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Preindustrial Craftsmanship

Adventures of an Imperfect Man In Search of a Handmade Life

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  • THE VARDO PROJECT: Begin here
    • THE VARDO PROJECT: Part 1
    • The Vardo: Part 2, Conception and Planning
    • The Vardo: The great leap into construction
    • The Vardo: Finishing and fitting out.
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Category: vardo

A Gypsy Camp with Horses

Monday, November 18, 2013Saturday, December 7, 2013 ~ George Crawford ~ Leave a comment

 

munnings-alfred-james-1878-195-a-gypsy-camp-with-horses-and-h-1305877A Gypsy Camp with Horses, Watercolour by Sir Alfred Munnings.

Epsom Downs – City and Suburban Day 1919

Thursday, November 14, 2013Saturday, December 7, 2013 ~ George Crawford ~ Leave a comment

 

Epsom Downs - City and Suburban Day 1919 by Sir Alfred Munnings 1878-1959Epsom Downs – City and Suburban Day 1919, Watercolour by Sir Alfred Munnings.

Craftsmanship

Tuesday, November 12, 2013Saturday, December 7, 2013 ~ George Crawford ~ Leave a comment

Fed1Not much info on this one.  Here’s the link:

http://www.cheaprvlivingforum.com/post?id=6490162

This guy does amazing work.  I could live here.

Fed2

Fed3

Gypsies in Hampshire

Tuesday, November 12, 2013Saturday, December 7, 2013 ~ George Crawford ~ Leave a comment

 

alfred-munnings-gypsies-in-hampshireGypsies in Hampshire, Watercolour by Sir Alfred Munnings.

Maid of Dreams

Sunday, November 10, 2013Saturday, December 7, 2013 ~ George Crawford ~ 1 Comment

rob-jill-romain-1951-bedford-housetruck-maid-of-dreams-the-star-of-the-2013-bedford-new-zealand-rally-at-bedford-heaven-near-thames-theflyingtortoise-002Truly a road gypsy dreamhouse.

rob-jill-romain-1951-bedford-housetruck-maid-of-dreams-the-star-of-the-2013-bedford-new-zealand-rally-at-bedford-heaven-near-thames-theflyingtortoise-009rob-jill-romain-1951-bedford-housetruck-maid-of-dreams-the-star-of-the-2013-bedford-new-zealand-rally-at-bedford-heaven-near-thames-theflyingtortoise-011

rob-jill-romain-1951-bedford-housetruck-maid-of-dreams-the-star-of-the-2013-bedford-new-zealand-rally-at-bedford-heaven-near-thames-theflyingtortoiseI won’t even try to describe this big beauty.  See the write up from the Bedford Rally here on the Flying Tortoise.

Charlotte Gray and the Green Caravan

Sunday, November 10, 2013Saturday, December 7, 2013 ~ George Crawford ~ Leave a comment

 

charlotte_gray_and_the_green_caravan-largeCharlotte Gray and the Green Caravan, Watercolour by Sir Alfred Munnings

Toad’s Caravan

Saturday, November 9, 2013Saturday, December 7, 2013 ~ George Crawford ~ Leave a comment

Rackham Toads Caravan

The iconic Toad’s Caravan by Arthur Rackham from The Wind in the Willows a great Victorian children’s book.

Pick-up Campers

Friday, November 8, 2013Saturday, December 7, 2013 ~ George Crawford ~ Leave a comment

Homemade style from the Flying Tortoise weblog.

truck1

truck3truck2Having made a couple custom toppers of various qualities, I am drawn to these fine constructions on humble pickup trucks.  Click any image to access the article.

The Caravan

Friday, November 8, 2013Saturday, December 7, 2013 ~ George Crawford ~ 2 Comments

 

Munnings-the CaravanThe Caravan, Watercolour by Sir Alfred Munnings.

Origins of the Tiny House Movement

Thursday, November 7, 2013Saturday, December 7, 2013 ~ George Crawford ~ Leave a comment

From this:
Gypsy_Wagonto this…

1920s-House-on-wheelsRead about it here.

