Arts & Entertainment

The DIY Project: Discovering a Community of Doers

Ferndale Patch spoke with 21 people about what DIY meant to them.

In the lead-up to the , Kelly Bennett, a Ferndale Patch contributor, had the idea to go out into the community and find the artists, musicians, crafters, business owners, professionals, this person, that person and whoever else to talk DIY (Do-It-Yourself) with us.

There was no shortage to choose from and unfortunately we couldn't get to everyone; the idea was to finish it up on the last day of the DIY Street Fair (Sept. 16-18).

In our research, we found 21 ideas, 21 projects, and 21 people (and in two cases a couple) with a story to share of doing it themselves.

Find out what's happening in Ferndalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

What came out of it was such a broad range of the DIY concept, such an amazing snapshot of who is living in and doing things in Ferndale and such a wonderful array of people that call themselves Ferndalians and DIYers.

What DIY means to our 21 people (click the link for the full profile):

  • "What it means to us is hands on." -
  • "Max Roach has an album called Deeds Not Words. For me, that sums up the DIY ethos." -
  • "More than anything, I think DIY is about having an independent spirit and the belief that you, and the people around you, are capable not just of making things, but also of choosing to live your life in a mindful way—one that reflects your own priorities and not necessarily those of the culture at large." -
  • "Our definition of DIY is to create an item, space, or anything really, that lends itself to the notion that one's personality and dream is only enhanced with the use of local artists, goods and/or theme." -
  • "When I was little I didn't even consider asking for stuff, I would gather things I already had around me to make a project, music or fort. Little money and lots of imagination can really take you places in fourth grade and in your adult life." -
  • "The magical experience of taking the base materials-- fabric, sugar, wood, paint, whatever--and transforming it into this work of your hands that hopefully functions and suits your needs and wants." -
  • "DIY means staying true to yourself and your art, and doing what comes natural to you and sharing it with those around you." -
  • "Having some type of DIY ideal allows you to put your culture out, so someone else can take it in, and hopefully be inspired to put theirs out too." -
  • "It’s about craftsmanship and taking pride in what you do. It’s about the passion to create what you love and in turn share your pride and joy with the world." -
  • "It is the idea that we are all intelligent and capable people, and if we are willing to put in the time and the effort, then we as a community can solve just about any problem that comes our way." -
  • "For myself, DIY was more of Do It With What You Have. DIY means inspiring and feeding off other people's creativity. Working with your hands, and NOT (always) machines." -
  • "DIY means mixed things to me. At first it makes me cringe. The DIY movement over the past 15 years has given rise to the do it yourself homeowners fixing their own plumbing or building their own deck." -
  • "...the DIY-er is in tune with their spirit, comes to understand what their passion is - seeks out the nuances of whatever that may be, whatever that hobby, expression, or outlet (creative outlet!) may be that gives you the most reward, the most bit of meditative rejuvenation." -
  • "It means imagining goods and products, rather than just waiting to see what others create and put on store shelves for our consumption. It also means freedom and independence for Ferndale's emerging creative class." -
  • "My reaction to this question is threefold: first, I think of the classic American pulling-up of one’s bootstraps, a Victory Garden mentality. Then, I think of hippies. Then, I think of the “getting it done” montage in an 80s teen movie." -
  • "DIY means creating all the components of an end result." -
  • "To me, DIY is artists finding their specific talents and working with them." -
  • "DIY is the refusal to stop making attempts to be creative, and then see that those creations come to some kind of existence, despite any kind of adversity in your path, whether it be monetary, public interest, or otherwise." -
  • "In that sense it is about failure and the guts to fail in order to fulfill an innate curiosity, create solutions or even simply to live better. It stands for the genesis of progress." -
  • "Darling Icicle Yellowstone. Right? I love our nation's parks." -
  • "DIY to me means getting your hands dirty. It means channeling your inner MacGyver to make it work with what you've got." -

One last thing: Big shout out to Kelly Bennett for bringing all these people together on Ferndale Patch!

Find out what's happening in Ferndalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

If we didn't get to you or your story, send Ferndale Patch editor Terry Parris Jr. an email here.


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