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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A Yellowknife woman is putting the call out to crafty people who are good with their hands to get out the knitting needles or whittling knife and join her for the Yellowknife Handmade Festival on Nov. 19 at Northern United Place.

Elsbeth Fielding sits with her daughter Ivy, surrounded by handmade baby products and dolls. Fielding is organizing the first Yellowknife Handmade Festival, a chance for people to show off just how handy they are and to meet other like-minded people.- Kevin Allerston/NNSL photo

Elsbeth Fielding has teamed up with Ecology North to create the festival, which is in the early stages of planning.

"I see it being an opportunity for people who make things to sell things and to show off what they make," Fielding said with a smile.

She said products could include carvings, knitting, preserves, visual art, soaps, paper, beading and weaving.

"Sort of anything creative or useful that you can make with your hands."

Fielding herself specializes in knitting dolls and making baby products like wipes and creams, which is understandable given she's raising a nine-month-old daughter, Ivy.

It's not only about giving people a chance to share their works, however, it is mainly about promoting a responsible attitude toward the environment and promoting the idea that it's best to buy things from close to home.

"The other thing I see is that it's local. The stuff I make, I make here at home," said Fielding. "Everything above and beyond the cost of the venue and the cost of advertising will be donated to Ecology North because it fits in with their mandate."

She likes buying things made in town as often as possible because the environmental costs of transporting goods are reduced.

She said she got the idea from a friend who organized a similar event down south.

"A friend of mine in Ontario was involved in a similar festival that they started down there and I was like, 'there's so many handy people in Yellowknife. It would go over really well here.'"

"Whether you're re-purposing stuff or re-using things around the home to make new stuff. The three Rs can definitely be used."

Christine Wenman is a water and waste-water researcher with Ecology North. She said she is looking forward to the Nov. 19 event.

"We were pretty excited about the idea when Elsbeth suggested it because it does fit with many of our objectives," said Wenman. "Promoting green economies, and of course it's one small thing but it's about public engagement, education and reflection and an opportunity to think of those issues."

She's also pleased with the timing, as the festival falls just ahead of the Christmas shopping season.

"It's held early in the season and is another Christmas purchasing opportunity. So yeah, I think there's a real opportunity for people to choose alternatives that are local and green," said Wenman.

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