a NEW TessaClogs.com and a new world - wow

screen shot from tessaclogs.com

We opened up our new TessaClogs.com to the public on Thursday, April 2.  We still have a lot of work to do on it but realized it truly is so much better then our old site that we decided to cut the ribbons and open the doors.  Best comparison is like building a house and you need to get moved in and will get it all fixed up over time.  

We want to thank everybody for showing us your love!  We are all in this together.  Big Virtual Hugs to everybody.

The Manning family wishing everybody happiness and health.  

Also - Svea wanted to say hi and remind us to keep washing those paws.

Chris, Tessa, Axelina, Amalia, Aiden & Svea

end of January 2020 - still not used to typing writing 2020

2020

How long does it take to get used to the new year?  Rambling here but still - 2020?  I was just getting used to 2019,  2020 just seems wrong and I'm feeling a bit mature as I type this new year.  Our first and oldest daughter will be 21 this 2020 - what...…., where did that time go.  I still remember carrying her in my arms like a person may carry a football.  This was our first so just couldn't believe that a new born baby can be so small.  Now, it only makes sense right - a 7 pound little precious, well for daughters 2 and 3, I had a little more experience.

working on Southwest Women's Oncology custom clogs

You all know, we make our Tessa Clogs right here in Minturn, Colorado.  Here is a shout out to Southwest Women's Oncology, Dr. Karen Finkelstein, Gabriela Gonzalez and entire staff.  You folks are the best!!  We made 24 pair of custom clogs for these fabulous professionals.

Southwest Women's Oncology

OK - we have had our same web site for a LONG time.  It is well - old and tired (maybe looking and feeling like myself on a day or two).  I wish that it was a classic and timeless site but that is not the case.  If you are actually reading this blog - "good on ya" - besides the web site changing, our prices will be changing also.  So - get your Tessa Clogs soon and save some dough.

working copy of NEW tessaclogs.com

Speaking of dough - I've been trying to be the baker here in the mountains of Colorado.  I'm loving it but that does not mean my bread is turning out.  My objective has been to make the perfect sour dough loaf - hard crust with a chewy interior.  I have had many² failures.  I promise you, when I get that perfect loaf, I will be taking a photo and sharing.  This whole process is definitely harder than say making chocolate milk or mac & cheese from a box.  I know my main issue - we have a cold house.  Today is trial number, well, many² so today I've been using a heated cooler to try and keep a warm environment.  We will see it that works and I'll let you know.  Any tips appreciated.

addendum:  02/05/20 - sourdough is looking good - family says it tastes good also

Besides getting used to 2020, making a new web site and baking bread - Tessa has been teaching me to make clogs.  I am still the super novice apprentice but hoping that within the year I will have made one from start to finish.

What else can I share that will be on the webosphere for ever - how about a couple of photos of us in our happy place.  Cheers all - Clog Guy

Happy New Year

Happy New Year - greetings from our family to yours.  

the Manning's (aka, Tessa Clogs / Swedish Clog Cabin entourage)

not too late - Get a Gift Certificate for a pair of Tessa Clogs

It is not too late - get a gift certificate for a pair of Tessa Clogs - we can get it to you electronically - print it up and your good to go

Happy Holiday Everybody!

Tessa Clogs Gift Certificate - perfect, for that last minute extra

from our family to your - thanks so much for you support over the years

celebrating time with family - hugs everybody

Holidays are Here - well they're close

You all know - we make our clogs locally here in the lovely diamond in the rough gem of Minturn, Colorado.  Just a couple of miles from Vail or Beaver Creek.  These houses are lived in year around unlike some of the modern castles you see in our neighboring towns.

Minturn, Colorado  81645

This is an aerial photo of our town where we work and live - pretty cozy huh?  Our factory is located off the photo (about 2 inches at this scale) on the bottom about 2 city blocks north (yes, the top of this photo is south so the bottom is north).  Where we live is about in the middle of the photo.

