the year. Everyone wants this one! And for good reason because he uses the same deep, lush, tyber plush as Rum Baba, who's a huge fan favorite. Black Forest also has a giant chubby tummy, which is great. Very cuddly!

FRITZ

Arrival Date: 1/7/21

Size: 18.5"

Year: 2020

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $117.95

Thoughts: Ah, Fritz! Gotta love a bear with a good German name. I love Jason, so Fritz was a must have, because he's pretty much Jason but darker. I was drawn to this one with his big, wide-set eyes. I call him my porcupine bear, because that's what he reminds me of. 

ROGER

Arrival Date: 12/24/20

Size: 19"

Year: 2020

Edition Size: 3000

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Features: Plumo

Purchased From: QVC

Cost: Gift (Retail $168)

Thoughts: Roger was pretty high on my "can't wait for this one to come out" list when I first saw the 2020 collection, so of course he and actually almost all of my most wanteds fell during Q4. I was super lucky to get this adorable one! He's SO CUTE! Unfortunately, his mohair is patchy on one side of his muzzle, but he's so cute that I don't even care. This is really one reason I dislike plumo bears though. It's a nice idea, but when the rest of the bear is all plush and decent quality, having really spotty mohair, which is indeed natural, just looks funny. Thankfully most of mine have been okay, but even with his damage, there was no way this face was leaving the house. He's big and tyber and he's oh, so soft and cuddly!

TRUCKLE (Rehomed)

Arrival Date: 12/24/20

Size: 10"

Year: 2020

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: Facebook collector

Cost: $53

Thoughts: Truckle was a Christmas gift from Mom. I saw him for sale on one of the FB groups and fell for that sad face, so she bought him for me and he's waited patiently in her closet until last  night. He's an adorable sad grumpy little thing.

MINIKIN (Rehomed)

Arrival Date: 12/20/20 (rehomed 5/23)

Size: 13"

Year: 2020

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $104.95

Thoughts: Minikin got dragged along into Mischief Maker's travel...er, mischief. He's one I wasn't 100% sure I was getting. My stockist only got 7 in and of those 7, I only loved 2. Well, by some miracle, when I had 2 left to choose from this guy, one of the two I loved, was still there. I admit I'm more smitten with Mischief Maker, but Minikin is lovely, too. 

MISCHIEF MAKER

Arrival Date: 12/20/20

Size: 13"

Year: 2020

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $100.95

Thoughts: I'm blaming Mischief Maker for how long it took on this transaction all around. There was an almost week-long hang up while waiting to choose both her and Minikin, and then they disappeared into the postal system's vortex of chaos. They quickly got to the place outside Tampa where Strudel went, but then after I think 5 days, they went up to...NYC. Yep. Well past North Carolina. They were a surprise arrival today and yeah, I'm totally blaming this little lady here. I miraculously got my first choice, even though I was pretty far down the line to choose. I love this little girl! She's gorgeous.

MOZART

Arrival Date: 12/17/20

Size: 16"

Year: 2017 (LE 40. Mine is #14.)

Designer: Kaycee Bears

Purchased From: ebay

Cost: $198 (Retail $220)

Thoughts: I have wanted Mozart since 2017 when he came out. Sienna was part of the same collection and I picked her over him, but it was close. I think his higher price kept me away. I've been watching this particular one on ebay for literal years. I finally came into a bit of money and decided he had to come home at last. 2020 is the year I've brought other older Kaycees home, so I figured it was right to add one more. He's by far my biggest one at 16" and his hair is quite long. He's skinnier than I expected underneath it all, but he's a great hug. I love the long tail and his rust-lined ears. He's going to look perfect sitting on the opposite end of the shelf Sienna's on.