Happy Easter!

So, it's Easter. The kid sister has been anticipating today for a while now. My family doesn't have a lot of money, so she knows she wouldn't be buried under an Everest-like mountain of chocolate eggs and gifts, like a lot of her friends will. But she threw herself into her egg hunt for her two little eggs with glee, and was thrilled to find them. She was not only grateful, but also promised to share her chocolate eggs with the rest of the family. I couldn't love her attitude more; Easter isn't supposed to be a time where you give your child a serious risk of obesity, diabetes and cavities. It's about appreciation for what we have, and the kid sister has shown that kids are more than capable of being happy with the smaller things.

I love chocolate, but I also really like the idea of non-chocolate related gifts. For the first time, this year, mum received an easter gift of her own - a mug, chocolate, marshmallows and some yarn she had her eye on. The Easter Bunny often gets overlooked today!

I'm visiting a friend's 6-month old later today. I'm not too sure what age kids can start on the chocolate, but I'm figuring 6 months is a little young. But he doesn't have to miss out! Meet Peep the Chick, crocheted especially for little Jacob!

So, happy Easter everybody! Take a lesson of appreciation from the 9-year old sister, and don't eat too much chocolate at once.

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Pat the Platypus Crochet Pattern

Meet Pat the Platypus! He is my very first attempt at amigurumi crochet. He's a little scruffy and misshapen but he's perfectly happy being adorably imperfect!

Pat is my slightly altered version of Irene Strange's amigurumi pattern. Irene makes lots of quirky little amigurumi dolls. I love her blog!

Materials
3.5mm crochet hook
Blue yarn
Yellow yarn
Stuffing
Eyes

Stitches
Dc - double crochet
Inc - increase, 2dc in the same st
Dec - decrease, dc two stitches together by pushing hook through the first stitch and pulling the yarn through, then through the next stitch and pull yarn through. You'll have 3 hoops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through all three.
Ch - chain
Sl st - slip stitch

Body
With blue yarn, make a magic ring and work 6dc into the ring [6sts]
Round 1: 2dc in each st [12sts]
Round 2: (1dc in first st, inc next st) until the end. [18sts]
Round 3: (1dc in first two sts, inc next st) until end [24sts]
Rnd 4: (1dc in first three sts, inc next stitch) until end [30sts]
Rnds 5-19: 1dc in each st until end.
Rnd 20: In front loops only (1dc in next three stitches, dec) until end [24sts]
Rnd 21: In both loops (1dc in next two sts, dec) until end [18sts]
Stuff
Rnd 22: Dec until end [9sts]
Rnd 23: Dec three stitches together until end [3sts]
Fasten off.

Bill
Using yellow yarn, ch7.
Rnd 1: 1dc in second ch from hook in the first five sts. 3dc in last st. Work around the other side of ch to beginning as follows: 1dc in next four sts, 2dc in next st, sl st to first st [14sts]
Rnds 2-4: 1ch, 1dc in each st until end, sl st to first st
Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.

Tail
With yellow yarn, make a magic ring and work 6dc into it [6sts]
Rnd 1: (Inc first st, 1dc in next two sts) to end [8sts]
Rnd 2: (Inc first st, 1dc in next three sts) to end [10sts]
Rnd 3: (Inc first st, 1dc in next four sts) to end [12sts]
Rnd 4: (inc first st, 1dc in next four sts) to end [12sts]
Rnd 5: (Inc first st, 1dc in next five sts) to end [16sts]
Rnds 6-11: 1dc in each st to end.
Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.

Flippers
Make four.
ch4 with yellow yarn.
Row 1: In second ch from hook, 1dc in each st, turn [3sts]
Row 2: 1ch, inc first st, 1dc in next two sts, turn [4sts]
Row 3: 1ch, inc first st, 1dc in next three sts, turn [5sts]
Row 4: 1ch, inc first st, 1dc in next four sts, turn [6sts]
Row 5: 1ch, inc first st, 1dc in next five sts [7sts]
Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.

Assembly
Add your eyes. Sew up his body and sew his bill over the magic circle. Sew his tail to the other end. Sew his flippers as you like them, I used pins to get them in the right places.


This pattern is my adaptation from one I found in Let's Get Crafting! magazine. I do not claim copyright.

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5 Air Fresheners to Make Yourself

Squeal and squirm all you like, but I live in my bedroom with two gerbils and nine (yes, NINE) pet rats. Rats have very sensitive lungs and don't deal very well with chemical-filled scented candles, air fresheners and incense sticks. Unfortunately, they also smell pretty awful. I needed a way to spritz up the air around my animal cages without gassing out my rats, and so I set about finding some natural, home-made air fresheners that would be gentle on their lungs, my lungs, and also smell wonderful. Here are my top five!

Baking Soda Cinnamon Spritzer

Baking soda is known for its ability to soak up nasty, unwanted smells. And the spiced orange smell of the oils is delicious. I can use the essential oils in soaps and bath bombs too, so I can smell as delicious as my room does! 

Vanilla, Lemon and Herb Pot

Slice up 1 lemon, add 2tsp vanilla, and a few sprigs of rosemary. Cover with water and leave to simmer in a pot. It will soon have your house smelling good enough to eat. I'll simmer this for a while, stick it in a jar and sit it next to my stinky cages to make my room smell gorgeous!

Vanilla Mist

Mix 1 cup of water and 3tbsp vanilla extract into a mist bottle (not a spray bottle, that comes out too quick). Spritz around for a gentle vanilla smell. 

Smelly Jars

As before, simmer oranges, cinnamon and cloves in a pan. Stick in a jar and place it in an offensively smelling room. It can be reheated as needed. This one has particular staying power! A winner for stinky pets. And how pretty do these look?

Reed Diffusers

If I fancy pushing the boat out a little and spending a bit more, all I need is some kind of small jar with a narrow top, some bamboo skewers, 1/4 cup of sweet almond oil and 20 drops of essential oil of my choice. These would make nice gifts, too!

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