Andrea Korpel says that the Yellowknife Guild of Arts and Crafts Christmas market typically attracts hundreds of people each year. The main attraction is the arts and crafts – all handmade artisan items.
“It’s kind of special I think it’s because it’s handmade and it’s made locally,” says Korpel.
The people who come like that each item is created personally by local artists.
The Yellowknife Guild of Arts and Crafts is a society of volunteer artists, artisans, students and instructors who are passionate about learning and sharing art and craft skills. The Guild has brought artists together for nearly 80 years.
Korpel, is one of those artists who also loves to shop at the market.
“I like to get some of the pottery. It’s nice for gifts to send back home to the family. It’s different because you don’t see it everywhere. It’s always something different and it’s always one-offs. So it’s not like it’s a set where you can go to the stores, buy the same thing. So it’s all different kinds of items that you can find and unique,” says Korpel.
“There’s going to be pottery and all kinds of fibre artists who make their items to sell through the Guild,” she explains.
Each year there’s lots of surprise items, even Korpel is not sure what will be in store until all of the artisans have set up their tables.
Korpel will have needle felted items at her table this year, including beautifully crafted ornaments and figures, like adorable foxes, bees and Christmas pickles as well as garden gnomes and more.
There will be other artisans. An artist who does incredible wet felting is anticipated to return this year. She is known for her scarves and beaded cuffs among other items.
Another artisan dyes her own fabric and she’ll make bags to sell.
The artisans spend weeks to months to prepare for the holiday sale.
Korpel was able to start early this year and avoid the “mass production” rush. Each of the items she makes is done by hand, taking anywhere from one to 10 hours or more to make depending on what the item is.
“When I do the foxes, that’s at least a three and a half hour activity, just to make the one. So It’s it can take a little bit of time to make stuff,” says Korpel.
Korpel says that creating these works is something she feels inspired to keep doing because of the simple joy it brings.
“I just enjoy it, it’s fun,” she explains. “It’s takes me away from my work and it’s relaxing”
The Guild provides community education in arts and crafts with workshops, course instruction, public demonstrations and exhibitions along with educational presentations and specialized workshops.
Since her youth, Korpel has enjoyed creating arts and crafts. She started needle felting about five years ago after participating in the Guild’s Mini-Make Mondays.
“So we would learn different crafts,” explains Korpel.
“We have wet felting, we do stained glass and silversmithing and we do knitting and weaving. Then we have our pottery as well. Our Pottery is well known,” adds Korpel.
The Guild offers classes for anyone who is interested in learning needle felting, sewing, stained glass along with many craft and art practices.
The Guild’s holiday sale is taking place on Saturday Nov. 28 and Sunday Nov. 29 at the Aurora Dance Studio, which is next door to the Guild on 113 Kam Lake Road
