Lampshades and Mouse Update

The long winter nights are giving us more time to spend inside in the evenings. Recently, I have enjoyed pulling out a few craft projects to work on. I’m glad to have put the finishing touches on a pair of macrame lampshades that I started last winter. I unearthed the frames and bases for the lampshades when I was helping clear out Mum and Dad’s shed last year. I think I may have received them as a birthday gift many years ago, but had never figured out how to make shades for them. Fortunately, one of my macrame books had a lampshade pattern that I was able to adapt to fit the frames, using a big ball of jute twine that we bought in town. Now we think the lamps will look quite nice in our bedroom.


Lamp with macrame lampshade

An update on the mouse situation: I’m pleased to announce that we have now caught one mouse — using cheese. Unfortunately, we still suspect that there are more of the wee beasties in the house. We’ve decided to try baiting the traps with bacon, based on some helpful suggestions that showed up in response to my last posting. Thanks for the ideas! Bacon is at the top of the shopping list for our next trip to town.

7 Responses to “Lampshades and Mouse Update”

  1. Shelley says:

    The super-dooper mouse tempter for traps is Peanut Butter! They cant get it out of the trap without ..well.. the most desirable ,for us anyway, result taking place. It is obviously irresistable to them, cheap and while a bit fiddly to pop onto the trap, very sucessful.

  2. Cat says:

    Er from my experience of living with a bloke who trapped vermin in the bush for several years try mixing the peanut butter with rolled oats until quite hard, about equal amounts of each. Then attatch it to your trap, it is abit more difficult for the rats and mice to get off the trap and you are more likely to kill then just feed!!

  3. Rebecca says:

    Hi Shelley,
    In the past we’ve had top results from using peanut butter in the mousetraps, but this year’s mice don’t seem to care for it (see previous post). It seems we will have to diversify the menu!
    Thanks for the comment.
    Rebecca

  4. Maggie says:

    And here was me thinking that macrame was very kitch. That lamp looks fantastic, especially in the jute!

  5. Rebecca says:

    Thanks, Maggie! I was pleased with how it came out, too. It looks very different from the 70s era version in the book, which was worked in several colours of macrame cord!
    Rebecca

  6. jon says:

    use peanut butter,mice cannot resist! happy hunting!

  7. Richard says:

    On the mouse bait, try a dab of peanut butter with a raisin or nut (any nut) pushed into it. Works for me every time.