Handmade House TV #25 "Perfectionism"

We most treasure the things in our lives that are handmade. On the other hand we take for granted those things that are manufactured to perfection. We will keep a crayon drawing by a child safely stored away for life, and yet a new car no longer thrills us a few weeks after the purchase. When building our homes let us focus on it being handmade... not sloppy or poorly made... but rather with a focus on handcraftsmanship. And don't worry about lack of experience... those beginning the trades have one advantage over the pros... the lack of the ability and compulsion to create extremely precise replicated work, as good as any machine can do. If you are interested in learning how to build a handmade house... be sure to visit handmadehouses.com/and get on our email list!

[@housesparrow284]

Adding to this example...I "hand sew"...which takes a lot longer; however, when identifying an antique "hand sewn" piece of cloth...one can see the unique differences in the size of stitches vs. a cloth sewn on a machine. One thing I hate is when a person calls a machine sewn piece..."hand made". Big Difference! The labor and wisdom it takes to make authentic hand made pieces are many fold but priceless. Thank you Noah!

[@ronaldpierantozzi4609]

I always say that perfectionism creates procrastination. Thanks for the series. I'm enjoying them.

[@yolandadobbs9302]

thanks Noah for your input about. perfection. For a long time I thought, I had to build a perfect home. but after listening to handmade tv. I have come to realize that my hand made log cabin home, doesn't have a perfect.

[@mxdmsgs]

I'm a perfectionist. This is something that has haunted me. I really needed this video. Thanks again!

[@HandmadeHouseswithNoahBradley]

Oh, I think a lot of us are! Count me in! It's tough to "leave it alone and move on"... I'm new to blogging and I find that I'll proof read some of my posts as many as 30 times each and still not be pleased with them. When it comes to carpentry I once had a very talented carpenter as part of my team... he would take twice as long as any other member of the crew to accomplish anything. His work, was always better... but only to a degree that the most thorough examination could detect. I myself can create perfect corner notches on a log cabin after so many years of doing it... so tight that a molecule couldn't squeeze it's way in... but when I do this, things look machine made... so I deliberately leave a log a bit out plumb and create each notch a little different in size and angle... the finished cabin then looks so much better... I never encourage sloppiness in anyone's work... but our ancestors knew when something was good enough... by working entirely with handtools and with so many other things to needing to be done, "handmade" was part of who they were... it's something we today need to examine their work in order to discover it's secret for ourselves.

[@Makestuff227]

Thank you once again sir, fantastic video!

[@Jvillejazz]

Hey Noah, Thanks for your video's! I have enjoyed them. A saying I have used with my kids through the years to help them with tuff times is your perfectly imperfect and I wouldn't want you any other way. Seems to apply here at Handmade House. Thanks again

[@HandmadeHouseswithNoahBradley]

Thank you!

[@ttfweb1]

You can't steer a parked car. You have to get rolling to see how things are going go and learn some skills. This summer, I'm shingling a beach house. Last summer, I did the shingles on the front of the garage to working things out. There are few things I'd do differently now, but I'd never know that unless I gave it a go. My father - a stone and brick mason who taught me the trade - would say this when things weren't perfect: call it rustic and charge them double.

[@HandmadeHouseswithNoahBradley]

lol... I like it! Your father and I would get along well. You'd be surprised at how many folks have requested that some of the flooring have a squeak to it. (I charge extra for squeaks)

[@cullendrea]

Thank you for this video Noah. It's such great advice. Those are true words of wisdom. I will learn to embrace the imperfections that come with anything handmade.

[@HandmadeHouseswithNoahBradley]

Thank you Tom. A nice log cabin, or stone wall is a showcase of wonderful imperfections.

[@NW_Ranger]

I understand that in Japan there is a tradition of pottery known as Raku. In this tradition imperfection is the goal. But not in a sloppy or haphazard way. As in lazy or careless . It is by intent.

[@HandmadeHouseswithNoahBradley]

Thank you for sharing!.... well said... much better than I managed to get out. There is a lot to be admired about the Japanese culture.

[@ShuffleSk8Ter]

Great video!

Lovely

[@cellardoor9360]

Fantastic, very impressed with the video / editing quality and I appreciate the information you are putting out there as well. :)

[@HandmadeHouseswithNoahBradley]

Well thank you! I've been building homes since dinosaurs once roamed the earth it seems... but getting in front of camera and figuring how to edit has only been my focus in the last year. I'm starting to get comfortable with it and I can see how it will improve in the coming months and years. (and ... I'm starting to enjoy it)

[@mmform]

thx a lot for this clip!!!!

[@HandmadeHouseswithNoahBradley]

You are welcome!

[@fredflintstone6163]

Thanks my cabins are all s little rough and rustic but charming and warm like their builder old and rustic 🏡

[@fredflintstone6163]

Building with rough irregular materials helps me get it beautiful but rustic just like the woods it sits in and never any paint or covering over rough wood surfaces they look like they were born there not like a manufactured materials project 🏡😉

[@Rick_Sanchez_C137_]

Perfect advice.

[@bobvansand6346]

Good words, thx, bob

[@shiretook]

Mr. Noah, is there a way for the community of us who have enrolled in the Log Cabin Academy to comment or ask questions for the different modules? For example, there are two "Module # Two." :) I am thoroughly enjoying these videos. Thank you for taking the time to produce a fine series!

[@HandmadeHouseswithNoahBradley]

Hmmmm.... I'll have to take a peek at that duplicate issue! thanks for pointing it out... and thank you for the kinds words about the Log Cabin Academy! The positive feedback I've gotten so far has been wonderful and greatly appreciated. Do not hesitate to send me any comments or follow up questions to... [e-mail]

[@tommstanley6021]

Love this one, though I have to admit ... I'm a perfectionist :D

[@HandmadeHouseswithNoahBradley]

Thank you... I tend to lean that way also... it's a real discipline for me to "let it go and move on"... and even more so to deliberately leave something out of square (and then later to have someone comment that my work looks sloppy) Sigh.

[@tommstanley6021]

Yup ... I know that one too. If I drop my standard, someone notices. If I don't, they complain that it's taking too long. I'll sigh along with you. Cheers

[@HandmadeHouseswithNoahBradley]

Well said!!! And SO true!

[@doctorwork]

Perfect is the enemy of good, as they say, and the belief that only perfect will do is the cause of many a gumption trap.

[@HandmadeHouseswithNoahBradley]

So true. Thanks for commenting !

[@randycrews3432]

I've added the perfect comment to your vidoe

[@gibrigg]

This video was pretty good, but it wasn't perfect...:)

[@HandmadeHouseswithNoahBradley]

lol... so true.

[@markcomstock5099]

Perfect advice.

[@HandmadeHouseswithNoahBradley]

Thank you!

[@markcomstock5099]

You're welcome sir, keep up the good work i enjoy your videos. I just started watching them yesterday

[@HandmadeHouseswithNoahBradley]

Thank you Mark!