Whether it&#39;s on his breakthrough album, Armchair Apocrypha, or his latest release, Hands of Glory, it&#39;s pretty clear that indie star Andrew Bird is a stickler for music that is simple and well-crafted. It shouldn&#39;t come as a surprise, then, that he prefers the same qualities in his day-to-day life. &quot;I like really well-made, utilitarian stuff,&quot; he says. &quot;I remember reading the novel Shane [by Jack Schaefer] when I was in junior high. I was fascinated by how they went to the general store to get their workwear. It was made-to-order, but utilitarian at the same time.&quot; Since then, Bird has rarely strayed from that philosophy: From his made-to-order violin to custom shirts made by his wife to his hand-built barn, Bird&#39;s essentials hearken back to a day when craftsmanship was king.