So much!

With forecast saying rain Tuesday, it's been a push. Mom, Dad, Greg, & I have been persistently working on what needs to get done: insulation in (mostly me), insulation patched (mostly Dad and Mom), insulation pieces picked up from ground (tireless, ever-loving, amazing Mom), housewrap on (mostly Greg). We got halfway around the house with Tyvek (Tyvek...). The $2 roll I found at ReStore in Santa Rosa covered the north wall (with the door). Then I decided to purchase a new roll, which I didn't want to do, but figured made the most sense considering the critical point I was at given the weather forecast.

As the sky darkened, Greg & I hoisted up the metal roofing, and put tarps over the two walls left unwrapped. Lastly, we finagled those two 3'6" x 9' refrigerator walls in through the front doors and down as the floor (hopefully for the last time).

Sitting in the space is a completely different experience now that you can't see through the walls. I haven't realized that yet though. It's like I'm stuck being able to see through the walls. I must say too, I sure liked that house without walls. It's so nice to climb though the studs. But ho! It's getting cold outside! And I'm ready to move in. Lots more to do before that though...

I still haven't decided about that roof.

A lot more Rigid Foam

Not such a bad day, Fats Waller helped. Got a lot of the rigid in, but the forecast says 70% rain Tuesday... hmm... what's my plan?

Tiny House Blog

A local, Kent Griswold, who keeps the fantastic Tiny House Blog up, running, and full of diverse info, has just put up a post on this project. If you're curious to see, please follow this link. I wrote a little manifesto this morning, at least one of the puppets on the board of directors did, I think...

In Kent's words:

I am developing this blog because of my love of small spaces. I have always dreamed of having a cabin and have done research over the years. Tiny houses have also become an interest to me in the last couple of years.

The goal of the tiny house blog is to discover the different options available for a person looking to down size into a tiny house or cabin. I will be looking at different type of construction, from logs, to yurts to modern and the unusual. I will also do book reviews, look at alternate energy for heat and electricity.

I want to encourage feedback and ideas to make this an informative blog. Stories of people who are living this dream. Pictures of tiny houses and cabins, etc. My goal is to publish weekly and more if possible. Thank you for sharing in this experience with me.

INSULATION BRAINSTORMING

So what if I need more, what will I choose....

Thoughts:

"Greensulate" ...available in 2010

"Home Grown Insulation Gets Fungi"

"Fungus Yields Insulation and Packaging Material"

Rigid Wool Insulation...

Papercrete...

Light straw fill...

ATTN. SANTA ROSANS

DON'T MISS:

The Imaginists Theatre Collective's Project 104 Presents

L’école de Maldetête: The School of Headaches

November 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 27, 28

All shows at 8:00 p.m. except

November 15th at 2 p.m.

November 21st at 10 p.m.

A timeless tale of lovers who lose their love to lovers who love others.

A ridiculous, reverent tribute to the great Molière, complete with rhymed couplets, gender-bending silliness and the coming out of many closets.

Written by Brent Lindsay.

Awarded a 2009 CASH Theatre Grant from Theatre Bay Area!

Winner of a 2009 Boho Award from North Bay Bohemian!

The Lesson

RELAX.

This Insulation...

Patching together from what was someone else's garbage...

I thought this bountiful load would be enough to do the whole house... though as I begin to install it, I realize I was wrong.

I find myself cursing this toxic product and it's itchy existence.

I don't know what to do exactly. Many of the space between studs here that seem to be insulated between with rigid foam ARE, BUT, they have only one layer of 1 5/8" and I had been planning on doubling up, and do plan (?) on this, so to have 3 1/4" creating an R-value of about 21. So many decisions. I will not purchase more to finish the house with. I would like to use a completely different kind of insulation. Now that I've begun with this, I wonder what my best option is for continuing. I also had been giving a heave hoe to get the house wrapped and roof on before the rain storm will supposedly hit Wednesday. This evening I had the notion that maybe that was causing more stress than necessary. I paid attention to the tension around my eyes and in my chest. Only two of these rigid stuffed cavities between the studs are glued in. Tomorrow I will continue cutting and re-assess how far off I am from what I need, re-assess if it's possible to get the insulation in and house wrapped in order to put the roof on before Wednesday. If that seems to stressful, I will continue cutting the insulation to fit, but then label it and remove it for dry-keeping in the garage until this storm passes.

