Category: Money-savin’

Cheap and easy DIY floating shelves

Posted on February 12, 2018 by

Leave a Comment

Cheap and easy DIY floating shelves {Heather's Handmade Life}

There once was a time when we’d buy cheap laminate bookcases if we needed more storage in a room. Now we just build our own wooden shelves, and there’s no going back. If we no longer need the shelves in a particular room, we…

Category: DIY, Money-savin', My Handmade Home, Organization, Our Son, Woodworking

Can you paint fabric storage cubes?

Posted on January 29, 2018 by

2 Comments

Just about everybody has one of those “cube” organizers, whether it’s Ikea’s Kallax or one of the thinner knock-offs sold elsewhere. We had a six-cube unit* that floated around the house for years — closets, bedrooms, different closets — before winding up in our daughter’s…

Category: Money-savin', My Handmade Home, Organization

Upcycled DIY headboard

Posted on December 11, 2017 by

Leave a Comment

Upcycled DIY headboard {Heather's Handmade Life}

We spent $0 making a DIY headboard by reusing what we had Our guests have always slept in our basement playroom, which was possibly the least restful spot in the entire house. I mean, how can you truly feel relaxed when you have dozens…

Category: Darling Husband, DIY, Fusion Mineral Paint, Money-savin', My Handmade Home, Woodworking

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 took these pictures from some of my many "mobile novel-writing stations," like while waiting for the kids to finish a lesson or a birthday party. Like at the hospital while I get an iron infusion. Like sitting on a tiny child-sized chair at the local library where I can keep an eye on my kids playing while also trying to put down another page, another chapter. Anything. . . I take these photos as reminders, as proof, that I’m always trying to get a little closer to the goal I’ve had since I was eight years old: writing and publishing books. . . Today’s post is called WHEN MOMS MAKE TIME FOR DREAMS. I know I have a dream — to be an author — and I don’t think that dream needs to wait until my kids are all grown up. It’s just not easy to make it happen. . . #linkinbio #authorsofinstagram #aspiringauthor #writing #writerlife #parenting #goals #dreams #novelist #novelwriting Who wore it best? 😂 . . . #sewingforkids #fabricstash #saveeveryscrap #handmade Zillions of cut-out sugar cookies with shiny pink glaze and red sprinkles all set for the kids to bring to their classes tomorrow for Valentine’s Day. . Swipe to see what happened to C’s fingers during the process! 😂 Oops! . #valentines #cookies #sugarcookies #classtreat #thatreddyetho Today is @jenniferaniston’s birthday which is practically a national holiday in this house, so of course I have to share the Jennifer Aniston shadowbox that hangs in my home office! . I made this shadow box years ago when I decided I had to pare down my MANY large storage totes. I used to keep every newspaper and magazine clipping I could get my hands on, which was a LOT as you can imagine. (I ran a large online fan club for years and took it very seriously!) . I couldn’t keep it all, what with having babies and them needing space, so I weeded it down to these favourites. My autographs, of course, and a few special photos. . There are rumours of a Friends reboot coming and naturally I am just trying not to get my hopes up (again). In the meantime, I urge you all to watch @themorningshow on @appletv because Jennifer is PHENOMENAL and @reesewitherspoon is fantastic, too. . HBD, JEN! ❤️ . #jenniferaniston #jenaniston #shadowbox #fanart #jenniferanistonfans #happybirthdayjenniferaniston The big project is finished and it’s ... a giant credenza slash entertainment centre slash something to make our giant TV look less giant and more proportional! . Like it? Wanna make it, except customized to fit your stuff exactly? (It makes my heart sing that the sound bar is perfectly built in.) Check out the FULL TUTORIAL! . Wood: @kentbuildingsupplies Stain: @minwaxcanada “Puritan Pine” Paint: @fusionmineralpaint “Picket Fence” Hardware: @phillips_and_chestnut . #DIY #handmade #furniture #customfurniture #livingroom #woodworking #womenwithpowertools We rarely wear our matching shirts at the same time, but last night C and I decided it would be funny to match for breakfast program this morning (and not tell D, lol). He still puts on whatever I lay out for him, so he didn’t realize he had two twinsies until it was too late to change. Gotcha! . . . #triplets #mommydaughter #mommyson #matching #trurons #truroelementary @myhomeapparel #schoolspirit #parenting #sneaky
@HFXHeather on Twitter
My Top Posts
DIY dog crate cover
Easy DIY sofa tables
How to sew a cozy nap mat
Build your own slide-out pantry
Easy hairstyles for Crazy Hair Day
How to make a backyard water blob
How to transfer photos to wood (without a million failed attempts)
Super easy quilt top for beginners
Our board game wall
Anne of Green Gables quilt
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.