Charlie Bears on QVC UK This Week

Just finished watching the first of four Charlie Bear shows on QVC UK.  We were hoping to see Charlie (Charlotte Morris) join her husband, Will, but unfortunately it never happened.  Keeping our fingers crossed that she will make an appearance on one of their upcoming shows.  We just love watching Will but Charlie brings an additional perspective to the creation of these incredible collectible teddy bears. Do they make a terrific couple or what?

William made many comments that we feel are worth sharing to further embrace the Charlie Bears brand:

1. 2015 will mark Charlie Bears tenth anniversary.
2. For those of you who are not familiar with the term "Plumo", this is a Charlie Bears-specific phrase when referring to a teddy bear who has mohair on both his ears and face, and the rest of him is plush material.
3. It was fun to learn some Christmas meal favorites from the UK which are definitely different than those traditional fixings here in the US (i.e., parsnip, mince pie, and brussel sprouts).
4. The Charlie Bears "Best Friends Club" now boasts more than 4000 members worldwide.
5. Charlie Bears tends to stay away from creating Christmas themed bears as they feel that these wonderful teddybears should be out on display all year.
6. All Charlie Bear Bearhouse bears (which are non-jointed bears and animals) are made of plush and are named after famous castles and landmarks. (Drogo (pictured above) was a Bearhouse animal presented on the show).
7. Mohair bears are intended for the discerning collector 14 years old and above, and are considered adult collectibles.
8. Mrs. Lovely was named after Will's sister.  (She actually works for Charlie Bears in sales and marketing in Europe).
9. The term 'tickly toes' refers to a bear paw pad that has stitching for the toes that is quite obvious.
10. Many times Charlie Bears get their names from Charlie Bear collectors. (On this show, Rowena was presented and she was named after a collector).  An adorable bear by the way!
11. Charlie Bears never come out of retirement.  Once they are retired, that is it.  (On occasion, Will did mention that they will bring back a smaller version but this is not commonplace).

Absolutely loved the Brussel bear that was presented during this show.  His face was just amazing!

Please watch the QVC schedule to see when Charlie Bears will once again present on QVC UK.  (In Texas, there is a 6 hour difference from the UK.  So for example if the show is on 2-3 pm UK time, it would be 8 am CST).

Quote of the Day - "Everyone has a fair turn to be as great as he pleases." - Jeremy Collier

Charlie of Charlie Bears is Back! :)

We are looking forward to seeing both Charlie and Will  Morris (founders of Charlie Bears) this Thursday, July 24th on QVC UK.  The show will start at 8:00 AM Central Standard Time (CST).

It is our understanding that this will be the first time since her illness that Charlotte Morris has appeared together with her husband on the QVC shopping network. They are always such a joy to watch.  And the UK QVC hosts animate the bears a bit which is a pleasant change from watching QVC here in the US.

We expect that they will both be introducing many of their 2014 Plush Bears but hope that they will also showcase some of their mohair and alpaca bears from 2013 that have not shipped at this writing.  Still patiently waiting for both Aphrodite and Cupid.  There is no doubt in our mind that these two alpaca collectible bears will be absolutely stunning in real life.

We would highly recommend tuning in to see this adorable couple this Thursday on QVC UK!

Quote of the Day - "Keep your face always toward the sunshine - and shadows will fall behind you." - Walt Whitman

A Blast From the Past - How Things Have Changed!

Chloe - Dolls by Pauline

Was in the process of cleaning out some extraneous computer files, and came across a News Release way back from November 2004.  At that time, Beacon's Glow Collectibles carried 12 unique lines of collectible dolls and teddy bears with 800 different products.

So, do any of these lines from the past ring a bell?

• Jan McLean Dolls
• Ginny Dolls by Vogue
• Precious Moments Dolls
• Linda Rick Dolls
• Susan Wakeen Dolls (very popular at that time)
• Doll by Pauline (our best selling line back in 2004)
• Annette Funicello Bears
• Ganz Cottage Collectibles
• Lang Primitive Candles

There is a story to be told as to why we stopped carrying each of these lines.  Many of these manufacturers are non-existent at this time unfortunately.  (We did read the other day that Lang is bringing back their candles which is good news). They discontinued carrying candles many years ago. But the main reason that we stopped carrying them was that it was difficult to successfully ship candles in the summer months.  They melted before they left Texas.

Anyway, we hope that you still have some of these wonderful dolls or teddy bears from the past in your collections.

Currently we carry 19 different lines and have more than 3000 different items to offer consumers.  Times sure have changed in 10 years!

