Hand-drawn hometown collection
A hand-drawn celebration of Yellowknife, available at Signed and The Cabin.
Community
Yellowknife is a spirited northern capital set on Great Slave Lake, where Old Town character and extraordinary wilderness meet. The Bush Pilots Monument, Wildcat Cafe, houseboats, local arts, and northern lights make it a proud home and a truly unforgettable destination.
Where to find it
Shop downtown at Signed or find the mug at The Cabin while passing through Yellowknife Airport.
Before you visit
Hours are listed below. Contact each shop for current mug inventory.
Where to find the Yellowknife Mug
Downtown Yellowknife
5018 52nd Street
Yellowknife, NT X1A 1T4
Yellowknife Airport
Inside the terminal beside the departure exit doors
1 Yellowknife Highway, Yellowknife, NT X1A 3T1
Store hours can change seasonally or on holidays. Contact the shop before making a special trip.
The collaboration
Janet at Signed approached me about creating a Yellowknife Mug after one of her staff members brought in a Sioux Lookout Mug. Janet’s love for Yellowknife shaped the project. She gathered the iconic elements, and it was such a fun collaboration to translate her knowledge of the community into a wraparound drawing.
I especially love the ptarmigans, dog-sled team, and moccasins in the design. The Snowking Winter Festival is another remarkable part of Yellowknife, and the creativity of what people build from snow and ice is incredible. My husband’s love of bush planes and aviation history made those northern aviation elements meaningful to our family as well.
The community received the mug so warmly at Signed, and Emily later approached me about offering it at The Cabin in the Yellowknife Airport. The collection has grown to include a tote and 40-ounce tumbler. It has been wonderful collaborating with Janet and seeing travelers discover the design at the airport too.
The story behind the mug
Ashley partnered with Signed to create a mug rooted in Yellowknife.
Research and community input highlighted Great Slave Lake, Old Town, northern history, and life beneath the aurora.
Ashley translated each selected place and symbol into an individual hand-drawn illustration.
The drawings were refined and arranged into a continuous design that rewards a closer look.
The finished mug is available through Signed and The Cabin at Yellowknife Airport.
Inside the illustration
Each element celebrates a recognizable part of the community’s history, landscape, gathering places, and everyday life.
The monument overlooks Old Town and honours the pilots who connected northern communities.
The vast lake shapes Yellowknife’s seasons, recreation, and waterfront life.
Colourful cabins, winding roads, and rock outcrops preserve the city’s distinctive northern character.
The historic log building is a familiar landmark in the heart of Old Town.
The museum shares the cultures, art, and history of the Northwest Territories.
The aurora brings brilliant colour to Yellowknife’s clear winter skies.
The creative process
I built this design around Bush Pilots Monument, Great Slave Lake, Old Town, and Wildcat Cafe. Each was drawn on its own, then adjusted and arranged until the finished wrap felt less like a collection of icons and more like a walk through Yellowknife.
The mug and its making
A meaningful local gift
For Christmas, a birthday, or an everyday reminder of home, this hand-drawn Yellowknife, Northwest Territories mug is a personal local gift for anyone who knows and loves the community.
Purchasing information