VanEss Expressions is a very small Minnesota 'Ma & Pa' woodworking business. Everything we sell is 100% handmade, by us, in our Minneapolis Minnesota workshop. From the purchase of the materials, to the handcrafting of each piece, to the posting on the website, to shipping out to the customer - we do it all. We feel this gives us the best control over the quality of the product and our service.
We do not import any products or materials or sell products made by anyone else; and this website is the only place, besides local Art Fairs, that you can purchase our items. And this is the way we like it. If you are a company looking for someone to sell your products - we're not interested. If you are a company that wishes to sell our items - we're not interested. If you are a company that is wishing to 'assist' or take over any aspect of our business - we're not interested. . . BUT, if you are a 'person' interested in unique, original, handcrafted wood gifts or home decor items - please read on.
'VanEss Expressions' started as a hobby - creating personal gifts for friends and family. We had a tiny shop in the corner of the basement and a small stack of Oak. I'd sketch out an idea, then before we had the piece finished, someone visiting would ask if we would make one for them.
Then other people would see and inquire about the items - where they came from - and if we would consider selling them. It seemed that people liked the unique designs, quality workmanship and attention to detail. They also liked the fact that each piece was individually handcrafted, and that no one else had one exactly like it. Over time, a little referral business got started - reproducing (to some degree) what we had made for someone else.
And then came the "could you make . . ." - asking for variations of the pieces they had seen, or even totally different items. Either they would send their design ideas, or would tell of us their particular situation and ask for us to design something for them. Custom orders became quite customary.
In order to stay ahead of the requests, we began trying to anticipate what people would like and created a small inventory of the more popular designs (though each piece being unique - one-of-a-kind). As word spread and there were more people interested in our pieces, we decided to venture out into the world-wide-web.
On July 16th, 2003 our website went on-line. Since then, the website has had many revisions, we have expanded our designs, products and inventory, and we have customers across the country - - - but our core philosophy has not changed - to create original, handmade, solid wood, quality items - one 'unique' piece at a time. (And it's still just me and Pa.)
So began VanEss Expressions - a Minnesota 'Ma & Pa' woodworking business; handcrafting original & custom wood gifts and home decor items - from our Minneapolis workshop.
For more information regarding VanEss Expressions, please see the links below. Click 'Continue' to go to our 'On-Line Store' Home Page.
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