Over the years we’ve sent prison inmates any books they ask for. 20 years ago, we were sending out a lot of weight training books. These days, they’re asking for building books.*
Yesterday this package arrived and it was a delight. The spoon is really nice. Handcrafted, not made in China.
The notes in yellow say:
“Dear Lloyd & friends,
A few years ago you folks were kind enough to send me Home Work for free when I was locked up – so, to return the kindness, here is a gift. Enjoy it! If you come across anyone else who wants one, they are on Etsy:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/242806539/stainless-steel-spork-hand-forged)
Best regards,
Drew”
*If you’re an inmate or know any, tell them to write us for free books. -LK
On the Skagg’s Springs Road in Mendocino County, California, last Friday. This is one of those humble farm buildings that stop me in my tracks. Everything looks right. Too bad architects so seldom incorporate the beauty of simplicity, practicality, and economy in their creations.
Very short videos (1-3 minutes):
Subterranean Breakfast Nook
https://vimeo.com/62648661
Skateboarding down windy road to ocean
https://vimeo.com/89767441
Driftwood Cabin
https://vimeo.com/62648659
Camping Rafts
https://vimeo.com/62648658
Adventure Playground
https://vimeo.com/62648657
The paradox is that we’re getting this incredible feedback, now daily, and sales of our books have dropped off. We want to:
1. Redesign our website
2. Get Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and our blogs working to reach people. We have tons of “content.”
3. Produce more short videos
4. Consult with internet-savvy people
5. Get word out more broadly about our books
6. Get theshelterblog audience large enough so we get income from it.
Ideally we’d find a person who who understands blogs, “social media,” and how to build a new website.
Contact us if you or anyone you know might be interested in working with us: shelter@shelterpub.com
Jay Nelson’s work has been featured in Tiny Homes and Tiny Homes on the Move. Foster Huntington’s Toyota Tacoma camper was featured in Tiny Homes on the Move.
From Foster:
“The car is a Suzuki SJ410. It’s the predecessor to the Samurai and has a 1 liter 4-cylinder engine.
The camper is made out of marine plywood and thin copper sheeting. The camper has a sleeping space that’s just over 6 feet long over the cab.
Jay Nelson designed and built the camper in two weeks with some help from some friends.”
Jay’s Website: https://www.jaynelsonart.com/
More on Jay: https://www.lloydkahn.com/?s=jay+nelson
Foster’s website: https://www.arestlesstransplant.com/
More on Foster: https://www.lloydkahn.com/?s=Foster+huntington
“HACIENDA JA JA
Alamo Heights, TX
Nestled beneath the canopy of the live oaks, the home is a natural partner with its neighbors in scale, with porches allowing its residents to easily engage with activity on the street.
Carefully sited to preserve and to protect the live oaks, to promote cross-ventilation and to maximize natural daylighting, the home is also designed to avoid solar thermal gain during the summer and capture passive solar heating during the winter. Rainwater is collected from the roofs and stored in a below-ground tank; during most of the year, captured rain water will supplant domestic water for all landscape irrigation needs.”
https://www.lakeflato.com/projects/homes.asp
Suggested by Michael Gaspers
“We had this weird windowless room with no purpose so we thought to make it a pantry. It needed quite a bit of work to come around to the functional side. Some shelving went in but the floor was a train wreck – awful cheap disgusting carpet.
After that got ripped out, I had to figure out what to put in its place that was sturdy, looked good, and was inexpensive. After visiting a pallet rehabber, the idea was hatched.…”
https://humboldtartdept.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-pantry-floor-is-done-done-done.html
We are doing layout of our next book, Small Homes, right now, and we’d like to get more people living in cities, large and small towns, and—yes—suburbs to contribute. Whereas the paradigm for owner builders in the ’60s and ’70s was a home in the country, it makes a lot of sense these days to fix up small, modest homes in populated areas. Relatively quick, often more economical than starting on a bare piece of land.
Please contact me if you or someone you know is living in a small dwelling of any kind in cities or towns, and which is unique, creative, inspiring, aesthetic, etc.: lloyd@shelterpub.com
We’ve been approached by a film maker who is interested in telling the stories of people/a person who specializes in converting vehicles into tiny homes that move. Ideally, we’d like to find someone who does this for other people and makes a living/makes a business of it.
Vans, house buses, house trucks, trailers, or sailboats or houseboats. Please contact me if you know of anyone in this category: lloyd@shelterpub.com
