Category: Organization

DIY living room credenza

Posted on February 10, 2020 by

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This was one of the biggest custom furniture projects we’ve ever made together, and even though we (temporarily) wrecked the main level of our house with sawdust and piles of tools, it all feels worth it looking at the finished piece.

Category: Decor, DIY, My Handmade Home, Organization, WoodworkingTags: , , , , , ,

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

Stuffed animal zoo re-do

Posted on April 22, 2019 by

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DIY Stuffed Animal Zoo {Heather's Handmade Life}

The more time I spend making things for our home, the more I realize nothing stays the same. Kids grow, needs shift, tastes change, trends pass and what once felt beautiful or functional can suddenly stop being either. Longtime readers may remember that three…

Category: DIY, My Handmade Home, Organization, Our Daughter, Our Son, 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
Easy DIY sofa tables
DIY dog crate cover
Build your own slide-out pantry
How to sew a cozy nap mat
DIY quilt made from old jeans
Our board game wall
Super easy quilt top for beginners
How to make a backyard water blob
Anne of Green Gables quilt
Sew a reversible circle skirt
PREGNANCY blog posts
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© 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.