Do-it-yourself gifts just in time for Mother's Day

A look at home improvement books, classes, tools
By: Paul Bianchina: Inman News
Mother's Day is not too far away, and if you have the type of Mom that loves do-it-yourself projects around the house, here are some gift ideas she might just love.

LEARN SOMETHING NEW.
If you have a Mom that is always interested in picking up a new skill or enjoys exploring new hobbies, why not get her enrolled in a local class. If you have a community college in your area, chances are that they offer any number of fun, non-credit classes in everything from beginning woodworking to backyard water feature construction. Classes are usually taught by local instructors who know and love their subject matter and bring many years of practical knowledge into the classroom with them. To learn about what classes might be available, contact your local community college for schedules and descriptions.

Even if you don't have a community college, there still are probably any number of classes available in your area. Your best source of information would be to talk with the folks at your local library, or you can also check in with local retail stores that carry things Mom is interested in.

Home Depot has recently begun offering evening seminars and classes at many of their locations, with how-to subject matter directed specifically at women. You might want to check out the offerings at your local store, and arrange a "learning night" for Mom where you do everything from signing her up for the class to chauffeuring her to the store.
If Mom has a deep interest in a specific subject, there are hundreds of classes and workshops available that range from a one- or two-day introduction to in-depth apprenticeships lasting several weeks or even months. A Web search under the general topic area - boat-building classes, for example - should get you any number of possibilities, or you can check with reference librarian at your local library.

BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS.

Books are always a great source of information and inspiration for any do-it-yourselfer. If Mom has a passion for a particular home improvement topic, visit your local bookstore or on-line retailer for some great reading. A couple of potential books might include:

• "Decorative Paint Effects: A Practical Guide" (Annie Sloan, Reader's Digest Books, suggested retail $18.95): This is a wonderful little book, packed with color photos and how-to instructions for creating a number of decorative paint effects. The author covers the materials and tools needed and the individual steps to take for everything from color sponging a wall to creating an incredibly realistic oak grain on an inexpensive piece of furniture.

• "Dare to Repair: A Do-It-Herself Guide to Fixing (Almost) Anything in the Home" (Julie Sussman, Stephanie Glakas-Tenet, Harper Resource, suggested retail $14.95): This is a very well-written book that is aimed primarily at any woman who would like to learn the basics of doing her own home repair work. It covers areas such as clearing a plumbing drain, fixing a faucet, replacing a doorknob, and a variety of other repair and maintenance issues.

COOL TOOLS.

There is a growing trend toward offering tools aimed specifically at women, which typically have lighter weight, smaller hand-grips, or are otherwise designed for use by women. Some gift ideas include:

• Skil iXO Power Screwdriver: Here's a power screwdriver that is small and lightweight but still offers plenty of power for many do-it-yourself tasks around the house or apartment. The Skil iXO has a lithium ion battery, which holds its charge even after 18 months of non-use. Under $50, with a 34-piece bit set.

• Barbara K. tools (www.barbarak.com): Barbara K offers, among other things, a 30-piece toolkit that contains many of the most common tools needed around the house, along with an 84-page how-to booklet. There is also the Power-Lite cordless drill, which has a hip-mounted battery pack that allows the user to remove the battery from the drill itself for lighter weight and better control. Both retail for $49.99 each.

• Tomboy Tools (www.tomboytools.com): Tomboy Tools offers a variety of tools through their online store, as well as through home parties. There are also areas with do-it-yourself tips and a question and answer forum.

Remodeling and repair questions? E-mail Paul at paul2887@direcway.com.
Copyright 2005 Inman News Distributed by Inman News