Lap Desk Christmas Present

I had wanted to make this for my wife for Christmas but didn’t think I’d have the time. There was an open week at work though so I took a weeks vacation and worked feverishly. Got it done in time and she was very pleased. It was a Woodsmith plan, but I simplified it and didn’t do it exactly according to the plan. Even with the mistakes I made, I’m pretty pleased with it. The nicest thing is that I was pretty sure my wife would like it, and it is very gratifying to walk through the living room and see her sitting there peacefully reading with her book propped up on her lap desk. Or seeing her pull out the lap desk and use it to write in her journal or a note to a friend. I’ve make a couple of woodworking projects in the past as gifts where I really didn’t take into consideration the needs or desires of the person the gift was intended for and my feelings were hurt when the person didn’t appreciate my project. Now I’m much more careful to consider the personality of the person the gift is intended for. All of my family members got pens this year also which they liked a lot.

The wood is Sapele. Was supposed to be Mahogany, but Sapele was half the price. Finished with three coats of Formby’s low gloss tung oil finish.

-- Steve - Front Royal, VA