Creative space in the marketplace
DEVIN WEEKS/Press Eric and Kelsey Pierce of Post Falls (with baby on the way) stop at Julie Clem’s colorful Alaska Leash Company booth during the Coeur d’Alene Makers Market in The Coeur d’Alene Resort on Sunday. About 70 vendors of a wide variety of wares filled the convention bays during the event, which celebrates local and hand-crafted work while providing a venue for merchants to sell their creations and engage with the public.
Aderyn Marker, 11, of Coeur d’Alene, points to an image of kids using hand kites, like the one she’s holding, on Sunday during the Coeur d’Alene Makers Market in The Coeur d’Alene Resort. Hand kites are a simple toy of wooden rings and ribbon. Aderyn sells them and cozy tied blankets through Aderyn’s Rainbow Creations. (DEVIN WEEKS/Press)
COEUR d’ALENE — Ribbons with rings, lights on strings and other creative, colorful things were all on display Sunday during the Coeur d'Alene Makers Market in The Coeur d'Alene Resort.
"We came last year and loved it and got a lot of Christmas presents for people," said Kelsey Pierce, of Post Falls, while browsing the market with husband Eric. "We got both of our parents presents here last year and they really liked them."
About 70 vendors set up shop in the convention bays during the 6-hour event, which served as celebration of the local and hand-crafted while giving artisans and artists a venue in which to engage the community while selling their goods.
Event coordinator and Coeur d'Alene Makers founder Haley John said this was the 1-year celebration of the Coeur d'Alene Makers group, which hosts a market every quarter as well as one around the holidays.
"We compiled a list of all the Etsy businesses and all the makers that were local and from there I created a market from it," she said. "Just being able to foster that community in Coeur d'Alene is huge."
The market included intricate woodwork and jewelry, cheeses made from raw cow's milk, animal leashes, clothing, scented soap, trinket boxes and much more.
"I didn't realize how many things that I buy already that I could get locally made so I could support families that are already in my community," John said. "So much of what you spend your money on you could be doing it locally and supporting people that your kids go to school with, or that you go to school with, things like that, to sow that money back into Coeur d'Alene.
"And," she said, "I thought it would be more expensive to do that, and it really wasn't. I spent less money last year for Christmas shopping than I ever have, and I bought it all local."
The holiday Coeur d'Alene Makers Market will be held Sunday, Dec. 9 in The Resort.
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Info: www.cdamakers.com