FREE PATTERN!!!!!!

Before I post the pattern for my Arabella Ballerina Bear, I would like to apologize. I hope that in my last posting I did not make you feel as if I was blaming you for not entering my giveaway. Rather I was on a rant. For some reason or other I was not in top form that day. Maybe becasue I have an urgent hope I can really make my crochet business work so I can stay at home with my wonderful daughter (and others if the Lord allows!). It is a desperate need to be home and raise my baby like I want and be there for every moment. I don't want to miss a second of it! My husband has a severe from of arthritis and can't just work at any job. As of right now, we are working on a business plan so he can officially open his business right here at home! Essentially we are both jobless right now, so I am working every angle I can to get my crochet cuteness out there! But that does not mean I should push my items on the wonderful people who buy them! I am honored you all seem to like my creations!!! It really is a wonderful feeling to know something I created is accepted and well liked by others!

We have now reached 301 likes on my Facebook page!! YAY YAY YAY!! Thanks mostly to a wonderful blog to which I have donated my Lacy Dress for a fabulous giveaway and a heart warming cause. But the entries on my blog are few (Thanks to those who did!!). Therefore I am posting my pattern here so all can enjoy!! I have been making these bears for a bit as I have a large order to fill of them. I find the pattern easy to follow but then again I wrote it! Tell me if it just isn't working for you, okay?

Here it is!! Enjoy :)

Arabella the Ballerina Bear

Do not join rounds, rather use a marker at the end of every round and move up to keep track of rounds. This bear is crocheted in amigurumi style. I have used a size 4.50mm hook. Other materials are:  worsted weight yarn, safety eyes, fiver fill stuffing and little bit of black and brown embroidery thread.

Head

Using skin color (I used a cream color, you could use brown or any other “bear” color you like!)

5 sc in magic ring

R2: 2sc in each sc around (10)

R3: (1sc, 2 sc in next sc) around (15)

R4: (2sc, 2 sc in next sc) around (20)

R5: (3sc, 2 sc in next sc) around (25)

R6: (4sc, 2 sc in next sc) around (30)

R7-12: sc around (30)

R13: (4sc, 1 dec in next 2 sc) around (25)

R14: (3sc, 1 dec in next 2 sc) around (20)

R15: (2sc, 1 dec in next 2 sc) around (15)

Attach muzzle and eyes

R16: (1sc, 1 dec in next 2 sc) around (10)

R17: 1 dec in next 2 sc around (5)

Close hole and fasten off

Muzzle

Using skin color

5sc in magic ring

R2: 2sc in each sc around (10)

R3: (1sc, 2 sc in next sc) around (15)

R4: sc around (15)

Fasten off leaving a tail to sew to head. Using embroidery thread, embroider a nose and mouth however you would like! Add a little stuffing to the muzzle and position the muzzle on the head between the eyes as you like and sew in place. I like to position the muzzle and the eyes at the same time before the head is finished, stopping around the R15 mark. You can make cute little eyelashes if you want here, too. I stuff the head after I have finished attaching the eyes and muzzle.

Ears (make 2)

Using skin color

Follow rounds 1-4 of Muzzle

R5: sc around (15)

Fasten off and fold over. Sew together. Shape the ears in a bit of a cure to get that bear look! Position on head and sew in place.

Body

Starting with pink (or any other color you would like to use for the dress) Stuff as you go

Follow rounds 1-5 of head

R6: sc around (25)

Join skin color for one round only

R7: in back loops only sc around (25)

Change back to pink (or dress color)

R8-14: sc around (25)

Change to skin color for the remainder of the body

R15-16: sc around (25)

R17: (3sc, 1 dec in next 2 sc) around (20)

R18: (2sc, 1 dec in next 2 sc) around (15)

Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing the head in place. Before sewing the head to the body I like to make and attach the arms and the top of the dress, and then I sew the head in place.

Top

Ch 30

Sc in next 10 ch, 1 hdc in next ch, 3 dc in next 3 ch, slst in next ch, 3 dc in next 3 ch, 1 hdc in next ch, sc in next 10 ch. Fasten off leaving a long tail to sew to the body.

Skirt

Using pink (or whatever suits your facny!)

