About Us
Then to Now
Mission Statement
Then to Now
Originally Elegant Wood Turnings was named Woodnymphs, but do to my ignorance (or maybe arrogance) I found the name to be unsettling to some of the people I was trying to serve. (Woodnymphs actually has two common meanings. Woodnymphs as it is written actually correlates to mythical times meaning Goddess of the Woods. Since I had no desir
Originally Elegant Wood Turnings was named Woodnymphs, but do to my ignorance (or maybe arrogance) I found the name to be unsettling to some of the people I was trying to serve. (Woodnymphs actually has two common meanings. Woodnymphs as it is written actually correlates to mythical times meaning Goddess of the Woods. Since I had no desire for a sex change, that wasn't going to work. The other term, spelled Wood Nymphs, is actually a little biting insect. That's not me either, so change was needed.)
Anyway, I started my business in May of 1991, in a little old steel building that only gave me a work area of about 10 feet square (very small). In 2000 I moved to another building that was about 350 sguare feet. Then in November of 2008, we took the plunge to pack up and move to Eagle Grove, Iowa where my shop is now roughly 576 square feet. It's still small, has no heat, but it is workable. (So far.)
The Wood
Mission Statement
Then to Now
Almost all of the wood I sell and use is Recovered (or Reclaimed as I call it) from tree surgeons, tree trimmers, and tree farms or plantations. In the case of the Exotic woods, they may be from hurricanes, or other natural destruction, or just clean up from past logging practices. In other words, no tree or wood is taken without consider
Almost all of the wood I sell and use is Recovered (or Reclaimed as I call it) from tree surgeons, tree trimmers, and tree farms or plantations. In the case of the Exotic woods, they may be from hurricanes, or other natural destruction, or just clean up from past logging practices. In other words, no tree or wood is taken without consideration of environmental impact.
The domestic woods are from trees or log sections I get from local communities, would normally go to local landfills. Instead they bring them to me. After careful inspection of each piece, I study each section to determine the best cuts to yield the best appearance, and color that will still produce a nice solid piece to work. After this initial trimming, I seal the ends to avoid checking (cracking) as much as possible.
They are then air dried. Then they are re-cut as necessary and sometimes planed so the grain and color are more obvious.
All the exotic woods, I offer are from tree farms, plantations or managed areas. At these type of sources they are mostly removing damaged trees due to natural disasters or for the health of the remaining trees. In addition they replant as much, and sometimes more than they take so as to avoid depleting any species or reducing any forested region. So, if you are looking for quality wood and wood products. ( And apparently, if you've read this far, you are.) Shouldn't you buy from an ecologically friendly wood seller?
Mission Statement
Mission Statement
Mission Statement
I have made it my mission to give you the absolutely greatest value, highest quality, and most unique handmade wood products possible. If I wouldn't own it, I absolutely won't sell it to you. I ask that you follow my instructions if a product doesn't meet your standards, and I do appreciate any feedback you send me as my Quality Standards
I have made it my mission to give you the absolutely greatest value, highest quality, and most unique handmade wood products possible. If I wouldn't own it, I absolutely won't sell it to you. I ask that you follow my instructions if a product doesn't meet your standards, and I do appreciate any feedback you send me as my Quality Standards are second to none, and your feedback helps me to maintain my standards.