In this story
The Yellowknife Mug began with another mug traveling north. Someone on Janet’s team brought a Sioux Lookout Mug into Signed, and Janet contacted me about creating one for Yellowknife. She knew the community and gathered the places and symbols she wanted represented. My part was to turn that local knowledge into a drawing that could travel all the way around a mug.
Small details with a northern character
I especially love the ptarmigans, the dog-sled team, and the moccasins. They sit alongside the larger sense of Yellowknife: Great Slave Lake, Old Town, and the northern landscape. The Snowking Winter Festival brought another layer of imagination to the design. I am amazed by what people build from snow and ice there.
Aviation also felt right for this mug. Bush planes are part of the North’s connections between communities, and my husband’s love of aviation history made those details especially enjoyable for our family to include.
From downtown to the airport
It has been wonderful to see the community respond to the mug at Signed. Emily later approached me about carrying it at The Cabin in Yellowknife Airport, where travelers can discover it too. The artwork has since appeared on a tote and a 40-ounce tumbler.
See the Yellowknife Mug page for a closer look at the illustrations and current shop details.
A gift idea with a real place behind it
Bush Pilots Monument and Great Slave Lake give this design two points to recognize on a return visit. For someone who knows Yellowknife through trips rather than an address, pair the mug with a note about a particular stop or a plan to go back. It keeps the gift tied to an experience instead of a generic destination.
Ashley Ann