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Building the Vardo Caravan

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19th century archaeology archery arrows art art car atlatl backpack banjo bicycle bow making bowtop bushcraft camping caravan caravane craft craftsmanship DIY Edwardian gypsy Gypsy Truck gypsy wagon Henry David Thoreau house truck huaraches leather leather work leatherwork low tech minimalism moccasins mountain man music nomad painting paleotool philosophy photography possibles bag primitive skills primitive technology prymitywna technologia przetrwanie roulotte sandals schäferwagen sheepherder sheep wagon shoe making shoes shooting bag sopravvivenza supervivencia survie survival thoreau tiny house tiro al arco tiro con l'arco tir à l'arc tools travel traveller vardo Victorian vintage wilderness survival wohnwagen woodworking łucznictwo вардо выживание караван примитивные технологии

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Good Advice

A Gallery of Some Past Projects

The little table has many miles on it now and doesn't look this pretty at all. I'm actually in the midst of refinishing it and will post pictures sometime soon.
The little table has many miles on it now and doesn’t look this pretty at all. I’m actually in the midst of refinishing it and will post pictures sometime soon.
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Treadle lathe turned bowl and plate made by Mick Robins in spaleted alder (I think). The spoon is Osage orange carved by me.
Treadle lathe turned bowl and plate made by Mick Robins in spaleted alder (I think). The spoon is Osage orange carved by me.
My Portmanteau. 18th Century style, it has become my favorite overnight bag.
My Portmanteau. 18th Century style, it has become my favorite overnight bag.
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Bodhrans.
Bodhrans.
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moreleather8
Bags_6
An overview of traveling gear. I see this format on the web a lot so I'm stealing the style from far batter photographers than I.
An overview of traveling gear. I see this format on the web a lot so I’m stealing the style from far batter photographers than I.
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Mountain dulcimer.
Mountain dulcimer.
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20180219_143649_Film4_resized
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The small rucksack with the portmanteau attached.
The small rucksack with the portmanteau attached.
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Arabic, 1762 (BnF Gallica, Paris).
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Elk leg sinews dried and ready for processing.
Elk leg sinews dried and ready for processing.
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Argh! A moment of distraction means the snap of a stone bit!
Argh! A moment of distraction means the snap of a stone bit!
Bodhrans.
Bodhrans.
moreleather6
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CoverWintercountV
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bowyertools
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A little walnut oil brings out the grain.
A little walnut oil brings out the grain.
Tools, clockwise from lower left: large awl, sewing awl, rivercane needle case, bone toothpick, sewing needles in center.
Tools, clockwise from lower left: large awl, sewing awl, rivercane needle case, bone toothpick, sewing needles in center.
Wnter Count 2010 - 36
Higher, more ergonomic table.
Higher, more ergonomic table.
The sacred connection.
The sacred connection.
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Paleotool at Rabbitstick, Rexburg, Idaho
Paleotool at Rabbitstick, Rexburg, Idaho
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DSC_0115 (1)
sandalcommis
The author with his antler-fork walking stick and his dog begging for a walk.
The author with his antler-fork walking stick and his dog begging for a walk.
Wnter Count 2010 - 34
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voila
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laptopcase1
Willow pack basket I made several years ago. The straps were obviously new then.
Willow pack basket I made several years ago. The straps were obviously new then.
ShoesHD
awlinhand
Flame maple neck, walnut rim.
Flame maple neck, walnut rim.
Hickory07
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Replicated woven sandals from the Southern High Plains and the greater Southwest. Produced from narrow-leaf yucca.
Replicated woven sandals from the Southern High Plains and the greater Southwest. Produced from narrow-leaf yucca.
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Or just click the image to get to the gallery.
Or just click the image to get to the gallery.
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leather3
Handmade Shoes
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My traveling bucksaw.
My traveling bucksaw.
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Dopp kit and some leather working tools I use to create items like this.
Dopp kit and some leather working tools I use to create items like this.
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ghillie
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And I added a leather thong.
And I added a leather thong.
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Taking a break.
Taking a break.
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Bark - 2
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Version 2 (11)
The bench's small size will allow it to pack easily into the truck, even holding items in the tills.
The bench’s small size will allow it to pack easily into the truck, even holding items in the tills.
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Bags_4
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The holdfasts in place, holding nothing in particular.
The holdfasts in place, holding nothing in particular.
Low-resolution selfie from a morning hike.
Low-resolution selfie from a morning hike.
My personal favorite (at the moment).
My personal favorite (at the moment).
Quiver
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Design was kept as short as possible for transport. The cross bolt where the arm hinges is a salvaged bolt from an old truck spare tire holder.
Design was kept as short as possible for transport. The cross bolt where the arm hinges is a salvaged bolt from an old truck spare tire holder.
candles01
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