DIY Jute lampshade

I love looking and admiring innovative lampshades and chandeliers in cafes or stores. 
It is all about good lighting and lights to create that perfect ambience and the more in tune with look of the place they are the better. I don't deny that there are brilliant products out there in the market and very tempting to buy as well, yet some of the designs look so simple and easy to make that I can't resist the urge to make them for myself! These jute lampshades are very similar to a chic cafe lighting I saw recently, only theirs were more round and mine are teardrop shaped. I found lots of different ways and recipes to make similar hanging decorations with wool and cotton yarn using glue/cornstarch/wheat paste etc. The best result we found was from the one we made using starch, it worked like magic.

These lampshades look just as great during daytime as at night. I love the colour as jute is so earthy brown and looks so organic.

To make these lampshades all you need is Starch powdered (any brand starch used as clothes stiffener can be found at local departmental stores), jute string (thickness of your liking), vaseline and balloons. Vaseline would keep the balloon from sticking to the jute string. Just blow up a balloon, apply a layer of vaseline on the balloon and tie it to some sort of suspension in your backyard or indoors if you prefer. 

It would be good to put a piece of cloth or some newspaper under the balloon as the starch drips. Add around one cup starch to one and half cup boiling hot water. Stir it until all the starch is mixed with water and it should be a thick consistency. Dip the jute string in the starch water and keep wrapping it around the balloon in any pattern of your choice. It is best to start wrapping from the knot of the balloon and work your way downwards. 

Just wind the end of the string to the top of the lampshade and hang the ballon to dry for atleast 8 hours or overnight. Now it's time to pop the balloon! Sometimes when the balloon pops your lampshade might look distorted, try to pull it back in shape or just insert another balloon inside the shade and blow it up. as the balloon blows up the jute strings will start to get back in shape. let out the air in the balloon and you will find that the jute retains its shape.

Hope you enjoy making these lampshades with jute or any other cotton string. You can even paint them later in any colour of your choice!