THIS INSULATION ...might be the death of me. If not, I'll live to see an encapsulated house... particulates to the wind... what a crime!

ACK! THE ROOF: TO VENT OR NOT?

Reader beware...

Nuances of this roof:

• Rafters (2"x6" ripped to 6" "exactly") are running parallel to the width (not length as is standard)
• I'm planning on using two pieces of 2 5/8" rigid foam between the rafters, (potentially) leaving about 3/4" space for venting (holes in rafters and blocking could allow for venting from side to side of the house, OR from eave through rafters up to ridge)
• There is 2"x6" diagonal blocking (not 6" exactly) with an 18 gauge metal strap nailed into it
• I'm stubborn about not wanting to use plywood for sheer strength
• the vapor barrier on the roof (bitchathane/ ice & storm most likely... .... ....) needs a consistent uniform surface to lay upon; Therefore, if I do vent at the top, I imagine I'll need to sandwich a few layers of corrugated plastic (same stuff ridge vents are made from)
• It is possible to vent the longer side (seen with the diagonal in place) but not the loft side (which will have a hatch roof that pops up)
• There will be small windows at the loft level to open for ventilation

IF NO VENTING
PROS: I just want to put the roof on, enough already

CONS: worried about mold developing in ceiling

IF YES VENTING
PROS: the roof is vented! longevity
CONS: pain in the neck, less space in loft's head room

BOTTOM LINE:
I have to make a decision. The rain is coming.

Windows and Doors IN, Insulation Begun

Not all, but nearly. Greg went to work. Though I felt like I was doing twice as much, the insulation installation is less than rewarding.

BIG DAY

Today the framing on the trailer, that looks suspiciously like a house, hit the road! At first, anxiousness, and feelings of being out of control, reigned. But once down the driveway, realizing the solidity of the framing and seeing it handle motion flawlessly, I was able to ease up and enjoy the spectacle.

We drove up the hill where there lay a pressure washer.

That cleaned the chicken coop right out. Then we drove down, over, and up the hill to the dump, where we weighed in on the truck scale.

Bare trailer began at: 1400 lbs

Today with the framing: 2320 lbs

Making the added framing: 920 lbs

(My estimate for the framing weight was 1000 lbs, based on the fact that 1' of the lumber I'm framing with weighs about 1.5 lbs. There's a bit more framing to do: the window box and the loft side of the roof, which will open)

Nov 10th, just like Nov 9th

Except, today, I finally bought an impact driver. Seven years ago I almost dropped out of college when the construction crew I worked for said they'd give me an impact driver if I stayed. They almost won me over! Why has it taken me so long to buy one? It's a big purchase. There was a sale on the Makita combo kit, with the impact driver and drill, lithium-ion batteries, 18 volt. And so, finally.

And you'll notice a diagonal brace going across the rafters. It has a 18 gauge strap nailed the whole length, as well as wrapping down the sides, nailing into the other rafters near the ridge beam and to the corner toward the eaves.

Greg!

I am solely responsible for all mistakes on this monstrosity. Greg is responsible for smiling in the morning, putting up some good battles, having a truck with a strong engine, & making this home better than it would have been if we'd never met in front of the tire shop where we learned, as we waited, we were both working on building a house on a trailer. Small town.

A Door

Not this one...

at least not after I found This one at the dump, double paned, brass hardware...

My Jungle Gym

It'll be a bit of a pitty to put in walls.

Invaluable Friends

Some mornings begin with bad attitudes. Bad attitudes do little to help a home's construction. Get rid of the bad attitude!

Once that was done, & it took a little while, bracing ensued.

Sometimes Slow

Not much of any progress today. Many braces to put in. It's hard to imagine my timeline, especially when my body's energy is low. Will I be finished by the end of tax season? Finished enough for someone else to move in?

Tonight I've gone through and tried to articulate the priorities. Here they are in a few chunks.

• Diagonal bracing
• Horizontal blocking
• Interior framing
• Extract rusty nails
• Hose down

Put rigid foam insulation in walls (do before housewrap where bracing is on interior walls)

Housewrap (before or after welding on corner pieces?)

