A chance conversation on the telephone yesterday ....and off we went to the Lake District for the second time within a week! Last Thursday we were at Beales in Kendal to pick up Nigel - this time we went a bit further, back to the Beatrix Potter Attraction in Bowness on Lake Windemere.

The shop at the Attraction has already received a very small delivery of the the new Ty Beanies, announced last week - Mr Tod, Jemima Puddleduck and Tom Kitten. These are only on sale to visitors to the Attraction itself at this time - there is no mail order, and pre-orders will not be sent out until the main delivery in a few weeks' time.

I managed to speak to the manager, Chris Butterworth, who told me that once again there had been huge interest in these beanies since the announcement, both from at home and abroad.  Teething problems with international shipping and costs had been sorted out, he said, and pre-orders would be dispatched at the end of the month/early November when the main delivery arrived at the shop.

He was delighted with the sales of the first set - apparently Peter Rabbit was the most popular with visitors, although many collectors had found the detail on Mr Jeremy Fisher particularly outstanding.

My first picture shows the small display of the new beanies in the shop itself.

 I couldn't wait to buy a set, and take photographs of them for everyone to see. All three compliment the first set, and I think Ty is to be congratulated on the designs for these - they are very appealing! I noticed that they were a draw to many visitors in the shop - and I don't mean beanie collectors! In my view a good move - something to collect, but also moving into a different market, with a different audience.

The weather was not as kind as in June - a little sunshine, but showers too all day - after all, it is the beginning of Autumn! We left Bowness, taking a ferry across the lake, and went on to Tarn Hows, just a few miles beyond Sawrey, where Beatrix Potter lived. Tarn Hows is one of the most visited places in Lakeland. When the area came up for sale in 1929, it was bought by Beatrix Potter, who sold the half containing Tarn Hows to the National Trust, and then left the rest of the estate to the Trust in her will.

Chris was also able to tell me that a third set of characters is planned - with probable release round about March next year. If these three are anything to go by, we'll be going there again

Congratulations - and thanks - to  Ty and Ty UK for these innovative beanies!

the phoenix

 

 

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Beatrix Potter described Mr Tod in her story as "disagreeable", but he looks quite happy here, surveying the scene. One cute fox!

 

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Jemima looks quite the lady here, although in the story she was a silly duck.
 I don't think she wants to get her feet wet in Coniston Water - Coniston Old Man is in the background.

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Tom, like all cats, enjoys sitting in a tree - this one overhangs the Tarn. I hope he doesn't fall in!

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The trio meet up at the lakeside - Tarn Hows.