By Kate Adajar
It is never too late to upgrade your skillset. Actress Sunshine Cruz is proof to that as she dabbles in crafting in her 40s. Getting her hands busy, she revealed, was a result of trying to be productive while in quarantine.
“Crocheting makes me happy,” said Sunshine when I asked what got her hooked to the needlework. The particular kind allows one to create garments by interlocking loops of yarn or threads with literally, a hook.
“It takes away my stress and anxiety. And it also makes me proud when my kids are happy to wear the pieces I make. That makes me a happy mom,” she added.
Known to many, Sunshine is a single mom to her three daughters Angelina, Sam, and Chesca.
Asked if she has always been artistically inclined, Sunshine laughed and replied, “Not really!” In fact, the actress said, even she was surprised with her creations. “I didn’t realize I could crochet tops! I just made placemats and coasters back in school,” she explained.
Sunshine recalled that it was in fifth or sixth grade that she learned how to crochet. The little girl who did edging for a dress in art class is now a crafty mom who dresses up her daughters with cool tops made out of milk cotton yarn. Her partner Macky Mathay is also a recipient of her lovingly made pieces.
After a long time, the old hobby made a comeback in Sunshine’s life during the travel to her friend and fellow actress Ara Mina’s destination wedding in 2021.
“I made a beanie for Macky while we were on the road to Baguio. A few days before the trip, I ordered yarns and hooks online,” she shared.
Lately, it just takes around two days for Sunshine to finish a crocheted top. “I usually crochet while watching [TV] or when I chat with the girls. When I have free time, I multitask,” she related with excitement.
The handmade project is obviously giving Sunshine joy that I was curious to know if any of her girls also tried to get into it. “Oh, they did! Angelina and Sam tried but their final pieces looked like chicharon!,” she said matter-of-factly. “That’s when I said, just give me a peg and I will work on the design for you.”
“I do get orders already but for now, I just do this for my family,” Sunshine explained when asked if she has plans of turning her art into a business. Clearly, her career keeps the actress busy. She currently appears in GMA primetime series Mano Po Legacy: The Family Fortune.
While she has yet to monetize her “works of heart,” Sunshine believes learning is growth and wishes to empower aspiring crochet artists. “It is easy to learn. You can find crocheting tutorials and buy basic tools online,” she enthused. “Even when we are stuck at home, we can turn our passions into something purposeful and even profitable.”
Kate Adajar is a former media strategist and brand communications manager for multinational companies. She is now an entrepreneur and content creator behind RandomRepublika.com. Apart from being a TV, lifestyle, and travel junkie, Kate nurtures her creative side through watercolor painting, polymer clay art, and digital illustration. You can connect with her via Instagram @kate.adajar or drop her a note at kate.adajar@gmail.com.
