Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, July 10, 2008

Hay River - Like many seniors, Hay River’s Fritz Rambovsky began to suffer arthritis in his hands as he got older. However, Rambovsky had his own unique cure – creating jewelry and carvings.

The 73-year-old said he began carving more than two years ago and making jewelry a year ago to keep his hands moving.

“It’s fantastic for arthritis,” he said. “It takes a lot to fiddle with the beads.”

Rambovsky said, before he began making the crafts, he could barely move his arms and fingers, but now they are back to normal. Rambovsky also believes his health has been improved by a magnetic bracelet which he made and wears.

“I think everything helps,” he said.

Rambovsky said he learned how to make jewelry by doing it. He had a few basic ideas and looked up more information in books at NWT Centennial Library.

“You start it out and you learn as you go along,” he said.

Rambovsky said, in the beginning, he dropped a lot of beads on the floor and took apart many finished necklaces.

“That’s how you learn,” he said.

Rambovsky now makes necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings from a variety of material, such as pearls, beads, sea shells and stones. There is no particular style to his work, he said.

“I just try to make something and keep busy.”

The craftsman added he designs his own pieces of jewelry. “I try to dream them up, I guess.”

Since he started making jewelry, he estimates he has made more than 500 pieces.

“I give a lot of them away to friends,” he said, noting that some are also sold at Hay River’s drugstore. However, he said he doesn’t do it for any profit and any money he makes is used to buy more material.

“It’s just a hobby to keep me going,” he said.

Rambovsky said his carvings are made out of moose antlers and wood, estimating he has created more than 500 pieces One focus of his carving is to create walking canes.

“I go down to the beach and pick up driftwood and carve canes,” he said.

Rambovsky has lived in Hay River since 1980. Before moving to Hay River, he used to visit as a gourmet food salesperson, and later moved to the community to work as a long-haul driver. Rambovsky said he likes Hay River, especially the hunting and fishing.

“There are lots of interesting things about Hay River,” he said.

He first came to Canada from Germany in the 1950s as a member of the German Air Force involved in NATO training in Western Canada.

Rambovsky is becoming known for his jewelry in Hay River, where the public library has set up a display of his creations.

In June, he also presented workshops for adults and children on how to make jewelry and will offer more workshops in August.