We are lucky - life is simple here but we live simple also.  It sure can get hectic in life if you make it - trying to keep up with what advertisers say you need.  Do you need that George Foreman grill?  What about the new and improved skis or bike that is out this year?  No - period.  My skis/bike are 10+ years old - do I want a new pair - heck yeah - do i need a new pair or a bike - probably not.  At least currently, I'm able to keep up with most on my old stuff and when I can't - not sure I'll be able to blame it on the equipment - it might just be this old body (but you always blame the equipment and not the engine right?) - HA

new classic - Astrid

So - we sell and make Tessa Clogs.  Do you need a new pair - maybe, do you want a new pair - for sure! :-)
We are proud to say, your Tessa Clogs will last a long time, this is true.  If you take care of them they could be in your wardrobe for years.  Like any article of clothing, you wear it and it does have a lifespan.  Wear your Tessa Clogs hard and proud, we can and will make you a new pair.

Speaking of Tessa Clogs and the Holidays - PLEASE, order as early as you can to guarantee a holiday delivery.  These elves will be working hard but "Life moves pretty fast, if you don't stop and look around once in awhile you could miss it".  Hugs all - Clog Guy

Winter is here - NOT ready for it

Most of you know, we live at 8,000 feet, here in the central mountains of Colorado.  Snow comes early and lasts late.  If you don't like snow, you better not be living here.

It is now November 1st, our yard is covered - truly and Really.?.  We love snow, we love to play, ride and ski in it.  BUT - I don't like snow when it comes in October and last till April.  Most of you also know, we like to be outside - I like to ride bikes and it is pretty darn tough to ride when the snow is on the road - heck, you can't even really run once the snow hits the trails unless you don't mind running in mud constantly. 

Wow - 1st world problems here.  Boo Hoo - we have to deal with weather :-)

We had all of the family home and together last night - that doesn't happen very often as time keeps rolling on.  But it was only a night as today, 2 have peeled off to hit the desert in UT and participate in a off road running race in Moab.  3 of us are here together for one more day, then 1 will peel away back to college which leaves 2 of us.  I and the middle daughter will still be around and trust me, will find something to do - not sure what - baking?  I don't think it'll be running being that middle daughter still has cross country running going on. 

I like beer.  Yep - a simple sentence with a period.  I have to say as I was picking up our oldest in

Denver yesterday - I stopped at the Bierstadt Lagerhaus.  All I will say is - everybody needs to find this place and try a Slow Pour Pills.  Truly and Absolutely Delicious - if a picture is worth a 1000 words well check my fresh tasty didn't last very long and get me another Slow Pour Pills.  Interesting enought - it takes about 6 minutes for this beer to be poured so if your thirsty, you need to order another one as soon as you get your first. 

Cheers Everybody -

Family, Friends, Working, Playing and Living Life

on top Mt. Massive

We are all working hard to support family and life.  I'm sure it is not just me but many of us sometimes wonder or worry about the what ifs.  As I now am old (ok maybe mature) I try not to stress about the unknown future.  It tends to usually always work out.  In my instance, the best way to not worry is to get out side and sweat.  Make the muscles and mind sore.  I promise you that if you get outside for an hour, get the heart rate up and make something of a goal - you will for that time NOT be concerned of the unknown future.  For me, i usually need to get into a zone, meaning putting some stress on the body where I'm having a good hurt (breathing hard, heart rate up, sweating and maybe having a hard time talking while in this zone).  

epic Ride - Holy Cross Crusher

It is hard, where do we find the time.  Where do i find the time to type this blog that some folks will read.  MAKE IT - your mind, body and soul will appreciate it.  Too many people suffer from bouts of worry and sadness - getting outside and sharing adventures with family and friends will help.  Cheers

mountain biking outside of Avon, Colorado

    

a new chapter for the ClogBlog

Wow - time flies as I sit here typing in to our ClogBlog over a year after our last entry.  Sorry for those of you that have been waiting.  

getting Tessa Clogs painted, April 2000

As many of you know - we have been in the "clog world" or clogerati (as writer Lauren Mechling deserves credit for coining the term) since the mid 1990's.  Back then we were in our mid 20's living the life working to grow Tessa Clogs and everything else a young couple does (buy a house, raise a family, argue a bit, etc.).  Originally, we imported our clogs from Sweden and would customize then here in the central mountains of Colorado - Vail/Minturn.  We opened our original store/warehouse in Minturn in 1998.  It was a small retail shop with a big warehouse (that was also our daughter's day care for her first year of life).  In July of 2000, we closed our store/warehouse in Minturn and opened up a new location in Vail, Colorado just 100 yards from the gondola.