• Drill vent holes in rafters
• Metal diagonals on long side of roof, wrapping down to rafters
• (Put rigid foam insulation up into spaces between rafters, put temporary ceiling piece to hold it up--before roof goes on?)
• Cut rafters to length
• Tar paper
• Flashing?
• Corrugated roof on

• Decide structure for opening roof
• Build interior box frame
• Drill vent holes
• Metal diagonals on short side/interior box
• Attach hinges
• Tar paper
• Corrugated roof on

• Grind down 2" x 2" angle iron
• (get 1 gallon Rustoleum)
• Weld to sufficient lengths
• Paint each length and remaining ribs
• Weld corners in place
• Bolt to wood corners
• Weld cross-members (need to get, 2 pieces @ 8')

Sometimes house-building must be set aside for boat-building, no?

And meeting people like Adlai Karim in the BART.

And purchasing a used Bosch Jigaw.

Workshop Level

Working on the joists for the workshop area to the right when you walk in the door. Trying to decide where/if to have a step going up, how to frame that in given the no-floor and that it will be directly on top of the old refrigerator walls. Standing up 3 feet in the work space and looking around, into the loft, the kitchen, out the windows; it feels nice. Hard to quite grasp how much more there is to do.

Half a Half

Couldn't resist putting one of the corrugated sheets temporarily up top to see where the previous screw holes lined up with my layout. Cheap thrills.

Four Rafters Up

An interesting day. Began thinking, "I need help." Got help. Was sufficiently stubborn enough to alienate help. Continued on my own. Did a little inverse tangent equationing. Finished the day somewhat proud. The arcs. The arcs. Hopefully not in the rafters.

{AND the license arrived today in the mail. $20 for a five year permit through the DMV. Permanent trailer plates.}

RIGID FOAM, how nasty?

I'm going in circles. Rigid foam insulation, nasty. How nasty?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

what goes between the studs... what goes between the studs... what goes between the studs...

FOUR WALLS!

Precious, I think they're great.

Living in Santa Rosa

Not Bad.

NOW HERE, an animation from the Great Handcar Regatta 2009.

PART II

Work Day with dad & a TERMITE

He has incredible patience, and I bow to him: thanks for working with me today dad, for sticking those mortises in the top plate of the north wall. (The highlight of his day was uncovering his absolutely glorious-looking 1 7/8" chisel, sharp and shiny after all these years.)

Re: a TERMITE

The wood I have does not seem to be infested. Nevertheless, it came from an old chicken coop barn with a few small locations that had termite damage. Seeing one termite today was alarming. I killed it. I am wondering with what measures I should proceed. Please add suggestions as comments if anyone reading this has tips. I do not want to fumigate with a heavily toxic medley. The wood I am using seems to all be solid and good. But this one termite--what a little bugger! Are there more? Greg suggested I pressure wash the whole thing once I finish framing, let it all dry out, and then go ahead with siding and all. Any other suggestions?

A few photos from the day showing how it's coming along.

Featured Link

Click Here

(Thanks to Hana Permillerkins and tremendous family, in New Zealand, Indo, France, Oregon, or where is she next?)

Another Day

A bit more progress.

Really, just need to decide Decide how I want the wall in the kitchen to take form in order to form it. Did a lot of sitting on top of the ladder as the sun set, imagining that hitch-side wall.

Working on this project brings up some core issues: 1) trusting myself, 2) the gender spectrum, 3) my stubbornness, 4) the abundance in this country I have access to, my selfishness coupled with my desire to see my friends around the world unafflicted by the greed for natural resources by the richest in the world, 5) where do I fit in? / what do I want to do with my life [next]?

One place some of these issues collide is regarding the nastiness of some of the building materials I have scavenged (see entry ALL THE BAD CHOICES I'VE CHOSEN: Killing the Planet, Killing Myself: Why I'd rather

be building with straw and mud, period..). Though on the one hand I feel good about keeping them out of the dump, on the other hand I am (slightly) killing myself as I work with them and aware of how toxic some of the materials are to all the workers involved in the process of making whatever material I'm using.

Thoughts.

Closer to Two Walls

Not plumb, yet. The rain cleared, allowing fine time to work. Isn't the tarp wrapping around what will be the northwest corner nicely?

Before Typhoon Melor

A wall and a half came up. Great heightened joy!

The first growth fir from the barn is delicious to frame with, and it's face will be left exposed on the inside. The north wall now stands 10' from the base of the sill plate with room inside for 3' of storage beneath the workshop. The tippy top of the roof will (as per DMV regulations) be just under 13'6" from the ground.

