By Alesha Capone
The unique wooden creations of carpenter and furniture-maker John ‘Padge’ Padgett will be among the wares for sale at the upcoming Werribee Makers Market.
The markets, an initiative of the Wyndham Business and Tourism Association, will be held in Station Place on each Saturday of next month as part of Wyndham council’s Summer Pop-Up Park Program.
Mr Padgett said this year marked 50 years since he began his carpentry apprenticeship.
However he only started his small business, Padge’s Garage Creations, about two years ago at the suggestion of his fiancee Carmen.
On weekends and after work, he makes handcrafted furniture, chopping and grazing boards, coffee tables, butcher’s blocks and fruit bowls in his Werribee garage.
“I’ve always been doing things like that, but kept them for myself or handed down to family,” Mr Padgett said.
He has crafted a toybox for grandson Quinn and jewellery boxes for granddaugher Asha, with special plaques saying they were handmade “by Poppy Padge”.
Mr Padgett said he never threw anything away, and was a fan of collecting old and recycled timber.
“Some people look at a lump of wood and say it’s good for the fire, I say, ‘What can I make out of it?’” he said.
“I like the characteristics of timber, no two pieces are the same.”
The Werribee Makers Market is on from 10am-3pm on February 2, 9, 16 and 23. Entry is free.
Details: www.wyndhambusinessandtourism.org.au
