Из России с любовью

When I started this journey, I honestly thought I would take a year to plan and a year to build my tiny house. Looking back, there isn't one big thing that screwed up my timeline; I had to move out of my apartment, was assigned new responsibilities at work, had to find a new car, was diagnosed with Lyme disease then un-diagnosed with Lyme disease. Most recently a family member struggling with depression was hospitalized. It is amazing how you can so easily get caught up in surviving the day, weeks and months quickly pass.
People in my life keep getting pregnant as well, which means baby showers, which means presents, which means paintings for me. Cost effective but time consuming.

I am determined to begin my build before this year is up and have been researching trailers. There are so many options to choose, it is almost paralyzing. Thankfully there are quite a few online resources available that weren't around even a few years ago, but it still requires research.
To break up the stress of trailer shopping, I've been shopping for other house parts. Mostly trivial but still cool. Example one: this sweet mail slot.

Courtesy BolshevismLand on Etsy, I found this slot that says "Pochta"- the name of the Russian postal service. Most of the slots I found were either so bland they ruined the aesthetics or yelled "LOOK AT ME, I AM A FANCY OLD TIMEY WAY TO DELIVER MAIL!" This one is the perfect combination of character, simplicity, and will hopefully be helpful if Red Dawn ever comes to fruition.

Since I cannot expect you to be waiting by your computers for my next update, may I recommend my newest favorite podcast: Mystery Show. As stated on their site, Myster Show is "A podcast where Starlee Kine solves mysteries." Simple but charming, much like my sweet mail slot. Only it isn't in Russian.

Construction Junction, what's your function?

 A unique situation has fallen into my lap. One of the trailer makers I contacted has a 24" low-utility trailer already made to sell. Pros of this development is my build could start by the end of this month. Cons are two of man's greatest enemies: time and money. I had hoped to save enough money to avoid taking a loan out and I am not close at this point. I was also expecting to have a few weeks while waiting for the trailer to be built to finalize my design. Besides my front door, I have no other materials or even the exact plans for the house.

Not helping this decision is the rollercoaster life has been in just the past week. I learned that I don't actually have lyme disease; someone had misread my initial blood work. While there are still some tests the doc wanted to run, it seems most likely all the health issues I've been having the past few months were all from stress. STRESS! Sure, it is a relief to not have a serious disease but it is slightly embarrassing that my body was just flipping out on itself from living life. Also, there isn't a pill to take and fix stress (well, any legal ones that don't cause lifelong ramifications or death).


On a more uplifting note, I took my first trip to Construction Junction! This store boasts a huge warehouse of materials from hardware to toilets in every color. I had hoped to find my windows, but there was nothing that grabbed my attention. What I did find was a box old key hole covers for $1 each (and while it wouldn't break my budget, my dad was sweet and insisted on buying them for me). They are perfect additions to my type drawer display.

One of the few decorations that will definitely be in the tiny house.

So there is a big decision to be made in the next few days that could possibly jump start my build. At this point I have no idea which way I am leaning. Until next time...

Money for nothin' and your tiny houses for free

Last post I mentioned my need for cash to fund my project. I am not looking for handouts while binge watching Agent Carter, I would rather work for everything I earn. Currently working a full time job at a nonprofit hasn't been the most lucrative business choice, but it gives me more happiness and purpose.

To compensate, I am advertising art commissions!  Like most of my generation, I have a degree in something completely different and unrelated to my current career. Though it isn't quite a shocker to not find a job with an art degree in any economy... Anyways, I am taking requests and it doesn't have to be a grand oil portrait. Below are some of the Valentine's Day cards I made for my co-workers.

"Roses are red, violets are blue, I don't know about grass because I have dichromatic vision."

"I want to go slow with you!"

"I'd watch the world end with you."

If you'd like your own one of a kind illustration for yourself or as a gift, it only costs $15! Not only will you get a unique piece of art, but you will know your purchase went to a positive cause and not a secret booze habit. Mostly because I don't drink (I just don't like the taste, it isn't that weird. Stop looking at me like that...). Few rules to keep in mind:

     1. No porn. I'll consider artistic nudity depending on the context.

     2. No violence to innocents. Killing zombies- hokey dokey. Kicking puppies- no deal. 

     3. While the original art is yours, I retain the rights to anything created by my hand. So no making          copies of anything to sell on the street corner. 

