Category: Freelance

The (6th Annual) Freelancer Christmas Party

Posted on December 21, 2018 by

7 Comments

The 6th Annual Freelancer Christmas Party {Heather's Handmade Life}

Working from home as a freelancer can be lonely, so I always throw myself a Christmas party … for just me!

Category: Freelance, Holidays, It's all about me

The (5th annual) Freelancer Christmas Party

Posted on December 22, 2017 by

1 Comment

The (5th annual) Freelance Christmas Party

I’ve been a freelance journalist unofficially since 2010, when I went on maternity leave with our son and made the decision not to return to full-time out-of-the-home “real” work. It took a few years for me to realize I was missing out on some…

Category: Freelance, Fujifilm, Holidays, It's all about me

Breaking out of the box

Posted on October 5, 2017 by

3 Comments

Sometimes you need to shake things up and do something that feels unnatural, and it ends up being the best thing you could have ever done.

Category: Decor, DIY, Freelance, WAHM

I’m Heather Laura Clarke. I’m journalist and blogger in beautiful Nova Scotia, I have an 9-year-old son and a 7-year-old daughter, I married my high school sweetheart, and this is the story of my handmade life.

I have depression and anxiety, and I fight like hell every day to keep it from taking over my life. Making things isn’t just a hobby — it’s part of what keeps me alive.

Whether I’m decorating a room, busting out my power tools to build furniture, getting muddy in the pottery studio, sewing clothes for my kids, or cross-stitching a swear word, I’m all about using my creativity to craft a life I love.

@HFXHeather on Instagram
Fun fact about me: I always try to keep a stash of fresh 1x2s, 2x2s, 1x3s, and 1x4s in my studio. There’s always a ton of OTHER wood, of course, but nothing sparks my creativity like seeing a couple of fresh new boards and deciding to turn them into something new. . . . #DIY #woodworking #girlswhobuild #sneakpeek We’ve been in deck HELL lately, and today’s post is all about (A) what went wrong, (B) what we’re doing about it, (C) what you can do to prevent our horrific deck/porch reality to becoming your own problem. 😭😭😭 . . . #linkinbio #DIY #porch #stain #theworst #DIYdisaster This was my bedroom when I was 13. I was obsessed with New York City so my mom let me paint murals of the skyline, Central Park, Long Island etc. and it was awesome. . (Swipe for all pics) . This room is super cheerful and happy, but what went on inside it sometimes was anything but. I was hit hard with the first waves of depression and anxiety, even though I didn’t understand it at the time. . When this room was finished, things got bad. I didn’t yet understand the connection between creating + my mental health. More on this over on the blog. . (HeathersHandmadeLife.com) . #linkinbio #mentalhealth #mentalillness #depression #anxiety #creativity #13yearsold I guess there was a big sale on pale blue fabric! 😂 . . . #sewing #handmade #throwback I painted out front door so that our new #gifted @schlagecanada Schlage Connect Smart Deadbolt could really pop, and OH, HOW I DO LOVE IT! . . . The colour is bright and fun, and coordinates really well with our beige siding. Best of all, it cost me about $12.50 and a couple of hours of my time, including drying time — and zero priming required. . . . Full details on the blog today! . . . #linkinbio #schlage #curbappeal #DIY #myhandmadehome #frontdoor #easyproject #coral #brightforspring It’s been a crazy few days of dance rehearsals and the big recital, but I’m hoping to steal an hour or two later to work on one of my MANY half-finished projects — like this colourful one I’m making with scrap wood blocks. Sundays are for rest, and nothing is more restful to me than slowly, quietly, making something. . . . #handmade #painting #wood #somethingfromnothing #creative #quietsunday #rest
@HFXHeather on Twitter
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© Heather Laura Clarke and Heather’s Handmade Life, 2009-2017. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Heather Laura Clarke and Heather’s Handmade Life with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.