Happy New Years Eve/New Years! (a "NEW YEARS" Novelty Shack Design)

Happy New Years (or "Eve") all- I hope you have/had a safe one! As for resolutions, we'll skip the blather (as I always break them anyway- like the year I told myself I'd give up drinking "Yoohoo"- I mean c'mon, why live?? (kidding- not a fan of it...)) and get right to sketch #28- a goofy, novelty one....

I'm starting to spoof all the holidays with cabin sketches apparently (we've done thanksgiving and christmas cabins now)- perhaps it'll become a pointless, seldomly purchased e-book someday "Holiday-related cabin designs, that really aren't practical, economical, or even logical" By Zorgog Flibbleglop (I'll have to use an alter-ego, as the book would be really lousy).

What's next, an Arbor Day tiny house?? Actually, that one would be too easy by means of some tree house design. Yom Kippur?  Boxing Day (also too easy...).

Anyway, this is sketch #28 (of SIXTY) leading up to the release of the new version of "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks"- which is ALREADY up on amazon.com- reviews and all- and damn cheap- $11.53!

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Again, many of these sketches in this SIXTY SHACK SKETCHES IN SIXTY DAYS series- SUCK. They are merely rough drafts. The one's in "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks" ROCK!- Well, I dig 'em at least- lol.

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

Lloyd Kahn's New Tiny House Book, A Cool Shed Sighting, and Shipping Container Shack Sketch #27!

Try sayin' THAT blog-post title ten times fast!

A FEW THINGS IN THIS ONE POST (wiser men would make it a separate post or two, but not me....not me....)
     Anyway, its been a KICK-ARSE week of books in the mail, having received an advance print of my own book "Humble Homes Simple Shacks" (below) from The Lyons Press (it looks AMAZING and I don't have a single complaint!), and just the other day, Lloyd Kahn's "Tiny Homes, Simple Shelter" from Shelter Publications.

     For starters, as I'll have a review up down the road, let me just say that its the best damn tiny house book, photographically (I haven't read the text yet), that I've seen. Period. Its a visual tsunami of tiny house offerings. Fans of Kahn's "Homework", "Shelter", and "Builder's Of The Pacific Coast" won't be left disappointed.
     I started (foolishly- I don't know what kind of cheap street crack someone slipped me) this "SIXTY SHACK SKETCHES IN SIXTY DAYS" marathon leading up to the Feb 1st release of "Humble Homes", and now have an eye twitch goin' on five days as a result of bustin' ass with a pen and a pad. Now, Lloyd's going to be the culprit for my other good eye going into spastic fits from overuse, as I prepare to hole myself up somewhere for the next few days to read, and probably re-read this book. The book just looks incredible. You'd be stupid not to get it (and ten copies of my new book of course! hyuk hyuk (insert game show smile and cgi'd tooth gleam). Actually, Lloyd drops some design advice in one of my new chapters, alongside Jay Shafer, Gregory Johnson, Kent Griswold, Alex Pino, Michael Janzen, Tammy Strobel, and about ten more....so it all ties together here.

 Back on Lloyd's book, I'm psyched as all hell to be part of it too, as Lloyd gave me and my Vermont cabin, and sketches, a two page spread.

I've tossed a link (you can pre-order it (out Feb 15th) to "Tiny Homes, Simple Shelter".

 Changing Course...
As for this random "anywhere USA" shed sighting, its from my own town of Stoughton, Massachusetts, proving that cool guests houses, shacks, and well, sheds, can be spotted just about anywhere if you keep your eyes peeled. I love the second story approach with this one, and a design like this could very easily be converted into a micro-housing/tiny home design.

AND- SKETCH #27 of "WHY THE HECK DID I PROMISE SIXTY NEW SHACK, SHED, TINY HOUSE, and COTTAGE CONCEPTS IN SIXTY DAYS!!?" (kidding)....

This one is a mere exterior sketch of a what I thought would be a fun looking shipping container/conex box home concept. I've dubbed it "The Wooly Bear" (or "not-so Wooly" as it is a cold, hard, steel facade).

CLICK ON THE DRAWING TO ENLARGE IT....

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

I'm back! (three sketches in our series of SIXTY)- and our new treehouse video...

