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Hi folks! My name is Louisette Lanteigne or “Lulu” for short.  I am your guide to the Ty Attic scene in Canada. If there’s any new happenings I’ll gladly pass along the info to you. Why? Because I love you. Actually it’s more that I share the love of Attics with you. I believe that what goes around comes around so I’ll give you my best scoops if you give me yours. If any Canadians out there want to let me know of any hot Ty Attics info just drop me an email via Maison D’Ours.
We’d love to hear from you.

9-28-00  NEW BEANIES AND BEANIE KIDS SHIPPING IN CANADA!
Kelly of Underground Bean's Northern Beans has a great article talking
about the arrival of the Beanie pre packs in Canada. New Beanie Kids
Calypso and Princess have also arrived! She says that Chinook quotas are
going up from 24 to 36 next month so if you don't have one now your
chances will increase. There is a special section with a list of ty
vendors in Nova Scotia that can come in handy too. It's an excellent
article. Check it out at at http://www.undergroundbean.com/nb.htm      

CANADA POST DEADLINES
Canada Post has the details of the year 2000 holiday mailing deadlines.
For Canadians sending gifts, trading or selling, this chart is a must.
You can use this chart to determine if the items you send will arrive on
time for Christmas. It has details of both surface mail and air mail. If
you live outside Canada and want to get your Chinook by Christmas, this
is worth a look. Check it out at
http://www.canadapost.ca/cpc2/corpc/newsrel/xmas00.html

MORE TEENIE BEANIES
Lefty Righty and Libearty will be part of a special McDonald's promotion
starting on October 25th. Since it corresponds with the US election year
this set may be a US exclusive. To take a sneak peek at them check out
http://www.mydollscollectibles.com/bbnews.htm

MAPLE BUDDY RETIRES
After months of speculations and rumors of dwindling shipment it is
confirmed at the Ty site that Maple Buddy has now retired. This bear has
won the hearts of many and it will be missed. Farewell Maple! We'll miss
you. ( I have a feeling little Chinook is going to get a lot bigger
don't you?)

GROOVY BUDDY GONE TOO
First there was Peace, then light Peace and now Groovy. The last of the
Ty Dyed bear Buddies has retired.

NEW BEANIES MORE AFFORDABLE
I was surprised to see how inexpensive the new Holiday Beanies are on
eBay. You can actually purchase a 2000 Holiday Teddy for $15-$20 US.
Snowgirl is around $10 US. It wasn't long ago that a new Princess Beanie
Bear would fetch $150 - $200 US in the first auctions. It appears
consumers are getting smarter and more patient for good deals. Will
demand increase closer to Christmas? We'll have to wait and see on that
one!

I hope you all have a lovely week everybody!

9-28-00   US MONEY ORDER ALERT!
  In Canada, you can buy a US money order at a bank but you can't cash one. As of today it is illegal for any bank in Canada to process a US postal money order. If a Canadian has a US account they will still not be able to process a US money order and it will be treated as a bounced check. If a Canadian goes to the US they cannot cash it unless they have a US account at a US bank. The reason is that the money is untraceable. This method of laundering is frequently used in the drug trade. Technically if a Canadian bank cashes one of these money orders, they are laundering money themselves. Personal checks are still accepted. This information was published in the Toronto Star on September 20th. Action is currently underway to make the same change of policy in Britain, Belgium and Israel. If you intend to do any commerce with any of these nations, especially Canada, please use an International Money order or personal check to avoid any problems. To check out the whole story go to
http://www.thestar.com/back_issues/ED20000920/money/20000920BUS01_FI-POSTAL.html
  Many Canadians are facing the reality of this problem right now. Many didn't know of the policy and they've shipped goods to the US but cannot process the Money Orders received. In many cases, the money orders are being sent back with the sellers trusting in the good will of the customers, that another accepted form of payment is sent. I encourage all those doing commerce with Canadians to please be patient with them while the adjustments are made. Many Canadians are still unaware of this change and it may effect many for some time to come. The easy way to avoid the problem is to remember this. The International money orders are Pink. The US money orders are green. If you are purchasing outside the US, Think Pink! 

New Beanies and Buddies!
Ty has just released a set of Holiday 2000 Beanies and Buddies at http://www.ty.com/announcements/holiday1.html There are three new Beanie Babies. They are Snowgirl the Snowgirl and Roxie the Reindeer and the 2000 Holiday Teddy with a brand new face and body! There are three new Beanie Buddies of Santa, Halo (gold wings) and Wallace. I'm surprised they didn't make the Snowgirl a Beanie Buddy like Snowboy. They are cute though!  

NEW BLACK BATTY HITS CANADA Black Batty Beanie Buddy is shipping in Canada and the US! It is reported to have the same colorings of Radar the bat with black body and reddish orange eyes. One shipment was received in Northern Ontario in a batch of 6. There are online auctions for it already and the prices are currently around $50 - $60 US inhand. To check out a big picture of it visit http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=452496102  

TYRA WITH POMPOMS SOLD Tyra with pompoms sold on eBay for a closing bid of $665 US which is a bargain for this little beauty. Ian relisted his Tyra after he took a digital image of her. The picture is very cute. She is an authentic Pickering Tyra with Pompoms. You can check out the sale at http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=445915296 

BILLIONAIRE BEAR #3
 here is an excellent photo of an authentic Billionaire Bear at http://www.collectingnation.com/auction/1909000/item_1909890.shtml Ty has just issued this bear to his employees this week and it is lovely.  Well it's been a great week in spite of my having a nasty cold. My husband was lucky enough to come across a shop that had just received their Chinooks! It was a buy 5 commons get Chinook for regular price deal. It actually works well because with my daughters, I know the other Beanies are bound to find a cozy home. Have a happy week!
Lulu :0)

Have a great week everybody!
Lulu :0)

9-19-00  CLUBBY III READY FOR CANADA!
Canadians can now order their new Clubby Beanie III and Clubby Buddy III by placing an order at the official Ty site here at http://www.beaniebabiesofficialclub.com/order/offer-ca.jsp The transaction will require a Gold or Platinum BBOC membership card and a major credit card. You can order two sets of Beanie and Buddy per card and the offer is good from September 18th until November 18th. (Just in time for Christmas!) It costs $15 US for one set of Clubby III Beanie and Buddy. The shipping on a single set is $16 US which covers duty, fees and taxes. Better grab them while you can!

CHINOOK BUDDY
Here is a picture of Chinook buddy that recently sold on eBay. Rest assured people, it is home made. It is actually a Valentino Buddy in disguise. Check it out at http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=432686777&ed=968880218

CHINOOK #1
Smart collecting reported that Chinook ranks #1 on MetaExchange's Top Most Traded items. For details check it out at http://www.smartcollecting.com/newsresults.asp?ID=4

CHINOOK TAG ERROR
Chinook with Sniffer tag is up for bids at http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=440422828
 

CANADA CUSTOMS PART 2
I have received many emails regarding my last article. It seems that many people have had problems with over charged duty fees. Here are some of the letters I received regarding this issue.

Peter from Ontario wrote: "Last month I did  a trade with a lady in Britain for a Britannia Beanie. This was to be a surprise for my daughter's 9th birthday.  The lady put a 10 pound value on it as she had purchased it on secondary market.  Revenue Canada put a value of $200 dollars Canadian on it and then proceeded to charge me 35 dollars duty and taxes.  I thought you can't fight customs, but my wife convinced me to appeal it and low and behold I received a check for 35 dollars yesterday.  Customs Canada is not in the appraising or secondary market business.  They should only base it on the value.  Generally they don't even bother for most things under $20 US.  So if your item was $17 US it should be converted to %25.5 Canadian and they should charge no more than 15% tax and 5% duty.  In all that would be about $5.10. I would appeal it and ask them how they come about to charging you 28 dollars."

This letter was sent in by Nell in NS. She hasn't got charged duty fees on her parcels but she had this to say:  "Before I did my first trade on the internet, I had heard about items getting  "lost" in the mail.  I decided it best not to label any parcel with an exact description (such as "Grunt beanie baby" or "Maple beanie buddy) of what was inside.  I hoped this would make it more likely that the items would reach their destination. Whenever I did a trade or purchase, I told the other person to mark the parcel with "gift - toy"  or "stuffed toy" under "Detailed Description of Contents."  I did the same.  One of the packages someone mailed me was marked with a value of $60.00 U.S.  I still wasn't charged anything by Canada Customs. That surprised me!  I was certain that I would have to pay tax or duty on such an amount."

Karen wrote us of having to pay Customs Canada even without duty fees being requested! She said "I've had many items shipped to me from the US from auctions off of eBay and I've never paid any tax. I live in Calgary so I don't know if that makes a difference. I've only had one go through Customs, and they made me pay a $5 charge for a $17. item. The charge wasn't tax, but a fee for sending me a letter to verify the value of the item."

Virginia sent us this note. "I was reading your article about the Canadian Customs problems and I sympathize with you completely.  I have only made maybe 10 purchases online and except for one, every one of them were opened and "assessed" some value according to some outdated guide, and then charged duty/gst/handling fee on that price.  (Canadians are charged GST and a $5.00 handling fee for any purchases that total more than $20 CND)  They have even held some of my packages until I proved what I paid for them.  Needless to say, I was not pleased.  I called Canada Customs and was treated very rudely on the phone. The lady treated me like I was smuggling in goods to Canada.  At the end of it all, the message that I got was that online shopping has created a problem with Customs in that people are not declaring the appropriate cost of items and that this was particularly a problem with Beanie collectors. They also keep a record of what packages are received by whom and red flag anyone receiving more than their quota." haven't made any purchases online for a long time but when I do I document everything.  I print out the auction with the closing amount as well as keep a photocopy of the money order that I send.  I also include a summary/invoice of the transaction when I send my money order down and ask the seller to put it into/or on the outside of the package before they send it.  The summary looks like this: Invoice Item: Precious Beanie Kid  Ebay Auction : #1234567 Price paid: $2.00 US + $6.00 us shipping   Seller: (Ebay name) Buyer: me  It's a pain, however, since I started doing this, I have not had any more problems.

Are trades taxable? Here is a letter from Lea who told us of her trade experiences. "I myself have run into the same thing & even phoned to object with the normal result of rudeness from the powers that be!!!I have a friend in Dallas ,who always ensures that I get the new releases, so we do trades, but I end up paying the tax on them! I really wouldn't mind if it was a minimal charge but they do tend to go off a higher value. One trade I did they even held to the fellow I traded with produced a bill to show what his cost was, but they still nailed me. I really wish I knew what the answer was at that time. it was something not available to us (Canadians). I always put the true value on my parcels & suggest the sender does as well."

