Our Story
Vic Tesolin Woodworks was founded by Vic Tesolin and started as a side-hustle. With time, persistence, and a team effort, ideas for VTW turned into reality. Both Vic and Andrea have a passion for education and for making woodworking a more inclusive, accessible, and enjoyable space! We are here to help you on your woodworking journey. We encourage you to work with your hands, be creative, and give woodworking a try!
1. Before woodworking, Vic served 14 years in the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery.
2. After his honourable discharge, he studied at Rosewood Studio in Perth, Ontario, Canada. Vic went on to become a part-time instruction at Rosewood while designing and crafting furniture by commission on the side.
3. Vic makes his debut as a "model" for Canadian Woodworking Magazine.
4. He put his passion for woodworking and teaching into print. Vic started writing articles for Canadian Woodworking Magazine.
5. He continued his career as Editor at Canadian Woodworking & Home Improvement Magazine. Vic also continued to build fine furniture on the side. Over the years he has written several articles for CWW Magazine and even landed a few covers, like this one he shares with his daughter! His side hustle starts to grow and he begins thinking about writing a book...
6. Following his time at the magazine, Vic began a position as Woodworking Technical Advisor at Lee Valley Tools. He helped to develop Veritas tools, facilitated staff training, taught seminars at LV stores across Canada, and developed woodworking content.
7. Bench building seminar in Ottawa.
8. Cigar box guitar seminar in downtown Toronto.
9. Seminars at the Toronto Wood Show.
10. The first book is here! Over the years Vic heard a lot of people say they couldn't woodwork unless they had a big shop and lots of machines. Vic knew this wasn't true and wanted to help people see that you can work wood in minimal space, with minimal tools, noise, and mess.
11. While with Lee Valley, Vic started travelling to teach and present at woodworking events and conferences. He taught student classes, and also provided training to Vertias dealers around the globe. He's had the opportunity to visit Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Germany, France, China, South Korea, the UK, and the USA.
12. August 2019 - Wood Dust Designer & Maker Event, Australia.
13. When they first met, Vic and Andrea had their separate careers. In 2020, they took some time to reflect and re-prioritize when everything changed due to the pandemic. Vic and Andrea began working together to take VTW online with webinars, private instruction, and more! With this new partnership, the side hustle becomes more and more full time.
14. Lights, camera, action! Online group classes begin from Vic's basement shop in Stoney Creek, Ontario.
15. As things pick up with VTW, Vic's chapter with Lee Valley & Veritas comes to an end as he pursues his side hustle full-time.
16. May 2020 - Time for a new space and set-up. Vic and Andrea end up back in her hometown of Burlington, Ontario, Canada. A new house. A new shop. A new chapter of VTW. No more side hustle... it's the full time hustle now!
17. A new employee joins the VTW family! Bruno the Shop Dog and Supervisor is full of energy, lots of fun, and loves to eat and sawdust and shavings that fall on the shop floor.
18. This first "non-basement, non-garage, separate building, with windows" shop!
19. New shop and online class set-up! Better gear, better cameras, better overall experience!
20. Then there were two! Projects from the Minimalist Woodworker expands on the skills and techniques covered in the first book.
21. Throughout COVID-19 we focused on online education and finding ways to keep the woodworking community connected. Vic continued with blogs, magazine articles, local TV spots, and more!
22. With masking and distancing, we were able to do some in-person teaching again as we all navigated the pandemic. We took a trip to KJP in Ottawa for some workshops.
23. We enjoyed some local TV time with CHCH Morning Live!
24. Had the opportunity to teach at the Wood Shed in Smithsville, Ontario.
25. Eventually got back to some in-person lessons in the shop with safety measures in place.
26. By September 2022, in-person classes were happening again and we had the opportunity to spend a few days in Perth, Ontario where Vic did some teaching at Rosewood Studio.
27. Vic gets a new gig! Officially a Co-Host of Shop Talk Live, the Fine Woodworking Magazine Podcast!
28. June 2022 - VTW is moving again. We learned a lot through the pandemic, and a lot changed for us. While we loved the Burlington shop and neighbourhood, we realized it wasn't the right fit for us. On to a new chapter in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.
29. The new shop is set-up and we are back to online and in-person private instruction and mentorship.
30. Mentorship! VTW adds a new way of learning with Vic
31. Vic - the professional shop mover! Well, it's happening again, much sooner than we ever thought or planned... but it's a good thing! We are doing a VTW full circle and heading back to Stoney Creek, Ontario.
32. May 2023 - Third time's a charm! VTW is home sweet home in Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada!
May 2023 - Vic went back to Melbourne, Australia for Wood Dust 23. He had a fantastic time teaching a Masterclass on Furniture Design.
33. July/August 2023 - Vic is honoured to be announced as one of Fine Woodworking Magazine's 2023-2024 Brand Ambassadors!
34. August 2023 - Vic and Andrea get married! The VTW team officially becomes a husband and wife team.
35. Partnership Announcement! VTW teams up with Melbourne Tool Company to help bring a new brand of hand tools to North America!