First- thanks to Lloyd Kahn over at Lloydkahn.com for posting on my "Top Ten Tiny House Books" list....

And before we get to the new sketches below (part of our "Sixty Shack Sketches In Sixty Days"- leading to the release of that new version of my book "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks" (below)), here's my latest video for Make Magazine- part of my "Tiny Yellow House" series. Its a how-to/tour on a tree house, dubbed "The Wolfe's Den" that I built and designed out in the Catskills (NY).

As for the sketches- here are a few new, and lesser seen ones I've done- some merely rough ideas, but they convey the point/concepts....these are sketches #24, #25, and #26 (ALMOST half way there!)

Some of you who have been to the far end of Nantucket might recognize this one....its a tiny sideline sketch that actually appears in a text section of the new version of "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks".

An assortment of stilt-cabin rough sketch ideas....

A mini sketch illustrating the multi-purpose stair set-up in my Vermont Cabin/Tiny House.

Our new book (CLICK HERE)- an expanded version, with added designs/chapters of "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks"

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

"The Horror Hut"- for lack of a better name- a solar, writer's shack/tiny retreat house

I'm pretty much finished with my latest mini-cabin, a solar greenhouse that also doubles as a backyard office, or in this case a writer's retreat (for horror fiction author John Grover- www.shadowtales.com). I'm pretty pleased with how it came out, and I'll have MANY more photos soon (and specs, details, cost wrap ups, etc).


And a lil' tiny house updating/news....

THANKS to Steven Harrell over at tinyhouselistings.com for posting on my Wolfe's Den Treehouse Video (which I just released I haven't even posted on my blog yet! perhaps tomorrow).

Also- Big Thanks to Kent Griswold at tinyhouseblog.com for posting on my Christmas-Tree-Shaped Tiny House concept too- on Christmas Day....

Alex Pino over at tinyhousetalk also has a REALLY cool web event (limited to 100 chatters) happening tomorrow as well- 9pm EST- check out www.tinyhousetalk.com for details...

And....more on it soon, but in February, myself, Dee Williams, Jay Shafer, and Pepper Clark will be gathering in Seattle for something tiny house related- which should be a blast, and a fun chance for quite a few of us tiny housing nuts to get together and swap ideas.

I'll post TWO new sketches tomorrow too- as part of "Sixty Shack Sketches In Sixty Days".....I have to run and don't have time to scan the new stuff right now....

  Only- $11.53- the NEW edition of my book- up now on Amazon.com- 60+ cabin, tiny house, and cottage concepts....CLICK HERE TO CHECK IT OUT!

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

What's the smallest room in the world? A "mushROOM"- guffaw, guffaw.....Tiny House Sketch #23

Hope you all had a great holiday! I had a great time with family- ungodly amounts of really good food, some very thoughtful gifts (one, the book "Atchafalaya Houseboat" I've already read, and will have a review on soon), and some good wine- zero complaints.

     Anyway, standing as #23 in our "SIXTY SHACK SKETCHES IN SIXTY DAYS" tiny house/cabin/camp/shanty/fort/tree house-concept series- leading up to the official release of the new "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks" book (already up for ordering on Amazon.com)- here's a mushroom shaped cabin. This little house could both be used for kids or for adults, just based on its size possibilities. The one shown here uses two full standing sheets of plywood for EACH side- so its 64 square feet within, and eight feet tall- enabling you to possibly add a tiny half loft for sleeping, IF you don't need a ton of headroom below- or full and total standing room on one side of the structure (ie- if you placed a couch beneath the loft, etc).

 Also- on the way....

-An interview I did with Tammy Strobel of Rowdykittens.com
-Our new TREEHOUSE video episode of "Tiny Yellow House" (you might have seen it already and THANKS TO KENT GRISWOLD for posting on it too- he's at tinyhouseblog.com
-New photos of out completed writer's retreat that I built and designed for horror author John Grover- which came out GREAT! Check him out at shadowtales.com
-A couple book reviews...AND THEN SOME....
-Steven Harrell over at tinyhouselistings.com MIGHT also be posting up some unseen "Wolfe's Den Treehouse" photos of mine at some point too- his site is great, if you haven't checked it out yet! 

Again, check out our NEW "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks" book/reviews by clicking here! Thanks! 

Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

MERRY EARLY CHRISTMAS! with a Christmas Tree Shaped Micro Hut/Tiny House!

 -And a Happy Holidays to all else who don't celebrate Christmas.....  
     I'm crunched for time here, with so many things to do, and family events, so here's something I LITERALLY sketched (I watched the clock) in six minutes (and I prob will not have a post tomorrow). Its an idea I'll elaborate on later with a better sketch, perhaps for a future book even. This is something I actually always wanted to build, and I also have a (even worse) sketch of the concept from 2007. Anyway, if someone beats me to building this tiny little tree house (made from trees AND shaped like one), as I've now posted the idea worldwide for the most part, please at least give me a concept/design nod, would ya? lol. Send me some photos/video too!

 This is also NEW sketch #22 in our "SIXTY SHACK SKETCHES IN SIXTY DAYS" pen-a-thon. Man, this ain't easy! Even though these sketches are NOT from the new version of "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks", this drawing spree is leading up to the release of that book- which is already on amazon.com

Click HERE to check it out! 

Thanks to a great year where I've also made many new friends in the tiny housing community! Also- Thanks especially to Kent Griswold, Michael Janzen, Alex Pino, Tammy Strobel, and Lloyd Kahn for being so supportive of my work- and to so many others too! 

Oh yeah- Yesterday, at one point "Humble Homes" it was the #4 bestselling carpentry, and how-to/home improvement book in the WORLD! (which royalty-wise means I just made enough money to buy half of a pencil!). Thank you for your support!

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

THREE more tiny house concept sketches- Humble Homes, Simple Shacks outtakes... Part two!

Well, the scanner's back up and running, but I'll be up and running soon too, as I have some holiday company arriving any minute now, so perhaps tomorrow I'll explain the backstory on these NEVER BEFORE POSTED outtakes from the sketch and design sessions leading up to "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks"- the NEW and EXPANDED EDITION. Click here to check out the reviews (From The NY Times, to The Boston Globe, Jay Shafer, Lester Walker, etc)....

And these stand as sketches #19, #20, and #21 in our "SIXTY SHACK SKETCHES IN SIXTY DAYS" series..... all designs and sketches by myself.

"A swamp hut of the future". Just for fun....

A quick, rough, shantyboat scene/sketch for possible use (among several others I've done) for a Shantyboat/Houseboat book by Bryan Lowe of Shantyboatliving.com

This was one of the sketches for the tiny, tiny, tiny island Dustin and I visited (to buy) in Maine (only $3500!- which was sold from under our feet by a snake of a realtor- a guy was a total jerk who couldn't even lie well). We shot a video (my first flip video ever and THE reason I bought the camera (an impulse buy) on the way) on it, which is posted below. Little would I know how much use that little $170 camera would see!

I still get ticked off when I watch this video- this pond was among the cleanest I've ever seen! The plan was to toss the sketch/cabin, seen above, in a tree on the island, after floating it, pre-built, on a platform to the island. We checked some codes, and so on, and this seemed a loop hole so as to be able to build on such a postage-stamp-sized piece of land. It was to be "delivered" and erected in a matter of hours.

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

Boom Goes The Dynamite!...er...Cabins (then again, I Hope Not!)- TWELVE CABINS of mine from 2009-2011

"The ALL 8's" Cabin- designed, built, (and photo) by Derek "Deek" Diedricksen. Thanks to Dustin "Dr. Demolition" and Steve "Bulldoze" Sparaco for their help (BIG TIME!) with putting this together in Brooklyn, NY too! Photos of this, and MANY other cabins are in the NEW edition of "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks".

     Here's another sneak look at another cabin I built and designed recently- a mere 64 square feet, and completely prefabricated off site....we'll have much more on it, and a video, later. This shot is from a warehouse in Brooklyn, and its my brother, Dustin, in the foreground. Aside from the FIVE cabins on my property right now, we just might have this one set-up and on display (heck, even available to stay in perhaps) for our next down-the-road hands-on tiny house/shelter building workshop- we'll see (if not, we'll probably have others by then). If interested in getting on the notification list for this workshop- contact me at kidcedar at gmail dot com. Thanks!

AS FOR THE TWELVE CABINS GALLERY- here's the link! 
http://relaxshacks.blogspot.com/2011/05/photo-gallery-of-eight-of-my-bizarre.html

AND- Sketch #19 in our "SIXTY SHACK SKETCHES IN SIXTY DAYS" is coming soon!

