Category: Parties

Cake pops are surprisingly easy

Posted on June 19, 2018 by

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Cake pops are surprisingly easy to make {Heather's Handmade Life}

I always admired parents who made cake pops. They seemed so fancy and I’d imagined they’d spent hours in the kitchen, perfecting each little ball of cakey goodness before dipping it and decorating it. While I’m definitely better at baking than cooking (which isn’t…

Category: Cooking, Parties, Recipes

The not-a-party birthday party

Posted on May 8, 2018 by

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The not-a-party birthday party: How to SAVE MONEY by hosting a birthday “outing” instead of a full-blown party where you rent a venue. {Heather’s Handmade Life}

Category: Birthday, Parties, The Mom Scene

Birthday party smackdown: big parties vs. small parties

Posted on May 9, 2017 by

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After last year’s huge birthday bash for our daughter, I swore that we were finished with big birthday parties. I don’t know what pushed me over the edge, whether it was the prep work, the money, the 50-odd people in the venue or the…

Category: Birthday, Friends, Holidays, Milestones, Our Daughter, Parties, The Mom Scene

I’m Heather Laura Clarke. I’m journalist and blogger in beautiful Nova Scotia, I have an 8-year-old son and a 6-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
Wow! What an amazing night at @rona.ca for my first @craftsmanca live DIY event! There were 70+ of us DIYing our hearts out and making gorgeous wooden trays. I can’t tell you how wonderful it was to have it be so many people’s very first time using power tools, and watch them leave with huge smiles — so proud of their accomplishments! Woodworking is a such a fun hobby and it was a joy to be able to share that with you. Thank you! ❤️ It’s OK to be cranky sometimes. It’s a bad day, not a bad life. Tomorrow is a new day. This, too, shall pass. Etc. Etc. Etc. . . . This freezing cold “spring” weather is THE WORST and it’s making all of us irritable and glum. Right?!?! . . . Sewing by hand is soothing. Taking deep breaths is recommended. Knowing it will pass is wise. Going to bed early is a good idea. So good night. . . . #mentalhealth #sewing #coldestmayever #badmood #longday #goodnight Three birthday girls, one party, and NO presents! 🙌 Hop over to the blog to read about the best birthday party ever. . . . #parenting #kids #birthdays #birthdayparties #lifehack Today on the blog, I’m talking about trying rug-hooking ... and how I was promptly kicked off my high horse because I SUCKED AT IT 😱 . . . It’s true. The creative crafter who can sew clothes without patterns, refinish junk from the curb, turn old scraps into quilts, and hand-letter like nobody’s business REALLY STRUGGLED AT SOMETHING CRAFTY AND IT WAS HUMBLING. 😳 . . . #linkinbio #rughooking #hooking #hookedrugs #learning #creating I stopped abruptly at @michaelsstores when I saw a new aisle full of colourful @officialcricut vinyl, all organized in ROYGBIV order naturally. 😍 . . . I don’t own a Cricut but I had so much fun working with @atasha89 of #frozenintimedesigns making geeky wall decals for a client’s home last month. (Scroll back to see pics!) . . . Seeing sooooo many rolls of vinyl made my head explode with ideas and happiness and mostly lots of rainbow joy. . . . Reminds me of my convo with @suziconfesses on the #WellnessSimplifiedPodcast this week about unconventional self-care practices, like organizing nail polish and LEGO into rainbow order. 🌈 . . . #craftsupplies #happyplace #roygbiv #rainbow #michaels #cricut #crafter #handmade #alwayscreating #creative #creativegirl My jean jacket is basically an autobiography in pin form. . . . Swipe to see both sides! . . . #jeanjacket #pins #flare #sewing #mentalhealth #trurons #tacos #bostonterrier #babythatsthefunofme
@HFXHeather on Twitter
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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.