Ervin Voelk, 86, is a retired mill worker and has always been interested in woodworking.
Duchess Park Craft Fair goers flock to Voelk’s functional art because there’s a touch of whimsy to it.
A moose head, a happy puppy, a cheeky, eye-patch wearing pirate, are all bird houses that bring smiles to the crowds on Saturday morning.
It’s not even two hours into the fair and out of the 12 bird houses available there’s only three left.
Voelk sells between 80 and 90 bird houses a year. He creates other items including bird feeders and even toilet paper holders shaped like toilets.
“I’ve been retired for 26 years,” Voelk said. “I have all the equipment that I need in my shop and I’ve always kept busy. I’ve always been an outdoors person and I’m 86 years old and I still can’t sit down to watch TV.”
Voelk got the idea to create his pieces from searching the internet and checking out magazines.
“And then I put my own ideas in with it and I always use different types of wood,” Voelk said.
The pine beetle wood can have a blue tinge to it and he uses juniper that has a pinkish hue as well.
“It keeps me busy,” Voelk laughed about his creations.
Voelk will be at the Duchess Park Craft Fair on Sunday from 10 a.m. t0 4 p.m. and will be at the Civic Centre’s Winterfest on Dec. 16 and 17.