Tiny House/Cabin/Small Shack Sketch/Design #17 and #18 in our "SIXTY-LONG" goal...

Blammo! Sorry- scanner was crappin' out yesterday, but we're back up and running. So as to catch up, here are TWO concepts/sketches today- #17 and #18 (of SIXTY)- Gadzooks! WHY THE HECK ARE WE DOING THIS? I explain below (if you haven't heard it 32.8 times already)....

This sketch here is for a certain someone with the last initial "H", who I might be doing a collaborative build with in the future. Actually, why the heck is this "secret"- lol- its Steven Harrell over at the ultra-cool tinyhouselistings.com (a site sure to get you fired from job for "browsing on the internet while you should have been working". I'll give you more details on this down the road as he and I figure some things out. This is merely one design idea so far that I've come up with, and the whole project would be well documented on video- naturally.

The "H-Hut"= design and sketch by Derek "Deek" Diedricksen- A micro-office/cabin

A modern beach cabana/tiny shack/house- a thumbnail sketch (which I'll elaborate on later) that I drew the other night in half a daze while watching some really bad tv....

As for the sketches, this is all a lead-up to the release of the NEW version of "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks"- out through The Lyons Press- which is already up and listed on Amazon.com for a mere $11.53. These sketches are NOT in that book, but serve as a "kick-in-the-ass" means for me to start banging out some new ideas for future books down the road.

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

An abandoned tiny shack/cabin in Iceland....

"SIXTY SHACK SKETCHES IN SIXTY DAYS", TWO of 'em, are coming later today. All part of the countdown to my new-edition book "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks" (up now on Amazon.com) But first, a tiny little cottage/small house, sadly in neglect, in Iceland....

 All I can find is "photo by Oskar Steinn"- who, obviously, has a great eye. For those who have never been, Iceland is pretty amazing (amazingly expensive too- especially for alcohol/food). Years back I went there for three nights as part of an obscenely affordable travel package in the off season, and had a great time. Its unlike any landscape I have ever seen- almost purely volcanic rock, and very few trees to be found, making for a "moon-like", other-planetary, effect. Most of the homes are now built from a good deal of aluminum paneling, as alot of their lumber has to be imported, and it therefore expensive!
     Anyway, I just loved this photo, and the red roof especially, to me, its calendar-worthy....great work Oskar!

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

A space saving, storage-containing micro stool/seat

I have a few seat reviews, and some video cameos of different varieties I've been testing (like its hard work- lol- I merely slowly lower my kiester on them) that all are under the "space efficiency" banner (well, and affordability- as that's pretty important to me too).

     This particular one, ultra-tiny, is called the "Sansad" from Ikea. I bought this as a seat replacement for a kids art table we had in our home. Its tiny, but, as you can see below, easily holds up 210 or so pounds. What I like most about it, is the bold mix of a the naturally light wood, and the bright red storage cap- yes, lift up the top and you can store things within (the other thing I dig). Basically, without taking up any additional space, and replacing the old same-size seat we had before, we've now gained a small amount of hidden storage. As you well know, any little bit of storage gained in a tiny home, is nothing to scoff at! This chair lists for $19.99.

TWO IKEA HACK ideas for the SANSAD....
1. Want to hack this seat?- the hole in the center is just BEGGING for a lamp pole insert. Extend the legs and you have yourself a cool little night stand or end table....add a shelf below for magazines....and so on....

2. This, by boxing it in, and taking out the storage area's bottom, could make for a funky, and affordable laundry hamper for a tiny home- it wouldn't take up much space at all- again, elongate the legs to make it more useful/sizeable. 

Oh yeah- #16 in our "SIXTY SHACKS SKETCHES IN SIXTY DAYS" is coming in a little bit- my scanner is being a little problematic! All leading up to the release of my NEW edition of the book below (The Lyons Press)- its already up on Amazon.com- check it out!

CLICK ON THE BOOK'S COVER TO CHECK OUT THE REVIEWS, ORDER IT, ETC...

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

Hacked Ikea Furniture....funktified free-form furniture for your (tiny) home!

