Back from the Edina Art Fair & Recouping

The Edina Art Fair is over and life is back to normal. We did fairly well, even with the 'less than desireable' weather. But that's the Edina Art Fair - always at least 1 day of horrible weather.

This was our third year at the Edina Art Fair. The first had torrential rain which our poor little tent could not handle - leaked like a sieve. The 2nd year had a major hail storm - a river of white slush rushing thru the streets. There were quite a lot of damage, quite a few tents bit the dust - but our new heavy-duty domed tent weathered the storm quite nicely; but it definitely put a damper on the show which closed early. This year wasn't anything quite so dramatic. Friday was quite nice; Saturday started out damp and just got progressively worse - with the show closing 2 hours early; and Sunday was dreary/drizzly all day. But the people were fantastic - as always.

I've updated the website - removing all of the sold items, but still have a few new items (that we had held off posting until after the show) to add. Now we have to get to work replenishing our inventory of unique wood gifts & home decor items (some catagories are kind of skimpy). So, please bear with us while we work on getting new items made to add to the website.

VanEss Expressions at the Edina Art Fair

We're going to take a few weeks off from posting here in order to get ready for the Edina Art Fair.

The Edina Art Fiar (at 50th & France) is Minnesota's 2nd largest art fair and a summertime tradition since 1966. An estimated 80,000 people visit the Edina Art Fair each year to enjoy a day of fun & entertainment and check out the variety of creative works offered by the 375 different art vendors. See original paintings, stonework, photography, engravings, watercolors, glasswork, jewelry - and our favorite, woodworking.

If you are in the Twin Cities area on June 5th, 6th and 7th (Friday - Sunday), come on down and check it out; and please, stop by Booth 422 (just west of the Edina Theater) and say 'Hi'.

Hand-Turned Wood Vases & Bowls

VanEss Expressions offers a variety of hand-turned solid wood vases and bowls. These are turned on one of our three lathes. A lathe is something similar to a potter wheel where the clay spins while the potter forms the vase/bowl shape with his/her hands. A lathe holds the wood horizonally (instead of vertically) in a chuck. It spins much faster than than a potters wheel, and various cutting tools are used to carve out the wood to the desired shape. And of course, instead of a pile of reusable clay remaining to redo or make changes; a turner is left with a pile of wood chips (which, obviously, you cannot re-apply).

We classify our turned wood items as either glued up lumber or solid stock. Glued up is board lumber which has been kiln dried (as you would find in a lumber yard). We purchase our wood 'rough cut' to give us as much usable material as possible, then plane and sand ourselves. When we glue up different boards, we either match up the coloring and grain so that the seams are nearly invisible, or set the wood perpendicular to each other to create a unique visual effect. When we designate a piece as multi-wood, it is also glued up board lumber - but it is combining different types of wood. Depending on the way the boards are glued up and the shape of the piece, we can acheive very unique natural color patterns.

Unique Handcrafted Large Multi-Wood Bowl

Solid stock is a solid chunk of wood such as a branch/trunk of a tree. We get our solid stock from local healthy trees that have come down during storms in the fall or winter. We do not use branches that come down in the spring or summer because they are prone to desease and fungus. Even though most wood-turners like to turn 'green' wood (wood with a high moisture content) because it is much easier to turn, we prefer to thoroughly dry the wood prior to turning to reduce the chance of cracking later as it drys. This is a very slow process taking from 6 months to a year and a half depending on the size of the piece and type of the wood. Solid stock wood is also full of surprises, and while we try to create a piece to highlight these unique 'characteristics', there are many pieces that ultimately end up unusable.

Unusual Handmade Solid Stock Wood Urn

Well, that gives you a brief idea of what wood-turning is. I will go into more specifics in future posts. Please Click Here to see some examples of th different wood vases and bowls we have made in the past, and our website to see the wood bowls and vases currently available.

Boxes ~ Decorative Handcrafted Wooden Boxes

We make wood boxes in a variety of sizes and for a variety of purposes. Jewelry boxes are usually segmented and are lined. Book boxes are typically custom orders for the size of the book and have a ribbon lift. Keepsake and Memory boxes can come in any size depending on what is to be stored. Tea boxes are also segmented to sort the different types of tea bags. Recipe boxes are made either to house 3x5 or 4x6 recipe cards. Cremation or Burial boxes are always custom orders to the size of the cremation ash container.

Our wooden boxes come in all of our standard woods - Oak, Walnut, Ash, Hickory, Maple and Cherry; and can be custom ordered from other woods. Our wood boxes have either a lift-off or hinged lid. Our multi-wood boxes are extrememly popular expecially with the box-joint corners.

Box-joint corners - using contrasting wood, the result is quite dramatic; using same or similar, the result is subtle but still visible.

