Spring fever at craft fair

Old Deerfield Spring Sampler arrives to Big E grounds this weekend

By K eith O ’C onnor Special to The Republican

WHETHER YOU are looking for something special to decorate your spring garden or spruce up your home for the St. Patrick’s Day and Easter holidays, you will likely find what you are looking for at this weekend’s Old Deerfield Spring Sampler Craft Fair.

Doors open Saturday at 10 a.m. in the Young Building on the grounds of the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, where 120 crafters and artisans can be found along with live music and a free family craft table.

“We have over 20 new at the show. A former chef turned cabinet maker, he said he wanted a new life from the kitchen which took him away from being with family so often.

“An uncle got me involved in making birdhouses. He asked me to make some big ones for him that were unusual in design. Someone driving past his home saw them and stopped my uncle, who was outdoors, to ask them where he got them,” Kalwarczyk said about a business that started to snowball.

“I began learning more about birdhouses by talking with some bird lovers who gave me tips. One of the big things was to make them so that they could get into them and clean them out once a bird family had left,” he added.

He started by simply using pine to construct the bird- houses are straightforward in design just as you would find in a classic garden, he prefers to make them on the whimsical side like his crooked birdhouses, some of which are stacked three upon one another, or his sway back barn birdhouse which he considers “great for a country garden.” exhibitors for the show and applications are still coming in right up to the last minute,” said John O’Neill, craft show coordinator.

By request, Kalwarczyk has also made a birdhouse that is a replica of an area Federated Church, as well as a cupola of Scandinavian design with seven bird chambers installed next to a river and a park in the Berkshires.

They sell for $300 all the way up to $1,400.

Strolling musicians, Piper Pichette on her harp and Helen Yetman-Bellows on her native American flute, will serenade visitors and add to the festive spirit of the show.

Also, while at the show, visitors can sign up near the information booth for a chance to win prizes donated by the exhibitors, shopping certificates and free passes to the holiday craft fair on Nov. 18 and 19.

Hours are Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tickets, available at the door, are $6.Children 12 and under are free. Parking is $5 charged by the Eastern States Exposition, but you can turn in your parking receipt at the show’ s information booth for a two-for-one coupon to the Old Deerfield Fall Arts & Crafts Festival on Sept. 23 and 24.

While masks are not required, they will be available at the show for those who want them while shopping.

Proceeds from the craft fair support the many historical and educational programs of the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association.

Among the new exhibitors will be Eric Kalwarczyk, of Dudley, owner of Eric’s Aviaries, who will be bringing his unique birdhouses to sell houses, then introduced different woods for contrast, especially on the roofs, such as red cedar, black walnut, black locust and others.

“I don’t paint them. I leave it to others if they want to. But I do add a preservative to the wood,” Kalwarczyk said.

While some of his bird-