There is something about making things out of wood that grabs the attention of artisans and the buyers of their goods.
So it’s not too surprising Dale Peppler’s woodworking hobby has turned into something of a business sideline too.
Born in Yorkton, growing up in MacNutt, and now living in Langenburg since 1976, Peppler said he’s always enjoyed working with wood, although a career as a heavy duty mechanic at the mine in Esterhazy limited the time he could devote to it.
Four years ago, Peppler, now 67, retired, and that gave him more time for his hobby.
“I have always enjoyed wood working, when I retired I had more time to pursue my passion,” he related.
With more time, Peppler began to expand what he did with wood.
“I bought a wood mill, and started with spruce logs,” he said, adding the list of woods being milled grew quickly, now including birch, tamarack, and black poplar; making slabs from the logs of them all.
“They’re all native to Saskatchewan,” said Peppler, adding he has “good local contacts to purchase the logs.
The variety of wood gives Peppler varied looks in whatever he makes, with some woods better for certain projects.
For example; birch and tamarack are hardwoods good for the cutting boards, he said, adding “we also use barn boards (recycled from old barns).”
Peppler added he likes variety.
“What attracted me were the grains and colours in the wood,” he said, with different varieties offering their own unique look.
And of course wood is rather versatile in what an artisan can make as well, and Peppler creates a rather wide variety of products including; entry tables, coffee tables, dining tables, cutting boards, charcuterie boards, lazy Susan’s, cheese trays, head boards and clocks.
“The sky’s the limit,” said Peppler who has learned as he has gone along in the hobby, admitting he has had no formal training as a woodworker.
“My wife (Char) is the one that comes up with the ideas, draws the plans, and then we go to the shop,” he said.
In terms of what he hopes to accomplish as a woodworker, Peppler is modest in his vision.
“To create,” he said. “We see things and put our touch on it. We try very hard not to make anything twice; always an original.”
As for sales, those go well too.
“We are happy where it has gone so far,” said Peppler, adding it has been “mostly word of mouth” so far.
Anyone wanting something Peppler has created can search him out on the marketplace Facebook page, Hands Of Time in Langenburg, online garage sales, and area craft shows.
