There is something inherently nostalgic about wooden bushel baskets. Whether it is a memory of a childhood trip to the country to pick apples or a simple bushel of apricots being dropped off at home by a neighbor with too much fruit to make use of, they epitomize the simple life. This simple hanging lamp brings those memories home.

Because the wood strips used for these baskets are thin enough to let a warm glow pass through, these baskedts make wonderful lantern shades for covered outdoor spaces. And we are not alone in our love of these simple forms; when Frank Gehry designed a collection of bentwood furniture for the esteemed furniture maker Knoll, he claimed that these simple bushel baskets were his inspiration.

Everyday clamp lights from big box stores are UL rated and are inexpensive, providing a perfect source of light for this project. If the lamp is to be hard-wired to an outlet, it is best to build the electrical from supplies from a lamp shop or the electrical section of the hardware store.

Materials:

One 12" diameter (or larger) wooden bushel basket
One clamp light (with shade and clamp removed)
Two 3-inch plywood disks (available at craft stores)
One 1 ½-inch threaded nipple - 1/8-IP (available in the lighting department of hardware stores)
One package of brass locknuts-1/8-IP (available in the lighting department of hardware stores)
Twine or chain to hang finished light

Tools:

Drill
½-inch drill bit
Craft scissors

Directions:

1. Use pliers to carefully remove staple from center bottom of bushel basket. Then, using an old pair of craft scissors (cutting may dull blade), cut out a 2 by 2-inch square from of each wood layer at the center of the bottom of basket.

2. Drill ½ inch hole in center of the two 3-inch plywood disks. Set aside.

3. Remove casing from light socket in order to access wires inside. Loosen screws to free wire ends from socket. Slide cord out of hole in base of socket. Screw threaded nipple into hole at base of socket. Set aside outer socket casing, inner part of socket

4. Insert threaded nipple through one of the 3-inch plywood discs. Screw a nut onto threaded nipple and tighten it against the 3-inch plywood disc.

5. From the inside of basket, insert threaded nipple through hole in bottom of basket then place second 3-inch disc on nipple, creating "sandwitch" of disk, basket, disk.. Screw another nut onto threaded nipple and loosely tighten. Center disc on bottom of basket.

6. Cut piece of twine twice desired length of final hanging height of lamp. Fold twine in half and slide center point of twine under disc on bottom of lamp and wrap it once around threaded nipple. Adjust twine so it comes out beneath the disc on opposite sides. Tie a knot in twine centered over threaded nipple. Apple basket will hang from this twine. (As an alternative to twine, attach to a lamp hanging hoop to the nipple and use chain to hang the lamp.)

7. Reattach cord by sliding cord through center of threaded nipple from outside of basket to inside of basket. Reattach wire ends onto either side of inner socket. Push wire back through threaded nipple until casing is realigned with socket and switch. Reattach outer socket casing.

8. Hang apple basket lantern from twine (or chain). To avoid stressing electrical cord, make sure lamp's weight is supported by chain or twine rather than by the cord.