32 million copies!

This Sunday Jay Shafer is on the cover of Parade Magazine.

This could be the biggest exposure for Tumbleweed … ever! I’m frantically trying to optimize our website. Is it too late to upgrade our server? Probably. I wish I found out sooner.

Flooring

Buying Flooring was super easy. There’s a local company that sells excellent hardwood, and they have a discount center in Tillsonburg where they offer small amounts super cheaply. My friend who lives in Tilsonburg has offered to pick it up and delivery it to the school. Breezewood forest products http://www.woodfloorsdirect.ca/

I was able to get 213 square feet of hemlock, and another 60 of locust. The hemlock is like pine. Farmers sometimes use it for their barn floors. It will be perfect for the downstairs. Locust is very hard, and I’ll use it in the loft. No one will be able to walk around up there, and the mattress will cover most of the floor, so it is a waste to have such a hard wood, but it will be lovely. The wood only cost $1.00 a square foot. I’ll have to stain the wood, but that shouldn’t be a big problem.

Buying Windows

Buying windows

Well, it’s not easy.  There are a bazillion companies each touting their own product.  I ended up using Golden Windows because I’m familiar with the product.  I’ve got a room full of those windows at home and they’re lovely.  I choose to go with casements, and because I’m cheap, I went with the vinyl clad inside and out. I know the wood interior trim would look spectacular, but I can’t justify the cost and since I’m thinking of painting the interior rather than leaving it knotty pine, I’m pretty sure the white trim will look okay. http://www.goldenwindows.com/  Harold, the salesguy, was wonderful. He was easy to talk to and he guided me through the process.  Some of the fencl windows are a bit smaller than standard windows, so going custom is necessary.   For the front bay window, companies don’t seem to carry the 15 “ windows, (even custom). I opted to go with a double casement instead.  This is the side that will face the lake and that’s where th

e prevailing winds come from so it’s really important that these windows open.  It might not look quite as cute as the windows in Jay’s fencl, but I’m confident they’ll look good.

 I was happy to buy local, and unlike the big box stores, they’ll deliver in 10 days.  Bonus.

Tumbleweed Open House in Olympia

Visit Dee Williams’ Tumbleweed House in Olympia, Washington. Her Tumbleweed House was one of the first built, and Dee used many recycled materials. When all was said and done, her green building was constructed for less than $10,000. Dee is taking part in SOUTHsound Green Tour 2010.

When?
Saturday and Sunday, April 17 and 18, 2010. 10 am – 4 pm.

Where?
415 Olympia Ave NE, Olympia, WA

(map it)

Please be prepared to take off your shoes when entering Dee’s house.