The Cottage Project™

Making Your Way Extraordinary

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Building confidence, careers, and small homes — one skill at a time.

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WHAT IS THE COTTAGE PROJECT?

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The Cottage Project (TCP) helps people design, build, and live confidently in small, beautiful, energy-efficient spaces — and in the lives they choose to create.

By blending art, design, digital fabrication, and time-tested construction skills, TCP prepares participants for meaningful work across the creative economy, including:

• design

• digital fabrication

• prototyping

• hands-on making

• small-scale construction

• creative problem-solving

 

We’re not just teaching people how to build cottages; we’re helping them design lives where creativity, capability, and innovation can thrive.

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We believe learning to build a home helps people learn to build their lives.

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The pilot program launches in Summer 2026.

During 2024 and into 2026, we are building partnerships, prototyping curriculum, and shaping a model that turns creativity into capability — and capability into possibility.

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WHY IT MATTERS FOR THE CREATIVE ECONOMY

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Skill & Confidence Building for Modern Makers

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Participants learn design, digital and traditional fabrication techniques often using reclaimed materials; sustainable building methods, and foundations of the trades, while discovering their unique creative strengths and talents.

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Whole-Person Growth That Fuels Lifelong Capability

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Beyond technical skills, TCP supports communication, collaboration, problem-solving, healthy living, and the confidence to maintain one’s own space and future.

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Pathways to Employment & Entrepreneurship

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Participants gain versatile skills relevant to fabrication, design, trades, creative careers, cottage construction, small-scale manufacturing, and purpose-driven livelihoods.

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Creative Problem-Solving for Real-World Needs

TCP sits at the intersection of housing, sustainability, and workforce demands — helping people move from idea, to action, to real-world impact.

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Where Art + Trades Come Together

We help grow the region’s talent pipeline by connecting creativity, craftsmanship, and modern tools.

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Fostering Everyday Innovators

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TCP develops the creative confidence, systems thinking, and hands-on problem-solving that fuel innovation. By working across disciplines and adapting to real constraints, participants learn to imagine possibilities — and build them. This mindset is the foundation of innovation in any field.

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OUR INSPIRATION

TCP is inspired by the belief that safe, beautiful homes transform lives.

When Walter’s daughter, Celina, began building her own cottage at age 15, it showed what becomes possible when young people have tools, mentorship, and encouragement. Celina, now 30, is a steam-fitter/welding foreman for one of the largest commercial construction firms in the Seattle area.

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Watch 17-year old Celina’s WOW Talk: “Designing Your Life” (8 minutes)
 

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WHAT WE’RE BUILDING (2024–2026 ROADMAP)

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2024 into 2026

• Building partnerships

• Prototyping curriculum in design, digital fabrication, construction, and trades foundations

• Developing soft skills: communication, collaboration, creative problem-solving, self-management, healthy living

• Building instructional trainers for electrical, plumbing, and HVAC (mini-splits)

• Creating the full curriculum: technical, artistic, trades, and life-skills

• Community outreach and early teaching models

• Preparing pilot structure

 

2026 Summer

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Pilot Launch: Build Your Cottage, Build Your Future

Participants build small cottages and furnishings while developing essential design, fabrication, and construction skills. Workforce and entrepreneurial pathways follow.

 

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

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We’re currently seeking:

• University & school partners

• Creative-economy collaborators

• Designers, makers, and skilled-trades mentors

• Nonprofit & workforce development partners

• Early supporters and advisors

• Initial participants (curating process to be announced)

 

Let’s Connect → Monica & Walter

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FOUNDERS

Walter Dill

Designer, artist, woodworker, social dance instructor, and visionary; 35+ years teaching creative skill-building, and design thinking.

 

Monica Uhl

Designer, educator, social impact leader, and dancer blending creativity, business strategy, arts, and community development.

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Together, Walter and Monica blend design, craftsmanship, creativity, and community leadership. A prime example of their dedication to co-creation is Talulah, their customized 1956 Airfloat travel trailer.

 

THE COTTAGE PROJECT + DILLUHLSIONAL

DillUhlsional is our creative studio focused on art, design, fabrication, and handcrafted work.

The Cottage Project™ is our nonprofit initiative helping people gain the skills, confidence, and direction to make their way extraordinary through hands-on building, creative capability, and pathways to fulfilling livelihoods.

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Together, they create an ecosystem that blends creativity, craftsmanship, and community impact..

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CONTACT 

Email:
monica@dilluhlsional.com and walter@dilluhlsional.com

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