I'd like to thank each of these folks for giving us insight into their experiences. I have decided to appeal the Canada Customs fee put on my purchases. On the back of the duty receipt is the appeal info. I included all the details of my purchases as well as the eBay auction numbers so they can see the values for themselves. I'll let you know what the results are as soon as I know. I found Virginia's advice is about the best way to avoid any Customs disagreement. If you have a parcel coming in from the US these are rules to follow. Include an invoice with the purchase agreement including prices and the separate shipping fee. Show an auction number if it applies. If you do a trade, include a statement from your trading partner outlining the agreement of what the arrangement is. e.g.. I agree to trade one Chinook Ty Beanie Baby for one Buckingham Beanie Baby. If receipts for these purchases are available include them in the shipments especially if you were lucky enough to purchase something at regular price!

CANADA CUSTOMS INTERVIEW
I called Canada Customs Today and spoke with a nice man there. He said that there really isn't any quotas set by Customs Canada as to how many Ty items are allowed into Canada. They don't mind if a package is labeled as a stuffed toy or as a Beanie Baby. The only taxable shipments have a total of $20 Canadian or higher and the duty they require is just the normal 15% payment of GST and PST. It's not really that much money but many Canadian Beanie Collectors often lie to avoid paying this small fee and Customs Canada is on to them. Now even if a  package is marked as a  "Gift" it doesn't mean it won't get stopped. If Canada Customs suspect the contents of a package costs more than the price listed on the outside, they have the right to open the box. In this case a $5 handling fee is put along with the normal 15% tax rate. If you want to avoid all the fuss, just be honest about your prices and pay the 15%. If you don't, you may have to pay and added $5 each time you get caught and your parcels will slow down significantly. Canada Customs is actually a pretty easy going compared to US Customs. US Customs has strict limitations on the shipments of Ty goods entering the US and they are much more complex in their handling of Beanie Related issues. Anything coming into the US is closely monitored. This is because the problem plaguing the US market is counterfeits and US Customs has a zero policy on that. It is far easier for Canadians to receive parcels problem free than it is for folks in the US. US Customs often hangs on to suspect shipments that have been mislabeled or under valued. They detain far more parcels and if they are not claimed they are either auctioned off, given to charity or destroyed. If you want to ship any high valued Ty goods to the US, be sure to be honest about the value and make sure you get the package insured. Hope this info helps you everybody!

Lulu :0)

9-14-00  TYRA WITH POMPOMS ON EBAY
Tyra on eBay didn't reach it's reserve with a closing bid of $456 but there are several reasons why  The seller has 5 of them and has offered to sell them to people outside of the auction site fo  a flat fee. Mos likely the top bidders found his phone number in the last update I did and purchased them directly from him. The seller has never sold Attics before and he didn't produce a picture which I'm sure left consumers hesitant. I spoke with him and he really doesn't have a digital camera but he was trying to get one. The original vendor at Pickering told him the false info about Tyra that he unknowingly printed as fact in the ad. Over all it just didn't sell because it came off to inaccurate and unsure. The honest truth is this fella is a nice guy who just was not into Attics enough to know what he had. I was the first person to call him on the phone and give him the real facts about his wonderful find. I really encourage anyone who is interested in Tyra to give this fella a chance. You might find a good deal in it for yourself!

CLUBBY III
Beanieholics at http://www.RandyandTheresa.com/ report that the new club offering from the Beanie Baby Official Club begins on Monday September 18 - November 18th It sounds exciting but when it will be available to Canadians is unknown at this point.  

NO NEW BEANIES YET Canadians are still waiting for word on many new releases such as the Chinese Zodiacs, Speckles  and the last 13 Beanie Babies released. (Not the batch with India the Tiger but the next set after that including Aruba the fish) Nobody seems to know if or when they will be made availabl  to Canadians. In the mean time many Canadians are busy on the hunt for Chinook and ordering US exclusives online. When it comes down to it with all the trades and sales happening right now I think your luck of finding one is better in the US. I personally have been looking but no luck yet.  

CANADA CUSTOMS GRIPE I have had the last three parcels sent to me opened by Customs Canada and was surprised to find heavy tariff fees on the items I purchased off eBay. It's surprising really because the packages were clearly marked with the actual values I paid for them and I have the statement of the transaction on eBay to prove the worth of the amount I paid. It seems Canada Customs is taxing me for much more that what I paid using some sort of very outdated price list. For example, I stayed up until 3 am and grabbed two Beanie Kids, one for $2.25 US and another for $5.50 US from the same seller. These are the auctions here at http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=405923503 and http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=405925549 Would you believe that Customs Canada charged me over $15 in duty on these two when they arrived?! They over charged me on all three of my parcels! I paid more for my Lefty Buddy than I did for the Tax on it! How can you justify over $28 tax on an eBay purchase of $17 US? Check out my lefty auction at http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=389368142  What is the point of finding   good deal on eBay when the duty costs more than the item! The value of what I paid was right on the box for them to see. What are Canadian Collectors supposed to do? I personally don't mind paying duty if it's for the actual amount. This is just wrong. I've got my Lefty now but I'm not buying Ty products online any more. It's just not worth it.  It's getting colder outside but I'm staying warm running from store to store searching for Chinook. I think I'm going to ask Ty Attic Baron if I can borrow his jacket! Have a great week everybody. Lulu :0)  

9-8-00    5 MORE TYRAS WITH POM POMS!
There is now a total of 33 Tyra with pompoms in existence! I just got off the phone with Ian who was a lucky buyer at Pickering Flea Market. He grabbed 5 of them from one of the Pickering seller  but he had to pay more than $5 for them. The seller which I met personally back in November had apparently hung on to a couple of Tyras and has passed them along to some of his loyal customers. Ian has done business with the seller for quite some time. Ian used to be into Beanie collecting. When he came across Tyra, he knew there was something special about her but he wasn't sure what all the fuss was about. The seller told him a kid choked on the pompoms of Tyra and that it was pulled off the shelves because of this. I corrected him on this fact. It didn't happen but it was pulled for the choking hazard it presented. Ian figured it was a good investment so he grabbed 5 of them. Just today I told him all about Tyra and how rare she is. He has one of them listed on eBay for sale right now at http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=431784319 He is in the process of getting a digital photo of them but you can be assured these are indeed, genuine Tyras with Pompoms. Ian has a total of 5 in all and he is accepting offers. If anyone wants to buy one from him without the fuss of using eBay, just give him a call at  (416) 638-0827.

NEW CLUBBY PHOTO
Clubby III is out and there is an excellent photo posted at Beaniewonderland at http://www.beaniewonderland.com/news/extra4.htm  BUCKINGHAM PHOTO There is a photo o  the new UK exclusive Buckingham Beanie Bear posted at Lemonlainy at http://www.lemonlaineydesign.com/jpegs/buckingham.jpeg It shows the details of the crown on the chest.  It's very nice!  NIPPONIA PHOTO There is an excellent photo of the New Japanese Exclusive Nipponia linked to Smart Collecting at http://www.smartcollecting.com/news/beanbagnews.htm There are great detailed shots of the chest logo and it's a cutie. This little fella is sporting a bow tie!

IN HAND = HIGHER PRICES
Chinook eBay sales are showing an interesting trend as consumers purchase with caution. In hand sales of Chinook are selling for $100+ and pre sales are selling in the $50-$60 range. There are excellent photos being shown including this one from eBay with a great shot of the tush tag at http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=430942764&ed=968547208 

9-8-00  CHINOOK INCANADA
Diane Norris of Mississauga, Ontario writes to us saying "Chinook was
received in the Hallmark in Cloverdale Mall, Toronto today (Sept. 7th).
They received 12." Be on the lookout everybody because there finally
here! In hand trades are pouring in on eBay as we speak. There is a
photo of one in this ad at
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=431779968 I hope
to see this little fella in the stores soon. Good luck everybody!

Large Peace Retires
Ty made the announcement on it's cyberboard at
http://www.ty.com/announcements/lgpeace_ret_0907.html

Lulu :0)

9-5-00   NEW JAPAN EXCLUSIVE 
Nipponia is the name of the new Ty Japan Exclusive Beanie Baby bear! It is a blue bear with the national flag of Japan on it and already it has been featured on Japanese TV. The bear is expected to be on display at Tokyo International Gift Show on September 6. For more info on this exciting find be sure to check out Beanieholics at http://www.RandyandTheresa.com/  

NEW BUDDIES IN UK 
Wallace and Halo II Beanie Buddies may be making a UK appearance very soon! Reports are coming in that say they can be ordered now for October delivery! For this and more info regarding the UK trade show be sure to check out Beaniewonderland at http://www.beaniewonderland.com/news/news.htm   

BUCKINGHAM DETAILS 
Cajun Connections reports the shipping quotas for Buckingham are 12 per store like Chinook for details check out http://www.premier.net/~dirkthib/  The best verbal description of Buckingham is featured on Bean Bag World at http://www.beanbagworld.net/new/news/archive/9022000.html#ukshow   CHINOOK PICTURE II  Ryan of Collectibles.net sent me a great picture he did of Chinook using his computer. To see it just visit his site at http://www.collectiblez.net   CHINOOK PRE SALES  The pre sale value of Chinook on eBay is approximately $40-$50 US right now. The prices have been gradually sliding down since the word got out but it is uncertain how in-hand trades will effect the prices. Most likely they will skyrocket as soon as the word In-Hand hits the ads. 

WARNING 
There is an alarming number Chinook sales happening from areas in California. This region is known to produce the highest volumes of fakes online sales. I'd like to warn consumers to please check out both the seller's other current auctions as well as their seller history. If there are a high volume of Chinooks for sale or if they have negative feedback regarding fakes, beware. I have personally seen fake Beanies show up in US flea markets well before the real ones were even shipped. It is more likely than not that counterfeits of Chinook, are being made as we speak so please be very careful when investing your money. If you do run across anyone selling fake Beanies, you can report them. If you live in the US, you can call the Ty Fake hotline at 1-888-317-5489 or in Canada at (905) 713-6680 Be sure when giving a report to have the name and address of the establishment as well as a list of the fakes you spotted there and reasons why you personally suspect they are fakes. Counterfeits hurt everybody. They flood the markets and reduce prices on all our Beanies. Protect your investment. Speak out against fakes.  
Lulu :0) 

9-3-00  NEW UK BEANIE EXCLUSIVE!
Back on July 26th Beanie Wonderland mentioned there was a new UK  exclusive in the works with a royal theme around it. Now they are happy  to announce the arrival of Buckingham Beanie Bear! It's wine red with a  gold crown on the chest. Check it out at  http://www.beaniewonderland.com/news/news.htm

 CHINOOK BEANIE PICTURE
 There  are many pre sales of Chinook happening online. Be aware that  the photos used in the current pre sales do not like Chinook at all. The  leaves on the bear are printed on the fabric, made in the same way as  Glory Bear's stars. It is not a metallic look like the fake version.  Smart Collecting received this computerized image earlier this summer.  To see the Fake Chinook picture being used check out  http://www.smartcollecting.com/news/images/mapleII-large.jpg  I saw the real bear released at the CGTA show in Toronto and I have done  a drawing to finally show everybody what the real one looks like. Check  it out at http://members.home.net/butterflybluelu/chinook.jpg

 BIRCH AND GREYSON
 There is a rumor floating about that says Birch and Greyson have arrived  in Canada and are ready to be shipped to Canadian Ty Vendors. Since Ty  didn't specify that they were European exclusives, it is very possible  that it will happen. We just have to wait and see on this one.   

