More then 1,700 people visited this year's Saskatchewan Handcraft Festival in Battleford.
Held at the Alex Dillabough Centre, 30 exhibitors offered their products for sale Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There were also craft demonstrations Friday and Saturday.
The Saskatchewan Craft Council says the Saskatchewan Handcraft Festival is the cornerstone of its Craft Art Market programming. The council holds three major markets annually, the WaterFront Craft Art Market in Saksatoon, the WinterGreen Fine Craft Market in Regina and the market in Battleford.
Battleford's is the longest running craft market, older even than the Saskatchewan Craft Council, having been founded in 1973 by the Department of Industry and Commerce. The Town of Battleford's mayor of the time, Alex Dillabough, was instrumental in bringing the festival to Battlefords, which is now held in the community centre that bears his name.
The Saskatchewan Craft Council runs its three markets with the intention of providing a marketplace for high quality handmade objects. Exhibitors must meet certain criteria to take part in the markets.
Among the criteria is that that the craft article must be the original idea of the craftsperson or a skillful rendering of a traditional or classic design. The use of commercial kits or molds is not acceptable.
The 30 exhibitors this year were Prairie Pottery of Saskatoon, S. Cross Creationsof Marmora, Ont., Joan's Beeswax Candles of Hague, Premala's Spicy Sensations of Saskatoon, Janet Williams Art of Saskatoon, The Alpacaloft Fibre Studio of Lloydminster, Glass by Arliss of Meota, Linda Marie's Gourmet Toffee of Saskatoon, The Picnic Basket of Saskatoon, Chatty's Indian Spices of Saskatoon, Soul Creations of Winnipeg, Man., Heart Warmers Arts and Crafts of Yorkton, Pottery by Marlene of Altona, Man., Tran's Origami of Saskatoon, Carmen Beaumont Creations of Meota, Anna-Marie Clothing Collection of Battleford, The Wolves Artistic Den of Winnipeg, Man., M&M Glass With Class of Moose Jaw, Gordon Munn of North Battleford, Handmade House of Saskatoon, Ladd Fogarty Fine Art of Regina, Dan Reid Artwork of Saskatoon, The Little Glass Hut of Lebret, Trails End Buffalo Stix of Turtle Lake, Quicksilver Halo of Manitoa, A to Z Illusions of Brandon, Man., Scott's Yarn Crafts of Battleford, Deb Vereschagin Pottery of Meadow Lake, Extraordinary Light Fine Art Photography of Regina and Name Your Nuts of Saskatoon.
All are juried members of the Saskatchewan Craft Council and many have exhibited at the Saskatchewan Handcraft Festival for several years.
With funding made available by Tourism Saskatchewan, two artists presented demonstrations of their crafts Friday and Saturday.
Saskatoon fibre artist Monika Kinner-Whalen demonstrated threadpainting and had a "tapestry table" for kids to try their hand at stitching.
Teresa Gagne, also of Saskatoon, demonstrated various pottery techniques.