(the 2"x6" coming through the center is a temporary mast for the tarp, though it's hardly the rain protection I'd envisioned)

ALL THE BAD CHOICES I'VE CHOSEN: Killing the Planet, Killing Myself: Why I'd rather be building with straw and mud, period.

? but the rot...

I used this on the 2"x6" redwood decking that I ripped down to 2" x 3 5/8" to be the base sill plate. The decking was salvaged from someone in Santa Rosa and has places with dry rot. I don't like the decision I made, nevertheless, I do not want the rot to transfer from the redwood to the fir framing the rest of the house. If anyone has any alternative options to the nasty wood preserve, please leave a comment here!

? but the rust...

Another decision I don't like. The paint seems like it will do a superior job at keeping rust from eating away at my foundation, but the stuff is nasty. If anyone has any hot ways to keep rust off steel that are less nasty, please comment here.

? rigid foam insulation

sure, yes, by all means, insulate your house, insulate the heck out of it, depending on the climate you live in, that is probably a good idea. nevertheless, this rigid foam is nasty. i know i've got to get more articulate with these things, i'm just giving a first stab at articulation here. the hanging shiny particulates when you cut this stuff is not good for babies, other humans, plants, soil, water systems and so on.

Can he sail?

Can I weld?

Don't know. But that appears to be what's going on. And the angle iron is all attached around the trailer, ready for sill plates!
Attached: liquefying metal, the white hot seam barely stirred, electrifying tools if you're not careful, omnipowerful, and confusing to the muscles because they couldn't smush metal together, yet (with their doing?) right in front of the body, metal was just squished in a deciding come-together even if 1/4" out of place. White hot. Hindsight rocks.

Don't forget gloves when you're grinding.

(Heck of a picnic Greg and Janelle! Beware of "Metal Fume Fever" I've been nauseous a week.)

An Extra Here: Photos from the mock laying out

Featured are 6" thick 3'6" x 9' rigid foam industrial refrigeration walls spotted by the illustrious Shantytown outside of a northern California winery by the side of the road. They will become a good portion of my floor.

Above: Imagining the bathroom.

Pictures can be deceiving, it's actually HUGE.

Headaches & Heartthrobs

Simply: HEADACHES (driving me nuts) & HEARTTHROBS (oh I do love)

Above: And that wasn't even my posting. That was a headache.

Above: Drawing in Boxes, Drawings of Rectangles (for the most part), Where is the Circle-Graph Paper? What would that look like?

Jackpot Rigid Foam Insulation Bonzana

The fact is: LOOK!

From yet another northern California remodel gone... gone with tons of waste. Enter, some perplexed scavenger who doesn't even like the stuff, but now has a mountain to build her home with. Strange indeed. Thanks to the fellow in Sebastopol for posting this on Craigslist rather than putting it in the dump. And to my mom for letting me borrow her truck at 6:30am this morning to be the first to pick it up.

Barn is Down, THE Trailer in Background

p.s. The doors in the truck are from an auspicious trip to the Petaluma regional dump and will be added to the materials Greg is collected for his small house on wheels.

This Barn, Down

We're taking this barn down. The last two days in the sun and wind. The roof is all up and off, except the rafters and one side still with runners. Siding off from two sides, two to go. The nails are getting pulled out as we go, and soon the lumber will be ready for constructing my small house, and many of Greg's projects. Thanks to Sergio & Steve & Shanty for working alongside us in their free time.

It began like this:

FREE OLD REDWOOD BARN (petaluma)
Date: 2009-08-30, 11:20AM PDT

FREE OLD REDWOOD BARN. Come dismantle, take, and build your own ! 46'x20', board and baton 1"x10", collar 1"x6", tongue and groove 1"x3", 4"x4" and 2"x4" supports.

Chop Saw / Miter Saw

Does anyone have one I can borrow for a few weeks?


I've spent the morning making new window frames, for double pane glass found at the dump, out of some of the smaller pieces of redwood decking pulled from the Santa Rosa bro who wanted more space in his backyard for his dog.

I can hear a neighbor sanding something. The person has been doing it all day so far. Power tools.

[RE: CHOP SAW, THANKS ERIC!]

Deposit Down, Thanks David (at Reed's Trailers)

The main news is that I went to Reed's Trailers and ordered the trailer that I will (as I see it at this point!) plan to build my house on.

