Lamp Ithaca NY

Believe it or not, the idea for this lamp came to me while scrutinizing some flea-market lampshades made from used popsicle sticks. The concept, I decided, was sound. But I wanted to make some changes. So instead of gorging myself on 100 Dreamsicles, I decided to use 1/4" maple strips. And instead of creating a true oddity of Americana, I chose to look to the Far East to create a lamp that would be at home in a Japanese household.

Thin Sticks • First you need to cut the 88 sticks that make up the sides. Rip some 1/4"-thick maple into 1/4"-wide strips. I found that a board that's 1/4" thick, 6" wide and 4' long makes one lamp. Now crosscut the strips to 6-1/8" long.

A Jig Makes it Quick • Now drill the 176 holes in the side pieces for the four dowels that hold the lamp together. I made a jig to hold a side piece in place on my drill press while I drilled the holes. The center of each 1/8" hole is located 3/16" in from each end. Now sand all the pieces.

Build the Base • First cut the base to size and cut two 1/4"-deep by 3/4"-wide grooves in the bottom of the base. These should be located 7/8" from the edges. Glue the feet in place. Now mark on the base where the four dowels will be located. Here's how: Draw two lines between the opposite corners of the base. This creates an "X" at the center of the boar...