Category: School

School lunch container tips & tricks

Posted on August 20, 2019 by

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Today we’re talking about the best school lunch containers — what lasts, what’s worth the extra money, and what you can cheap out on — and how to store them!

Category: Organization, School

Easily replace a broken zipper

Posted on February 6, 2019 by

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How to replace a broken zipper on a backpack {Heather's Handmade Life}

I replaced the broken zippers on two school backpacks in under half an hour, WITHOUT using a sew machine or any fancy sewing techniques.

Category: Kiddos, School, Sewing

Rocked by the report card

Posted on December 18, 2018 by

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Rocked by the report card: I finally opened one that mortified me! {Heather's Handmade Life}

Four years into being an elementary school parent, it finally happened: I opened a report card that mortified me. Our son’s report card was packed with WDs (Well Developed) and glowing comments about how he’s “confident” and “compassionate” and “knows what he has to… Continue Reading “Rocked by the report card”

Category: Life lessons, Our Daughter, Our Son, Parenting, Parenting mistakes, School, The Mom Scene, Uncategorized

Getting kids excited about STEM

Posted on October 30, 2018 by

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Getting kids excited about STEM {Heather's Handmade Life}

Disclosure: littleBits sent us a Base Inventor Kit* to play with so I could share this story. All opinions and irrational fears of science are my own. *** I can’t imagine a future in which my daughter doesn’t think she can go to university… Continue Reading “Getting kids excited about STEM”

Category: Activities, Our Daughter, Our Son, Parenting, School, The Mom Scene

Homework nagging hack

Posted on October 9, 2018 by

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Now that our kids are in Grade 1 and Grade 3, I’ve noticed this year feels a little different. They’re older students and with that comes more responsibilities at home. Our daughter, who’s in Grade 1, needs to read at least one book every… Continue Reading “Homework nagging hack”

Category: Our Daughter, Our Son, Parenting, Schedules, School, The Mom Scene

I’m Heather Laura Clarke. I’m a writer living in beautiful Nova Scotia, I have a 12-year-old son and a 10-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 them from taking over my life. Creating things helps.

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

I’ve been writing this blog since 2009, so if you dig deep into the archives, you’ll meet a bright-eyed 25-year-old newlywed who was basically obsessed with having kids, buying a cozy house, and supporting herself full-time with her writing. (Spoiler alert: she got exactly what she wanted.)

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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.