Most of my portfolio is viewable at Melanie Loves To Draw and my deviantArt page. To make a commission request, just send me a message or write a note when making a donation to my Crowdrise: Trailer Fund. My pencil and brush await your orders!

I actually didn't sell my last trailer, I just forgot where I parked it.

It is February and Jack and I took a walk today. Without hats, scarves, or coats. It was glorious! It also proved to be a pit terrifying since I set a goal to begin building my house this spring. This involves taking the first major step of this process, buying the trailer. These wheels are the foundation of the home, making it an extremely crucial purchase and it can also be the most expensive purchase. Needless to say I am freaking out a bit and have self prescribed binge watching Parks and Rec to keep calm.

1. First, there is the style and length of trailer to consider . This is one of the few choices I am 99% sure about. 24ft seems to be the longest length that doesn't jump the price too high. For the style, I am leaning toward the 'low-wider' design. This has the bed of the trailer being cut into by the wheel wells, which gives you maximum width and height. As a human being, I reserve the right to change my mind on this multiple times.

courtesy Tumbleweed Tiny Homes

2. While the first tiny houses were surely built on tweaked utility trailers, I am not handy enough to go that route. Also, quite a few companies have sprung up offering trailers specifically for building a house on. Like any major purchase, you have to do your research on the product. Knowing absolutely nothing about trailers, road regulations, weight limits turns out to be extremely unhelpful.

3. Tying into my choice of builder is their location. Though there are a plethora of tiny trailer builders across the country, none reside in Pittsburgh. At this time the closest one I have found is 3 hours away. The delivery fee is $600. For perspective, that is more than half a paycheck for me. Or I could tow it myself with my Kia Rio! No, I'd rent a truck. I don't think my Kia could tow...anything. At the moment I am waiting to hear from two companies about locations for dealers. Fingers crossed there is one in my backyard I was unaware of because of my Parks and Rec addiction.

4. MONEY. Most of the companies I am researching offer financing, I was hoping to purchase my trailer up front. Currently I have almost $3,000 saved, for my whole build. Even with using recycled materials I can't build a house on that. A fellow tiny builder mentioned she didn't want handouts and is working multiple jobs to build her home. I admire her tenacity, but I will gladly take any and all handouts. Those that don't know, I work in animal rescue. A very rewarding but low paying and exhausting profession. Part of my reasoning for building a tiny house is to allow me to stay in this profession. So if you want to throw stacks of cash at me, check out the link to my Crowdfunder to the right. BUT, I am not just asking for something for nothing. I am in the process of trolling people for art commissions. More on that later with lots of pretty pictures.

Maybe by my next post some of these problems will have solutions. Until then, I shall keep repeating my mantra...

via Paper Love Songs

Shut up, Wesley

It is easy to meditate on the negatives that come our way. Here are some bright spots of my week I thought I would share.

Seriously, check out Coffee Buddha in Perrysville.

I got to meet a celebrity today, fellow tiny house enthusiast Rachel Ford! If you haven't heard of her, I am shocked. You must have missed her spot on WTAE (that was then picked up by Abc News) earlier this week. She is one of many tiny house enthusiasts living in western PA that have found each other via facebook. Many of us discovered we lived only a few minutes from each other! Tonight we met up at the best little coffee shop ever and gushed about our tiny homes (and our adorable pets).

The weather was warm enough and the daylight longer that I was able to take Jack for a walk multiple times this week. The snow was beautiful but the cold not too biting. While walking I enjoy listening to podcast. During the last walk I listened to a very pertinent Stuff You Should Know appropriately titled "Do objects or experiences make us happier?". Science is still out, but it is believed some of the greatest happiness can be found from relationships with canines.

Jack, proof you can get away with murder if you are cute enough.

Currently I am living with my mom (cause I'm cool, don't be jealous) and have been home alone for a whole week. Now it may not seem like a huge deal to people over 18 or are not Macaulay Culkin, but it is very rare that I have a house to myself. I have gone from living with family to college, to home, to sharing an apartment, back to home again, did have my own place for one year, then back home once again because animal rescue pays nothing. So, it is an event for me especially considering all the pets are still alive and nothing has caught fire... yet.