Times Change and new Chapter Begins

closing the red door, April 2019

We are still in our beautiful mountain town but as you can all do the math, we are a bit older (still trying to live the life skiing as much as possible), have 3 kids that have almost moved on and made the decision in 2015 to manufacture all of our clogs here in the mountains.  Besides the decision to manufacture our clogs locally, we also made the decision to close our retail location in Vail in April 2019 (which was a good idea being our landlord has decided to knock down the building and "pave paradise and put up a parking lot" - well a new condominium building with parking).  The Vail Daily did a nice article on us - https://www.vaildaily.com/news/closing-the-red-door/   So, we are back to Minturn where our factory has been since 2015.  Our retail is now more of a showroom after moving machines around to carve out a small space.

Things to look forward and onward to - more ClogBlog entries (at least more then once a year),  a new web site, sharing with all the lifestyle which we love and want you all to come to see yourself.  Living here at 8,000 feet can have it's challenges but it is truly magical and so are our Tessa Clogs.  This is what we and many live in.  Will our Tessa Clogs change your lives, no but it will put a smile on your face.  Cheers, Chris, aka, ClogGuy

Everybody needs Tessa Clogs

I notice a lot of my blog post are about time.  I guess I think more about this subject the longer that I'm on this merry go round.

Just today, there was a young couple that came into the store from NYC, NY.  We got to talking about life here in the mountains (slower pace) and their life in the city (the rat race keeping up with the joneses) .  Now I have only been to NYC once and what a town (can I call it a town) it is.  Amazing - the food, lights, traffic, people, sights, buildings, etc. - if you never have been there you need to go and visit.

I guess to get back on track, this young couple loves Vail.  "Why wouldn't you" I say.  "You are on holiday, hopefully you been able to put the phone away and enjoy our mountain lifestyle.  I think that to truly enjoy the mountain vibe and lifestyle you need a pair of our hand made Tessa Clogs made HERE in Colorado - just down the road - in Minturn to be exact!".

Well - it worked, they are taking a pair back to the city to wear and remember their special time in Vail.  Ahhh -  I did like visiting NYC, would I want to live there, no way - it is too busy for me.  Here in the mountains, we like to be able to stop, talk, ride our bike, ski, enjoy life/family and where work is there but other priorities are placed ahead.  We try to not look at our watches (or phones) being that TIME will always continue to move forward but those visits we spend with family and pushing ourselves up or down the mountains are priceless.

As it is the middle of May, Spring is finally here, snow has melted in town at 8,000 feet but we still have plenty up high (9,000 feet and higher).  Town is quite slow being that we call this time of year "mud season" as the snow melts.  It is a great time to visit for relaxation but activity wise you may be getting muddy as you hike or bike up in the higher elevations.  Kayaking/Rafting is starting to go off here as the rivers/creeks get higher as the snow melts.  For some, the skiing can be incredible but you have to hike for it.  Our family activity of choice is rock climbing.  I love to ride but not everyone in the family enjoys that but we all love to get out push ourselves physically and mentally on the sport climbs around the area.


Not sure for those that are reading - we did send out a spring email mailing showing off many styles of Tessa Clogs.  If you did not receive that and would like to be on our mailing list - do follow this link - Tessa Clogs Mailing List Sign Up - and get your information down so we can get you out the latest and greatest information.

Other ways to follow us is via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (which we post to almost less then our blog posts) or the old fashioned way being that we like to talk and type 970-476-8083, info@tessaclogs.com.

Cheers and Hugs - Clog Guy

Clogs, Little People & Time

What is happening, 2 posts in 2 months - yep - we are trying.

