The Illuminated Hugger

I hate buying presents, not just because I'm cheap, but because making things is so easy and more meaningful. So in the two nights before Christmas of 2004 I dug out my sketchbook of furniture designs and tried to find something appropriately easy.

Unfortunately, with no microprocessor bench, no computer-controller laser or water cutter, no vacuum former or 3D printer, and not even very many LEDs, I had to stay pretty basic.

So I wandered the aisles of Home Depot for a while and thought about the ability to chain lamps, and a particular spot between the fireplace and a couch, and came home with the pieces to build a spartan functional lamp:

(full size) The raw parts.

(full size) The stalk, coming together.

(full size) The arms are added.

(full size) And the hands, convenient for a laptop or cellphone.

(full size) Finished, basically.

(full size) Wrapped hastily at 2am Dec 25th.

My parents selected a great (also homemade) lampshade from their collection, and here's the result:

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