All of our boxes have box-joint corners, although we can custom make with standard mitered corners. Box-joint corners are similar to dove-tail corners - considerably stronger than a miter joint, and with a unique decorative appearance. Box-joint is where each side is cut with 'fingers' that interlock with the adjoining sides.

On the inside of the box, the sides are always perpendicular to the bottom, but on the exterior the sides can be angled to give each box a unique decorative appearance.

Please check out our Wood Box Gallery for examples of the different wooden boxes we have made in the past.

Clocks - Desk Clocks, Mantel Clocks & Wall Clocks

Desk and mantel clocks were some of the first items we offered on our website - clocks similar to those we had made and given as gifts to family. Over the years, VanEss Expressions has made a variety of unique desk, mantel & wall clocks; but by far - our most popular design is what we call the 'pendulum'. This is a 2 piece design where a separate bob shaped clock housing hangs from 2 graceful arches. We try to keep a couple desk clock versions available on the website, though have custom made scaled up versions as more of a mantel clock. We have made these out of all of our standard woods, and combinations of different types of wood. An east-coast university orders these as awards for their Fellows. Their's are made of Walnut with Maple accents and a gold clock insert and have additional space to accept a plaque which they apply.

Our 2-Piece 'Pendulum' Desk Clock - Hickory w Walnut

We tipically use clock inserts in our desk and mantel clocks. Inserts are self contained, battery operated units which are inserted into our wood designs. We also use what are called clock movements - which power separate hands. Since these movements need to be accessable to change the batteries - they are tipically used in wall clocks where the movement would not be visiable. These clock movements are also used when someone wants a pendulum (a traditional pendulum) clock. We have used one clock insert which has a pendulum - very different. And we have made a couple very large mantel clocks and one grandfather clock which were key-wound.

Custom Walnut & Maple Mantel Clock w Pendulum Insert

We make a variety of original wall clock designs. As with our desk & mantel clocks, we like to combine different types of wood for unique, natural color variations. We also receive many request for custom wall clocks. A local government organization orders several variations of a Minnesota shaped wall clock. They also use them as awards and apply a plaque. And right now we are working on an Indiana shaped Walnut wall clock which will have a plaque applied and given as a retirement gift. All wall clocks are hung from a 'key-hole' routered into the back of the clock. This is a much more secure and flexible system than add-on mechanical hangers.

Oak (stained & natural) Minnesota Shaped Wall Clocks

Obviously we are woodworkers, not "clockmakers", but have found there are many people out there that would like a desk, mantel or wall clock, for themselves or as a gift - but something unique - not what you would find at your local department store. If you are looking for an unusual yet functional gift that will be appreciated for many years - please visit our On-Line Store, or Contact us with your ideas.


One quickie Update. We have received our booth location at the Edina Art Fair - Booth 422, on 50th just west of the theater. The Edina Art Fair runs Friday - Sunday, June 5th, 6th & 7th. If you are in the neighborhood - please stop by.

Wood / Wooden Gifts & Home Decor

VanEss Expressions is all about Wood. Solid wood – no laminates, plywood, wood products, or wood veneers. The majority of our wood/wooden gifts and home decor items are made from domestic hardwoods like Oak, Walnut, Ash, Maple, Cherry and Hickory; or a combination of different types of wood (multi-wood). We also use some more exotic woods, typically as accents.

We also like wood natural (without stain or wood dyes), though we do have a variety of wood stains and dyes available for custom orders. Each type of wood has its own unique characteristics and natural coloration. By combining different types of wood you can achieve wonderful natural color patterns. Combining contrasting woods like Walnut and Ash, these patterns can be quite dramatic. Combining more similar types of wood like Oak and Maple these color patterns are more subtle.

The individual descriptions shown for the gifts and decor items listed in our On-Line Store identify the specific type of wood(s) used to create the piece. When we say an item is ‘Hickory’, it is made of solid Hickory. When we say an item is made of ‘Ash with a cherry stain’, the item is made of solid Ash and a cherry stain was applied. This may seem obvious, but it is amazing how often this is misrepresented.

Some websites just refer to their items as wood or wooden – but never specify what kind of wood. Some of these ‘woods’ are actually more of a thick cardboard, pressed or scrap-wood product with a laminate applied. They look good now, but over time (and sometimes relatively quickly) the laminate begins to wear through, bubble or peel. Some websites identify an item as (example) ‘Rosewood’, but then in the write-up you see that it is only a rosewood finish – a rosewood stain applied to ??? I’ve seen several websites referring to Blond Wood – referencing it more as the type of wood rather than just the lighter color. I have yet to figure out what blond wood is.

When you are looking for wood / wooden gifts, home decor or furniture items – make sure they are really made of wood, and the wood that it is represented to be, or you might find yourself quite disappointed a couple years down the road.

Handcrafted – Handmade Wood Gifts

We use the terms ‘handcrafted’ and ‘handmade’ in regards to the wood gifts and home decor items we make, but these terms can mean different things to different people.

We continually receive ‘offers’ from others (typically from other countries) to ‘handcraft’ our wood items for us. They insist that their 'handmade' items will be the same quality as our ‘handmade’ items. They say they can replicate our original designs and apply our name /logo – so one would be able to tell the difference between items handcrafted by them and those handcrafted by us. That no one would need to know . . . handcrafted by who? handmade where? And, of course, that they can produce much 'larger quantities' and for much 'less cost'. I've gone to their websites and seen pictures of their 'factories' - large rooms with 30-50 or more people standing at long rows of tables. Handmade? You look at the items shown on their website - the word 'cookie-cutter' comes to mind. Handcrafted? Obviously, we respectfully decline their offers.

On the other side of the spectrum - we received an inquiry from a person asking if we use power tools (using electricity) to create our 'handmade' / 'handcrafted' wood items - and the answer is yes. Some of the power tools we use to cut, shape and finish our wood items include: radial saw, lathes, drill presses, band saws, jointer, routers, and various sanding equipment. But we do not use any duplicating or replicating equipment or have any computerized or automated equipment. At any point in time, we may have several different items in the works – but we do not ‘mass produce’, have an assembly-line process or assemble pre-made components.

Obviously, the more individual the item and the less technical the equipment used to make the item - the more expensive the item will be, but the end result will be something unique, something that no else has just like it, something truely 'handcrafted', truly 'handmade' by someone who cares.

One indicator of 'handmade' and 'handcrafted' is the number of a particular item that is available. Also, if you see the same photo used over and over - in different colors. With today's technology you can never be sure exactly what you are looking at. And on the www you really can't tell where a company is located - handcrafted where? Or who is actually making the pieces - handmade by who? If you are looking for truly 'handcrafted' - 'handmade' gift or home decor items thru the internet - do a little research, not only as to what you are purchasing, but who you are purchasing it from.

All of the wood gifts & home decor items sold by VanEss Expressions are individually & personally ‘handcrafted’ / ‘handmade’ by VanEss Expressions in our Minnesota workshop. From the original design, to the selection of the wood, to the cutting and shaping of the piece, to the last coat of varnish – it is all done by the two of us that make up VanEss Expressions.

100% Handcrafted by VanEss Expression.
100% Handmade in the USA.

Our 1st Post - a little background

Hi - Welcome to VanEss Expressions' Blog - a way for me to keep our website visitors and friends updated on what is going on with VanEss Expressions.

For those who do not know us, we are a small woodworking company in Minneapolis Minnesota - as the description and our profile indicates - and sell those items thru our On-Line Store.

We have been making our wood gifts and home decor items for many years, and finally joined the www in July 2003. We have slowly become established, then in November 2008 we crashed - badly. I had to totally redo the whole site, and am still trying to get all of our current wood items added to the 'Store'. This is taking a lot longer than I had thought - as I am not the least bit techie. As Dr McCoy (for those of you old enough) would say - I am a woodworker, not a webmaster. So, working on getting the rest of our current wood gifts/home decor added to the 'Store'.

Since the 'big crash' happened right in the middle of our 'Nut Bowl Season' (we sell a lot of our handcrafted holiday nut bowls during the Christmas season) - most all of our time was spent trying to keep up with the nut bowl orders, and didn't leave much time to work on anything else. Thus our inventory of our other wood items (clocks, vases, bowls & boxes) has really dwindled. So, working on trying to get some new wood gifts/home decor made to replenish our inventory.

In February I applied to the Edina Art Fair. It is the 2nd largest art show in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis) area and is the only Art/Craft show we attend. It is a strictly juried show, and am pleased that we were accepted. I am still waiting to see where we will be located, and will update here with our Booth number/location for our local customers who would like to stop by. So, working on creating some unique & unusual wood items to bring to the show.

We have several custom orders in the works. We do take custom orders, but it's just the two of us - so we can't take on too much at a time. We just finished up a large book box to house an 1875 world atlas that is to be given as a wedding gift. We are also working on a wall clock in the shape of the state of Indiana for a retirement gift. We already make wall clocks in the shape of the state of Minnesota - for a local government agency, but have never made an Indiana clock. We are also making a very unusual shaped table for a local customer. We do make some wood furniture and larger home furnishings - but only for local customers. And we do bring some of these larger items to the Edina Art Show - but no longer offer them on our website.

And, as with everyone else, there are a lot of personal things going on - but I don't do personal.

Well, that pretty much brings us up-to-date. Subsequent updates will hopefully not be so wordy. But I will try to give a little more insite into the different wood gifts and home decor items we make.

Please visit our website, VanEss Expressions and feel free to tell me what you think (and, of course, if you want to buy something - that would be good, too ;-).