I do some table top stuff in the winter. I've found that window light is
usually sufficient for what I want to do and I much prefer the look of
natural light in any case. I'm not doing something like product shots
though. I did fool around with lights for a while and found that it was
just too much trouble, sucked all the fun out of the process. I just
wait for good window light instead. You might want to collect some
inexpensive stuff for doing this...some white posterboard to use as
reflectors; piece of cardboard salvaged from a box covered with aluminum
foil (another reflector); cheap fabric from the $1/yard table at
Wal-Mart (you'll want about 3 yards of any particular fabric), get some
in solid white, solid black and then anything else that strikes your
fancy to use for a makeshift backdrop. You might also scrounge the linen
closest for sheets, blankets, or tablecloths that can be used. If you're
going to do cut flowers, have your wife keep an eye out at dollar
stores, yard sales, etc. for cheap vases. I have a large collection now,
just about every color you can think of, mostly solid colors in glass
and ceramic. I also have this thing that I had the lumber store cut for
me, two pieces of wood, spray painted one side white and then hinged the
two together. I can use this as it is to make a "white corner", or I can
drape it with fabric from my collection, or use binder clips to clip a
piece of poster board to it, or I can use it as a fairly large reflector.

Keep in mind with table top work, you have absolute control over
composition. You can move your subject(s) so that it appears anywhere in
the frame. So, you might want to check the library or amazon for books
on the topic of composition. Don't just limit yourself to the
photography section though, also look in the fine arts area where you'd
find books on painting, drawing, etc.

window light, reflectors, mirrors, pipe cleaners, silly putty or museum
putty, gaffer's tape.

look at ebay for ezcube

Google "macro photography" and I suspect you'll get some ideas.