IN THE tradition of Humans of New York, the NewsMail is launching a new series - Faces of Bundy.

Each Monday we'll tell the stories of familiar - and some unfamiliar - residents in the Bundaberg region.

Arthur "Sawdust” Ross has been creating traditional wooden toys for the past few years.

The 76-year-old spoke to NewsMail journalist Ashley Clark about how he turned his passion for woodwork into a successful hobby.

I just love to take a piece of plain wood and make something out of it.

I started making wooden toys about three years ago but I can also make furniture.

The biggest wooden project I have ever made was a table in my bedroom which is about seven foot long.

That one took about a month or more.

I like to work with my hands. I was a butcher for 25 years but have always loved woodwork.

When I got married, I made my own cots for the kids and I have made various pieces of furniture too.

I love working with wood because of the grain, what you do with it and what comes out of it.

You can see a plain piece of timber there, work on it, polish it up and it transforms into something completely different.

I spend every day in my shed making traditional wooden toys and then I sell them at markets around the region.

I have never had a favourite toy but I have made a few semi-trailers which I really like. They take about three weeks to do and have been very popular.

Whatever I make that turns out looking really good always gives me great satisfaction.

I get my toy designs from various books. They have all the measurements and plans so I worked from those.

What I love most about wood work and toy making is that it keeps my brain occupied and keeps my body up and moving.

* To enquire about Arthur's wooden toys, contact 4153 4709 or email hur7del@bigpond.com