Holding the body horizontal so that the head is facing you join with a sl st to the back of the body in one of the loops missed during R7 and ch 3

R1: in same st as join, 3 tbr and in each missed loop around (75) (counting stitches here is not a big deal, just as long as the skirt looks like a tutu you are good!)

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Arms (make 2)

Using skin color

6sc in magic ring

R2: 2sc in each sc around (12)

R3-4: sc around (12)

R5: (4sc, 1 dec in next 2 sc) around (10)

R6-7: sc around (10)

R8: (3sc, i dec in next 2 sc) around (8)

R9-12: sc around (8)

Fasten off leaving a long tail to attach to body. If you want bendy arms then you can add a pipe cleaner. I cut mine in half and then fold in half and tuck the ends in so the poky part does not poke out of the arm.  Make sure your pipe cleaner is white or the same color as the skin so you can’t see it through the arm! Stuff around the pipe cleaner.

Legs (make 2)

Starting with pink

4sc in magic ring (this is a little tricky as you want to have a nice point to symbolize the Pointe shoe of a ballerina)

R2: (1sc, 2 sc in next sc) around, sc in last sc (7)

R3: (2sc, 2 sc in next sc) around, sc in last sc (9)

R4: sc around to last sc, 2 sc in last sc (10)

Change to skin color

R5-15: sc around (10)

Fasten off leaving a long tail to sew to the body. You can use pipe cleaners here too, just like in the arms. Stuff around the pipe cleaner. Sew together and sew to the body. You can then make the criss- cross and bow of the laces by cutting a long piece of pink yarn, then with a yarn needle thread the yarn through the leg where the pink changes to the skin color.

Bow

Ch 5

R1: sc across (4)

R2-6: sc across (4)

Fasten off leaving a long tail. Thread the yarn with a yarn needle along the side of the rectangle you just made to the middle. Pinch the rectangle and wrap the yarn tail around to make the bow. Attach to and ear!  Viola you are done!!!!

 **** Please do not sell this bear. Thanks!!******

Nothing to do with crcohet........almost!

I was going to write about my family when I sat down at my computer. Actually, I started to write a blog post about my darling daughter (who is being a bit of a bum when it comes to bedtimes) and then figured "Naw, who wants to hear about that!!"
So, instead I am going to write about.....well it's a complaint actually so you can all tune out if ya wanna. (Please don't!!)
As it happens I am trying to get more followers on Facebook and on this blog. So far it has been a challenge! (I must send a shout out to all those who DO follow me! Loves ya!) I have donated a crochet article for a very good cause you can find here. Which has generated MANY new "likes" on my Facebook Page! YAY! On the down side this blog is not getting the attention I thought it would! I figured by having a giveaway where people must post on my blog scads of crochet likers would be flocking to my blog to get their grubby, I mean lovely, hands on some quality crochet. Wrongo.
TWO people have entered the giveaway. Two. Lucky them! Seeing as I am fast approching the 300 "likes" mark I will be giving either Rachel or Aimee some crochet items! Actually, I will be giving Rachel the pattern (as she is a crocheter) and Aimee the item as she likes my stuff.
This post is an attempt to get more entries! (Is it working?) Granted, I cannot make you want to enter (can I?) this giveaway, but PLEASE PLEASE enter! Please. As a creative person I am also an actor (surprise surprise) and I must admit I kind of like it when people look at me and enjoy my antics! (Don't we all?) So, if you so enjoy these antics (even if you don't!) please enter my giveaway. Mostly just becasue I don't want to look like a turd ............ or the crazy crochet lady! Neither is beneficial to my sales nor my self esteem!
On the plus side (and TOTALLY off topic) one of my sales has generated a contact for my husbands business! Who's a good wife?!?!
In closing I would like to say..........please enter my giveaway. It really is a good one and I really want you to like me! Please like me! (Again the actor is me is RAGING! Gotta....stuff......her....back......DOWN!) Ahem. In closing  I would like to invite you all to enter this FABULOUS giveaway on my blog and on this one. Have a wonderful day :)

NEW ITEM!!!

I LOVE this hat! Idea came from a customer who wanted an aviator hat with goggles!

Musings.......

Before I begin this post I just want to to say....I have been SERIOUSLY working on this blog! And trying to figure out how to get numbered comments but they just are not working! And once I do get them working we can have a GIVEAWAY!

Anyway, on to the REAL post now.