     I just LOVE how many cool and inspiring blog there are out there. I randomly stumble upon new ones every single day, from some very creative and talented people, and today it was Rhinestonesandtelephones.blogspot.com that had a really cool article on consumerism, and the DIY ethic (and its relation to value/worth (which I feel fits right in with the whole tiny housing/small living/sustainability movement in several ways)).

Check out the cool article on the above, and the DIY mindset here.... http://rhinestonesandtelephones.blogspot.com/2011/11/labor-leads-to-love-case-for-homemade.html

     Above is the photo of some hacked Ikea furniture that caught my eye. Below I also have a tiny review on a cool little space efficient stool (great for tiny homes/houses- the reason I bought it)....AND sketch #16 of our "SIXTY SHACK SKETCHES IN SIXTY DAYS" series....(a countdown of new, lesser seen (or never seen) sketches leading up to the release (on Amazon.com now) of "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks"....which has gotten some kick-butt reviews from The Boston Globe, The New York Times, Jay Shafer of The Tiny Tumbleweed House Company, Make Magazine, The Seattle Times, Lloyd Kahn,Lester Walker, Pete Nelson, and so on....

"The Cubby"- a tiny backyard guest house or simple vacation cabin in the woods- sketch and design by Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

ORDER THE BOOK BY CLICKING ON IT...

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

The world's scariest, ugliest, prefabricated, cyclopean outhouse? Sketch/concept #15 of SIXTY!

 THE TINIEST OF ALL HOUSES....

"Errrr....I didn't have to go, but now after stumbling on your crazy outhouse, I need a fresh change of drawers!" Here's one I came up with that I've dubbed "The SHOUT house"- an ugly as heck, simple-to-build, camp outhouse/privy/sh-tter. 

      This is one sketch/idea of mine that few have seen, from the very small printings of my earlier mini-book "Quick Camps And Leg Cramps"- its a plywood sided, easily "pre-fabbable", sixteen-square-foot, outhouse. I already have a metal clad outhouse on the property of my Vermont cabin (see "Tiny Yellow House Episode #5" on Youtube) which we've dubbed "The Bomb Shelter", but when that one goes, some day, THIS is what I'm building! Its a simple design I came up with, sure to be a conversation piece for those who first visit it at night when camping out with us.

Again, this "SIXTY SHACK SKETCHES IN SIXTY DAYS" towards the release of the new edition of my book is what I felt would be a fun countdown to "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks, Cozy Cottages, Ramshackle Retreats, Funky Forts (And Whatever The Heck Else We Could Squeeze In Here!)" which is up now on Amazon.com). These sketches are not in that book, and are rougher than what you'll find in "Humble Homes...", but represent some lesser seen, or unseen, stuff I've been sitting on.

And, since the holidays are just about here, if you need a fun, bizarre, gift for a friend who just happens to own a camp with an outhouse....look no further (below). I've read this book twice, and not only does it have some great photos of some very unique outhouses, but it gives a ton of history on them, and insight into the current sub-culture that still thrives around the concept and subject matter. And yes, there is an outhouse museum/historical society- its based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. I'd love to visit it, especially since Halifax is such a beautiful city.

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

The new book, a new sketch (#14 of SIXTY), and a very cool tiny "cube house" video

     In our facebook discussion group (join in the right column of this blog), Guy Montag tossed up this link saying "Deek, you inspired me to build tiny" (holy friggin' flattering! Thanks!). Check out this video of his simple, very cool, cabin- a very accessible design that reminds me a little of Lester Walker's "Vacation Cube. A good many things could be done with this simple, affordable design. Based on the door size, I'm guessing its a 10' by 10' cabin- which would have some room for a loft in the front area right over the door/entrance.

I also got word that all the new edition printings of "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks" are back from the printers (PRINTED IN THE USA! I made sure they didn't outsource the work), and a pre-release copy is on its way to me as I type this. A TON of work went into this book, and its updated version, so I can't wait to hold a copy in my hands and leaf through it a few dozen times.

Speaking of which, here's SKETCH #14 in our "SIXTY SHACK SKETCHES IN SIXTY DAYS"deathwish draw-a-thon- NOT from "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks"- most of this is all new stuff. This particular one was for a few different "Occupy" people who asked that I brainstorm some ideas for them. Its basically a cabin of mine called "The GoddaGiddaWay"- but longer, simpler, and without the stained glass window- and it has wheels.