Missing Beanie Kid
 Many stores in the Kitchener Waterloo area are reporting that they  received their Beanie Kids this month. All arrived except for Angel! The  little blond Beanie Kid in the blue dress was missing. It is unlike Ty  Canada to ship a line without all of them being included in the batch.  Hmmmm. Pending retirement perhaps?

 Canadian Girl Hero
 This story isn't about Beanies but it is about toy bears and how one  little girl is making a difference in the world. Her name is Nikita  Ramdahani. Her parents lived in Trinidad where they often assisted  homeless people by offering food and shelter. Now the family lives in  Toronto and the generous spirit shown by the parents has passed down  into the young girl's heart.  By selling a bear known as the "Millennium  Bear of Hope" she has successfully raised over $24,000 since last  December to help the homeless people of Toronto. This teddy bear is  manufactured by Russ and was chosen by Nikita. She said "I saw this one.  I thought he was cute. He looked sad like he needed a home. So I chose  him.''     There are over 28,000 homeless people in Toronto. 6000 of them are  children. With this charity you have two options. For $23 Can. you can  purchase the bear for yourself or for $20 you can purchase a bear to be  given to a homeless child in Toronto. All proceeds will be distributed  to the United Way, the Home Aid Housing Corporation and Nameres, a  native men's residence that supplies food to the homeless. To see a  photo of Nikita with the bear along with a full story check out the  Toronto Star Article at  http://www.thestar.com/editorial/life/20000501LFE01b_LI-NIKITA.html
  Since the time that this article was printed, Nikita has been awarded   the Ed Mirvish Achievement Award which includes $3000 for the cause. She  has also been awarded the Millennium Dreamer's Ambassador Award  instituted by McDonald's, Disney and UNESCO and has gone to Orlando to  meet with 1,999 other kids who have all been chosen for their community  service. She has gone to schools to speak with students educating them  about the plight of the homeless. It's an amazing accomplishment. Thank  you Nikita for showing us that we can make a difference. You are an  inspiration.  To order the Millennium Bear of Hope or to sponsor a bear for a child in  need, call Shaila Gotlieb at (416) 633-7660.  For additional information  on the Bear of Hope call Pramilla (Nikita's mom) at (416) 539-8301.

I went to the farmers market and it's just overflowing with peaches,  corn, tomatoes and so many wonderful foods. I've been canning like crazy  these days  in attempt to preserve the sweet tastes of summer for the  long winter ahead. I could easily purchase these foods at the store year  around, but it's the memories of planting my cilantro that I'll remember  in my salsa. It's the walking through the market with my kids that I'll  remember when I eat my peaches. It's the memory of scalding my hand with  hot water during the canning that I'll remember my dill pickles. I never  like  dill pickles any ways. I'll let my husband eat those ones.

 Happy September everybody! Have a great week.
 Lulu :0)

8-31-00  New Attics!
We have seen pictures of all the new Ty Attics! Birch and Greyson are on the
list but it is not specified if they are European exclusives or not. (we don't think they are though)  There are two new cats on the block named Max and Basil sporting new
features never before seen in Ty Attics. The tail is a new design and
the paws have pads printed on them. The faces appear to be a new style
too. There is new wizard bear named Merwyn that is sure to be a hit with
Harry Potter fans. A little scarecrow named Alfalfa has arrived just in
time for fall. It has an interesting hat that I have yet to really
figure out. There is a new bear that has a snowman-like body by the
name North. It has a neat fabric in the hat and I would like to take a
closer look on that one. Finally there is Ty's holiday bear Klause. Ty
has always delivered beautiful Attic bears with rich fabrics for the
holidays and Klause is no exception. It is a sweet faced white bear with
a long red velvety cape and soft green trim. I can't wait to have one
for myself! Check them all out at
http://www.ty.com/announcements/prod_intro0831.html 

New Ty Classics
I took one look at the new Ty Classics and saw a little bear named Flecks. I think the face of this bear is very similar to Klause the new Ty Attic. Cute face. Looks like a 
designer? With the new releases of Jeeves and Scootch it seems that Ty is maintaining the same build in Classics as he is using in Ty Attics such as Greyson and Birch. Ty Plush and Ty Attics have been woven together on occasion but since the Ty Classics line has been out it the lines seem to be running parallel to each other!

Franny In Canada
The new July Ty Attics including Franny Fern and the rest of the gang are now hitting stores in Canada. We just got word of Franny showing up in New Brunswick. Sh  is probably on one of the piers fishing for Mackerel about now. Hey Franny, say hi to the folks in Caraquet for me!

It's no wonder that Ty did a wizard bear. The Harry Potter craze is predicted to hit an all time high just in time for Christmas. Co-incidence? I think not. The books are wonderful though. The last one was a 600 page book that I read in 3 days. I usually never read at this pace but the truth is the book is that good. They just cast the roles for the movie version and the kids look perfect for their parts. If your curious to see what the real Harry Potter will look like check out http://harrypotter.warnerbros.com/cmp/newsflash-fr.html 

Well school is just around the corner now. Soon all us parents can breath a collective sigh of relief. Just kidding. We'll miss you kids. Study hard, be good and have fun. We're all with ya. Good luck folks!
Lulu :0)

8-22-00   TWO TYRAS WITH POM POMS IN BARRIE!
There are officially 28 Tyra's with Pom poms in existence now. Kim in
Barrie was fortunate to have recently acquired two of them in Barrie
Ontario! She got them from a lady who originally purchased them at a
local Ty Vendor in Barrie. Barrie Ontario is North of Pickering and the
Ty Canada headquarters in Aurora. All are within an hour's drive of each
other. To see a map of these areas together check out
http://www.homesmag.com/homemap.htm The original source is most likely a
vendor or customer of the Pickering flea market. Vendors are known to do
trades with local stores and it's not unlikely that someone used Tyra
with pom poms as a trade for Canadian exclusives. I know this bear is
authentic. None of the original purchasers have brought their bears to
this store. These bears were unaccounted for until now. We have gone
from 26 to 28.
The first lady to buy the Tyras purchased two of them from this store.
One was for herself and the other was for her daughter who was a
cheerleader. The mother wasn't really an Attic collector so she decided
to trade her Tyra with pompoms with Kim in exchange for older Beanies.
The lady's daughter collects beanies and she wanted to add to her
daughter's collection. Kim knew the daughter had another one and she
offered to buy the daughter's Tyra too. The daughter needed "Back to
school shopping money" so the daughter's answer was yes. Kim told me "
Well, it was the most I paid for any bear so I hope there is an "Attic
lover" out there that wants to add this to their collection." Kim is a
big fan of the Ty Attic line and was completely overwhelmed at her find.
Although she is delighted about finding Tyra she said "My goal at this
point is to find them both a home with a collector that will appreciate
them." She stated " I like her but she is not as cute to me as the old
ones. My real wish is to buy the 3rd sister, Nola with a Pink Bow to go
with Rebecca and Emily. I don't even care if Nola has a tag." I think if
Kim sells her Tyras with Pompoms she'll find she has more than enough to
make her dreams come true. Good luck Kim! We'll post the details of the
sale as soon as it's up.

ZODIACS PHOTOGRAPHED!
On http://www.beanbagworld.net/new/news/index.html They have wonderful
photos of the new Zodiac Beanies. Be sure to look at the Dog. It's the
first real "Hairy" beanie that Ty has produced!  Most have some form of
metallic accent to represent the fact that this is the "Metal" year of
the Dragon. The fabrics are showing  the continuation of Ty's innovative
approach to texture and color. Ty Inc. has been expanding into this area
in all it's product line these days and the trend is really fascinating
to see. The move is an exciting one for Ty fans and it helps to show
that Ty is actively trying to assure the authenticity of his work. For
counterfeiters, it will be far more costly and difficult to reproduce.
Go Ty Go!

13 NEW BEANIES ARRIVE IN US
Ms Janie reports on In Hand sales of the 13 new Beanies. They are
already starting to pop up all over the US. (Canada doesn't have any of
them on order forms yet.) She has links to excellent photos of these new
releases on her site and it's definitely worth the look. Aruba the fish
is a must see. Check it out at  http://www.msjanie.com/news.html

Lulu and Zodiac Beanies
This story may give a little insight to you as to why I personally look
forward to the Zodiac Beanies. It's a real life story that happened to
my husband and I years ago.
I was studying Theatre at Ryerson Technical Institute in Toronto. We did
a very intensive meditation in class one day and were told to try to
focus inwards. I had an image in my mind. It was a telephone line and on
the line was a rat. I didn't have any idea why I was thinking this but
the vision was very strong. About a week later I met this man and fell
deeply in love. His name was Alex.
The first time I brought Alex to meet my parents we took a bus and
talked about the Chinese New Years festivals that were happening in
Toronto. He told me he was born the Year of the Rat. I started laughing
and told him of the vision I had in class. When we got to the house, my
mother and him were friends instantly. She told me she had a project she
just finished and she presented me with a scrap book. It was filled with
pictures that I drew in elementary school. I thought it was fun until I
found a drawing I did in grade 2. I was amazed. It had a picture of a
girl sitting next to a rat. The story under it said "The other day I was
on a bus. I met a rat. His name was Alexander."
After 13 happy years and two children later and I'm still sitting beside
that wonderful Rat named Alexander.

Enjoy the summer while you can folks. Autumn is just around the corner
now!
Lulu :0)

8-19-00   Big News this week folks! I've been busy but here are even some more goodies for you!

NEW 13 BEANIES PHOTOGRAPHED!
I have received many letters from people regarding the 13 Beanies absent from the CGTA show and lots of folks thought I was referring to the batch that includes India, Cashew etc. This is not the case. At the trade show in Washington DC, the 13 new Beanies appeared and for the first time they have been photographed! To check them out visit Underground Bean at  http://www.undergroundbean.com/beanies.htm

2 MORE TYRAS WITH POMPOMS?
This week I've received word from a lady in Canada regarding two new Tyras with pompoms discovered ! She purchased one and based on the info she shared with me it looks like an authentic find here! She lives in Ontario within an hour's drive from the Picketing Town Center where the original supply was first reported. At this time we are unaware if they are from the existing 26 reported on or if they are indeed 2 more to add to the list. I'm personally following the story and I'll fill you in once the details are all gathered.

