Tiny House Blog

by Jon Anderson

Over the years, I’ve built a few log structures and along the way, timber framing got into my blood. I love the beams, the posts, and the tight fitting joints made by a builder using mortise and tenon.

I remember the first time I viewed the clean lines of a timber frame structure. The frame was draw pinned together with Red Oak pegs that were cut by hand on a shaving horse—I was hooked. And, for framing, you don’t need fancy or high-tech tools—framing square, hand saw, chisel, and auger bit have performed quite well for hundreds of years.

When I decided to build a timber frame, I was clueless in regards to technique. Of course, like always, this didn’t stop me. Normally, I just plod blindly ahead (or in the case of the TV remote—I just mash every button randomly on the four separate remotes that are clearly critical to the operation of my cable system—something is bound to happen). However, in this case I decided to at least gain a basic understanding of the process, as there is a certain liability associated with handing big heavy things, like timbers. So, I read a few books that described traditional timber framing techniques and I took a framing class at the North House Folk School in Grand Marais, Minnesota. Continue Reading »

Guest Post by Ella Jenkins

I’m Ella, a 23 year old musician and artist just out of college and I’m in the process of building my very own Tumbleweed Fencl. I’ve been in love with tiny houses from the moment it came to my attention they existed in 2010, and I’ve been saving my money ever since. Finally, last September, I bought a trailer and my step-dad and I began the grand construction!

I have never built a thing in my life, but with my Dad’s endless tools, know-how, and lectures I’ve taken in so much and the two of us have muddled our way through. It’s amazing what you can learn when you’re passionate!

Photo Credits: Ella Jenkins

We have just gotten the roof on and are now working on putting up cedar siding. I hope to be done around May and find somewhere beautiful to set myself down. This way I can pursue what I love without the worry of financially debilitating rent. Continue Reading »

There is a new company in Texas building tiny houses their name is Texas Cozy Cabins. I have not had any success getting in contact via email, but decided to go ahead and share their work. One of our readers, Felix, has seen them in person and was very impressed.

Here is what the company says about themselves: Texas Cozy Cabins is a Texas manufacturer that specializes in small cabins for your larger than life living. We offer the highest quality construction on finished and unfinshed cabin homes in the Central Texas region. Texas Cozy Cabins offers a wide selection of designs and styles to meet your every need.

Photo Credits: Texas Cozy Cabins

Our designs deliver the highest quality in design aesthetics, solid architectural detail and premium craftsmanship. Texas Cozy Cabins offers many designs and styles, however you also have the ability to design your own cabin to meet your specific needs. We pride ourselves in being available to our clients and working closely with you to provide the highest quality product. All of our structures are built with quality materials and hand-crafted with care and a sense of pride that can only be found in Texas. Continue Reading »

By Mike Beamer

The main goal of this project is to create a space that will draw talented artists to Sisters, Oregon and provide them with an enriching experience of the area while facilitating the creation of great works of art.

The living and working functions are separated into their own units which face a common porch providing an expansion of perceived space and a connection to the outdoors. The modular construction sits lightly on the ground and is easily transportable on the back of a flatbed truck. A steel exoskeleton provides a rugged structure to which Structural Insulated Panels are bolted, providing a continuous layer of insulation.

The project aims to have net-zero impact, through the use of PV panels, capturing rainwater, and composting all waste. Contact with each of these systems will enhance the user’s awareness of personal consumption.

More information about this and other projects can be found here: http://sistersmobileartiststudio.wordpress.com/

This beautiful gypsy wagon, which was used as a prop in the 1988 movie “Big Top Pee-Wee” has been available for sale since the middle of last year. The wagon, restored by Gary Votapka, was originally purchased for his land in Montana, but it is still sitting in a California neighborhood waiting for its next owner.

The vardo was in terrible shape when Gary purchased it for $10,000 and towed it from Barstow to his home in Fallbrook, Calif. The wagon had been sitting in the sun for over 20 years and gallons of desert dust and sand had settled onto the floor. Since the wagon had also been used as a prop in a movie with Pee-Wee Herman and Valeria Golino, none of the drawers opened and the cabinets were facades. Over the course of four years, Gary, his wife and son restored the gypsy wagon (by using a DVD of the movie) to its original colorful state and added a few workable cabinets and a comfortable bed. Continue Reading »

This is our 13 foot 1974 Boler we have been traveling in around Western Canada, the US, and Mexico since August. We can pull up anywhere, unload our cactus display stand and start selling our handmade guitar straps! We also have an online store at www.bluedogguitars.com.

When we tire of traveling, our plan is to set up our boutique guitar store in Vancouver BC, with the Boler in the showroom as a private space for people to try out guitars, as the acoustics in the Boler are amazing.

(Photo Credits Jenn and Paul)

Sleeping arrangements require the shuffling of a lot of the contents into our car, as we have modified the bed to become almost king-size with the use of two extra-large coolers, so the process makes it more of a camping lifestyle than your typical RV experience. We also have two rather large dogs, so a bivouac in a Walmart parking lot, in the rain, makes for some strategic planning. Continue Reading »

Today’s Tiny House in a Landscape was taken in Switzerland. Could this be the highest, strangest house in the world? Jerome sent me one of the photos and I found the other one via a google search.

The Solvay hutte is a “security house” where people can stay for one or two days when it becomes impossible to come down from the Cervin summit in Switzerland. It is located at 4003 meters on the middle height of the edge of the Cervin (we know it as the Matterhorn here in the U.S).

Photo Credit http://www.yeticlub.org/cervin.f.htm