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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.
  • The Caravan in Art
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  • Demystifying the Svea 123
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Tag: Marcus Aurelius

Escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane…

Monday, December 31, 2018 ~ George Crawford ~ 2 Comments

This thought feels more pertinent than ever right now.    Instead of just finding faults in others,  I think it wise to examine who else stands on the side you are on.  Are these the people you want to be?

The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.  ~Marcus Aurelius

Wise Words

Thursday, April 7, 2016 ~ George Crawford ~ Leave a comment

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When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive – to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love. ~Marcus Aurelius

Wise Words

Tuesday, January 20, 2015Tuesday, January 20, 2015 ~ George Crawford ~ 1 Comment
carpenterPompeii
Roman Carpenter, 1st century C.E.

From my governor … I learned endurance of labour, and to want little, and to work with my own hands, and not to meddle with other people’s affairs, and not to be ready to listen to slander.

Marcus Aurelius: The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, A.D 167

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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

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Arabic, 1762 (BnF Gallica, Paris).
Argh! A moment of distraction means the snap of a stone bit!
Argh! A moment of distraction means the snap of a stone bit!
Hickory07
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The holdfasts in place, holding nothing in particular.
The holdfasts in place, holding nothing in particular.
lid80
A little walnut oil brings out the grain.
A little walnut oil brings out the grain.
Higher, more ergonomic table.
Higher, more ergonomic table.
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Bags_4
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Version 2 (11)
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moreleather7
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The small rucksack with the portmanteau attached.
The small rucksack with the portmanteau attached.
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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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ghillie
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moreleather6
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Handmade Shoes
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Hickory02
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Elk leg sinews dried and ready for processing.
Elk leg sinews dried and ready for processing.
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Bodhrans.
Bodhrans.
Paleotool at Rabbitstick, Rexburg, Idaho
Paleotool at Rabbitstick, Rexburg, Idaho
Wnter Count 2010 - 36
candles01
Bodhrans.
Bodhrans.
Bark - 2
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Low-resolution selfie from a morning hike.
Low-resolution selfie from a morning hike.
Mountain dulcimer.
Mountain dulcimer.
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awlinhand
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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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Quiver
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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.
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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.
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Wnter Count 2010 - 34
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sandalcommis
leather1
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bodger09
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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bowyertools
My personal favorite (at the moment).
My personal favorite (at the moment).
Flame maple neck, walnut rim.
Flame maple neck, walnut rim.
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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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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.
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voila
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My traveling bucksaw.
My traveling bucksaw.
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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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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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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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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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.
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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.
ShoesHD
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The sacred connection.
The sacred connection.
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horses01
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