A LOOK AT ZODIAC BEANIES
Ty has released a new line of beanies that represents the animals of the Chinese horoscope. The pictures are on billboards across the US and many Beanie web sites are pursuing photos for you as we speak. Many folks are talking not only about the new releases but the concept that they are= based on. Is it associated with the occult? Is it something to be avoided? Well, knowledge is power folks and I'm going to give you a little power.   In this day with televisions and traffic and the thousands of daily distractions of sight and sound we have around us, it is hard for us to understand nature. I am not talking about trees and birds but what is real and natural. How many of you smell the room your in right now. What does your chair feel like. Is your body tense? This is just to show how far removed we are from the lifestyle and times that Chinese astrology was written in. In ancient China, people were extremely sensitive and far better observers than we are today. They had to be. As in most indigenous cultures, their lives depended on it. Cycles of the year were studied for crops, for fishing and for weather. Observation of all cycles was something that was a treasured and much needed resource. It was important for people to live in harmony because they needed each other to survive. The Chinese system of astrology was created from such observations. They knew it was just as important for people to understand themselves as it was to understand the natural world around them. This is what the Chinese Astrological system is about. 

People born in the same year tend to show similar patterns of behavior.  They share the same generation. The patterns are symbolized by a group of animals that are well known to the people of Asian cultures. The cycle is one animal per lunar year. Unlike our calendar based on the rotation of the sun theirs is based on the moon and the cycle varies from year to year. The Chinese new year happens at the first new moon between Jan 1 and Feb. 19th. There are 5 elements that define the cycle even further. Metal, Water, Wood, Fire and Earth. The 5 elements in this order is called the Creative cycle. Everything that flows in harmony goes in this order. The full cycle of animal and elements take up 60 years which basically represents the life span of a man. In this day people live much longer but it is still believed that if a man reaches the age of 60 and does not contribute to the development and well being of the younger generation, he will die soon. The creative cycle must continue. It is a fascinating system and you may observe for yourself what it's like. If you want to see if your animal fits you personality, all you have to do is go to this site and type in your birthday at http://www2.bluemountain.com/eng3/chinhoro/indexe.html I have read of several people thinking this is a subject that is leading into the occult implying this is something to be avoided or feared. All I can say is that it's a system that was written many years ago. It was based on natural observations that just cycles continually. You don't have to accept it but you don't have to fear it either.   

8-17-00  I Am Not a Ty Vendor
Hi folks! The first thing I want to say is that I am not a Ty vendor. I
have a pretty hard time finding Canadian exclusives like everybody else.
If I were a Ty vendor I probably wouldn't be very good at it. Upon
receiving a Ty shipment, I would lock the doors and windows and dump the
whole box on the floor and throw myself on the pile. It is pathetic but
I swear it's the truth. I'd have way too much fun with them.

This week I've decided to give you a little report on Ty in Canada. It's
got facts, history and a few tips tossed in for the heck of it. I hope
you enjoy!

Population of Canada
Canada's population is 30 million and the US population is 269 million.
The reason Canadian Exclusives retain their value is it only takes the
US a couple of months to distribute the same number of Exclusives as
Canada distributes in a full Year! If we said there is a Ty vendor for
every 10,000 people, Canada would have 3000 shops and the US would have
26,900!

Canada's Challenging market
A US dollar is equal to $1.50 Canadian. Many Canadian collectors have a
difficult time finding good stuff on the shelves since so many people
participate on internet auctions to make fast money. As soon as prices
on the internet auctions drop, these rare items mysteriously appear on
store shelves. Funny that.
Ty Canada has always taken a firm stance on their policy against back
door selling. I checked the archives at Beanie Mom's from way back in
1997 and found this info at http://www.beaniemom.com/netnews4.htm  It
states, "...on the back of every purchase order are our conditions of
sale. Those conditions include the following: Ty (Canada) Inc. prohibits
sales to exporters and importers. Ty (Canada) Inc. reserves the right to
terminate its relationship with its accounts at any time. Ty (Canada)
Inc. is the sole and exclusive distributor of Ty plush toys in
Canada. Ty (Canada) Inc. is in business of importing Ty Inc. products
into Canada to meet the demand of the Canadian Market. If we determine
that a customer is exporting goods outside the Canadian market including
the United States, via the Internet or any other method we will enforce
our contractual conditions. This includes terminating our business
relationship with such customer."
As strong as this statement came, many Canadian vendors had something
else to say about it. Check this out from
http://www.ctoys.com/news/archcan.html  To this day I must say it seems
to be more crooked shops out there than honest ones. There are honest
vendors out there but competition for their supply is fierce. People go
in, grab stuff, call other folks to grab stuff and they all run home to
sell it online. I was extremely lucky to actually purchase my Maple
beanie from an honest vendor so there is hope out there.

Beanie Sales are Taxable!
There was a dentist in Canada who quit his job to sell Beanies. Can you
imagine? He made more money selling beanies on the internet until he
started fraud deals with folks in the US. He put up eBay auctions for
expensive beanies and collected the money but failed to deliver. The
folks in the US couldn't sue him unless they came to Canada to press
charges and they would have to appear in a Canadian court. They did find
a way to get him though. They contacted a resident of Canada and told
them their situation. This resident called Revenue Canada and the
Competitions Bureau. Now the fella is not only getting investigated for
fraud but he is also being nailed for Tax evasion! He should have stayed
a dentist.

Want to Trade?
Believe it or not, US exclusives make a better deal if you trade them
with Canadians. Many Canadians want US exclusives but it's hard for
people without computers. The only way they can find one is to pay
outrageous prices at flea markets or to purchase one on the shopping
channel. If you have a US exclusive your interested in trading, you can
check out this list of Canadian trade sites located at
http://new.topsitelists.com/homestead/dallyn/  If you pop into Canada
with some stuff to trade, go to a Canadian Ty Shop and ask them if they
know of any collectors who would be interested in a trade. Most store
owners know their regulars pretty well and they could probably help set
you up with a good deal. Don't try to swing a deal with the shop itself
though. It is illegal for Canadian Ty Vendors to sell American Ty
products. If they haven't got the Stuffed articles tag known as the
Canadian tush tag, they can be charged.

Exclusives
Lots of folks may find it difficult to keep a collection complete with
all the exclusives coming out and many folks complain about the whole
concept. The truth is exclusives are only created when someone is
excluded. It's what makes an item special and rare. The prices usually
reflect this. If Canadian collectors feel frustrated, don't despair. It
is possible to have an "All Canadian" collection instead of trying for
the whole enchilada. If you do want exclusives from other countries, the
best way is either by trades or internet auctions. We have an excellent
trade post for all you Attic fans. Birch and Greyson are even posted!
Check it out at http://www.pcperspectives.com/wwwboard/ 

Canadian Ty Attic Designers
Attic lovers have for years appreciated the designs of Ruth Fraser, Nola
Hart and Linda Harris. All three are Canadian ladies from Southern
Ontario who have played key rolls in creating the Attics we know and
love today. To read up on these ladies and their much loved creations
check out our designers section at
http://members.fortunecity.com/maisondours/design.html 

Chinook in Alberta
Saskia from Alberta had Chinook visit her for years. She said Chinook
blows warm wind into the southern part of Alberta during the winter.
Doug Mcleod wrote in and said the Chinook winds can bring the
temperature from -10 Celsius to +10 Celsius in just one hour! It was a
big problem for the Calgary Olympics back in 1988. To read more of this
Natural wonder, check out
http://www.theweathernetwork.com/ask/ask7.htm#Q10  I hope Chinook blows
it's way into your beanie collection this year!

Happy Chinook hunting folks!
Lulu :0)

8-15-00  NEW PRODUCTS UNAVAILABLE IN CANADA 
My good friend Beth Hohertz confirmed it for us. The new 13 Beanie Babies and the new Ty Gear for Beanie Kids are not available to Canadians at this point in time. They were not at the CGTA show and they are not on the order forms. Ty Canada is unaware if they will come to Canada at all. 

US EXCLUSIVES A TREND? 
There are currently 9 official US exclusive Beanies and Buddies. If Employee Bear is not available in the UK or Germany, that would make 10. With the 13 new releases not appearing in Canada yet, that would make a total of 23 styles unavailable to Canadians. (26 if you include Birch and Greyson and Germania Buddy) Yikes! What a way to promote the new Ty Trade don't you think? Ty Inc. distributes different products to other nations on a regular basis. Our currents are not necessarily their currents.  Twigs Buddy was part of the Japan regular shipments after it already retired in North America. Many the current Attics in Japan include styles that already retired here in North America quite some time ago. In India they have Beanies and Buddies but no Attics. Traditionally Canada and the US has received the same stock but I wonder if Ty is changing this or not. They have the right to decide how to go about the business as they see fit. If the market in Canada is not as strong, they may choose smaller shipments. I personally hope this is not the case. Canadians are always aware of the American Beanie happenings and we never expected anything but the same products with exception of exclusives. I'm hoping in regards to the 13 beanies that it's just a case of a delay as production catches up on demand. I hope so. When it comes to Ty, the only sure way to find out is to wait and see. 

WHAT'S IN A NAME 
The folks at http://www.premier.net/~dirkthib/  wrote and article about this name and it started me thinking. Chinook. Why did they call a Canadian Exclusive Bear, Chinook? Out of curiosity I found out alot about Chinooks. It's the name of a big Salmon that grows about 4 ft long. It's the name of a Tribe that lives in Washington, Oregon and BC. The tribe is currently struggling to be officially recognized by the US government. 90% of the Chinook population was wiped out by diseases brought over from European settlers. The low numbers of survivors are struggling for official tribe status to help preserve the culture. To read about the tragic past of this tribe, check out http://www.columbian.com/cchistorical/cchistorical.html  To understand their struggle for recognition, this is the article to read. http://www.columbian.com/07012000/clark_co/135946.html  Chinook is the name of the Polar Bear swimming festival in Yellowknife North West Territories. (Brrrrr!) It's most well known for being the name of the warm winds that send people from snowsuits to shorts in the middle of winter. It is the name of a large area of Alberta. Want to see it? Go to http://telusplanet.net/public/cnangler/html/map.htm  It's the name of a trade language made up of Jargon. Want to speak it? Go here to http://www.adisoft-inc.com/chinook.html  It has my name all throughout the article but it's nothing personal. Apparently the word Lulu means Workshop in Chinook. There is a dog breed named Chinook. To see a photo of a real Chinook check here at http://www.chinook.org/history.htm So why did Ty use this name and what makes it Canadian? Here is my answer. When you combine fish, big dogs, warmth, people, jargon, a big area of land, and festival for jumping into a freezing lake, you get CANADIANS! Why Did I understand the name Chinook ?  Because I AM CANADIAN!  
I got a pocket full of loonies and I'm on my way to Tim's for a double double. Have a great day everybody. 

