How one woman turned heartbreak into something beautiful with just paper and glue

When Carol Heriot picked up her first craft kit after losing her husband Denis in June, she didn’t expect it to change her life.

The 71-year-old South Australian wasn’t chasing a new hobby—she was searching for something to fill the silence left behind.

What she discovered instead was a powerful tool for healing hidden in plain sight.

After Denis’s death from oesophageal cancer following a three-year battle, Carol described the following six months as ‘really hard’.

Then came her unexpected lifeline—crafting. ‘It has just been a godsend to me being able to sit and do something,’ she said.

What began as a quiet distraction soon became a scientifically backed pathway to peace, one shared by thousands of grieving Australians.

The science behind the comfort

Research published in the British Journal of Occupational Therapy found that 81 per cent of people experiencing depression reported feeling happy after knitting, with more than half feeling ‘very happy’.

Although Carol’s passion lies in scrapbooking, the calming effects remain the same.

Experts say the repetitive motions involved in crafting can ease both body and mind, creating what researchers call a ‘meditative state’.

During periods of deep grief, activities like crochet, knitting, or card-making can be especially comforting because they demand little energy or money yet offer a sense of purpose and temporary relief from pain.

Dr Jenny Robinson from RMIT University, who has spoken about mindfulness benefits, said crafting can even help delay memory loss. Recent research from the Mayo Clinic found knitting may be neuroprotective—reducing dementia risk by up to 50 per cent.

More than just busy hands

For Carol, the mental rewards are matched by physical ones. ‘When you’re making cards, there’s often a lot of what they call fussy cutting—you’ve got to cut out a flower or a shape, and so that all helps with the dexterity,’ she said.

‘It is such a great hobby.’

These small, intricate movements strengthen hand coordination and fine motor skills—abilities that often decline with age.

Crafting also engages cognitive processes, helping keep the mind sharp while providing a welcome distraction.

Even more surprising, research by Professor Herbert Benson of the Mind/Body Medical Institute revealed that all insomnia patients in his studies reported better sleep after crafting, with 90 per cent able to stop using sleep medication entirely.

When craft becomes community

Carol’s story took on new meaning once her handmade cards began to pile up. Instead of storing them away, she decided to donate them to aged care facilities alongside a friend.

‘We’re making Christmas cards to take to the nursing homes so that the residents, if they want to give their family a card, they can,’ she said.

Encouraged by relatives working in aged care, Carol recognised how simple gestures like this could help others maintain precious connections with loved ones.

This sense of community is more than heartwarming—it’s vital for health. Studies show that social connection helps prevent loneliness and isolation, which can otherwise lead to serious medical conditions.

The business of healing

For Tracey Schulz, owner of Uniquely Creative, this link between creativity and recovery is something she sees daily.

Her business sends out around 2,000 craft kits each month to Australians turning to creativity for comfort.

When she asked customers on social media what craft meant to them, the responses moved her deeply.

‘There was hundreds of people just openly sharing their stories... people who had lost family members and just lots of really horrific stuff,’ she said.

‘And they were just saying how much it means to them to be able to get into the zone, like [with] craft.’

Her carefully designed kits aim to make crafting accessible.

‘You get your kit, and inside you’ve got your instructions for how to make some scrapbooking layouts, how to make some cards. And so they don’t have to think,’ she explained.

The grief expert’s perspective

Mental health professionals are increasingly embracing creative arts as tools for emotional recovery. Registered nurse Jennie Wright explained: ‘Creating artwork following a tragic loss can be very therapeutic, helping you to express and release your own painful, stressful emotions. Creative arts can help you express emotions that are very hard to put into words.’

Studies also suggest that creative outlets can accelerate the adjustment process, helping people return to their pre-loss functionality sooner.

Finding your own path forward

Recent research tracking over 72,000 adults found that spending just 30 minutes daily on creative activities during difficult times reduced depression and anxiety while boosting overall life satisfaction.

The beauty of crafting lies in its simplicity—it’s affordable, accessible, and healing all at once. For Carol and many like her, making something beautiful became a way to rebuild what loss had taken away.

In creating art, they’re also creating hope—and perhaps reminding us all that sometimes, healing begins with our hands.

If Carol’s story moved you, this video dives even deeper into how crafting can ease grief, calm anxiety, and lift the weight of depression through simple acts of creation.

Watch how everyday people are finding hope and healing in the quiet rhythm of crafting.

If you found comfort in Carol’s story of healing through creativity, you might be interested in how other forms of art can also nurture emotional wellbeing.

From painting to pottery, art therapy has been proven to unlock feelings that words often can’t express, offering a gentle path toward recovery and self-understanding.

Discover another inspiring look at how creative expression supports mental health and resilience.

Read more: Lost for words? Research shows art therapy brings benefits for mental health

What creative outlet has helped you or someone you love through a difficult time?