From handmade photo cards to contemporary romance novels, two local creatives are turning passion into art. Susan Bowden is crafting unique, hand-made cards from her photography, while Bridget Van der Eyk is building a growing catalogue of romance stories — both inspired by finding joy in creativity.
Susan Bowden Art is a small, locally run venture transforming original photography into handmade greeting and gift cards, each one crafted individually.
What began during the isolation of COVID lockdowns has grown into a creative outlet that captures the beauty of everyday moments through a different lens.
“During COVID’s lockdowns I turned my love of creating art to photography,” Susan Bowden said.
Using her own images as the foundation, Bowden produces cards that reflect a wide range of subjects, from sweeping landscapes to the small, often overlooked details of daily life.
“My photos are of literally anything – landscapes, animals, local landmarks as well as everyday things that can look amazing and thought provoking,” she said.
Each card is made by hand, ensuring no two are exactly the same.
That focus on individuality is central to the appeal of her work, with each piece offering something personal and unique for the recipient.
“Each card is handmade by me. Not mass produced,” Bowden said.
Photography by Susan Bowden Art that is put on cards (supplied)
The collection continues to grow as Bowden explores new creative techniques and ideas.
“I have recently been experimenting with AI to enhance my images with great results,” she said.
By combining traditional photography with emerging tools, Bowden is able to expand the possibilities of her work while maintaining the handmade nature of each finished product.
The result is a range of cards that are both artistic and personal, designed to turn a simple gesture into something memorable.
Balancing life as a high school teacher, mum and author, Bridget Van der Eyk is steadily building a name as an emerging voice in contemporary romance.
Based on a five-acre property in Rocky River with her husband Josh, children Zoe and Max, and two dogs Kevin and Stella, Bridget writes stories centred on strong, relatable female characters.
“I love writing smart, strong, and sassy female characters that have little parts of myself embedded in them,” she said.
Bridget’s writing journey began during maternity leave in 2021, when she wrote her first book, 10 Dates, an adult contemporary romance described as having “Gossip Girl goes Hollywood” vibes.
Since then, she has committed to independently publishing one book each year, steadily growing her catalogue and audience.
Her writing spans different corners of the romance genre, from the drama-filled world of wealth and scandal in her The Hollywood Socialite series, to lighter, feel-good storytelling such as her romantic comedy The Husband Wishlist, which explores love and Christmas themes.
Her next release, The Tortured Tourists Department, a romantic comedy novella, is due in April 2026.
As a teenager, she believed reading simply was not for her, finding it more of a chore than a pleasure. That changed when she discovered the Gossip Girl series by Cecily von Ziegesar, which showed her how engaging the right book could be.
That experience continues to shape her work today, with a clear goal behind her stories.
“I hope my books can help someone else out there discover the joy that reading can bring,” she said.
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