2019 Charlie Bears on QVC US this Week!

The time that we have all been waiting for is almost here.  Charlotte Morris and her husband, Will, owners of Charlie Bears, will be appearing on QVC US this Wednesday and Thursday.  (And we have heard that there will be a special guest on the Thursday show.)

Dates and times are as follows:
March 27 - 6 am ET on QVC
March 28 - 3 pm ET on QVC2

It is always so enjoyable getting to watch them both and we are expecting that they will be showing lots of wonderful 2019 Charlie Bears.  (We have found in the past that they most often debut plush Charlie Bears but who knows?  Maybe this time they will also be showing us some mohair teddies?)

And as is always the case, Beacon's Glow Collectibles will have the same Charlie Bears available for sale on our website.

Enjoy the show!

Quote of the Day - "Only I can change my life.  No one can do it for me." - Carol Burnett

Ever Wonder What Mohair Really Is And Where It Comes From?

I did a bit of research way back in the beginning of 2005 about your collectible teddy bear's mohair and I still continue to get questions regarding what mohair is.  So I thought that it would be worthwhile to track down this article, and hopefully it might be of interest to you? (I've updated it slightly as some of the products that were carried at Beacon's Glow Collectibles way back in 2005 are no longer in existence.)

"Did you know that your teddy bear’s mohair coat comes from the luxuriant fleece of the Angora mohair goat? Did you also know that their fleece is shorn from their coat similar to that of sheep?

Angora goats took their name from the ancient Turkish city of Ankara, which was very close to where they originated. The Turks thought so highly of these special goats that none left the country until the sixteenth century. The first exports landed in Spain and France, but Angoras didn't reach American shores until 1849. The most valuable characteristic of the Angora, as compared to other goats is the value of the mohair that is clipped. The average goat in the U.S. shears approximately 5.3 pounds of mohair per shearing and are usually sheared twice a year – once in the spring and once again in the early fall.

The United States has developed into one of the two largest producing nations of mohair in the world with an annual production in excess of 2.4 million pounds. This was all due to the initial importation of a small flock of seven does and two bucks in 1849.The other two principal sources of mohair are South Africa and Turkey. Texas, with a herd of 220,000 goats is the primary mohair region of the United States. The main region is on Edwards Plateau in Southwest Texas, where the mild dry climate and hilly, brushy terrain are particularly well suited for raising Angora goats due to their dry mountain origin. It is a well-known fact that Angora goats produce the best mohair in hot areas with low rainfall, which explains why Texas is well-suited for raising Angora goats.

Mohair fleece has always been the superior fabric for making teddy bears. There are many reasons for this:1) mohair has an incredible luster to it, and dyed mohair resists fading caused by time and the elements and is very hard wearing; 2) mohair is almost non-flammable; 3) mohair is considered the most durable animal fiber; 4) the natural fibers from mohair have the ability to absorb and release atmospheric moisture; 5) mohair is characteristically resistant to soiling; and 6) mohair possesses great tensile strength.Diameter to diameter it is stronger than steel!

That is why Beacon’s Glow Collectibles has chosen to become retailers of several well-known collectible teddy bear manufacturers that specialize in the creation and production of mohair bears. Charlie Bears, Steiff, Clemens Bears, and Kaycee Bears each carry this distinction.

For centuries, mohair has symbolized style and grace worldwide, and it is no wonder that nothing takes the place of mohair when quality is paramount.Collectible teddy bears made of mohair certainly earn their place as true heirloom items to be treasured by every generation."

Quote of the Day - "When you talk, you are repeating what you already know.  But if you listen, you may learn something new." - Twitter

Announcing Charlie Bears Part 2 Isabelle Anniversary Collection!

It just keeps getting better and better with Charlie Bears!  Announcing their Part 2 Isabelle Anniversary Collection,  Please stay tuned!  There are so many gorgeous bears that we can't possibly decide which is our favorite.

Per Charlie:

"I am a huge believer in fate, as anyone who knows me will tell you.

Things often happen in life that feel instantly right and if you are lucky

and recognise this at the time you can follow your heart and realise your

dreams.

It was exactly like this when one of Isabelle’s gorgeous creations chose

me. I feel hugely privileged to be working alongside Isabelle who has an

innate ability to create the most wonderful bears.

So to finish our milestone celebration we have again looked to our

collectors for their favourites from our magical mohair range over the

last decade, since Isabelle and I first met in 2005.

Not one who likes to be told when to “stop” and “no really Charlie that’s

enough!!” – I still believe there is always room for one more bear so I

have even managed to sneak in a few very small new additions to make 

this Christmas one never to forget."

So well put, and we here at Beacon's Glow Collectibles feel blessed to have the opportunity to be a Charlie Bears stockist.

Quote of the Day - "In the hopes of reaching the moon men fail to see the flowers that blossom at their feet." - Albert Schweitzer

Introducing Katie Country Bears

We are pleased to get the opportunity to offer handmade teddy bears and animals from the very talented UK bear artist, Kay Holroyd. Incidentally she has been creating these tiny teddies since 2007.