Lulu :0) 

8-14-00   NEW CANADIAN EXCLUSIVE!
Ty Canada announces the arrival of Chinook the Beanie Baby bear. The
president of Ty Canada, Elizabeth Caruth was at the CGTA show and I had
a chance to speak with her. She told me " Today is the official release
date" of Chinook the Beanie bear. They just unpacked the very first
batch at the trade show in Toronto Ontario. It was just as new to her as
it was to everyone else. I held it and checked it out thoroughly.
Chinook is a Beanie Bear like Maple decorated with red Maple leaves
approximately 1/2 inch in diameter. The leaves are randomly placed and
are similar to the stars on Glory Bear. The bear has a red ribbon around
the neck and NO flag on it's chest. It's the first release of a country
exclusive Beanie bear with no emblem on the chest. Ty reps say the bears
are going to be shipped to stores in September in batches of 12. Here
is the poem.

From this great land I'll never roam
Beloved Canada is my home
Her Maple leaf I'll proudly wear
To show the world how much I care

The birthday of the bear is May 24th 2000. In 1902 just 16 months after
the death of Queen Victoria, Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier made
Victoria Day as a tribute to her. It was celebrated on Victoria's
Birthday on May 24th but it eventually changed. In 1952 the date to
celebrate was moved to the first Monday preceding May 25th so to this
day the date of Victoria Day varies from year to year. To find out more
interesting info on Canadian History check out
http://www.canoe.ca/CNEWSTodayInHistory/may24.html 

Earlier Beanie Wonderland posted a rumor of the name Chinook being used
for a new Canadian exclusive and many thought it would be a husky or
some other Nordic animal. There were also pictures that appeared in
Smart Collecting back in June of a Beanie bear named Maple II with white
fur and Canadian leaves on it. The image was computer generated but the
concept was close. Last night http://www.premier.net/~dirkthib/  reported
a Canadian Exclusive to be released today. There seems to have been a
few leaks of information prior to this bear's release. With all the
rumors and speculations that surround Ty products any ways, it isn't
surprising that some pan out. Overall I think Ty is pretty amazing for
holding it's secrets. I always found it to be a part of the fun.

NO BIRCH AND GREYSON FOR CANADA
It's a fact. Canada will not be receiving Greyson or Birch Ty Attic
bears. They are not on the order forms and as far as Ty Canada knows,
they will not be showing up any time soon. Japan does not have them on
their order list. Birch and Greyson are definitely Euro exclusives at
this time. Ty Inc. has yet to announce these Attics or their official
status. With the history of Ty Attics Mackenzie and Jack , I wouldn't
hold your breath waiting for it. :0)

NO CURLY NEW SWEATER
Absent from the show was the new Curly Bear with the red sweater and
numbers on it that we reported earlier. I spoke with a Ty rep and they
are unaware if Canada will ever receive these bears. Shipments of them
have started appearing all over the US but they don't seem to be heading
to Canada yet. It may just be a matter of time with this one.

WHERE ARE THE WOLVES AND TURKEYS?
The 13 latest releases of Beanie Babies were not on display at the CGTA
Show. They are the ones that have yet to be photographed. I am unaware
of whether they can be ordered in Canada or not but I will find the
answers on that one soon.

NO EMPLOYEE BUDDY
Canadians will not be receiving the Employee Beanie Buddy. They are not
available from Ty Canada. Japan doesn't have them either. If the UK and
Germany do not have them on the order form that we may have another US
exclusive here.

NEW KIDS COMING TO CANADA
I saw all four of the new Beanie Kids today. The curly hair on Calypso
and Princess is really nice. Folks enjoyed the Calypso with the brightly
colored outfit. Buzz has the feel of a real buzz cut and Cookie looks
really sweet in her little red dress. We can look forward to these
little ones hitting the shelves in September.

SPECKLES ON THE WAY
Ty is currently preparing their systems for Canadians to order Speckles
Ty Beanie Bear. The price for Canadians at this point is unknown at this
time. We'll have to just wait and see with this one.

NEW CLASSICS
Tylux is the word describing the new multicolored and multi-layered
fabric in the Ty classic line. It's really neat. Long off white fibers
have short thick multicolored fibers underneath creating a very
fascinating look and feel. You will find this on new Ty Classics like
Razzmatazz (both colors) and Allioop. It's the most interesting fabric I
have ever seen. It's fun to see how Ty is coming up with so many
fascinating textiles. He is going not only for looks but for feel as
well. My personal favorite of the bunch is Scooter the dog. It is so
soft to the touch it melts into your hands. I want that puppy.

Well it has certainly been a busy week! I wish I could show you a
picture of the new bear. Hopefully Ty will take care of that soon or
we'll have to wait until September for the next chance. Take care
everybody and have a Ty-riffic weekend!
Lulu :0)

7-28-00    TY IN INDIA!
Ms. Janie has just announced the arrival of Ty products in India! To
check out her story go to http://www.msjanie.com/news.html It is
wonderful to see Ty welcome them by producing India the Tiger. The tiger
is the national animal! To read on this and other interesting facts
about India, check out http://www.goindiago.com/general/symbols.html .
It's fun to imagine a Ty Attic India Exclusive!

BIRCH IN GERMANY
After checking out a rumor at
http://www.undergroundbean.com/beanies.htm  I found evidence of the
arrival of Ty Attic Birch in Germany. This validates that Birch is not a
UK exclusive. There is the possibility that it may still be a Ty Europe
exclusive. Tyra without pompoms was a bear that showed up both in the UK
and Germany so it looks like we are seeing a trend here. Evidence of
Greyson is yet to appear but we'll let you know ASAP.

TY CANADA TRADE SHOW
Ty Canada will be displaying all it's new products at the CGTA show in
Toronto on August 13 - 17th at the International Center. The show will
display Ty products intended for Canadian Distribution only. If any
exclusives are to show up this is the place to be. Birch and Greyson
have just appeared at a similar show in the UK. The Dallas show featured
all the US exclusives. With Maple Buddy rumored to be on the way out,
this is the place to see if anything new is happening. The show is not
open to the public. It is for buyers of retail goods only and proper
documentation is required for admission. People under the age of 16 are
not allowed but day care services are available. For those wishing more
information on the CGTA and this show, go to http://www.cgta.org/ 
 
TY EUROPE MYSTERY WITH CANADIAN ANSWER
As I was clearing the shelves to make room for the new Attics, it
occurred to me that Greyson and Birch may not necessarily be Ty Europe
exclusives. They arrived unannounced but so did Rainbow Mystic and Ty
dye Batty Beanie Babies. They haven't arrived in the US but delays of
styles are not unusual. Fuzz Beanie Baby arrived two months after all
the other Beanies of that release appeared. Ty Attics haven't arrived in
Canada yet as far as I know and if there is a delay, it may be for Birch
or Greyson like in the US. Ty Canada does not ship a line until all
styles of it have been received. I think the the truth about Greyson
and Birch lies in Canada's next shipment. If they show up, you know they
are not exclusives. If the delay runs past August 13th then we'll find
our answer at the CGTA show. Either way it appears that Canada holds the
key to this mystery. I'll let you know as soon as I know.

TY TRADE GOES GLOBAL
Canadians may now register and participate on the Ty Trade site along
with 48 other nations. Although Ty products are distributed to only a
few of the mentioned countries, the others listed may be where Ty
intends to expand further distribution.

MISSION CANADA: If the new Ty Attics are spotted give us a shout. If
Greyson or Birch appear, shout louder!

LULU PREDICTION
Canada has received the first shipment of new Beanies and Beanie
Buddies. I predict that around the time the second shipment arrives in
Canada, a new variation of Beanie Buddy will appear. I wrote of this
theory earlier and now we'll see if it works. I just had to let you in
on the fun to see if it happens or not.

I just came back from the beach and my shorts are filled with so much
sand I feel like a Beanie Baby. On the way there I was lucky enough to
buy a Beanie Baby Cashew. The name sounds like a sneeze doesn't it? It
would be a nice bear to give to someone with allergies. It's the only
type of cashew safe for those with nut allergies. I have allergies but
I'm not allergic to nuts. That's why I could marry my husband.

Keep smiling everybody!
Lulu :0)

7-24-00  HIP HIP HOORAY! NO DELAY!
New Beanies and Buddies have arrived in Canada this week. On the shelves in Quebec we had reports of Cinders, India, Cashew, Fetcher and Sniffer. From Ontario there were sightings of Peek a boo, Runner (with the "nice" poem), Squirmy and Cheezer Most New Beanie Buddies arrived with exception to the US exclusives and the Employee bear. This is the first time so many new styles arrive in Canada so fast! Yippee for Ty Canada!

NEW SURPRISE ATTICS
Ty is doing lots of announced surprises with the Attics these days.  First there was the Huntly Tag that appeared on Ty Attic River. Here is  what happened since. Ty Attic bears Birch and Greyson make a surprise, appearance in the UK. They were not on the order forms and were never announced. They were sent to several UK locations inside regular Attic shipments. 

NEW CURLY SWEATER
A new sweater has been found on the 18 inch Ty Attic/Plush Curly in Oklahoma. The bear is sporting a red sweater filled with colorful numbers. Inside the hang tag it reads the phrase "Rolling with the changes." Linda, the lady who found the bear is a school teacher and was delighted to see the theme of the sweater. She found two of these bears and plans to sell the second one soon. To see the bear and hang tag, check out Beanieholics at http://www.randyandtheresa.com/Curly1.jpg

OFFICIAL US EXCLUSIVES
On the Ty site these are all listed as US exclusives. Beanie Babies: Lefty 2000 and Righty 2000. Beanie Buddies: Lefty and Righty and Libearty Bears (all three). With USA Beanie bear and Osito Buddy it makes nine current US exclusives!

SECONDARY SELLERS BEWARE
I heard an interesting story this week. A couple were swinging deals with store owners to take entire shipments of new Ty products to sell online. Frustrated local Beanie collectors found out about this operation and made a phone call to the local taxation center as well as to the Ty administration department. The couple and the store owners were caught for all the unclaimed revenue they made during their online history and the store owners are in bigger trouble too. It is illegal for vendors to act as distributors. Beanie collectors in this town today enjoy the feeling of finding new beanies as they arrive now. Big Sellers and Back Door vendors beware!

