SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — An 18-year-old transforms dead wood into rocking horses, intricate cutting boards and furniture.
“Ever since I was 5-years-old, I had a curiosity for woodcarving,” said Logan Mann, whose hand-carved wooden pieces proved a hit at the 39th annual Three Oaks Christmas Craft Fair in Summerside, Saturday.
Mann, the owner of Mann woodworking, motioned to the sturdy chair that had shoppers putting their feet up and rolling back and forth.
“The rocking chair is my favourite and the most complicated piece I have made because it took a lot of time to carefully measure the correct proportions,” he said.
“I have to add, my family has been a huge support. We moved from Kensington to Summerside into a home with a detached garage, so I can have a workshop.”
In September, Mann will join the cabinetmaking program at Holland College, which is located at the Summerside waterfront campus.
“I’m trying to make a career out of woodcarving,” he said with a smile while watching shoppers admire and purchase his work.
Mann was among the 161 vendors at the two-day event, which typically draws 6,000 to 8,000 people.
“Vendors come from across the Maritimes, even as far as Ontario,” said Jeff Clow, TOSH principal.
“Feedback we receive from shoppers and vendors is always positive. We have students that help set up and clean away after the event. And this is one of the more attended craft fairs in the Maritimes – we always have a waiting list for the vendors coming in,” he said.
The craft fair is a fundraiser for the school. Funds raised from items such as table rentals, entrance fees and cafeteria food sales go directly back into student programming or extra-curricular activities.
“Jason Gallant is the organizer that gets everything off the ground. He makes it a point to have a variety of vendors, not just those orientated to Christmas but those that offer products that are useful throughout the year,” said Clow while acknowledging the event is a whole community effort.
The craft fair continued until 5 p.m. Sunday.