I can't express enough how much I appreciate the advice of builders in this area who are sharing their knowledge from years of experience with me. My parents neighbor Eric, and Ken & Micah Sawyer have stood and provided invaluable feedback. BIG THANKS all around. I also am very grateful to meet Greg, another skilled builder, who is also building a house on a trailer. We're close on the map, so going over plans together is fruitful. I also want to mention here how lucky I've been to meet up with other small house builders: Dee Williams and KT Anderson in Portland showed me the latest on the office on a trailer they're building and were completely awesome people. Just great, open, the best kind of builders. I'd also like to thank Jay Shafer from Tumbleweed houses for looking over my plans and sharing his input. I'm so grateful for all the work he's done which has laid the track for others (like me, Greg, maybe you?) to come to a solution of sorts in regards to affordable housing. And every other conversation I have with anyone open to listening never fails to tip me in some sneaky way.

I ended up choosing to get the trailer with fenders, for weather protection when I'm on the road. I'll build around them. The tires are fine. 7-prong fine. Things seem fine and good. Can't quite swallow that after all my time considering and buying a used trailer I've decided to go with a new one. Nevertheless, that's the decision I've now decided upon. I must say the mark down in price for solid used trailers was surprisingly low in my experience over the last few months. So new ball bearings we go!

After putting a deposit on the trailer, I went over with another Greg to a redwood barn I saw posted on Craigslist freestuff. The landowner has had 25 people respond, but perhaps we made an impact on her (by the end of the conversation she was bringing up her role in the Vagina Monologues), in which case, I'll have a full few weeks dismantling this pretty big barn. Greg knows what he's doing, I don't. He's taken apart a whole barn on his own. Lots of redwood, beautiful old siding. We'll see if we "get the gig."

My parents return from their hike in Yosemite tonight. I plan on moving back in with them in the middle of September to focus on building this house. Still can't decide what to do for insulation, nothing sits quite right yet between the head and the heart.

Lots of research remains on off-grid systems.
I tested the oven/stove out tonight with propane. Tea will be made!

(another) New Trailer

As Eric knows, last night I sold the trailer I just bought (for the same price). Now I'm planning to buy a new one. And get the order in asap so I can get cracking. Here are the specs:

• IRON PANTHER 7X16 TANDEM AXLE CAR HAULER 7000 GVW
• 7x16 Carhauler
• 10000 lb A-frame 2 5/16" coupler
• A-frame tongue
• 2000 lb tongue jack (bolted on)
• DOT approved safety chains w/hooks
• DOT approved lighting system
• 7-way RV plug with loom
• Breakaway kit
• 5"X3" angle frame
• 6" high front bump bar
• 4' angle ramps
• Stake pockets
• 83" wide inside deck
• 2" treated wood flooring
• 3500 lb easy-lube axles w/brake flange
• 1 electric brake axle
• 5 lug 15" wheels
• 205/75 15" tires
• 7000 GVW
• 5600 lb payload

I will ask for it withOUT:

• 6" high front bump bar
• 4' angle ramps
• Stake pockets

I'm also considering asking for it withOUT the fenders (since I can the wood framing will go around the wheels and I can line it with an aluminum flashing---although building over the fenders might be better?), and withOUT the treated wood deck since I'd rather use untreated wood, and each thing I leave off the list, the cheaper the price becomes.

Remaining questions:

• Is a bolted (rather than welded) on jack ok?
• "7-way RV plug with loom" Is this the round plug that links the truck's electric with the trailers?
• "3500 lb easy-lube axles w/brake flange" Good?
  
• "5 lug 15" wheels" Good? What ply are these?
  
• "205/75 15" tires" Good? Sufficient max load?
  

Just an update.
Thanks!
Jenine

Iron Panther

wow, I can't quite believe it:
http://ironpanther.com/
I don't know if that has any connection to the Iron Panther I will mention...

Tonight I sold the trailer I bought for the same amount, though I'm keeping few items from Mr. G. Erausquin, such as two propane tanks. Yes, a fast turn-around, you better believe it!

These are big decisions, and I don't expect myself to have everything all down pat. Moving forward, making decisions as best I can as they come up.