Today I grabbed the first handful of fresh raspberries from my garden.  Ain't life grand? Have a delightful week everybody.

Lulu :0)

7-14-00    JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW IT ALL...
13 more Beanie Releases came out on July 8th at the trade show and Mary Beth's was the first one on the net with the full details of them. We have a new dinosaur, wolf and would you believe a vulture? It's a good one for Halloween. Also released was a new line of Ty Kid's clothes. NOTE TO ATTIC FANS: The outfits can fit some small Attics too so if you want to doll up your bears, they have a whole new wardrobe to explore! To read up on the details check out http://www.beanbagworld.net/new/news/archive/7082000.html

NEW ATTIC PICTURES
Ty has picture of the whole batch at http://www.ty.com/announcements/july_prod_intro.html and there are some wonderful pictures posted at Ms. Janie's that were sent in from a reader. The shots feature 11 of the 12 newest releases. It's a must see at http://www.msjanie.com/attics/marys_attics.html We have many lovely bears to look forward to in this batch. Stores in the US and the UK have received them already so if you haven't seen them yet, it won't be too long. I hope they arrive in Canada soon! 

NEW ATTIC REVIEW
Ty has created and exciting batch of Attics this round as he utilizes different textures and colors. Based on the successful sales of the set online, I'd say this is one of the most popular batches yet!  Franny is wonderful. She is bright and cheerful and will definitely be one in demand. With her crisp dress and sharp look she has already sparked alot of interest. On eBay there was an in-hand Franny that sold for $41 US. Keep and eye on this bear for sure.  The fuzzy trio of Fern, Clay and River are adorable. They look soft and the colors are very rich. Bears like this are wonderful accent pieces for any room. I really like these.  The next trio of bears is Marigold, Armstrong and Scarlet. I would say that this is Ty's Baby Attic line. The bears feature the traditional baby colors of Yellow, Pink and Blue and without the joints. They are a perfect toy for any little one out there. I could easily see a little baby teeth on this.  Mulligan is what I'd call a traditional Attic. He is bursting with personality. There is definitely the Attic spark in this little bear. If it's the hat or the tilt in the head. There is something about this fella that just hits the essence of Attic.  Baron is a handsome ear who's jacket carries the power of the Ty Logo on the back. He is a very cute bear.  Easton is a lovely looking panda bear and the bow tie is a nice touch. I prefer to see this style of bear with regular sized ears instead of the mousy styles of Harper etc. I think would be neat to see a larger bear of this soft and floppy design. It would be fun to hold. Calliope is a wonderful addition to the Ty Attic Clown set of the two Piccadillys. It's bright and cheerful. I wonder if Ty will make a Harlequin or another clown one after this? It's a neat concept.  Kingston is cute but I must say it's not very Attic-ish to me. I guess I find the features too cartoonish to be old fashioned and the fabric is too modern. None the less it is a cute and I have a feeling this fella will be a very popular.  SUMMERY:Something old, something new and something for everybody! Well done Ty! 

EXCLUSIVES VERIFIED
Beanie Buddies Libearty (All sizes) and Buddies Lefty and Righty are US exclusives. There is no verification on Franny or on Lefty 2000 or Righty 2000 Beanie Babies yet. I'll let you know when I know for sure.  If your passion is Attics, Beanies, Buddies or Beanie Kids, I hope you all enjoy the new ones. Happy hunting everybody! 

Lulu :0)

7-8-00  NEW ATTICS, NEW SURPRISES
Well, we thought Franny would be a US exclusive, but she apparently was just released in the UK along with Lefty 2000, Righty 2000 Beanie Babies and the other new Attics and Beanie Buddies. There is a rumor saying it's only going to be available in other countries for a short while and then it will be available only in the US. With Ty it's always hard to know what to expect. Franny is a lovely bear though and well worth
adding to any collection. There is a picture of New Ty Attic Baron at http://www.jannettesbeanies.co.uk/newbuddies.htm (It has the pictures of the new Buddies too) If you check out Baron's jacket, it has a large Ty heart decorating the back of it. It's a very cute bear and I suspect this little fella is going to be hot with the attraction of the Ty logo on it.

NEW ATTICS HIT EBAY
You can now purchase many of the newest Attics on internet auction sites. I just grabbed my Franny yesterday. With Ty getting into faster retirements I suggest you grab the ones you like now while you can. It may save you a fortune later on.

NEW BEANIE BABIES
A lovely assortment of 11 new Beanie Babies have been released. I have tried to slow down on my Beanie collecting but with this new batch I can see my New Years resolution going down the tubes. They are just too cute to resist. You can check them out at http://www.ty.com/announcements/july_prod_beanies_intro.html

SPECKLES SELLS FOR $347.02!
There was an error tag Speckles that sold for $347.02 on eBay. Such a fast gain for such a new release. The tag on this bear had an error that had an apostrophe before the word "round". This little error was apparently worth quite a bit as other in-hand bears are selling for just $75 US. To think it was for sale a week ago for $5. With this kind of return, who needs to buy stocks? It was said the bear was sold out but there is speculation it may be made available once Ty fixes the Ty Trade post. The volumes were just so large it overwhelmed everybody. I remember with Clubby 1 and the Clubby Buddy offers, Canadians couldn't order it until much later on. It was shipped from Ty Canada to avoid having to deal with customs. I think if Speckles or a bear like it becomes available to Canadians, it will also have to be sent from Ty Canada headquarters. With the US quota being sold out, this may take awhile. So far Speckles is a US exclusive. I think we may still have a chance at it if we remain patient. Hang in there folks and we'll see what becomes of this. Speckles isn't officially a BBOC release, but seeing as it is July, it's about the right time for it to happen.

That's it for now folks. Tomorrow is July 8th. The day we find out what Ty has in store for retailers. It is also Harry Potter day for all the dedicated young readers out there. You can count me as one of them. My daughters are a little too young to read the book, but I got it for them for later on. I started reading it and man I am hooked. No matter what your age, if you want a great read that is fun and imaginative, get these books. It's worth it.

I hope you all have a wonderful summer filled with sunshine and teddy bears. Talk to ya later!
Lulu :0)

7-3-00  TY MYSTERY SURPRISE
Ty has a news flash announcing " Surprises for Retailers who attend the Atlanta gift show July 8-12!" Rumors of new releases surround this news. Beaniewonderland has a picture of what it may be. To see for yourself, go to http://www.beaniewonderland.com/news/extra2.htm  

ATTIC RUMOR
I've heard a rumor that some of the new Ty Attics will be retiring fast to help ad some zest to the market. If you find the ones you like in the new batch be sure to grab them quick! Franny is the first "Ty acknowledged" US exclusive (Spruce was actually the first). She may be among the short shelved so definitely go for it!

US EXCLUSIVE LISTS
So here is the list of exclusives with the new batches being released. BEANIE BUDDIES: Lefty and Righty, Libearty (of all sizes) BEANIE BABIES: Lefty 2000 and Righty 2000. TY ATTIC: Franny.

MAPLE BUDDY ON THE WAY OUT? There are reports of big shipments of Maple and Britannia Buddies hitting the shelves indicating possible retirement so if you want one, grab it while you can!  

NEW TY SITE and NEW BEAR SOLD OUT! Ty has just recently opened a FREE auction and trade site at http://www.tytrade.com/ . There was a surprise Beanie bear offered to new members. The bear is named Speckles and it is the first bear to be offered exclusively online. The word is that Speckles, who was available for $5 is already SOLD OUT! It was available for a very short time to American users only. (I tried to register but they wouldn't take Canadian postal codes.) The Ty site is very busy but if you want to catch a picture of this you can check out http://www.msjanie.com/ Another thing Ty is doing to get folks aware of the new site is by offering a daily auction of Ariel bear with the autographs from well known celebrities. Funds from the sale will go to the The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. For the complete list of autographed Ariels, check out the official site at http://www.pedaids.org/fs_ariel_bb.html  

TOUR TY PARK! Mary Beth's Bean Bag world has a slide show tour of the New Ty Park that just opened. It's a fun thing to check out. It's like a stroll through the park without having to leave your home. The park is designed for everybody allowing wheelchair accessibility throughout. It's a fun thing to see. Check it out at http://www.beanbagworld.net/new/news/details/tywarnerpark.html  Cajun Connection also has a wonderful write up about the park which you can read at http://www.premier.net/~dirkthib/  That's it for now folks. I'd like to thank all the wonderful web masters out there who help to keep coverage of Ty action. It takes all of us to create the big picture. A big thanks to all of ya! Have a wonderful week everybody!

Lulu :0)

6-26-00  NEW ATTICS!
Yee Haw. Finally some new Attics are on the way. It seems like Fanny is finally going to be the first patriotic Attic for the US. Whether or not she is a US exclusive is still unknown but I hope she is. It's always challenging going for something special. Now we know we've got some fun stuff to look forward too. Can't wait to see the pictures. The colors of these Attics sound like fun.

TYRA WITH POMPOMS SOLD
Pimka's Tyra on eBay started with a bid of $5 and sold for an end bid of $1225 US. Tyra with pom poms is still a hot little bear. Since her release, she has managed to maintain not only her charm but her price too!

BUDDY TRENDS
Buddies Digger and Peace bear retired this week. So far all redesigned buddies have the last style being most sought after. I felt Digger was going to be retired soon. Just two shipments and it's history. An interesting trend of Ty's is the timing of his retirements. Rex Buddy's retirement didn't surprise me really. In Canada, when Ty releases a new Buddy that is to retire fast, it retires just after the second shipment has been shipped. I think this has to do with shipping volumes. After the second batch has arrived that's the time it could be the end of that style. I'd bet that the pattern is true to the US market as well but probably after the 5th shipment instead of the 2nd like in Canada. (Usually it takes 3 months for Canada to get the same styles) I bet there is indeed a pattern behind this. If so we are safe to say when it comes to buying Buddies, the sooner the better can mean big savings in the long run.

TY US EXCLUSIVES VALUES
It always seems that US exclusives just don't gain the same high value as other country exclusives. The only real reason they aren't as highly priced is because the population in the US is huge and the number of shops selling Ty products far exceeds shops in other countries. High volumes means lower prices. Maple is more rare because Canada has less stores than the US and the price reflects it. So what is a US collector supposed to do? Well here is good news for you! The key is to go beyond computers and do actual trades across the boarder. I know many collectors that are interested in US exclusives but do not have access to computers. These are the folks who would love to trade their extra Maples for USA Bear. Here is how you do it. If you are fortunate enough to live close to the border, you could bring one of your exclusives to a Canadian Flea Market or Collectibles show. You could do a trade right there. Another way is to go to a Canadian Ty authorized dealer. It may help link you to finding someone who is looking for a US exclusive. Many dealers know their customers well and can connect you with a good match. If you live far from the boarder, you could go online and see if you can place an ad in a Canadian newspaper via the internet. Just be sure to leave your phone number in the ad because the point is to reach those who are without computers. The market is huge and the number of people who would love to have one is out there. All they need to know is how to reach you. Good luck everybody!

