Crafty connections

Several years ago, Amy Roy Gratton was struggling to find meaning and purpose in her life. As a career advisor at the University of Alberta, she understands very well the importance of finding ways to fulfill people’s lives. But something was missing in her own life.

And then two things happened. She decided to start making handbags as a hobby and a way to supplement her income.

Also, a person she barely knew threatened to commit suicide.

“What’s interesting is that I didn’t actually know her before this happened,” Roy Gratton began, still baffled by the phone call she picked up just a few years ago. She had only ever seen “Liz” in passing before that moment.

“I was kind of confused as to why she was calling me. I didn’t expect what was coming: ‘I’m calling you because I’m going to kill myself.’ I didn’t know what to do but I knew that she needed somebody to talk to.”

She knew that talking meant life, that Liz was looking for a human connection. They talked for almost an hour before Roy Gratton convinced her to go for a walk.

“We spent the rest of the day together. She really just needed somebody to talk to and share everything that was going on without judgment, which is what I tried to do.”

“That’s the real impact of smiling and just being open to others’ situations. What really struck is she said, ‘You do not have to be a close friend or family to begin with and what may seem simple to some people can mean a lot to someone who is experiencing mental health difficulties.’”

It’s those two moments of finding meaning and making connections that have spurred Roy Gratton to create the Ardent Sparrow Craft Fair, taking place tomorrow. Even the name of the event has a deeper meaning, one that she believes in wholeheartedly. Ardent, she said, means enthusiastic or passionate and a sparrow is a social bird of Alberta, known for its indestructible nests of straw and mud.

“The value of having a hobby can’t be understated. That’s why the tagline of the fair is ‘Celebrate craft with crafters’ because it truly is a celebration of how we spend our free time,” she continued.

“A lot of free time can be spent online. We’re all consumed by social media and staying in our houses, not truly connecting on a one-to-one level. That’s what this has helped me do: use my spare time in a way that gives me life and purpose. Before this, I didn’t have any hobbies. I was just at home feeling sorry for myself, having a true jealous streak of ‘Oh, my God, everybody else’s life is so much better than mine! This really sucks!’ Now, it’s just celebrating that I can truly make a difference by putting my skill to work.”

The fair will feature more than 20 vendors of crafts of all types and stripes. Roy Gratton herself will have a table of her BEABS (also known as Bags to End All Bags). She is a firm believer in selling products of high quality, style and durability. She even test drives them to verify their craftsmanship. They have received such a strong reception from her clients that word of mouth has helped to sell them to places as far away as Ukraine, Egypt and Croatia.

There will be some St. Albert vendors on hand selling fascinators, silk scarves (and other fibre arts), handmade marbled paper and home baking. Other tables will have mosaics, crocheted items, jewelry, Christmas items and more.

More than that, Roy Gratton wants people to get out of the house and enjoy the world and experience the beauty of craft and craftspeople.

“They’re doing it out of the love of crafting, not out of the love of money.”

Liz, by the way, went on to graduate with a degree and has since married, Roy Gratton said.