Tomorrow I will go purchase a brand new one, the brand: iron panther. This guy makes a great trailer for a great price, and what with all the work I'd have to do on the other (replacing brake line, perhaps switching hitch out, getting all the rust off, repainting, perhaps getting new tires I realized after the purchase due to max load specifications), I've decided the costs come out even, and this way I'll have new ball bearings and axles.

So that's the update for today.

Work Time.

Call me if you want to help. 707.535-9109
In exchange, I'll keep my eyes open for what you're looking for during my thorough scans of Craigslist freestuff. And feed you watermelons?
Till the next call, I'll be happy sweating over the falling away rust and soon to come joists.

Thanks to a Mr. G. Erausquin, that trailer belongs to this one, starting today!

Come to the Imaginists! The Last Two Weekends This August!

We've remixed our street show to fill out your favorite theatre venue on 461 Sebastopol Ave., in the ..art of downtown Santa Rosa. COME JOIN US THIS WEEKEND OR NEXT! BRING YOUR FRIENDS! SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL THEATRE!! Details Here.

My tiny small house: "Not Iaşi"

This project has been my stream.
Thanks to all the input from all the builders I get to be around.
Sincerely.
I'm ready to buy the flatbed trailer now, I think, almost.
At least a lot closer.

Forge Ahead Building Productions, for now

hello,

i haven't been talking about it much, but i'm embarking on building myself a small tiny house on wheels.

the materials i'm collecting are adding up to be tremendous weight; in possessions, i'm the heaviest i've ever been. my work has included scouring craigslist freestuff, that amazing unstopping list wows me daily. but things are not free, given the price of fuel, so i've combined trips to near by bay areas, doing clumps of retrieval errands at a time.

What I already found and picked up via Craigslist freestuff (listed BELOW).

skip the specifics, or enjoy them poetically. either way, i'm having such a good time! luckily, no one is stuck with me, because i've become a boiled egg for company. unless you're on the page of wanting to talk about building all the time, i probably make as good a company as a sack of potatoes. i seem to be running on endless energy, sleeping less the ever, waking up ready to go.

with gridded graph paper and a mechanical pencil my house plans are developing and redeveloping. the curved roof became a low pitched V-shape two days ago. the upstairs loft just became L-shaped. the kitchen already feels like one i could cook in. there's a 5'x5' place on the wall dedicated for working on drawings/paintings/animations. the washroom/bathtub has seen at least a dozen incarnations. and i suspect everything will change before it's final, if not totally, at least slightly.

thanks of the utmost to my parents, who are gracious enough to allow me to squat their driveway as i build this thing. "out by halloween" is the deadline, at which point i plan to be weatherproof, though of course not completely finished, and ready to pull over to some place with some land, where i won't be in anyone's way. on the contrary, i hope to find a nice mutually beneficial situation so that times i am not here others can make use of the space. i'm not looking to settle down in sonoma county at this point, in fact, i'm feeling ready to get out of the area shortly. nevertheless it is important to me to have some kind of home for myself here. this is a special place where i have many close relations. this way i can build myself a home, but have some flexibility in moving it to ANYWHERE in the greater north american continent if that ever seemed like a good idea. or sell it if things turned upsidedown.

i'm motivated to harness my energy and time creatively, something this project allows. it will be something that's mine, something affordable (getting around building codes and buying my own property), something ecological (reusing the plenty of materials available in northern california that might otherwise end up in the landfill), and a tool for activism in that i can teach others from what i learn along the way regarding building small with scavenged materials with energy efficiency at the top of the list.

on another note, the summer bicycle touring bilingual puppet show is underway in sonoma county. the Imaginists present, The Art is Medicine Show! !El Show el Arte es Medicina! check our website for dates and times if you're in the area! we're also working on another bilingual show that we will perform in september. this work has been meaningful and continues teaching me much.

also, the sewing machines continue their hum, stay tuned...

i miss my friends in far off places dearly.

back to sketching plans for floor joists.
photos to be posted sometime. soon?

if you're interested, the "tip of the iceberg" in terms of
the helpful people/websites/blogs on this matter:

http://jaystinyhouse.com/
http://paddleways.com/blog/gypsyrose/2006/11/
http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/houses/
http://smalllivingjournal.com/

p.s. for the locals only, i also have a WISHLIST ABOVE. i'm keeping my eye on craigslist freestuff, but if you have any of the following you'd like to get rid of, pass it on my way! thanks! (some of this i am planning on buying: the trailer, roofing, etc.) i'm also planning on making trips to various salvage yards around the area to find what i'm looking for at low cost.

