Category: Sewing

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

Easy fix for cracked leather stools

Posted on January 28, 2019 by

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One of the greatest benefits of knowing how to sew is being able to repair things that would otherwise need to be thrown away and replaced. Often this means mending a hole in someone’s jacket or stitching up a rip in someone’s heirloom quilt,…

Category: DIY, My Handmade Home, Sewing, Your Handmade Home

DIY Harry Potter costumes

Posted on November 2, 2018 by

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DIY Harry Potter costumes | DIY Quidditch broom craft | Hermione Granger costume | Rita Skeeter costume | {Heather's Handmade Life}

And so, after spending a year feeling guilty about dropping waaaaay too much money in the stupid Halloween store — and coming to the conclusion that DIY costumes aren’t always cheaper — I present to you … our sorta-bought, sorta-DIY Harry Potter costumes ……

Category: Annabelle, Craftiness, Holidays, Our Daughter, Our Son, Sewing

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
Front porch = 😍 . . . As soon as we installed our new @schlagecanada #SchlageConnect Smart Deadbolt and handleset, I KNEW I needed to repaint the teal door. “Coral” in @fusionmineralpaint was the perfect shade to make the aged bronze deadbolt and handleset pop. . . . Today’s post is all about how we redid the porch itself, stripping down years of thick chipping solid stain (more like paint) to start fresh with this sheer one. . . . #linkinbio #frontporch #DIY #homedecor #fusionmineralpaint #porch Ahh, glossy black paint + a brand-new brush 🥰 . . . #DIY #sneakpeek #fusionmineralpaint #woodworking #DIYlife #bloglife Fun fact about me: I always try to keep a stash of fresh 1x2s, 2x2s, 1x3s, and 1x4s in my studio. There’s always a ton of OTHER wood, of course, but nothing sparks my creativity like seeing a couple of fresh new boards and deciding to turn them into something new. . . . #DIY #woodworking #girlswhobuild #sneakpeek We’ve been in deck HELL lately, and today’s post is all about (A) what went wrong, (B) what we’re doing about it, (C) what you can do to prevent our horrific deck/porch reality to becoming your own problem. 😭😭😭 . . . #linkinbio #DIY #porch #stain #theworst #DIYdisaster This was my bedroom when I was 13. I was obsessed with New York City so my mom let me paint murals of the skyline, Central Park, Long Island etc. and it was awesome. . (Swipe for all pics) . This room is super cheerful and happy, but what went on inside it sometimes was anything but. I was hit hard with the first waves of depression and anxiety, even though I didn’t understand it at the time. . When this room was finished, things got bad. I didn’t yet understand the connection between creating + my mental health. More on this over on the blog. . (HeathersHandmadeLife.com) . #linkinbio #mentalhealth #mentalillness #depression #anxiety #creativity #13yearsold I guess there was a big sale on pale blue fabric! 😂 . . . #sewing #handmade #throwback
@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.