Today I have been wondering (crazy I know!) about how on earth do I get this blog thing started. And who started this way of communication and networking? Genius! But does one have to be a genius to make it work?

I have been on Etsy for just over a year and have made 36 sales. Not too shabby I guess, but not what I wanted it to be either. This is one reason for this here blog. Most of my teammates on my Etsy crochet team (Crochet Dream Team, coolest crochet team EVER) have a blog, Facebook Page (which I have) and a Twitter account (which I REFUSE to have as I really do not like Twitter!) I started this blog thinking "Okay, now EVERYONE will see the cute things a make and want them, too!!" Wrong. With all the blogs out there how does one even FIND my blog? Besides all the people who like my page on Facebook and like my Etsy shop, who do I get to like my blog?

I did have 9 followers yesterday (Woohoo) then discovered one was questionable so that one is gone and we are now sitting at 8. I started this blog in November 2010 (I think) and only have 8 followers??? Granted I did not keep up with the blog as I should have, but 8? That's it?

Then I started to wonder if I was interesting enough to even have a blog. Well, sure that can't be it, can it? I think I am a fairly funny individual, albeit boring becasue there isn't too much that exciting in my life, but I'm kinda cool right? I sure make cool things.....right?

All these questions swirling in my head and I wonder how I even have time to crochet! How does the power woman of today do it? How does she look at this task and say "I can totally do this becasue I AM WOMAN!!" I don't know about you but I sure feel like I am behind the boat on the "supermom" title of this day and age!!

I think I may have come to a conclusion. (I hope so anyway) I think I may have to tell "the readers" (who are cool and wonderful!!) about my life and thoughts, hence this rambling blog post. I think in order for people to like my product they have to understand who I am. Selling my wares may be more then just "Hey look at this!!" It may be "Hey, here I am. Come see what I can do!" At the same time I don't want to turn into a crazy crochet lady waving my hooks in the air and dangling a ball of yarn behind me screaming "Buy my stuff!!!!" Instead I will just be me. Odd at times, funny most times (hopefully!!), always creative and honest. I think I like to be honest & pure in what I do.

So, here is to crochet, stay-at-home/home business moms, and being honest in who we are! *dangles yarn from her back pocket.....BUY MY STUFF, BUY MY STUFF.........heehee

Blog Button

A very BAD Blogger

I have come to realize I am a HORRIBLE blogger! Now, I pretty much knew this would happen heading into this endeavor, alas I wanted to make a blog to promote my crochet work. Other blogs are marvelous! My friend Colleen Berge writes a fan-TAB-ulous blog; it's poetic, profound and stunning, her writing can inspire anyone! As you may have read in a previous blog post the reason for promoting said work is so I can stay home to raise our daughter and hopefully have more children in the future (whether it be through adoption or fostering)

So, here we are. I have 6 followers (Thank you ever so kindly!) and the last blog post I did was in December. EPIC fail!

..........Pick myself up, dust myself off and start again...........

Round 2: I am now committing (hopefully) to really give this blog thing a second change or rather hoping this blog thing will give ME a second chance!

I have now changed my template and I think it is lovely, provided FREE from a friend of mine. You can find her blog (and it is a GOOD one) here: Simply Fabulous Blogger Templates
And I am writing and posting with renewed vim and vigor! (whatever "vim" is I hope to have it!)

I am currently working on making 20 Ballerina Bears for a perky dance teacher who needs them by June. I figured this would be the opportune time to try my hand at writing a pattern! YAY! AND in doing so, I need people to test it out! Yes if you are a fellow crocheter this means YOU! (cheers and applause!) I will be (in the VERY near future) posting this FREE crochet pattern on this blog. And then I shall ask YOU, the wonderful crocheters, to test it out and let me know how it works for you. I have no problems following my own pattern (go figure!) but I need to make sure others are able to as I hope to sell it on my Etsy site found here: www.megnmar.etsy.com (shameless plug I know)

Hopefully this will generate more traffic to my shop and thus more sales of my wonderful items! To all of you who are reading this (all SIX followers) please tell EVERY person you know about my wonderful *ahem* made-over blog and my new commitment to blogging. I shall also post some new pics (which I am sure most of you have already enjoyed) just so this post will have a bit of flare!

Until next time........which I hope will be very, very soon!

Meg :)