MICHELLE (Rehomed)

Arrival Date: 5/28/19 (Rehomed 3/8/21)

Size: 19"

Year: 2019

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $111.95

Thoughts: Michelle was not on my pre-order list, but I skimmed her photos while choosing other bears that had arrived at the same time. Two of her jumped out at me and I ended up asking about her a bit later. Both my options were still there, so it took a while to choose, but this is the one who won. I've had her and Year Bear on layaway, but I got them home today. Michelle is a lovely honey color. She's really not my usual type of bear, but something about her just screamed "Adopt me!" She's got an amusingly big round tummy, so she looks pregnant from the side. And she's very soft! If I'm not mistaken, the honey and white fur is the same that was used on Befuddle's patches of the same color. 

YEAR BEAR 2019

Arrival Date: 5/28/19

Size: 18"

Year: 2019

Edition Size: 4770

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Features: Plumo

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $104.95

Thoughts: I had mixed feelings on this bear after I saw owner photos, so I went into her adoption with only a maybe-level commitment. When I got to choose mine, this one jumped right out at me. I know she'll never be one of my favorites, but she's so different and I love the colors. I've got her seated on top of a bookcase with Botticelli and Peashoot, and my other mohairs will go there, too, as I add more to my collection. She looks perfect with Botti!

IVAN

Arrival Date: 5/9/19

Size: 18"

Year: 2019 Secret Collection

Edition Size: 900

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: CB Direct UK

Cost: $130

Thoughts: I was very disappointed we didn't get Ivan on our spring QVC show and when I went to buy him from CB Direct UK, he was sold out. He popped back in too briefly a bit later and I missed him again. So when he was there a couple days ago, I jumped on him! Ivan is made of a very unique curly plush that they've only just started using this year. He's not the softest bear, but he's still very cuddly and I'm so happy with mine's face! He's the cutest!

GOLIATH

Arrival Date: 4/29/19

Size: 16"

Year: 2019

Edition Size: 1400 (Mine is #826.)

Designer: Alison Mills

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $97.95

Thoughts: Now China the bull should have been my first from the Queen's Beasts series, but since the US is the redheaded stepchild of the CB world, we're still waiting on China. And Sly Fox. And a lot of other 1st quarter characters. I'm not complaining because I prefer China to Goliath, but it would be nice if they kept us up better. Anyway, isn't Goliath adorable? I ended up with not one but two darling lions this year. I love the little bit of white on his chin and I like that he's on the skinny side. He's very different from Dandy and he's going to look great sitting with the other big cats.

CARA

Arrival Date: 4/29/19

Size: 15"

Year: 2019

Edition Size: 2010

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: BAMS

Cost: $84.95

Thoughts: Of the pair of sisters, it was Cara that caught my eye first. I knew she was going to be gorgeous. Candice hovered off my pre-order list until the very end and I'm so glad I got both, because I adore my Candice. When I chose my Cara, I knew I wanted one a bit different from Candice, so she didn't look like a recolor. I picked this one with adorable wide-set eyes to help them look different.

HENRY

Arrival Date: 4/22/19

Size: 17.5"

Year: 2013

Edition Size: 2000

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: Kitty

Cost: $85

Thoughts: Henry is another older bear that caught my eye when he was cheap on ebay years ago. I didn't get that one (but someone got a $46 steal!) and he remained on that low-key want list. Kitty, who I've bought several bears from, happened to show this one's pic on Facebook to see if anyone wanted him before she put him on ebay. Even though I'd just bought Bindi, I said yes. Henry's got an unusual face for CBs. There's a lot of personality there in a different way than most of the other bears. He's also a bit nostalgic for me, because my grandmother had a large brown plush bear with a red bow that I played with for years, and here's Henry all brown with a red scarf, so he reminds me of that bear. He's super soft and nicely weighty, too. I think he'll be a good cuddler.

BINDI (Rehomed)

Arrival Date: 4/22/19

Size: 14.5"

Year: 2014

Edition Size: 2000

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: ebay

Cost: $70

Thoughts: Sweet Bindi was an impulse ebay purchase. A nice lady was selling bears to earn money for her dog's vet bills and Bindi caught my eye. Bindi was actually one of the bears I was interested in about 3 years ago when I started collecting. The particular one I was looking at sold, but I kept her on my low-key want list. She used to appear a lot more often, but lately I haven't seen her in quite a while, so I made a $70 offer on her and it was accepted. She's super adorable and I love her.

ISNEE (Rehomed)

Arrival Date: 4/19/19

Size: 8"

Year: 2018 Bearhouse Collection

Edition Size: 2500

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: QVC

Cost: $30

Thoughts: Isnee is one of the tiny Bearhouse line. There was one I really liked from my stockist, but he sold before I could buy him. He wasn't a huge priority or anything, so I let him sit and I regret it a bit. Lesson learned! So when QVC had free shipping and 6 Easy Pays, I decided to give Isnee a try. He's really adorable and well-made as always. I might have to hunt down Jonjare now.

BUD (Rehomed)

Arrival Date: 4/12/19 (Rehomed 1/23)

Size: 12"

Year: 2019 Secret Collection

Edition Size: 1000

Designer: Heather Lyell

Purchased From: CB Direct US

Cost: $60

Thoughts: Bing's brother Bud made a surprise appearance on our US CB Direct and I had to have him. He's the more colorful of the two with his animal print. I would love an entire bear in this print. The sky blue bits are gorgeous. Bing and Bud were definitely not on my list of wants, just maybes thanks to their terrible stock photos, but they're gorgeous in person.

DIDDUMS

Arrival Date: 4/12/19

Size: 9.5"

Year: 2019 Secret Collection

Edition Size: 1830

Designer: Isabelle Lee

Purchased From: CB Direct UK

Cost: $58.68

Thoughts: I didn't have it in mind to get Diddums with my second membership coupon. I was actually after Zadie, but the US site wasn't taking my coupon and I saw him on the UK site the next morning and said "Why not?" I'm glad I did because he is ADORABLE. He's a tiny little guy, but he's also quite a chunk so he doesn't feel only 9.5" tall. He's so soft, too! I love him.