Quote of the Day - "Be kind whenever possible.  It is always possible." - Dalai Lama

2014 Steiff Bears Fall Line

Franz Teddy Bear by Steiff EAN 034060

The official launch date to introduce the up and coming 2014 Steiff Fall line was July 1st.  We have to say that this collection is amazing!  There are so many incredible teddy bears and animals that it makes it so hard to choose a favorite.

And all of the North American Exclusives, Replicas, and Worldwide Limited Editions come with a very special 'Button in Ear' tag.  In 1904 the founder, Margarete Steiff, officially registered the "Button in Ear".  This memorable event is now commemorated with an ear tag that contains the very same elephant motif that was used more than 110 years ago.

 A bit about this fantastic collection directly from Steiff:

"There's a new parade of novelties headed your way for fall and holiday 2014. Leading the procession is Lukas, the drummer boy, with his little tin drum. In his smart white mohair coat, he sets the pace for a cast of characters that's sure to bring joy to collectors everwhere. There are rare treasures, unique replicas, and lovable animals in store for everyone.

 Fall marks the return of the coveted Margarete Steiff edition. This black-tag series represents the very best of Steiff design and craftsmanship. Each piece is meticulously handmade by our most skilled artisans and produced in strictly low quantities. This special edition pays tribute to Franz Steiff who developed the famous "Button in Ear" trademark exactly 110 years ago. The bear comes with a copy of the original button patent and a sealing wax kit.

 The collection also includes characters designed to help collectors celebrate the upcoming holiday season. There's a musical bear that plays "Last Christmas," a little girl Teddy in a snowflake gown, and a pair of festive ornaments.

 Plus, there are plenty of ideas for gift-giving. Wouldn't Teddy with Matryoshka make a wonderful Christmas surprise? And who wouldn't appreciate the gift of adventure with our Marco and Niccolo Teddy bears?

 Naturally, you'll also find new exclusives for the North American audience. The ever-popular series of bears with SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS continues with "Rudy," a fresh, new pink bear. The next "Wizard of Oz" edition is the Scarecrow, officially licensed by Warner Brothers.  

 Replicas also have their place in the festivities. There's a 1908 Teddy that looks amazingly like a vintage bear. And leading the tail end of the parade? A donkey replica on wheels from 1929, complete with squeaker."

Please stay tuned as we expect that these gems will start shipping in late Fall.

Quote of the Day -  "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." - CS Lewis
 

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

Introducing Silver Tag Bears from the UK

We are now carrying Silver Tag Bears by Suki, a UK company.  Do you recall the teddy bear manufacturer, Russ Berrie?  These were very popular collectible teddy bears in the past but it appears that this company could not survive the Great Recession.

A company named Suki Gifts International, based in Hampshire, United Kingdom, bought out this company and is now producing a new line of collectible bears named Silver Tag Bears.

Already very popular in both Europe and Australia, we were very fortunate to be the first US retailer of these adorable teddy bears.

Each teddie is exclusively designed in the UK and has the classic bear hump on its back.  Each is fully jointed and is given a nice weight by adding beans.

So far there have been two Collections of Silver Tag Bears released and a third is planned to be debuted in September 2014.  Each of these collections consists of 6 teddybears that is limited to 1500 pieces per each bear.

Additionally, each teddy is made from a multi-tonal plush fabric and comes with their own carrying box and logo tissue paper.  And each is reasonably priced.

Please check out these new bears if you get the opportunity.  We expect that they will gain in popularity just as Charlie Bears from the UK did.

Quote of the Day - "Play for more than you can afford to lose and you will learn the game". - Winston Churchill

Department 56 Village Replacement Parts

A key determining factor when deciding whether or not to carry Department 56 Villages and accessories was the plethora of calls we had received requesting information on how to acquire a replacement cord or adapter for a retired D56 village or accessory.

We were frustrated in that we could not assist the customer.  So we decided to try becoming more knowledgeable about Dept 56 replacement parts.

In order to track down a required adapter, replacement cord, or light bulb we are now able to directly contact a Dept 56 representative who handles this specific subject.  She has nicknamed herself "Ms Lit Town" and has a massive database to refer to when trying to track down a retired piece. She told us that there are over 200 power cords alone and her database consists of more than 5000 pieces to include both Villages and accessories.  (I had inquired about a replacement cord for a 2001 piece and she quickly came up with the name and SKU number for it).

Some of these replacement parts can be ordered by us through Enesco (which distributes Department 56 products) or through Ms Lit Town for older pieces.

So, if you are in need of any type of replacement part for your Department 56 Villages, please do not hesitate to contact us at requests@beaconsglow.com.  We will try our best to track down and order that part for you.

By the way, there are some amazing Department 56 collectible figurines and villages that have been introduced for 2014.  Please take a look!

Quote of the Day - "Life isn't about getting and having, it's about giving and being." - Kevin Kruse