Last evening I watched an episode of Star Trek that I forgot I saved. Riker had been captured while undercover on a planet that hadn't yet invented warp drive. Don't roll your eyes, Next Generation is awesome and you know it. I would drop everything to follow Captain Picard into space. Not even kidding.

Sir Osis of Liver

In college we had a drinking game of taking a shot every time the president said 'community'. We would have been quite drunk during every speech if weren't attending a dry college. I still take a shot (in spirit) when I hear the word.
So, communities. Tiny house communities to be specific. There seem to be many thriving communities composed of tiny builders, tiny dwellers, tiny renters, etc. Though these all seem located quite a distance from Pittsburgh, the West and North-West specifically. I was overjoyed when I learned a local organization, cityLab, was working to build a tiny house in the city (though it turned out to be a stationary and expensive home, neither things I'm interested in). Then someone posted in a tiny house facebook group about this house. Suddenly people from Pittsburgh were popping up, many of us only a stone's throw from each other!
We gathered in our own group (Tiny House WPA for others living in western Pennsylvania). Suddenly I wasn't a lone woman with a crazy idea, I was part of a group that shared the same crazy idea!
Then I got a second surprise, a local home show was going to have a THOW (tiny house on wheels) free to tour. This past Sunday I got to stand in a tiny house. While I could have explored the space all day, it was definitely the most popular booth of the show making it difficult to imagine the space without half a dozen people in it. While it was a short visit, it was very helpful to be in the space; I already made a few adjustments to my design. The best part was sharing it all with my Meema.
The range of reactions from my family wains between excitement and skepticism over this project. Many send me articles about homes built from shipping containers, others question what I'd do when I got married (that is a can of worms we won't open at this time). Besides my mom, no one has taken a serious interest beyond basic questions. My meema and I have always had a special relationship, though we don't spend as much time together playing with Disney figurines and watching My Girl as we used to. Sharing this experience with her wasn't just enjoyable because the time spent together, it also felt validating. I am sometimes painfully reminded how odd I am, but it also comes with a reassurance that my family is quite aware of this. And though it can sometimes cause arguments ranging from sparklers to atomic levels, they are generally supportive of my quirks. I only wish everyone was able to say the same.

Nothing really matress, anyone can sette...

One of the staples of a tiny house is the creative build in furniture. People build special storage into every corner and make beds that convert into stoves when not in use. I love to see the creativity that goes into make use of every space and multifunctional furniture. For my house I decided to take a different route by having free standing furniture. Multiple reasons for this decision:

• I can rearrange the furniture to my liking after living in the space. There could be a list of logical reasons why to put a table by the couch, but if you find that you smack your leg off it every time you go past- that sucker has to move! 
• Sometimes I just like to rearrange a space. Half the time I put everything back where it was except one lamp, but I like having the option.
• If something needs replacing, I don't have to tear into the structure of the house. I just have to haul it out the door (depending on the size, maybe bribe some friends with food to help).
• Not having built-ins makes the blueprints of the house simpler. I am not an architect, nor do I have the money to hire one to articulate creative whims. My home will be an empty canvas that I can fill.

Obviously any piece must be space savvy, multiple uses is a huge perk. I have a few pieces currently that I would like to put in the house; a small bookcase I've had since I was a girl, small cabinet I saved from the trash, and an antique sewing table (minus the sewing machine).

I was drawn to couch designs with storage access from the front. I currently have a chest that opens at the top, and every time I need to get something the cat or dog has to be on top of it. So front storage! I enjoy the look of wicker baskets- they also are easy to 'install' and I can always change it up if I choose. A single long cushion for the seat and oversized pillows for the back. The couch will always be against a wall, so no reason to add more work giving it a back. One of my pet peeves is furniture that is flush against the floor. No matter how hard you try, dirt, crumbs, and hair will always get wedged under the edge; so I am sticking fun feet on my couch.

I am still up in the air about my desk. My current desk is a large corner desk; it is home to my desktop computer and serves as an art space. Originally I was in love with this country style desk with leaves on both ends. Then I found some amazing desks created from pallets. I love reusing materials and some of these designs are just fantastic.

And finally there are those wonderful Swedes at Ikea who have created furniture that seems made for a tiny house. The Norden table would be perfect in the kitchen, lots of storage and takes up little space. I also love the look of their utility cart- maybe it could work as an end table or under desk storage?

Now, I just need to build the house to put all this stuff in...