I LOVE this photo.  This photo is from 10 years ago (wow - time has really gone by fast). 

I guess my point is - Little People can wear Tessa Clogs and yes, they do look CUTE in them.

A couple of quotes I love about time
per Warren Miller -

• “If you don’t do it this year, you’ll be one year older when you do.”

per Ferris Bueller - 

• “Life move pretty fast.  If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

Please - everybody - get out there now and enjoy this ride of life and take lots of photos

cheers

Yes - It has been some time

Hello Tessa Clog wearing public.  Yes- it has been awhile since we have posted on our blog.  I think we sometimes forget about it with all the other social media items we also forget about.

What is new here at the Tessa Clog Headquarters you ask - Options is what is new.  As you have read our last post from almost a year and half ago - we make all of our Tessa Clogs HERE in Minturn, Colorado.

Being that we make all of our clogs - we can give you the option of
Heels - Wood (Traditional Heel @ 1.5", High Heel @ 2.5" and Ultimate High @ 3.5")
           - Flexible (a polyurethane sole that is 1.5" that has a soft quiet step)
Leather - we probably have the color you want and need
             - we can change up the edge band as you see a pink edge band on a brown leather clog
Color - we can paint or dye the soles
Straps - elaborate with braided straps and conchos or simple and plain

We want everybody in our Tessa Clogs.  Why wait any longer

Call us - 970-476-8083

Email us - info@tessaclogs.com

Look at our web site - www.tessaclogs.com

stop by our store - 500 East Lionshead Mall

                               Vail, CO  81657

Happy Holidays to all

the Manning's

Tessa Clogs - NOW Made in COLORADO - factory is being built in Minturn (next door to Vail)

 

loaded semi

So you want to buy a clog factory?  Or maybe I should just say, do you want to buy some specialized machines, shoe lasts and leather to produce your own clogs?  YES we do!
For years, we have been talking about making our Tessa Clogs here in the mountain of Colorado.  Tessa has been painting our clogs here since day one but we have worked with many manufacturers in Sweden who have built them to our specifications. 



unloading the 2000lb press

We have decided to open a new chapter in Tessa Clogs / Swedish Clog Cabin with ourselves manufacturing our own clogs. 
Setting up a factory - we truly thought would be moderate hard maybe not exactly like buying a new refrigerator and plugging it in but hoping it to be close to that.  NOPE - our challenges have been everything from mitigating noise, getting permission to run iron pipe for our compressor, getting 3 phase electric machines to work in a single phase environment, transporting thousands of pounds of machines to the mountains, etc.  Everyone understands stress and we are dealing with a bit trying to get ourselves to understand that getting a factory up and running is NOT an overnight thing.  It takes time.  As our landlord for our warehouse space said - if it was easy, everybody would be doing it. 


the press set up

Part of our problem here in the mountains is that rent is not affordable close to all of our ski areas.  Plus, we did not want to have to drive an hour or more to get to our factory where the rent would be reasonable.  We are lucky and blessed, we found a warehouse space that is a fair price, the perfect size and it is between our house and store.  One issue, we share an adjoining wall with a friend of ours whose office (Vail Mountain Coffee and Tea) is next door.  The last thing we want to be is bad neighbors so we have been working hard to work on ways to control noise.  One of our biggest concerns for noise is our industrial 80 gallon 2 stage, 3 phase electric LOUD compressor.  With the work of our other neighbor, Masked Man Services, we will share his compressor that is in a separate building, run iron pipe over to our building (20+ feet) so we can then run all of our machines with out a compressor making noise in our space. 


unloading semi

We are up and running but do not have some of our high power 3 phase machines working yet.  We will have these machines running and in production at the beginning of July.  Our biggest challenge now (or I should just say decision) is getting power to run these big machines.  Long story short - we either need to run new service (which we are lucky being that it is at the building but not wired) or purchase a converter.  Price is the same for both so just need to make a decision.  We are going to run 3 phase to our space.  Another hurdle jumped over and decision made and a full night of sleep coming soon. 

