Author Archives: Laura

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About Laura

Laura is an Artist who lives in Guelph Ontario. She is interested in societal equality, beauty, architecture, philosophy, feminism, people watching, dogs, animal rescue, ecology, as well as the generational ties between people. Laura has always been interested in peace and because she loves animals she is vegan. https://www.instagram.com/atelieroflauraleemoreland/ https://www.facebook.com/AtelierofLauraLeeMoreland https://atelieroflauraleemoreland.com

Time Warp

Posted on April 6, 2013 by Laura

Over the winter one of the new cupboard doors warped just enough that the magnet can’t catch it.  I borrowed a clamp from my cousin Vernie and attached the clamp (below) before I left for Hamilton.  I am hoping that the door straightens out.  I have not put a finish on the cupboards yet, because they are not all built yet.  This is probably why it warped.  I am sure once they have some teak oil on them that they should remain warp free.  At least I hope so.  Clamped cupboard

I came back to Hamilton for two reasons.  The first being that we have tickets to see Leonard Cohen at the Copp’s Coliseum on the 9th.  Plus, I had to buy a car and Hamilton is a large city with a better selection of second hand vehicles.

I am 47 years old and this is my first car.  The reason I need a car is because I will be bringing my artwork to the Kingston Springer Market all summer and it won’t fit in Baby, my 2006 Honda Vino motorbike’s, trunk.  Certainly I can’t carry a table, chair and banner on her either.  The car is old.  Granted, not quite as old as me.  It is a 14 year old VW Golf; which in car years makes her practically a classic.  It has pretty low milage and it is in reasonable shape for its age.  Hopefully the car (whose name I do not know yet) is ready on the 9th as promised.  She is getting new brakes as well as a safety and air test done, then on the 10th I move to THO for the year.  The house is already opened for the year so all I have to do is unpack and check to see if the clamp worked.

Then the season of 2013 can begin for me in earnest.

LauraVW Golf

I decided on a Golf because they have a lot of storage in the hatchback and so the trunk will become my tiny house office and studio on wheels.

I hope she will be a good car.

Categories: Materialism, Ontario, Re-Use, Stuff, Tiny House Ontario | Tags: | 7 Comments

Shaman’s Yurt Workshop @ THO

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Laura

NOT RUNNING… INSUFFICIENT REGISTRATION

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Tiny House Ontario plans to run a Shaman’s yurt building workshop on May the 5th 2013.


The Shaman’s Yurt is a many skills learning experience where 10 to 14 people will learn to build their own Mongolian yurt from basic materials growing in the forest, sticks and rope. The interests of the group will be the topic of the single day course.

Folklorist Bear The Tinker will be your instructor and host guiding you through the building process of the Yurt’s sacred symbolism. Stories will be shared within the shamanic point of view on subjects of many interests including cryptozoology, the paranormal, parallel universe theory, and other intelligent life form from within and without of this reality.

Attendance at the course will also gain you access to visit the inside of Tiny House Ontario and a day in a natural forest just outside of Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

Cost is $100.  Payments to attend will be made via Paypal.  If you are interested please send an email to tinyhouseontario@yahoo.com.  I will email you a payment request within a day or two.  After payment is received I will send details.  (A full refund will be given should registration be too low)

Please check out Bear’s website for video to gain understanding about his teachings.

Categories: Bear the Tinker, Kingston, Off Grid, Ontario, Tiny House Ontario | Tags: , , | 8 Comments