A tiny, mobile shelter/cabin on wheels- originally sketched for a few friends (in Boston and Albany) who were encamped at their respective Occupy-movement locales. Sketch and design by Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

Off to make some homemade calzones!
Again too- we're slowly working towards announcing a 2012 tiny house/shelter building workshop here in Massachusetts- we'll let you know- and if interested- email me at kidcedar at gmail dot com. 
-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

David Lottes Update (The House Of Fallen Timbers- a "recycled" tiny log cabin

      
     David Lottes is the builder behind one of the cooler, more character-driven tiny log cabins, or tiny houses I've seen for awhile, and for those of you who haven't seen his lil' creation, nor checked out his blog, I invited him to give you a guest blog overview. His log cabin is also featured (alongside 40+ other cabins) in the color photo insert section of the new version of my book "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks". AND....#13, in our "Sixty Shack Sketches In Sixty Days" pen-spree is below as well. Man, this ain't easy! FORTY SEVEN more new sketches to go! Yikes! Anyway, I'll leave things to David....

    The House of Fallen Timbers blog started out as an online journal of my attempt to build a small log cabin from fallen trees and found materials for as little money as possible. Intended to be a sort of brag book to share with family and friends who were not able to visit the cabin and see the work I had done it eventually became much more.

I live on about four acres of wooded land that had not been maintained for many decades. Very little effort had been made to manage the forest. Long dead trees were scattered around the property. It was dangerous to walk in parts of the woods and the dead trees were damaging the live ones.

At first the goal was to clean up the woods and make it safer. After a quick survey it became clear that I had a huge job ahead of me.

We do have a fire pit we use for the occasional cookout but there was no way we would burn anywhere near this amount of wood before it turned to mud. I have always been interested in frontier and pioneer life so without a clue of what I was getting myself into I decided to try building a cabin.

I honestly didn’t believe I would end up with anything but a woodpile in the end so I didn’t want to spend much money on it. I scavenged most of the materials I couldn’t make myself. In the end I spent roughly $200.00 mostly on foam insulation, gas and blades for my eight year old chainsaw.

I spent hours online looking for instructions about everything from how to drop a leaning tree to notching a log. I found hundreds of terrific examples, tutorials, and forums from all over the world. As my bookmarks grew I began to wish I had a single link to all the information. This was the beginning of the blog.

Soon I was linked into a community of like minded enthusiasts with a wide range of interests. Folks into forest management, simple living, log construction, quiet spaces, re-purposing, junkers, sheddies, tiny housers, and even manly skills enthusiasts began to network with me online. The blog has now been featured on several other blogs and the cabin was awarded third place in the United Kingdom’s - Shed Blog - International Shed of the Year competition!

Most recently Deek honored me with the inclusion of my cabin in his soon to be published “Humble Homes, Simple Shacks, Cozy Cottages, Ramshackle Retreats, Funky Forts: And Whatever the Heck Else We Could Squeeze in Here – New Triple-Caffeinated Expanded Edition!” Thanks Deek!

I hope you enjoy the blog. Please understand that it is not meant to be a how-to kind of thing. I’m very lucky I didn’t hurt myself considering how clueless I was when I started. Mostly I hope it inspires you and helps you locate resources to accomplish whatever you need doing. Have fun and be safe! – David A. Lottes (AKA – Fallen Timbers)

http://houseoffallentimbers.blogspot.com/2010/05/welcome-to-house-of-fallen-timbers.html

A freehand sketch of an idea for a free form ferrocement tiny dome house, or a cob/earth-bag small home/dwelling- by Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

 -Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

A recycled, micro, candle-based heater for your tiny house, shelter, treehouse....

The "Heet Deemun (Heat Demon)- concept and sketch by Derek "Deek" Diedricksen. A tiny, candle-based heater for very small spaces, tiny cabins, shacks, forts, and treehouses....

      I'm in the process of building and filming this one for Make Magazine- with a few twists on the design, and its another drawing, unreleased, from the B-sides of the book "Quick Camps and Leg Cramps" I released a long time ago (almost 2 years back in a VERY limited quantity- its presently sold out, but we'll get more (if we haven't already). Anyway, its the first non-cabin sketch (directly) in this "SIXTY SHACK SKETCHES IN SIXTY DAYS" marathon I'm doing (leading to the Feb. 1 release of the NEW version of "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks"- but its definitely VERY related. I had many other sketches I could have shared today, but I thought you might enjoy this one.