I have just flew back in from Disney World and boy are my arms tired! (I couldn't resist) It was a wonderful week of spending time with my husband and children in a world of absolute chaos. We had fun but now I need a vacation. I bought lots of goodies for the kiddies and I including a Pluto bean bag toy which seems to have the same fur as Ty Attics Haynes & Cromwell etc. It's short and super soft and it appears to be cropped with the same edges. I wonder if this inspired Ty or the other way around. Either way it's the first time I see the same style fur on a different item. It's very nice to hold. 

That's it for this week folks. Have a good one!
Lulu :0)


TYRA WITH POM POM AUCTION ON NOW 
Pam's Tyra with Pom Poms auction is up on ebay at a starting bid of $5 with no reserve and can be seen at
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?MfcISAPICommand=ViewItem&item=359357287 

BEWARE OF MODIFICATIONS! 
I have had reports in from stores doing serious augmentations to Ty Attics making them look different to try and sell them. It's not just a matter of removing costumes but some stores go so far as to remove flowers from Attics such as Eve. (This makes Eve look like a large Tyra like bear!) Just because it looks different doesn't mean it's new. Buyer beware. 

EARLY ARRIVALS! 
Rex Beanie Buddy and Ariel have hit the shelves in Canada already! I suppose Wisest has arrived too but I have yet to receive word on that one. My girlfriend in Thunder Bay purchased her Ariel this week and says she is beautiful. It's nice to have a lovely bear for a great cause. It makes purchasing her all the sweeter. 

BEANIE KIDS ARE HOT 
The Beanie Kids are flying off the shelves. So far the girls are the first to go with the little shirtless Beanie boys being the last. It would be cute to see them with shirts on. I think little Hawaiian shirts would be cute. How about promotional sports Beanie Kids with little team jersey's on them? That's hot. My nephews would go for that in a minute. Todd wants one with the Detroit Redwings please!  

TEENIE BEANIES UPDATE 
Kathy from Newfoundland writes: " I was reading on your news about the tbb and I was surprised to see that you didn't have to buy a meal because our local MD's are forcing us to buy a combo for the $2.99 beanies and a happy meal for tbb's. I don't think this is fare because it would be expensive to try and get them all. I have a friend in the states and she like the Canadian ones but it is going to be hard to get them this time because we have to buy meals."  It's true! When the last promotion happened you could buy them separately but now Happy Meals or Sandwich purchases are a must if you want any Teenie Beanie. This took the wind out of alot of people's sails. Last promotion you saw line ups and folks were store hopping to get different kinds of Teenie Beanies at the same time. Now the line ups are normalized and each store is selling the same items at the same time. It's really taken the whole thing down a notch now that the prices have increased so much for collectors. I think it does increase sales for Mc Donald's on a much larger level and when it comes to promos, who could ask for a better result? I wonder if the prices for the complete set will reflect the cost it takes to get them? In the long run this set may indeed be the hardest to complete. The number of Teenies and the short time it's out helps. It's easier filling in a set by buying online than it is to keep chewing burgers for two weeks. It demands a secondary market and that is what pushes them up there. I think as time goes on and folks have a fairly good set they want to complete the prices will rise towards the end of the promo. We'll have to wait and see.  

Attic A Tock Attic A Tock... 
Still waiting for new Attics? Try making your own variations using Beanie costumes. Beanie costumes fit alot of beloved Attics and it's fun to doll them up. I picked up four new outfits today and they work great. Here are some pictures for you. I'd like to thank Rosalyne, Azure, Amore and Piccadilly for their wonderful assistance.  

Well folks, I finally got grass on the lawn of our new home. Grass is a wonderful thing to a first home buyer. The first thing I did was flop on my back in the cushy grass and look up at the sky. My husband and children joined me in this act. To own a home is nice but to own grass, now that's something. We did our garden right away leaving me covered with peat moss and manure. I told my husband to water everything which left me standing in the yard soaking wet. After thoroughly watering everything we had a downpour. It was like God's way of saying it needs just a bit more water. My home is a mess of mud and footprints but my garden looks wonderful. It was by far one of our most enjoyable days. My husband and I officially made June 16th "Grass Day." So next year if you happen to see a family of four splayed out on their lawn looking up at the sky, you'll know who it is.  
Have

 a Happy Grass Day everybody! 
Lulu :0) 

6-12-00  PIMKA'S TYRA WITH POMPOMS FOR SALE!

" I wanted to let you know that I am going to sell another one of my Tyras with Pom Poms later this week on Ebay and would appreciate it if you can let your readers know. As well, I am not going to put a reserve on it. I will let the readers decide what the final value should be."

Pam came forward with her find of 6 Tyras with Pompoms back in March 3rd of this year. All the bears are Pickering finds which to date is the only area where the bears have been found. To see the Tyras she found check out http://members.fortunecity.com/maisondours/pamstyras2.jpg She has the eBay user name Pimka and will be posting her sale very soon. We'll keep you updated on how it goes. Thanks for the info Pam!

BEANIE KIDS IN CANADA
Stores have received a pre pack of Beanie Kids this month but only one of each design was in the batch. Regular orders start next month with a 2 design limit so the demand for Beanie Kids in Canada is going to be very hot. There are rumors of a British exclusive Beanie Kid showing up with Union Jack shorts but we'll have to wait and see on this one.

NO NEW ATTICS...YET
We've just seen the release of Ariel and the new USA bear so Ty is still in announcement mode. We'll just have to wait and see what he has in store for us.

TYE DYE DIGGER BUDDY
This release can now be found in both Canada and the US. It's hard to say how long it will be around. So far with Beanie Buddies, all variations have turned out to be quite valuable due to the short release periods. Wingless Quackers, Light Peanut and now Tye Dye Digger are all going for high secondary prices now, but Digger is dropping in price now that more are available. My suggestion is if you get one, hang on to it because it may not be around for long!

TEENIE BEANIES
Well it's that time again when Happy meals will be flying off the shelves. Here are some valuable tips to know for all of you ready to snap them up.

1. You don't have to eat to get one! Beanie Babies can be purchased without a meal but limits do apply. There are regular Teenie Beanies with happy meals and special Teenie Classics and Bears which cost $2.99 each in Canada. The special Teenie Beanies come in a special ommemoritive box. Proceeds from the sale of these oneshelp to sponsor the Ronald McDonald's House. Ty is helping kiddies again! :0) 
2. If they don't have the style you want, go to other Mc Donald's! Each restaurant runs independently and the treats given vary store to store. 
3. If you are into selling them, don't open the packages. It de-values the item.
4. Please leave some for the children. It builds you good Karma and the Beanie fairies will ad luck and good fortune to you and your family.  

That's it for this week folks! Have a terrific week. (Hmm... Beanie fairy. Now that's a nice idea for Beanie!)

Lulu :0)

5-28-00   NEW ATTICS AROUND THE CORNER
Tomorrow is Memorial Day and I have a feeling that it's the day the new Ty products will be announced. I anticipate new Attics and Buddies but New Beanies and Beanie Kids may not have that much happening until September. With Ty one can never know what to expect! It's kinda fun having that feeling of anticipation happening again.

TEENIES ON THE WAY!
As soon as the current Dinosaurs promotion is over, we will be receiving the new Teenie Beanies at Mc Donald's restaurants! The poster as well as the complete inventory of all the new Teenies can be seen here at http://www.beaniemom.com/ Unlike the US, Canada will have bilingual packages. Be sure to purchase extras for our neighbors in the South who want the complete set!

PINK MAPLES?!
Fake Pink Maples are showing up, supposedly supporting the Special Olympics. It's a very interesting thing to see. You can check it out at http://www.beaniemom.com/ 

COOL BUDDY ALERT
Tye Dye Digger made an appearance in the London Ontario area last week. Be on the  look out for this new variety of Buddy in this months shipments! It is still a rare find. Digger is the first Beanie Buddy to be sporting 3 different looks!

BEANIE KIDS ON THE WAY
Around June 15 -20th we can expect the first pre pack of Beanie Kids to hit all stores in Canada. Only one of each design is being issued to Ty authorized vendors until regular shipments commence in July or August.

BEANIES FOR KIDS IN CRISIS
I'm doing a local Beanie drive in Kitchener Waterloo for donations of Beanies and treats for the kids in Walkerton Ontario. There has been a terrible outbreak of e-coli in Walkerton's drinking water and 5 have died so far. The public Utilities apparently knew about e-coli in the water for over 3 days but they didn't issue any warnings. It took a local doctor to expose the story before it became public. Over 1000 people are affected. All the area kids have to get blood tests every 2 days and the kids and parents as well as nursing staff are all very stressed out. I called the Walkerton General Hospital about my idea and they would gladly accept the help. I'm taking donations of Treats like candy and chocolate bars for the kids getting the blood work. Hopefully the treats will help make it a more positive experience for them. The Beanies will go to all the kids in the hospital. I came up with the idea on Friday and set up donation boxes at Sobeys in Kitchener and Waterloo. It's an area grocery store. I just finished doing a radio interview for CHYM FM as well as TV interviews for CKCO news. The drive will end on Thursday June 1st when I will personally deliver the items to the hospital. I hope all goes well. I encourage all our readers to do such a program when a story of crisis comes from an area community.  Together we can all pool our resources together to help make the world a little bit better for kids.

Have a great week everybody. I hope your days are filled with sunshine and laughter.
Lulu :0)

5-23-00   31 ATTICS RETIRE!
Here in Canada it was a Victoria Day's treat. We saw the largest mass retirement in Ty Attic history. This story made the headlines on all Beanie sites and it has given the line a much needed publicity boost.  Attic fans are buzzing with every reaction under the sun. Most are thrilled to see this dramatic action in the Attic world and eagerly  await the arrival of new Attics. Others skipped a heart beat as they thought it was the end of their favorite collectibles. Many sites mentioned the retirement but mistakenl  said there were 13 designs left in the line. As any Canadian Attic fan can tell you Mackenzie bear is very retired as of last summer regardless of what the official Ty site says. (That is of course until Ty re-releases it. With Ty, anything is  possible!) If new releases are on the way it may contain the rumored Jergen the German Attic  Exclusive or possibly an exclusive for Japan, Scotland, Ireland or the long awaited US. Perhaps they'll be some short releases in this batch just for an added thrill. A re-designed Tyra without Pompoms would be cute. Could you imagine another Tyra? In any circumstance the feeling in the air is one of celebration and re-kindled excitement. Thanks for listening Ty! :0)


WHO'S LEFT?
Now there are only 11 Attic designs left. They are Berkley, Beverly, Blarney, Blush, Carson, Cromwell, Darlene, Fairchild, Harper, Hayes, and Rosalyne.


