The years that Rosie Wallington has spent since moving from Winnipeg to Hay River, NWT, have been an exercise of cultivating a close community.
Whether near or far in the physical distance, the annual event of Maker’s March has played a significant role in building that community.
In Rosie’s own words, Maker’s March is an online celebration of all things creative and handmade! People participate on Instagram (#makersmarch), or in the Facebook group.
It involves sharing ways that you are incorporating creativity and handmade items into your everyday life.
MeMadeMarch
In speaking with Rosie, we got a closer look at what this month-long challenge is, and how it began.
“It has kind of evolved over time to incorporate more kinds of making,” explains Rosie.
“My friend Andee Penner sells handmade items in Winnipeg as Sewdandee. She started an event, mainly promoting handmade clothing, called MeMadeMarch. After a few years she was ready for new adventures and passed it over to me.
“I live in the North, and one of my favourite things is seeing Northerners sharing their kinds of art with members from further South—such as an Inuvialuit friend showing a sealskin item from their indigenous culture.
It’s so much fun to get makers from totally different backgrounds together.”
Few Rules
Beyond requiring people to treat each other with respect, Rosie tries to keep as few rules as possible.
The beauty of being able to fit many different people’s lives is, Rosie explains, it could be about anything from…
- challenging yourself to wear more handmade
- showing off something your child made
- sharing a fun recipe or art idea
- selling your work
“It could be anything, really. I want people to feel that the things they are making are valid and worthy of sharing.”
Sometimes we can be intimidated, but inside, Rosie believes we are all creative in one way or another.
“I would like to continue to see this event bring people together, helping them realize that they are already creative and that what they make is really cool and exciting.
I want it to open our eyes and encourage us to try new things we’ve dreamed of trying, to have fun making, and to learn more about each other!
I hope that even in this day and age of so much online fighting, we can find a way to grow and be inclusive but also treat each other well, even with differences.”
We hope so too, Rosie!
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