Massachusetts Tree House Builder's New Work (Modern Light-Up Tree Cabin!)

So as many of you know, I build a heck of a lot of tree houses (even more so than cabins and tiny houses since I'm often a one-man crew), and its something I've always been doing.... and love. I mean heck, I'm an adult who gets to make part of my living building forts, offices, and cabins in trees- what's not to love?

My book "Microshelters" features a few I've done over the past years, in addition to tiny houses, art studios, forts, backyard offices and more.... You can check that book out HERE: 

Meanwhile, here's my last tree house of THIS season, as, well, its getting a bit cold and icy out there in Massachusetts to be monkeying around up in trees.

This particular tree house build was an affordable one that worked in some salvaged from a pre-existing tree house on the site. This little cube-like, modern cabin is a mere 7' by 7' (to thereby allow 8' stock plywood sheets to overhang as its roof decking), is adult-standable on its entrance side, features a mini bunk-loft, and resides about 8' off the ground. It also has a cool little porthole window worked in (from the company "Pet-Peek"). They're about $30 on Amazon....

Initially it wasn't going to have posts, but anytime I build a tree house for clients with kids, its an extra step in safety and "just in case" precaution that I like to take. Another rule of thumb is that I usually won't build off any tree that is under 12" in diameter. The different tree house features in my "Microshelters" book drop some other tidbits and rules along the way if you ever happen to check that out.

I'll have a full video tour really soon on this one, so keep an eye out over on www.youtube.com/relaxshacksDOTcom. 

And our NEXT hands-on Workshop....

CHATTANOOGA, TN- THREE DAYS! May 13-15th, 2016
HANDS-ON TINY HOUSE BUILDING WORKSHOP!

"Cheapo" 2by4 Sculpture in MA- that looks killer!

As most of you know by now, Relaxshacks.com isn't JUST about tiny houses, but the site has also aimed to work in my other interests- tree houses, bizarre art, DIY projects, salvaging and flea market finds, and whatever else strikes my fancy.

So, while I was setting up a fun, collaborative cabin/clubhouse/art studio that I designed and built with my cub scout den as a learning exercise in carpentry and recycling (more on that soon- its on display at the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, MA now), I came across this cool sculpture (above) by the entrance of the building.

I found it pretty interesting, and look closer.....

Its simply a standing array of fanned-out two by fours..... clever!
One of the two by fours (the longest) simply serves as the anchored stand for the structure too....

Well, aside from tiny house and tree house building and design, I've been heading up many art installation and renovation projects in the town of Stoughton, MA, and its budget-friendly ideas like these that really get the gears turning. 

I also have whats called "Robot Junction"- a random grove of huge wooden, scrap-material, robots in the woods of Vermont (on my 10 acre "Tiny House Summer Camp" compound), and this is something I might want to try out there down the road. 

We'll see.... So many fun ideas.....so little time......

Meanwhile- chock full of salvage and money saving ideas- my new book "Microshelters" is out now! Pick up a copy if you'd be so kind....

Deek's "Tiny House Heads" recycled-material ART series.....

Something I've been working on..... (and for those interested in purchasing my art, or custom work (which I do ALL the time), I just list it by word of mouth on my facebook page ("Derek Diedricksen"- pretty lo-fi, I know!)

Tiny House Heads #2 ($95)- proceeds go towards keeping a public-display art space running in my town (which was formerly unrented/abandoned and is now loaded with window-front art and lit on timers)

ANYWAY, this is a new piece in my "Tiny House Heads" series- all on recycled/salvaged wood. This one is #2 (about 14" tall). The first one sold really quickly (thank you!- whoever you are) over at the Artisan Soul Gallery in Putnam, CT, where I have about 30 art pieces on display.... I'm planning on making a whole series of these- all different, in different colors, and maybe getting together some showing way down the road with other artists in the tiny house field..... perhaps with a tiny shelter (as art) or tiny house on display. 

We're STARTING to mix a lot of art into our TINY HOUSE BUILDING (hands-on) Workshops too- Our next is at the Fuller Craft Museum- a 3 day event. Flyer is below and up until Feb 1st, 2016, there will be a sign up banner link at the top of this blog. 

And Speaking of "The Artisan Soul Gallery" in Putnam, CT on 171 Providence St. (place is awesome)- here's a shot of Laura Taylor (the owner) in front of a wall of my art. 

Go check the place out and help a budding, mom n' pop, business. There's a kids craft center in their too and its only $5(!!!!) for a 90 minute session (all materials are included!). 

-Derek "Deek" Diedricksen

Deek's new Tiny House/Small Structure/Tree House book "Microshelters" NOW OUT!

Hey all! Sorry for the absence, but not only have I been completing a few client gigs (one, a tree house just yesterday here in MA), but I was on a 2 week book tour on the west coast in promotion of my latest offering, "Microshelters".

  YOU CAN CHECK OUT THE BOOK BY CLICKING HERE

Thanks to those who have checked it out!

A little about it....

This book is LOADED with photos and is full-color- its also pretty eclectic in that while it showcases many tiny houses and their floors plans, it also features tree houses, backyard art studios, and even whimsical tiny structures and forts. There's a reason I gave it the title it has.

There are 2 zillion "strictly-tiny-house" books out there, so I wanted to make this one varied and eclectic, seeing as I feel that a good many tiny house ideas can be gleaned from that which isn't solely a boiler-plate definition of a tiny house. Don't worry though, there's lots in small spaces, tiny houses, and ways to approach designing them.

This book is a over double the volume of "Humble Homes, Simple Shacks", and took almost three years to assemble as I did things the slow, hard way. A good many of the photos in the book were taken by me in my travels, I built a large chunk of the structures you'll see, did a decent amount of the sketches in the book, and, well, of course, wrote the whole thing.

Anyway, I hope you dig it/give a chance. Its part coffee table book, part salvage idea-book, part tiny house book, part whimsical structures book, and with a whole lot more mixed in! It think its only like $13 on Amazon too, so if you find ONE idea in the book that saves you $13, never mind saving you $1000 potentially, its money well spent.

Its also features framing plan sets for 6 select structures

Also, for those who haven't checked in lately, our NEXT fully hands-on workshop is this one! We still have some room left, but not a heck of a lot....   AND we'll announce some added guest speakers and builders soon!!!