We are making Tessa Clogs locally.  How COOL IS THAT!  Stayed Tuned - because we are making clogs locally, we will have new styles all of the time.  Keep checking back OR let us know what you need and we will make the custom Tessa Clog just for you.

items on porch being transitioned to factory

ps -
This is a big shout out to everybody that helped the day the semi arrived - Kyla & George Sink (Vail Power Cars - the best way to get to Vail) , Spencer, Craig and Chris at Vail Mountain Coffee & Tea (Fuel Your Adventure), David Meyers (a Superman in welding, can build, weld anything, he currently is making adaptive cycles for Reactive Adaptation), and Buck (he is the worlds best handy man - he can fix anything!).  Lou at Thank You Masked Man Services - thank you for letting us share your compressor to keep the noise down and the village happy. 

heavy duty sewing machine

The saying "it takes a village" is the true sense of all the businesses that are located in the same area we are renting our warehouse space - the Meadow Mountain Business Park in Minturn - all of you are wonderful and we truly appreciate all the help that everyone has given us.

lasting machine to make clog shape

Clogs on the Floor - Live Like Logan

Today with the weather being a bit more friendly, I see that my family all wore clogs in today to Swedish Clog Cabin as they made there way to go skiing.

 

Kids being kids, gently tossed their clogs to the floor as they put on their ski boots to head out the store to make some ski turns up on Vail Moutain (how cool is it that our kids come to work, change and head up the mountain to make some fun - I remind them daily how lucky they are).  As I picked up their clogs to put them on the bench, I see that we all wore our "Live Like Logan" clogs.

We all know life is just too damn short and our friend, Logan Jauernigg, passed away last May at the age of 20 in a kayaking accident.  He was more then the most gifted talented athlete but also a kind and caring soul that loved to have fun.  Logan climbed 5.14 (which is crazy hard climbing), kayaked class V rivers and was a telemark skier extraordinaire.  On Facebook or Google if you search for either Logan Jauernigg or the Live Like Logan Memorial Scholarship Fund you will find more information.

Being that our kids wore there Live Like Logan clogs to Vail today, we ask that you may "Live Like Logan".  Get up early to watch the sun rise with your kids, walk to work, just do ANYTHING outside and share the memories and moments with someone.

All dollars and cents made on the sales of our "Live Like Logan" Tessa Clogs will be given directly to the Live Like Logan Memorial Scholarship Fund  - helping disadvantaged kids learn non traditional sports.

Thanks for reading and PLEASE GET OUTSIDE and LIVE LIKE LOGAN!

I just got a smart phone, well in November 2015

My flip phone still works but I finally broke down and purchased a smart phone, an Iphone 5s - not even the newest but it works fine for me. 

Yes - my trusty flip phone has been currently stashed in my bed side drawer.  I purchased a smart phone being that I wanted to have a camera handy at all moments and was tired of bringing a phone and music player with on any adventure.

I surely do not need to tell all of our readers about the pros and cons of a smart phone - you already have them - but WOW, it truly is a little computer in your hand.  I do miss my small flip phone but that is about it.

taken with my IPHONE, look at my SELFIE

I can see how it would be tough to go back to my flip phone (hated texting on it).  I now have a better understanding why at this point in time we have such a fasination with the selfie posts.  It is so easy to do and why not share with the world our new Tessa Clogs, what I had for dinner or my child's achievements.

This selfie, facebook, blogger, social media posts is a bit difficult for the inner hiding humble Benedictine soul surfer that I try to be but needing to be the more outgoing, salesman, business promoting, bragging person I sometimes come across as. 

I'm a child born in the late 60's - 1967 to be exact - I'm getting old but can still almost keep up with my kids.  My oldest is smarter (currently in Argentina participating in a Rotary Youth Exchange that we FaceTime on THE phone), my middle is a better climber (and brings math home that I am searching for answers on THE phone)and my youngest has more out going personality now then I will ever have (and shows me how to use THE phone).  It is a bit strange for me having this new technology but I love being able to document our families life with the camera that is always handy. 

I want to remind myself that my new smart phone is that - a phone - it is not a toy for me to ignore family, friends and the world.  It is my tool to get out in the world, use it to phone (message) and answer those that need be, take photos of our adventures and then be put away.

