Adventures of an Imperfect Man In Search of a Handmade Life
I began version one of my Vardo Caravan eleven years ago this month. As I published updates and details along the way people have for a detailed "how to" for building a vardo. Since everyone's needs, skills, and resources are different, I will leave the task to others. My suggestions are this. Decide on your … Continue reading Building Your Own Vardo
I love this little vehicle. A true 1920s work of art.
I don't really know anything about this beautiful rig but I like what I see. A converted mower in front as a tow vehicle and it's pulling a little trailer of it's own behind. If anyone knows any more about this one please let me know! I found it on Tumblr but was able to … Continue reading A Slow Moving Beauty
An early tiny house on wheels... and a family selfie. The Library of Congress has some pretty amazing stuff. I rarely find what I came for but I always find something pretty spectacular. This house (click to enlarge) is quite a piece of woodworking. Shingle siding all glass door, sturdy balcony, beautiful windows, under storage, … Continue reading A 1926 Home Built Camper Truck
A perfect rolling home. And a place for everything! The details here are remarkable including the decorative framing around the windows and planter boxes ... with plants! I believe this sits on solid rubber teeth-rattling tires. You can probably tell from the caption but this is apparently from Germany in 1922. I wish I knew … Continue reading Finally…
This seemed too good to pass up.
Experimental house on a Prius from Australia. What an odd combination. I like it indeed. The short article is HERE. "It provided a stylish place to sleep at the Meredith Music Festival in Victoria earlier this month while his fellow campers were forced to rough it in tents. “It’s quite well insulated in there. It’s … Continue reading Prius House
I would love a human-powered world with creatures like this filling our highways, quietly and without belching exhaust into the air. Maybe we wouldn't need to expend all our resources and youth expanding the empire to secure our ever-growing need for oil overseas. As things stand today, there are few roads you could safely travel … Continue reading Camper Bicycle
Found on the Vintage Everyday blog. It is thought to be from circa 1926 and is a real beauty. It has some nice details as well. The sign on the roof, lightning rods, and even a little chimney. A great solution of one facing homelessness but still had the car. Possibly a nightmare to drive?
Seen on the Road to Glamperland Facebook page.
After several requests for information, here is my short list of inspirational sites found on the web. Culling the web for Vardo style so you don't have to. I will try to morph this into it's own page soon as a place to add more links as they become available. Romany and Traditional Style Sheepherder … Continue reading Update from the vault: Vardo and Sheepherder Links
I couldn't help but post this... Found on TheRoadToGlamperland Facebook site. Built on a Morris Minor of all platforms. As they say, "why not?"
Spotted at the Oregon Country Faire
What can you even say? Click the pic for more info.
In searching for home-built campers, there were very few images on the web just a few years ago. Jay Nelson came up a few times over the years due to his ingenious building of structures onto existing vehicles, compact car, scooter, boat, and now a truck. It's my kind of work. Low budget, simple, and … Continue reading Jay Nelson’s Constructs
I'm a big fan of Retro-Futuristic design. Maybe that's why some of the better Steam Punk designs appeal to me. I don't mean the stuff that's just hot-gluing old watch gears onto some leather or carrying a toy ray-gun around in an old-western holster. I want art that can actually be part of our daily … Continue reading Retro-Futuristic
Its almost surreal. Somebody* is actually paying me money to drive the Vardo out to the Maker Faire in San Mateo next month. Even with my old clunker truck, the small travel award will more than pay for the trip and I've been wanting to attend the Faire for several years now anyway, so his … Continue reading Maker Faire
I wanted to put up photos of the travel shutters. As the windows face forward, they take a real beating on the road. After solving the issue of covering three sides, the construction was pretty simple. Being small, I was able to knock these together from scraps around the barn.
My appreciation for house trucks has grown immensely over the years. It's not easy building a structure that is both light, strong, and wind-resistant. Caravans, house trucks, and RVs have to undergo the rigors of hurricane weather every time they hit the road and still be light enough to be pulled. If you are willing … Continue reading House Trucks Again
Over the weekend I had time to add a few, more recent, photos of the wagon to the Vardo page. There are many requests and I assume there are quite a few people out there building their own. Good luck to you all.
Preindustrial Craftsmanship 