Category: Hard times

Fighting for good mental health in (UGH) January

Posted on January 12, 2018 by

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The Christmas season has its own set of stresses and depressing points days weeks, but sometimes January can kick you in the crotch, too. Judging from (A) my social media feeds, and (B) the real-life humans I interact with (mostly at the school bus…

Category: Hard times, It's all about me, Lessons, Mental health, Mommy time, Motherhood

The mom who hated Christmas

Posted on December 19, 2017 by

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The mom who hated Christmas ... and how she fixed that. {Heather's Handmade Life}

Every mom in the neighbourhood liked Christmas a lot . . . But one mom — the one with the scowl — she did NOT! This mom disliked Christmas! The whole Christmas season! (Perhaps therapy would one day uncover the reason). It could be…

Category: Hard times, Holidays, Mental health, Mommy confession, The Mom Scene

Talking about mental health on social media

Posted on December 6, 2017 by

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This is why we rarely talk about mental health on social media {Heather's Handmade Life}

I’ve been having some bad days, and this is why you didn’t hear about them. I’m writing this post because I put a lamp in the kitchen. It looks terrible and doesn’t fit in, but I needed to be able to turn off all…

Category: Hard times, It's all about me, Mental health

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 spent hours woodworking this morning and it felt great to be back at it — after what felt like months of just sewing and painting. Handmade Christmas gifts, coming right up! . . . #woodworking #craftsman #webuildpride #womenwithpowertools #allthesawdust #building #handmade #wood Once I finished my impasto flowers, I had to decide what to do next! I settled on trying another portrait — yikes — except this one is going to be in a more abstract, impasto style. . . In this week’s class I did the “underpainting” which is just laying on a base layer of colour. . . I’ve always loved this photo of my babies, back when they could both fit in a grocery cart baby seat! . . #oilpainting #oilpaintings #workinprogress #artclass #underpainting #underpaintinginprogress My painting has been safely delivered to the @marigoldcentre and will be on display tomorrow (Dec. 4) through Dec. 19. . . I can’t wait to see it on the wall. It’s called “Bloom Where You’re Planted” and it’s the third oil painting I’ve done with my class (first two were lemons and the kids, as seen in my “Oil Painting” highlight reel). . . This one is my first impasto piece, which means the paint is THICK and you can see brush strokes / palette knife work. . . I really loved making it — except those times when I cursed the leaves! — so it won’t be my last impasto. . . Scroll to see the unique way I “signed” the painting — technically the frame — using my 3D pen! . . If you’re local, go say hi to it! 🥰 . . #oilpainting #ecmmedia #painting #impastopainting #beginnerpainter #floralpainting #paintedflowers #artshow #marigoldcentre #trurons #truro Pretty sure I will never get Tchaikovsky out of my head, but it’s been an amazing #Nutcracker2019 weekend! Three shows over two days. Long rehearsals. Months of practice. Exhausting for the dancers *and* their parents, but oh so worth it to see them onstage and watch the magic happen. . . . #nutcracker #nutty2019 #gingersnaps #firstnutcracker #dancemom #dancelife Wearing pantyhose + heels + a homemade dress and hoping there are no wardrobe malfunctions! 😂 Let’s go, Nutcracker performance No. 1! . . . #handmade #handmadeclothing #sewing #velvet #christmasdress #nutcracker #cdanutty19 Sad but rad. Anxious but courageous. Always fighting for myself. . . . #mentalhealth #mentalillness #mentalwellness #depression #anxiety #momswithanxiety #momswithdepression #ecmmedia #sadbutrad #wearyourlabel #sicknotweak
@HFXHeather on Twitter
My Top Posts
DIY dog crate cover
Easy DIY sofa tables
How to sew a cozy nap mat
How to transfer photos to wood (without a million failed attempts)
Super easy quilt top for beginners
Our board game wall
DIY monkey bars
Yardzee! DIY Yahtzee for the yard
Sew a reversible circle skirt
DIY hanging bars
PREGNANCY blog posts
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