For those who haven’t heard (many, as we haven’t talked/posted on it much), I’m hosting another Relaxshacks.com Tiny House Building Workshop this year, something we’re dubbing “Tiny House Summer Camp,” and for good reason….

Last year’s sold out workshop went very well, and we had great feedback, so we decided to try a FOUR DAY workshop this time, with camping sites and lodging, and MANY guest speakers and demonstrators. I initially only wanted one guest presenter, perhaps two, but this tiny-house-athon has almost become a small living convention of sorts. Well, a convention where we’re only letting in fifteen attendees!

The aim is to keep it small, hands-on, fun, and eclectic. We want you to not only learn about the ins and outs of small space design and construction, but also to actually build a tiny cabin in the woods together. You’ll have the chance to see and stay in a small off-grid log cabin (one Kent featured as a “tiny house in a landscape” last year), my own Vermont Cabin (as seen in both Lloyd Kahn and Mimi Zeiger’s new tiny housing books), The U.B. 30 Treehouse, and we’ll take a field trip or two to The Pine Crest Cabins in Barton, Vermont, a local mom and pop sawmill, and “Uncle Bob’s Place” to check out some thrift-built tiny structures, and more….

Photos are by Deek and Bruce Bettis

The log cabin we'll be doing talks in, off-grid and solar powered, where people will also be welcome to stay for the weekend.....its about 500 yards from my land/camp....an easy walk.

See why do we need four days??

We might try out a few of the other ideas/approaches from my book “Humble Homes, Simple Shacks” as well- and you’ll see many of the sights depicted in the photos and text of that very book.

The U.B. 30 Treehouse down the trail, where attendees are also welcome to camp

The hiking, fishing, and sightseeing in this area of Vermont (Orleans, in the Northeast Kingdom) is just incredible too miss. Coventry, a neighboring town, has THE MOST covered bridges in all of the US, an underground house too…and the local architecture (one town north boasts an actual castle) is just incredible.

Two meals included, campfire discussions at night, and lots of hammer swinging will make this a weekend not to be forgotten. $399 for four days, which includes camping spaces and/or cabin spots (first come, first serve). Email kidcedar [at] gmail [dot] com if you’d like to sign up.

For those who can’t make it I’m also heading workshops for the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company in Boston, Washington DC, Chicago, and more all in 2012.

-Derek “Deek” Diedricksen

Deek's cabin

inside of Deek's Vermont Cabin (where people can stay)

Deek's Vermont Property

Building location in Vermont

Tiny house and loft work by Derek and Dustin Diedricksen

Deek's Book - Click to Purchase

“Honey, I Shrunk the House – by 1,377 Percent”

A local Seattle-area family has just built a new home that’s only 159 square feet. They’re part of a national movement toward smaller, more sustainable housing that is taking root in the Pacific Northwest.

Seattle, WA, February 16, 2012 — This week, thousands will converge in Century Link Field for the Seattle Home Show (February 18-26, 2012) to browse the latest trends in building the American dream. However, they’ll likely miss one of the fastest-growing trends: living in tiny homes that are sustainable, flexible, and often mobile.

To learn more about tiny homes, you need to venture a few blocks north to a gathering of fewer than 100 people: the Tumbleweed Tiny House Workshop held the same time (February 25-26, 2012) at the Pioneer Square Courtyard Marriott.

Photo Credit Seattle Tiny Homes

One Seattle-area resident planning to be there is Sharon Read, with a tiny home in tow. She’s just built a new home that is only 159 square feet – 1,377% less than her family’s current dwelling. With classic Craftsman styling, beautiful cedar siding, and lots of windows to let in light, the tiny home has a kitchen, a “great” room, an office, a bathroom with a tub/shower, and even a washer and dryer. The home also features two sleeping lofts that have room for two queen size beds and storage.

The home’s foundation? A sturdy 22-foot steel trailer, meaning the home is portable and can be positioned anywhere.

While Read and her family hope to live in the tiny house as much as possible, the home is also the show model for Seattle Tiny Homes, a company Read founded to build high-quality, custom tiny homes – both portable and stationary – that can be used as primary residences, vacation homes, guest cottages, auxiliary housing for elderly relatives or college students, or an office or studio.

Read and Seattle Tiny Homes are part of a growing movement of tiny home advocates that is spreading across North America – and taking root in the Pacific Northwest. Spearheaded by Jay Shafer, called the guru of the tiny homes and author of The Small House Book (learn more at www.tumbleweedhouses.com), the movement touts the freedom and flexibility that tiny homes offer – plus the “green” advantage of a greatly reduced environmental impact.

The public is welcome at the Tumbleweed Tiny House Seminar. To register, visit www.tumbleweedhouses.com/workshops/seattle/. Classes will be taught by Dee Williams, a tiny house pioneer and co-owner of Portland Alternative Dwellings (learn more at www.portlandalternativedwellings.com).

Photo Credit Tumbleweeed Tiny Houses

Read’s new tiny home – all 159 square feet – will be on display and open for viewing during the seminar. For exact times and location, contact Sharon Read of Seattle Tiny Homes at:

(425) 445-3675
sharon@seattletinyhomes.com
www.seattletinyhomes.com

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.

Yellow is my happy colour, so I have named my wee house Little Yellow, or Buidhe Bheag in Scottish Gaelic (I studied traditional harp music and the Gaelic language in Scotland for 4 years). Feel free to stop by my blog where I am tracking my progress: http://littleyellowdoor.wordpress.com/

Photo Credits: Ella Jenkins

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.

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.

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/

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.

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

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!

The Box Bungalows are 7 foot by 14 foot in size, around 98 square feet. They are designed to be built on skids and will be available in a kit form so that anyone can easily assemble a bungalow in your back yard or on your property. Stay tuned as more pictures of the construction of the Box Bungalows will be forth coming. P.S. — Tumbleweed Tiny House Company is looking for dealers on the east coast. Click Here.