THANKS!

Thanks so much to everyone for listening to my help-wanted writings. Your responses were warm and wonderful! A the week fills out, I think I just might be borrowing each of these items from helpful folks nearby. Thanks to one and all!

Help.

Dear Friends,

I'm writing now because there are three items I would like very much:

1) A Laptop (preferably mac)

2) A Digital Camera

Both of these can be old clunkers.

Perhaps you have just purchased a new computer or camera and have no use for your old one? Please let me know. jenine.alexander@gmail.com

The work I am doing with The Imaginists for this summer's traveling bilingual puppet event The Art is Medicine Show / El Show el Arte es Medicina involves returning to the kind of charcoal animations I did many years ago. Though a very hands-on process, the completion and presentation of this work requires the aid of a digital camera (for capturing the drawings in the process of stop-motion animation), and a computer (for compiling the photos and creating the final edited piece in a video editing program).

I am also sewing costumes and underwear, if you have an unused serger/overlock sewing machine around your house, just being able to borrow it for a few months would be of great assistance for my projects. So the last thing I'm looking for is:

3) A serger / overlock sewing machine.

Can you help me forge ahead?!

Thanks for reading.

Ejemplos...

Our vision: a bilingual bicycle touring show.

Our communities suffer. Job losses continue. Pollution spews unchecked. The Art is Medicine Show is born from the idea that in times of crisis we must break old patterns, seek visionary solutions, and connect to our local communities. In the spirit of the Federal Theatre Project of the 1930’s we want to make theatre that is vital to community life. The mainstream arts culture in general, and in Sonoma County in particular, often overlooks Latino and Immigrant communities. Performances that invite these communities and celebrate the diversity in our county are essential. Our vision: a bilingual bicycle touring show.

Nuestras comunidades sufren. Trabajos se siguen perdiendo. La contaminación vomita sin control. El espectáculo Arte es Medicina nace de la idea que en tiempos de crisis debemos romper nuestros viejos patrones, buscar soluciones visionarias, y conectar con nuestras comunidades locales. En el espíritu del Proyecto de Teatro Federal de los 1930s queremos hacer teatro que es vital a la vida de nuestra comunidad. Las artes culturas de corriente popular en general, y en particular en el condado de Sonoma, muchas veces ignoran las comunidades de Latinos e inmigrantes. Presentaciones que inviten a estas comunidades y celebren la diversidad en nuestro país son esenciales. Nuestra Visión: un espectáculo bilingüe de Tour en bicicleta.

Real City Planning

William Kentridge and the Handspring Puppet Company

William Kentridge and the Handspring Puppet Company are gracing San Francisco with their engaging art this March. More information at the SFMOMA. Kentridge has long been an inspiration for me. This is a rare opportunity to see the Handspring Puppet Company in the USA.

Alfred Jarry / Ubu Roi

...his last request was for a toothpick. "When he finally had one in his fingers it seemed, his doctor, writes, 'as if he were suddenly filled with a great joy as on the days he went off fishing or on a canoe or a bicycle trip. I barely stepped aside to talk to the nurse when he signalled me to turn around. He was drawing his last breath.'" (See article.)

Ride your bicycle to The Imaginists' UBU performance and receive a "That Which Rolls" bicycle placard, while supplies last.

Dedication, Commitment, Email Me

If you're also a puppeteer, I'm especially pleased to share with you the photos that follow. In creating a puppet suitcase sometimes one might feel silly, alone, lonely, or framed-as-aimless. It's ok, but... For these reasons, networking with other puppeteers is a lifeline. Bolstering our potential impact, let us unite with all while questioning, What do we have to give?

Onward musicians! bicyclists! activists! builders that demand sustainable building test sites! drawers! sewers! painters! print makers! mechanics! those who consider A Pattern Language! tree grafters! trailer remodelers! teachers! learners! non-consumers and makers of all sorts!

Gratefully yours,
Jenine

Why, What is this?

A runaway tiger cub of the Cyclown Circus snuck up on a gang of Imginistas, and pruf:

Here you have it folks

Forge Ahead Puppet Productions

Fully engaging, Busting into vivihood

Now you might be thinking:

Why, What's the meaning of this?!

You'll get yourself killed!

Oh no, we lead a charmed life. Plus, we die, and we do not die.