Again, the idea can be tweaked, and potentially, you could get away without ANY welding by screwing a smaller diameter "flue" into the existing tap/inlet on the propane tank- although I don't know if that would draw enough and make for ample/adequate ventilation, which is the whole point here. Obviously, I'd still use a carbon monoxide detector in your tiny house, shack, or cabin when using something like this, and more importantly, before you cut into ANY propane tank (BOOM!!!) check out a few of the many tutorials and chat discussions on doing so that are everywhere online. Play it safe!

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

The Shacks, Camps, and Log Cabins of D.C. (Daniel Carter) Beard

     D.C. Beard, a huge name in the founding and building of the Boy Scouts organization, was a VERY notable author and illustrator back in his day- and luckily for us, most of his books/works are still in print (and still sell very well apparently). A ways back I listed a post on my "Top Ten Tiny House Books" and D.C. Beard's famous "Shelters, Shacks, and Shanties" was in that very list.

     More recently, review-wise, I purchased "The Field And Forest Handy Book" (much like "The American Boys Handy Book" in style), and for a mere five bucks and change, with free shipping, NEW, I have to say it was a hell of a steal! Yes, some of the info and illustrations amongst his other books overlaps (partly because of so many reprint and new publishing company changeovers through the years), and you may never need to know how to trail-pack a horse, or cook a muskrat, but half of that unnecessary information is part of the eclectic charm of it all! Of course, there are passages on tool and axe use, log cabin building, naturally thatched huts, tiny woodsman abodes, and more...

As you can see, the sketches are just incredible too! My great grandfather, alive around the D.C. Beard era (Theodore Diedricksen) had a fairly similar style as was the head professor of art at Yale University. I often wonder if the two ever met, as I'm sure they were aware of each other's work. Theodore Diedricksen was also the illustrator of many books (adult and children's alike), and had his work displayed at many galleries, and commissioned for large sporting events. Even as recently as a year or two ago, there was a showing of his art at a Connecticut gallery.

As for my sloppier work- lol....again, the NEW and EXPANDED version of my book "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks" is now up on Amazon.com for pre-order, and from now until its release, I'll be posting many new sketches (unreleased ones- NOT in "Humble Homes") that I've been sitting on....for the fun of it, and yes, the help promote the book (as I'd love them to ask me to do another, if this one does well enough).

So #11 in "SIXTY SHACK SKETCHES IN SIXTY DAYS"....is a single-sleeper, micro-hut, with the intent of birdwatching, in mind. Its a spin off the traditional bird blind that you might find in nature preserves. Below that IS a micro-houseboat/shantyboat sketch and design of mine that you WILL find in "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks (Lyons Press)".

CLICK HERE to check out the book/order it- only $11.49

Recommended D.C. Beard Books...

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

A truck in a tree-house? Why the heck not....

     I actually have wanted to do something semi-similar for a long time (with a different type of vehicle) but this one (especially with a classic model truck) sure is unique. I'm not sure if this is real or photo-shopped, but still, does it really matter? It is possible. Personally, I'd build some sort of covered cabin in the bed of the truck, so as to enable overnighting in this tree house, but that's just me. I'd additionally cut out the back wall of the truck's cab and remove the seats and somehow connect these two "chambers". Regardless, I thought some of you might get a kick out of this if you haven't seen it before.

     I also included a lesser-seen treehouse sketch of mine as well- one that was posted quite a ways back, but when we have a very small reader count, so some of you might not have seen this one before- so, for that reason (and because I'm dealing with a killer headache tonight (but STILL am working on some new sketches), here's #11 in "SIXTY SHACK SKETCHES IN SIXTY DAYS". This cabin-a-thon, doodle-spree, is all leading up to the release of the NEW and EXPANDED edition of my book "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks"- which you can check out now on Amazon.com.

 

 

Check out the new book and its reviews HERE

$11.49- now on Amazon.com- The NEW/EXPANDED edition of the book....

"The Troffice"- an office-treehouse combination....sketch and design by Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen