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 ;-).