Susan Appleby, 57, Yarra Valley, Vic, shares her story below…
Coming home from school one afternoon, I found my mum, Lyn, at the kitchen table, sewing a button onto a blouse.
“Teach me how to sew like you,” I begged.
“When you’ve finished your maths homework, Susan,” she smiled.
It was the early ’70s, and crafting, knitting, crocheting and sewing fascinated me.
Mum taught me everything she knew, and I picked up more at school.
As I grew older, I was rarely without a ball of yarn, often wearing my latest creation, starting with scarves, then beanies and jumpers.
I also fell in love with poetry and writing.
After high school, I became a nurse, encouraged to choose a stable career.
Still, I never let go of my creativity, making handmade gifts whenever I could.
Read more: Stitch switch – how I changed my life path in my 50s!
“I’m glad you keep creative on the side,” Mum said.
In the mid ’80s, I met David, a down-to-earth gardener’s apprentice.
He loved my creative streak, and we balanced each other perfectly.
We married and had our son, Tom, and daughter, Sez.
Life became a blur of packed lunches, nursing shifts and washing.
My hobbies slipped into the background, though the kids inherited the creative spark.
Tom became a self-taught musician, while Sez gravitated towards digital art and fashion.
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When my mum passed on, I felt her loss deeply, but it strengthened my resolve to keep creating in her honour.
In 2020, with the kids grown and gone, I had time again.
I picked up my yarn and my pen, and over four years wrote four children’s books, encouraged by Tom and Sez.
“You have to do something with these,” they said.
I went on to publish with Busy Bird Publishing, including stories helping explain dementia to children, inspired by my nursing experience.
When I wasn’t writing, I was crocheting – scarves, jumpers, blankets, even teddy bears – parading each new creation like it was Fashion Week in our lounge room.
By the end of 2025, I’d retired and fully embraced that side of myself again.
One night, Tom and Sez had an idea.
“Mum, you should share your creativity on social media,” Sez said.
“I’ll film and edit it,” Tom added.
He set up a camera while I disappeared into my craft room.
“Start filming!” I called out, strutting in wearing a crocheted koala hood.
“I’ve climbed a couple of gum trees this morning… so I can make you a eucalyptus tea, Tommy!” I said.
We burst into laughter as filming stopped.
“Is this too weird?” I asked.
But when I checked later, the video posted on @evelynviewcollections had over 15,000 views.
This is horrific and fantastic at the same time, one person commented.
I couldn’t stop smiling.
My silliness had found its people, and now I take commissions, with new ideas always on the go.
I’ve learned that creativity doesn’t have an expiry date.
It just waits for you to come back to it.
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