Category: Freelance

The life-changing magic of adding water to cornstarch

Posted on February 4, 2020 by

Leave a Comment

I paused for a second. “Maybe later.” I was hurrying to clean up the kitchen in between phone calls, since a snow day for the kids doesn’t mean I get snow day from my work. I was flustered and already thinking through my next task for as soon as I could escape back down to my home office.

Category: Career, Freelance, Parenting, Parenting mistakes, The Mom Scene

The (7th Annual) Freelancer Christmas Party

Posted on December 20, 2019 by

2 Comments

I’ve been freelancing for nine years now, but I started throwing myself a holiday party seven years ago after feeling sad that I no longer got to attend an office Christmas party.

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

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

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
I’ve started doing daily art lessons with the kids, as we all follow along with YouTube videos. Yesterday was chalk pastel sunsets and today was oil pastel apples. I think it’s been helping me even more than it’s helping them.
I got laid off today, along with 40% of the company. . I’m sad and scared, but it was what had to be done. I’m a writer/editor — I’m not an essential service. I don’t even write hard news — I write nice, light, happy “good news” custom content features. . If businesses can’t keep their doors open, they certainly can’t afford for our team to write (awesome, effective) custom content articles and (beautiful glossy) custom magazine. I get it. I’m just disappointed. I will miss telling their stories. . I hope this is temporary. I hope I get to go back when this is all over. I really love the work, and we were doing SO WELL (like record-breaking well) just last month. Just two weeks ago, actually. Everything changed shockingly fast. . I work with a team of wonderful people (most of whom have also been laid off) and we’re all gutted about this. But we understand. No one saw this coming, and lots of industries have been hit hard. . PLEASE support the SaltWire papers that continue to be published. The Chronicle Herald. The Cape Breton Post. The Guardian/Journal Pioneer. The Telegram. Subscriptions are discounted — buy one? Click on articles. Share them. . Show your support for local news, so there are jobs for me and my friends when this is over. We all just want to go back. . . —30—
I’ve been sewing face masks, and you can, too! . There’s a serious mask shortage and although these aren’t as good as the medical-grade one, they’re better than nothing. I’m going to make batches to donate to our local hospital, which I’ve heard is one of the dedicated Covid-19 facilities. . Full video tutorial is on my Facebook page! “Heather Laura Clarke: Journalist & Blogger.” Original free pattern is from @buttoncounter! #buttoncountermask
I wrote a new blog post this morning about the power of thought work. . I truly think it’s the only thing that’s going to hell right now. Not panic-buying. Not freaking out. Not turning on each other. . Managing our thoughts. Which dictates how we feel. Which controls how we act. . Everything else is out of our control. Everything. And it always has been. . NEW POST ON THE BLOG ❤️
I needed this laugh. Thanks, kids! 😂 . They swear it’s a monkey. With a long “tail.” And a “fart cloud.” I’ll see what I want to see. . 😂😂😂
Breathing is something I’m struggling with right now, I want to talk about it! . NEW POST on the blog this morning where I round up some important tips for breathing when it feels like your chest is so heavy it’s going to be crushed. . Anxiety is a real B, you know? But in situations like this, even those without “regular, everyday anxiety” are feeling it! . #newpodt #breathe #anxiety #panic #panicattack #justbreathe
@HFXHeather on Twitter
My Top Posts
Easy DIY sofa tables
DIY dog crate cover
DIY monkey bars
How to make a backyard water blob
Sew a reversible circle skirt
How to re-cover patio furniture cushions
Build your own slide-out pantry
Yardzee! DIY Yahtzee for the yard
Quilts from baby clothes
Our board game wall
PREGNANCY blog posts
*** This blog contains ads and affiliate links ***

© Heather Laura Clarke and Heather’s Handmade Life, 2009-2019. 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.