Thanks @walkerland, it means a lot coming from you. I'm just starting my journey as builder and hope to one day manifest the weird, oozy and whimsical nature I tend to doodle and felt with. Sun Ray Kelly is a big inspiration. Have you seen his work?
Glad you've stayed outta the debt trap. Too many are in the muck of the debt cycle. "We also get to focus on the joys of living instead of living to work." - love this, well said!
Isn't it great to notice the unique features of once living things? the knots and rings are part of the material, and it ties you to the Earth.
That sounds like a great connection for wood. Live edge is so stately and beautiful. Getting to know your fair trade organic wood is a great experience! We are developeing some good connections here to and will start taking some logs we fell to a community mill i will learn to run.
That ulu sounds amazing. I've yearned for one for a while, and i can relate to what you're saying about appreciation building based on investment. I read a Thoreau quote yesterday- “The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.” I think this for sure applies to this tool, perhaps the original multi tool? Perhaps that something is a connection to human lineage where live a hand made life.
As for clay plaster, we are leanring and are quite new to it too. The results so far have been good. We've even plastered over drywall on the ceiling of our composting toilet. Even upside down it sticks well. Perhaps consider plastering over drywall as an intro.
Thanks for the thoughtful comment! <3