Tiny House Blog

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 »

Tumbleweed Tiny House Company is expanding their reach via Twitter and Facebook and to encourage you to follow them via one of these methods they are having a giveaway of some of their books and posters every couple of hours till the end of November. To be included in the drawings you need to like them on Facebook and comment when they ask you to or on Twitter they want you to re-tweet certain information to your followers. Here are the links if you want a chance to win: Facebook and Twitter.

Tumbleweed is also having a Holiday Sale and in my opinion the best deal is the workshops. Tumbleweeed is giving 40% off of the usual price and that is a bargain in my humble opinion. Click here to go to the Workshop page and than click on the workshop you would like to attend, the discout is given on that page.

Tumbleweed is also offering 40% off of certain books and plans and if you click on the graphics below you will be taken to the sales page for that item. The sale ends November 30 so if you have been waiting to buy one of these items, now is the time to do it.

Steven over at Tiny House Listings notified me that he was in contact with someone who has Jay Shafer of Tumbleweed Tiny House Company original Tumbleweed home and that it is now listed for sale on his site. According to the owner this is the actual Tumbleweed house that started it all. Jay Shafer built this house and lived in it when he lived in Iowa and is Tumbleweed house number one.

Since then it has been a crafting shop and guest house on the new owners property in Boston. It is in excellent condition and you can get the complete details at Tiny House Listings. This is your chance to own a piece of history.

by Elaine Walker

Calling all tiny house fans!

Would you like the opportunity to stay overnight in a tiny house before plunging into building your own?

My Story

Indulgent Restraint was born of my fascination with tiny houses and a desire to live in one. A few years ago while living in New England, I fell in love with the Lusby design by Jay Shafer of the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company. I wanted to nestle the tiny house in a Thoreau-like setting, among tall pines near a pond. My kids were grown and I was ready to downsize. So I put our big house on the market, bought land, purchased the tiny house plans and hired a professional home builder to start work on the Lusby. But it was 2008 and the start of the housing crisis. The big house wasn’t selling, so I couldn’t hang on to the lake front land; my plans would have to change.

After some twists and turns, I sold the lot, rented out my big house, and moved myself, two dogs, three cats and tiny house to California. I lived in the tiny house on rented farm land in the delta along the Sacramento River. It was a wonderful adventure!

But I really wanted to be closer to San Francisco and have enough room to host guests. So when my big house in New Hampshire finally found a buyer, I was able to make another move. I bought a 96 year old, two bedroom house in Vallejo and brought the tiny house to its backyard. I’d love to open it up for other tiny house fans!

http://www.indiegogo.com/Worlds-Tiniest-Hotel

To view more photos go here: http://indulgentrestraint.com/

A special HGTV Design Star for tiny house enthusiasts will show Monday evening. The three finalists will be competing to create interiors of three Tumbleweed Box Bungalow tiny houses. These are based off of Jay Shafer’s latest designs of the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company and from his new book and plans the DIY Tiny House book which sells for $19.95. Plans are available for the Box Bungalow for $49.95

There is a lot of secrecy as to what the designers will actually be doing but I am hoping that they will be asked to design a complete house that includes a bathroom and kitchen and a sleeping area. Can you image what we can learn from HGTV and these expert designers?

The show airs for the first time on Labor Day, Monday September 5, 2010 at 9/8c and again on September 6 at 12 am. If you miss the live broadcast the show will also be posted on Hulu on September 9th.

If you’d like to take part in a chat on Twitter during the show the folks at Tumbleweed will be hosting via hashtag #DSTumbleweed.

If you’re new to the idea of downsizing, please take some time to look around the Tiny House Blog and you will learn what it is all about.

Today I received from Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, Jay Shafer’s latest book called Tumbleweed DIY Book of Backyard Sheds & Tiny Houses. I decided to do something different with this review and have put together a video book review.

The drawback is for those with slow internet connections as you will not be able to watch it. Simply click on the graphic below and it will take you to the Tumbleweed sales page, there you will learn how to build a backyard cottage Tumbleweed Style. Okay here goes, it’s not perfect so be kind to me

Has anyone built a Tumbleweed Tiny House on a trailer in Australia? The Tiny House Blog received a request from Chris and Natalie and I need your help if you can.

G’day,

My name is Chris and I live on the Gold Coast of Australia.

My fiancée and I are attempting to build an XS Tumbleweed and it seems that if we can get it done, it may be the only one that actually exists in Australia. I have scoured the internet and asked every one I know in the building industry if they have ever heard of a Tumbleweed on a trailer here in Australia. I have not found one single instance.

My reason for seeking such people out is that so far we have encountered several roadblocks. If we cannot get around or minimize these it may not be feasible or perhaps even legal to build a Tumbleweed. I was hoping that if we could find someone who has built a Tumbleweed, that way at least we know whether or not we are heading for a dead end, and perhaps we could seek further advice on specific issues.

If you have any information regarding building a Tumbleweed in Australia anything you could tell me might be useful and would be appreciated.

Regards Chris and Natalie

Please respond in the comment section if you have built a Tumbleweed or if you know of one built in Australia. Thank you for your help!