Gypsy Caravan

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Laura
UPDATE:  (June 24, 2013) Bear has sold this caravan.  He is currently building another that can be towed behind a modern vehicle.  I plan on going down to give him a day when the rain slows – I imagine I will learn much.
If you are interested in a caravan, please contact Bear because he is considering taking orders.  Thanks!  Laura
The cook stove darkened from the light of the doorwayThere is a wonderful caravan for sale.
It is a five year old traditionally built utilitarian gypsy caravan. It is 6x 12 feet and built on an original 1905 McLaughlin undercarriage.  The McLaughlin undercarriage is significant, because this was designed specifically to carry glass milk bottles on rough roads.  The ride on this wagon is very smooth and comfortable when compared to other gypsy wagons.
This wagon has ample storage.  It is located under the double bed platform, under the double bench seats and also along the wall there is a shelved cupboard which is pictured below.
There is a hide away table which has a checker/chess board painted on.
The one small contemporary convenience is a small unobtrusive installation of a solar light.
A gypsy wagon is not built to be pulled behind a vehicle. It is designed to go horse speed.  In fact Maurice “Bear” Leger, the man who built this caravan, has lived and traveled thousands of kilometres in this manner. You can read and see more about him and his lifestyle here and here.
The front can be removed so that a team or yoke hook up can be put on the front.  (this means that if you wish to use two horses to pull it or if you want to pull it short distances with a contemporary vehicle you can do so.
If you wish to move it long distances, the wagon can be transported on a flatbed or behind a 1500 (or larger) pound horse.
The covering tarp on the wagon is military grade and therefore should last for tens of years, but like all gypsy wagons this is removable when it comes time for ordinary upkeep.
The wagon has a wood stove, but it is not insulated, rather it is built in the old way with pretty interior panels and a covering tarp.  When the winter comes to those who choose the traditional lifestyle, a field is located, 200 bales of hay are ordered and delivered and when they come they are stuffed under the wagon and piled around it.  Only the front and rear end are left open for the light.  The hay is fed one bale at a time to the horse and by spring… when the insulation and the feed are gone the wagon is pulled away.
This wagon was not used this winter as Bear has had to leave this lifestyle behind; however when we went back to see it on Easter morning it was dry as a bone inside.
The current location of the wagon is between Kingston and Gananoque, Ontario.
The asking price is $6,000  Canadian Dollars.
You can contact Bear here, or you can also leave your details in the comment section below and I will pass a message on to Bear.
You can also look at the listing here and from this link you will find a place to email Bear directly.
Categories: Bear the Tinker, Environmentalism, Off Grid, Simple living, Sustainable living | Tags: , , , | 8 Comments

Flying Easter Eggs!

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Laura

We did not have any rabbits who showed up on Easter Sunday morning.  There was not even a tiny egg hidden, but there were a lot of visiting woodpeckers.  My husband and I sat outside in the sun reading and watching the woodpeckers flying around.  There are a ton of tiny downy woodpeckers around THO.  They are so cute flitting up and down the trees looking for insects.  They are quiet too, so if you don’t keep your eyes open you miss them.  We also have at least one hairy woodpecker he is a lot noisier than his tiny cousin.  Both the flap of his wings and the hammering of his beak on the trees is loud.  They are quite similar in appearance. both are specked and showy with a little red on the back of their heads, but the the size difference between them  makes them easy to distinguish.

My sister has a pileated woodpecker who lives near their place.  Unfortunately, I have never caught a glimpse of it, though she says it is a frequent visitor.  They are very noisy birds!  I saw one only once before and hope that a least one will come to join me in the forest this year.

downy woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

On another quizzical note.  When we arrived on Friday there was a wild animal at THO.  I do not know what it was.  I did not see it too closely because it ran when we pulled the car in.  It was the size, colour and shape of a fisher, but it appeared to have softer fur similar to a cat.  It also had a bobbed tail with a spot of white on the end.  This is not an April fools thing if you are wondering.  I really would like to know what it was.  ANYONE?

Categories: Forest, Nature, Off Grid, Ontario, Open your eyes, Simple living, Tiny House Ontario, View | 6 Comments

The Poster is Ready!

Posted on March 28, 2013 by Laura

Poster Option 2

I am doing some prep work for my place at Springer Market Square in Kingston Ontario.  Here is my banner… (Don’t worry I know there are two typos.  This is what they sent to me via email to approve before printing and now the corrections are made).  The banner is about 5 feet high and 2 feet wide.  Almost the same size as me… but wafer thin and a little blockier…

Do you like the layout?

Categories: Kingston, Original Art work of Laura Moreland, Stuff | Tags: , | 5 Comments