Anne Pokras and husband Jerry Pokras have teamed up to make hand-carved custom wooden canes. The two began making canes after Jerry Pokras developed a leg issue a year ago.
Instead of grimacing when a doctor told him he had to use a cane due to an unoperable issue with his left leg, Jerry Pokras used the dilemma to create something useful with his hands.
“I made myself a customized wooden cane and carved a horse’s head out of its handle,” he said.
His wife hand painted the animal's face on the cane handle, and Pokras hit the streets of Delray Beach eager to finish chores, and “do just about whatever I pleased.” Neighbors began to take notice and asked if he would make them a customized cane. He measured their height, and exactly the perfect, most comfortable spot for their hand to rest. Pokras produced hippos, bald eagles “and graceful dogs like Dobermans.”
Pokras, a snowbird from Toms River, N. J., made the canes in his wood working workshop and has even set up a shop at his Delray Beach home.
“We want to move down here full-time and I’ll build a workshop where I’ll make even more canes,” Pokras said.
Anne Pokras hand paints each one and has even set up a site on the Internet where people can inquire about the canes. His canes are made out of oak, birch and fir woods.
“They even have silver reflectors so the canes can be used at night,” Anne Pokras said.
For more information about the canes call 561-381-4078 or visit http://canemaker.blogspot.com.