These adorable Katie Country Bears are usually tiny 5 inch bears but once in a while Kay will produce a larger 7 inch bear.  Each teddy is made from either mohair, alpaca or Tissavel fur.

Many of Kay's bears wear a cute bobble hat that has been hand-knit from Kay's friend who lives in Spain.

We have received in one shipment of these bears (consisting of 8 different bears and one elephant) and all have been sold with the exception of 1!  So pleased to hear that Kay is shipping us a small number of bears now and then a larger order will be soon to follow.

Trust us in that they are even cuter in person! Please stay tuned for our next shipment!

Quote of the Day - "We know what we are, but know not what we may be." - William Shakespeare

What is Mohair Anyway?

Higher-end collectible teddy bears and friends are primarily made of mohair, but what is it exactly?

• Mohair is shorn from the coats of Angora goats.  These goats were not introduced to the US until 1849.
• The US is one of the two largest producing nations in the world which total two million pounds.
• Most Angora goats are raised in Southwest Texas because of its perfect climate and terrain.
• Mohair is considered an all-season fashion fiber.
• Mohair fabric is:  wrinkle resistant, has a high affinity to absorb dyes, is moisture resistant, and extremely flame retardant.
• Mohair can be hand washed and brushed.
• Angora goats are shorn twice a year and the animals are not harmed when being shorn.

So, the next time you are admiring your mohair teddy bear, please appreciate what an Angora goat has contributed to making your collectible bear amazing!

Quote of the Day - "To unpathed waters, undreamed shores." - William Shakespeare

All About Your Alpaca Teddy Bear

Collectible teddy bears are usually made from either mohair, plush or alpaca.  Alpaca bears are amazingly soft and cuddly and it is usually made clear that they are made from alpaca fleece.

So what exactly is alpaca?

• Alpaca wool is shorn from an Alpaca (which is a long-haired domesticated South American mammal related to the llama).
• Alpaca can be light or heavy in weight, depending on how it is spun (very similar to how wool is spun).
• Alpaca is warmer and softer than sheep's wool.
• The Alpaca animal is a docile creature well-suited for a family pet.
• Alpacas come in 22 natural colors, with more than 300 shades from a true black through brown-black, browns, fawns, white, silver-grey and rose-grey.
• White is the predominant color.
• Alpacas are raised in San Angelo, Texas, which has the perfect climate for these animals.
• San Angelo, Texas, is the largest producer of alpaca in the US.

A teddy bear made from alpaca really stands out because of its incredible softness.  In fact, once an alpaca teddy is picked up, it is hard to put him down because he is so very cuddly.

Quote of the Day - "The purpose of life is the expansion of happiness.  Happiness is the goal of every other goal." - Deepak Chopra

Your Mohair Teddy Bear - So What Exactly is Mohair?

An Adorable Pair of Charlie Bear Mohair Kitty Cats

A lot of people do not realize that the mohair that their teddy bear is made from comes from the fleece of the Angora mohair goat.  Angora goats are shorn in the same way that sheep are shorn for their wool.

So where did Angora goats originate from?  Angora goats took their name from the ancient Turkish city of Ankara, which was very close to where they originated. The Turks thought so highly of these special goats that none left the country until the sixteenth century. The first exports landed in Spain and France, but Angoras didn't reach American shores until 1849. The most valuable characteristic of the Angora, as compared to other goats is the value of the mohair that is clipped. The average goat in the U.S. shears approximately 5.3 pounds of mohair per shearing and are usually sheared twice a year – once in the spring and once again in the early fall.

The United States has developed into one of the two largest producing nations of mohair in the world with an annual production in excess of 2.4 million pounds. This was all due to the initial importation of a small flock of seven does and two bucks in 1849.  The other two principal sources of mohair are South Africa and Turkey. Texas, with a herd of 220,000 goats is the primary mohair region of the United States. The main region is on Edwards Plateau in Southwest Texas, where the mild dry climate and hilly, brushy terrain are particularly well suited for raising Angora goats due to their dry mountain origin.  (The town that is well-known for their mohair production is San Angelo, Texas).  In fact, if you would like to read more, the "Mohair Council of America" located in San Angelo has additional information to read.It is a well-known fact that Angora goats produce the best mohair in hot areas with low rainfall, which explains why Texas is well-suited for raising Angora goats. 

Mohair fleece has always been the superior fabric for making teddy bears. There are many reasons for this:  1) mohair has an incredible luster to it, and dyed mohair resists fading caused by time and the elements and is very hard wearing; 2) mohair is almost non-flammable; 3) mohair is considered the most durable animal fiber; 4) the natural fibers from mohair have the ability to absorb and release atmospheric moisture; 5) mohair is characteristically resistant to soiling; and 6) mohair possesses great tensile strength.  Diameter to diameter it is stronger than steel!

All in all, collectible teddy bears made from mohair tend to cost more than bears made from plush and they also tend to hold their value as well.  

Quote of the Day - "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." - Robert Frost