TEENIE BEANIE RUMOR
I caught this info in the Daily Times section of the Ty Talk board on May 21st. I cannot validate this but my gut feeling is that this sounds good.
"These names were confirmed by Ty Canada: Amber, Goochy, Hissy, Lips, Mystic, Nibbles, Pecan, Rover, Scaly, Schweety, Silver, and Tiptoe. The promo will begin on June 3rd or 4th"

Schweetheart's name was changed to Schweety. This is not the first time a Teenie Beanie has underwent a name change but for someone to pick up on this fact and present it in this way just makes it sound like a good lead. We'll find out the truth soon  anyway. Even if you don't collect these, it's good to know that Teenie Beanie releases increase the sales on the original beanies they represent. Great time to sell off any extras of those designs.

BEANIE KID UPDATE
Beanie Kids arrived in the UK and Japan recently so there is a very good chance they'll arrive in Canada very soon. Ty Canada will probably do a pre pack to stores this month before filling in regular orders. There is still no sign of Rex Buddy, Ty Dye Digger Buddy or Wisest the owl yet but if you see them, be sure to give us a shout. 

That's it for now folks. I eagerly anticipate the new surprises Ty has in store for us. I'll be sure to keep you informed. Have a great week everybody!

5-20-00   LAST BATCH ARRIVES!
The last five beanie releases have finally arrived in Canada. Be on the lookout for Swampy, Springy, Scuttle, Grace and Ty Signature Beanie Baby. It's nice to see them finally arrive!

STILL WAITING
Now we await the releases of Wisest Beanie Baby and Rex Beanie Buddy.  The normal shipments of Beanie Kids is expected to arrive soon. There is word saying that an extra large shipment of New Beginning Bears is on the way so be sure to grab one  while you can!

ANY NEW ATTICS?
There have been a couple of Attic retirements lately but according to many collectors, they should retire more. There are 42 currents available and many are becoming shelf sitters with Malcolm and William being the most frequently seen. Large Attics tend to sell slower so perhaps a shorter release for those ones would be more practical.
Wisest Beanie Baby and Rex Beanie Buddy are nice but I am hoping to see at least one new Attic. Perhaps a US exclusive for the Fourth of July?  Germany and Japan and the US haven't really had exclusive Attic releases yet. It would be nice to see Ty stir up the pot a little.

TAG VARIATIONS
There is an inside joke running with Attic collectors that states "If you have an Attic with the correct hang tag, it's probably the rarest version." Tag errors have always been a regular happening with Ty Attics. The usual mix up that happens is when one style has the hang tag of another. I have a Malcolm with Rosalie tag on it. It's not like these bears are identical, but errors like this are relatively common.  Usually tag errors do not raise the price of an Attic however they do add charm to a collection.  There are a few exception to the rule though. With a piece like Blarney with Tyra tag, it was the solid proof that showed  Ty recycled Tyra. As a result, the value of this tag error was substantially higher. The first Blarney with Tyra tag sold for $380 USD. There are only 7 in the world that we know of.  Another error among Attics are hang tags with unreleased names.
Among the rarest of Attics is the infamous Laurel with Holly tag. The Holly bear version has a double tagged ear. One tag has the name Holly and the other says Laurel. These bears are extremely rare and the value is rumored to be in the thousands. Our own Mary Catherine is fortunate enough to have come across one. She was kind enough to let me hold it for a bit. It's like holding a piece of Ty history. Other famous bears that gained a high value with this type of error include Nicholas with Tulip tag and the hilarious Cassie tag error that named her "Gassie".  Piccadilly was released with the name Sm. Bear and Samuel, with the name Big Bear yet the errors on these bears have not gained them more worth.
There are country exclusive tag oddities. In Canada, Nicholas and Scotch were released with 7th generation hang tags which has increased their value quite a bit. Nicholas with 6th generation tag will cost $10 but with the 7th gen. tag it's worth $75US! Canada also had Mackenzie Bear errors. There is a version of Mackenzie with a 7th generation Bearington tag. This is interesting seeing as Bearington retired with a 6th generation tag. Mackenzie also had another Tag error which has the word "Oatriot" instead of "Patriot". The value of these bears are relatively the same as a normal tag bears but in time the chances are it will go up.

As the rule in any collectible, the value of an item is worth what ever people are willing to pay for it. Some errors are worth a lot and some just sell as if it were a normal thing. It is an interesting thing to explore though. If you have an Attic oddity that you'd like to know more about, drop us a line on our Question and Answer section at http://pcperspectives.com/maisondours/wwwboard/  . If you are in the market to get yourself an Attic oddity, check out your favorite auction site and do a search for Attic error or Attic . There are always plenty of neat things to find out there.

Have a terrific week everybody!
Lulu :0)

5-12-00  More New Beanies in Canada
Aurora, Rufus, Wiggly, Frigid and Niles have arrived. This is the third of four shipments distributing the latest Beanies with exception to the latest release of Wisest the owl. I just hope the seniors in school have a chance to get him before graduation is over. The interesting thing about this third shipment of Beanies is that the first province to receive them this time was Ontario and the last ones to receive them was
BC. For years the sequence has been the opposite so perhaps Ty Canada is
doing their shipping in a different sequence these days. It's kind nice to shake things up a bit any ways. By this time all provinces have received them. Be on the lookout for the last batch to arrive in about 10 days. They will contain Swampy, Scurry, Springy, Grace and Ty 2000 Signature Beanie Bear. If you see them, feel free to drop me a line!

Bear Hug In
I went to the Bear Hug Show and Sale in Toronto this weekend and was fortunate to meet Terri and Mary Catherine along with Ty Attic designer Ruth Fraser and her daughter Nola Hart. I was very overwhelmed not only with the company I was in but I was speechless. Not only figuratively but literally. I had an awful case of laryngitis. This was my first serious bear show and I was totally engrossed in studying the details of
all the bears on hand. So many beautiful eyes and fabrics and beautiful faces and interesting details. I wish I had a full day to just go there and study them all. I bought a little bear that felt so delicate that it was like holding a baby bird in my hands. It was great to see Mary Catherine again and Terri showed me her own creations and gave me a crash course on bear making. She also showed me there are excellent bear
making books available from Maison D'ours at http://members.fortunecity.com/maisondours/books.html. You can basically find the link at the bottom of any page under the heading Bear Books. You know I've been doing articles for months and it was the first time I noticed that link. Just when you think you've seen it all. I'm so used to checking out the news section I neglected to check out our other areas. It's a huge site. Lots of fun. Explore it. I know I will.

I had spoken with Mrs. Fraser and found her to be just as charming and charismatic as her bears. (Fabulous hair too.) I have always enjoyed her designs in Ty Attics, but to see the refined details and the quality of her handmade pieces transcends anything I've ever seen before. Her miniature bear was so delicate and beautiful it's like looking inside a flower. There is life in pieces created with such skill and craftsmanship and it was obvious to me this lady is a master. She is also one very busy woman. Bear shows across North America and Europe will have her traveling a great deal this year. She will be at the Ty Collectibles Convention in Scotsdale Arizona, as well as an upcoming bear show in London England. For more info on the Arizona convention
check out http://CollectiblesConvention.com/

Ruth disclosed that next year will be the 100th anniversary of the Teddy Bear. As a tribute to this wonderful occasion a special theme will be created for next year's Hug In reflecting on the Birth of the Teddy Bear. I can't wait to the wonderful treat she'll come up with for next years show.

A MUST FOR BEAR LOVERS! Ruth Fraser is the founder of Bearly Ours which
is a Canadian club for bear makers and bear fans alike. It features: 
A meeting place for bear artists, bear collectors and bear lovers Monthly program meetings with speakers, panels, demonstrations, workshops.  Notice of upcoming shows, sales, auctions, conferences, workshops  Source of bear making supplies  Who's who in Canadian Teddy Bear artists
International bear artists
Managing a collection of Teddy Bears
Starting a Teddy Bear Business
Community Projects
News Letters

Can you believe you get all this for just $20 Canadian? Definitely worth it. Be a member. I can't recommend it highly enough. Even if your in the US you can receive the Newsletters. For more details be sure to check out the official site at http://www.xbase.com/bearlyours/

Well, I'm in the new house now waiting for the builders to ad grass to my lawn so I can start on my garden. In a fit of spring fever I went  out and purchased all kinds of gardening equipment, seeds and fertilizers.  Now I have 178 seedlings and no where to go. I need grass on my lawn soon or my kids will get lost in the corn maze in my kitchen. I must say  with every sprout I glow with pride, regardless of where it grows.  

Have  a wonderful springtime folks!
Lulu :0)

5-4-00   NEW RELEASES
It appears that new Buddies and Beanies are popping up these days. I hope there is a couple of Attics in the bunch for us. It's kind of frustrating for Canadian collectors to watch new releases come out while we are still waiting for the shipments of the last releases to appear. There are at least 2 more batches of the current Beanies expected to arrive this month and hopefully the Beanie Kids will be normal shipments soon too.
It's tricky for Canadians to get items like Ty2K Buddy when they retire before they are released. They rarely hit the shelves at all and when they do they rarely go for normal prices. I hope that Canadians and Americans can someday receive shipments at the same time. At least we would have a chance to enjoy things like variations. Often time there are several variations that occur in early batches like Scorch with Dragon tag
Buddy or the Beanie Kids with the old style underwear. We miss out on alot of these things. Even Lawrence Ty Attic with the first style of blanket on his back is not in Canada. If variations were included as exclusives, the US far outnumbers Canada many times.

NEW ATTIC MESSAGE BOARD
Mary Beth's Bean Bag World has just added a new Ty Attic message board! To check it out go to http://www.InsideTheWeb.com/mbs.cgi/mb1048124

OLD BEANIES BEING SHIPPED
This weekend I was surprised to find a perfect white wash Peace Beanie Baby on the shelf for regular price at a Ty authorized dealer. Apparently some stores across Canada are indeed receiving retireds with their regular shipments. Some shops report getting a couple of the May 98 retireds such as Bones and Ears. Be sure to check your favorite shops and see if they are among the lucky ones!

TOP 35 CANADIAN SITES
We are now new members of the top 35 Canadian sites. Not only that, but after our first day we were #1! To check out lots of neat Canadian Beanie and Ty Trading links scroll down to the bottom of this page and give a click on the Top 35 logo. Great deals are found especially with the exchange rate. Have fun!

That's it for now folks. Enjoy the sunshine!
Lulu :0)

for previous Canadian Connection Articles, go HERE

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