Made by hand. Made to Last.
Handcrafted wooden toys from the Wairarapa — made one at a time, for the love of it.
Every piece here started as a length of timber and ended up as something a child will keep for years. No factory. No online shop. Just Rusty, his workshop, and whatever wood caught his eye that week.
The toys
Each one is a little different — because they’re made by hand, one at a time. None of these are for sale online. Come find Rusty at a fair, or give him a call or email.
About Rusty
After a long career doing other things, retirement gave Rusty something he’d always wanted: time in the shed.
The workshop is in Carterton, and most mornings you’ll find him in there by nine, radio on, figuring out what a particular piece of timber wants to become.
He doesn’t make toys to sell online. He makes them because he loves it — and because watching a child pick one up at a market stall and not want to put it down is a better kind of payment than a bank transfer.
Every toy leaves the workshop sanded smooth, finished with a food-safe oil, and checked to make sure small hands can’t come to grief on it. Rusty’s got grandchildren. He knows what matters.
Natural wood. Safe finishes.
Rusty works with rimu, macrocarpa, pine and much more, sourcing locally where he can. No MDF. No plywood fillers. No formaldehyde binders. The stuff he makes will outlast most furniture.
Every toy is finished with a food-safe oil or beeswax. Paint, when it’s used, is non-toxic and water-based. Relevant — because small children will absolutely put these in their mouths.
The goal is simple: something you’d hand to a two-year-old without a second thought, and something their parents will still have in twenty years.
Where to find me
Rusty doesn’t sell online — but you can find him at craft fairs and markets around the Wairarapa through the year. Come and have a look, have a yarn, and take something home.
Wairarapa Garden Fiesta
Garden Fiesta is held at the Wairarapa A&P Show Grounds in Carterton yearly. For more information, head along to the event’s Facebook page.
Wairarapa A&P Show
Wairarapa A&P Show Grounds in Clareville just outside of Carterton. This event is usually in October or November every year. For more information, see the official Wairarapa A&P Show website for more details.
Studio 73 Greytown
Rusty will regularly be at Studio 73 in Greytown during their weekend markets. This will be updated from time-to-time on Rusty’s Facebook page and on the website. Confirmed dates for 2026 are:
- April 4th
- April 28th
- May 2nd
- May 16th
- May 30th
- June 13th
- July 4th
- July 11th
- July 25th
- August 15th
- September 5th
- September 19th
- October 10th
- October 24th
- November 7th
- November 21st
- December 5th
- December 15th
Carterton Craft Market
The Carterton Craft Market at 25 High Street North, Carterton also stocks a full range of Rusty’s wooden toys all year round. Same price, same quality. See their website or Facebook page for more details.
Get in touch
The best way to reach Rusty is by phone or email, he’s usually in the shed, and he’s happy to have a chat.
Call him on 027 448 1263 or email rustym@xtra.co.nz.
If you’ve seen something in the gallery you’d like, come find him at an upcoming fair — or ring to ask what he’s currently working on.