One of my top 5 movies - Ferris Bueller's Day Off - "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." - Now with my new smart phone - I will have photos to show that it was my family singing "Danke Schoen" on that float :-)

thanks for reading my ramblings.

Clog Pricing and Direct to Customer

Hello from Tessa Clogs Global Headquarters located here in Vail, Colorado.



We are 21 days now into 2016.  Snow continues to fall in our little town, life is good.  

Back in the mid 90's, we were one of the first companies to have a presence on line for clogs.  We would appear on every search engine on the first page.  Now when you use a search engine to find information out about clogs, we sometimes do not even appear but that of course depends on how you are trying to find us.  "Clogs" on google, I am not even sure if we show up, I gave up looking after page 5.  "Hand Painted Clogs" on google we appear on the 4 page but typing "Handpainted" we show up on page 1.

What I am getting around to saying is that there are a lot of places to get clogs on the internet.  Bad for us but good for all customers looking for some wonderful clogs.  As I say this, I am amazed at the prices that are charged from a lot of our competitors.  Don't take my word for it but let the search engines tell you.  We have always wanted you, our family of Tessa Clog wearers, to be able to purchase a hand made clog (that may or may not be hand painted) that is affordable.  We would love to say that our Tessa Clogs are available at every fine shoe store around but unfortunately that is not the case.  We do have a few retailers that carry our Tessa Clogs - thank you to them - but generally we are selling direct to you the customer.

What does this mean - you get a great Tessa Clogs at a wonderful price.  We do not need to mark our prices up to work out the extra distribution step that other companies have.  When you are shopping do not think that higher price means better - all it means is that the other companies have overcharged you.  Believe us - we have been making clogs for 25 years - we know what it costs to manufacture a clog.

I do thank all of you for your current and future support.  Wear your Tessa Clogs hard - we can always make more.

Hugs and Live Life

Tessa Clogs

Where will you take your Tessa Clogs?

I am scrolling through a cookbook that is written in Swedish. I am not sure what each recipe calls for; I do not know how to translate Swedish to English, but I know that Google does. The pictures look amazing and the short list of ingredients makes me believe that I can attempt the recipes. So I purchase the book. I don’t think I have a bit of Swedish, Norwegian, or any Scandinavian heritage in me. But working for the Swedish Clog Cabin for the last couple of years has made that part of the world more alluring.

  The tales about trolls, and vikings, to the different food and festivals make make you want to experience it yourself. I am becoming more aware of the different traditions and culture in the North or the South. While looking through this cookbook and slowly translating the recipe from Swedish to English, I am becoming more familiar with the language. Soon I will travel to Sweden, and apply all the knowledge that I have gained. I have absorbed a lot while working at the Swedish Clog Cabin, Tessa Clogs. So the question is, where will your Tessa Clogs take you, or where will you take your Tessa Clogs? Check out our Facbook.com/tessaclogs or follow us on Instagram @tessaclogs

New at Tessa Clogs

Desigual Tunics and Dresses

Isabella Dress, Dami Dress & Cinta Dress

Asha Baggy Pants

The Petra design on the Traditional Heel Teal clog

Hand Painted Tessa Clogs and the many unique things at the Swedish Clog Cabin

Tessa hand paints her clogs right here in Colorado. It makes them unique, more personal, and allows you to collaborate with her. If you are fortunate enough to Visit our store in Lionshead, or see us at the many Farmers Markets, you will notice how different our products are.

Some handpainted Tessa Clogs at the Vail Farmers Market.

There are bright colors and designs and inspiring quotes. Tessa tries to get items that are different from the many shops in Vail, and she even makes some of the items herself. She not only paints some clogs, she even assembles the Ultimate High Clogs, right at her kitchen counter in Minturn. She also cuts out and applies Tessa Designs custom shirts, as well as makes skirts. She hand stamps charms for necklaces, paints and sews Tessa Snap-Straps, and customizes ornaments. Check out our items online, at our store, or at the Vail or Minturn Farmers Markets.