On Sat, 09 Aug 2003 11:48:30 -0400, montana
wrote:

In article ,
"Denise" wrote:

I am in the process of buying new drapes
for my living room windows, and I went out to Canadian Tire and bought
myself an inexpensive drill. When I asked the guy in tools about drill bits
and other things, he looked at me as if I had ten heads, and I want to avoid
further embarrasment. (Needless to say, I didn't ask what other kinds of
tools a female new to home repairs would need)

Forget about being embarassed! I'm new to this stuff too, but I noticed
that no-one suggested that you buy a level so when you hang the drape
hardware, your drapes will be straight. This is very important!

Yes, but! I installed a 4' length of wood doweling on an elderly
relative's wall for displaying a quilt--used a level as you suggest.
It looked AWful. Reason? Because the ceiling in that room was not
level (it was a low ceiling and sloped slightly for drainage of the
roof above).

Had to remount the dowel so that it "looked right," even though it was
far from level!

For reasons like this it's often better to just "eyeball" levelness!
Hanging pictures, for instance.

I drive everyone insane with my insistance on girlifying stuff up. I
found a swell plastic case filled with a collection of drill & screw
bits which I refer to as Malibu Barbie's dream drill accessory kit.

As long as you're girlifying YOUR bathroom and not mine, go right
ahead, kiddo! :-)

I actually prefer a corded drill because I have small, arthritic hands and
the cordless drills are too heavy & hurt. Buying several good power tool
rated extension cords has been great. We have a couple of drills and we
have bought a couple from Sears that are reconditioned and work really
well.

Don't worry when people look at you like you have three heads. That
Reader's Digest home repair book that someone else mentioned is
wonderful and has pictures. I am very methodical in my approach to
things and I think about what i want to do very carefully & make
drawings, etc. It doesn't mean I won't go to the hardware store twenty
times.

Ha! Me too. I make drawing after drawing of what I want to build or
modify. And if my sketch doesn't feel just right, I set it aside and
don't even try to come back to it for several hours. And after a bit,
lo and behold, new ideas come!

I now have a variety of home repair skills. Yesterday, I replaced a
faucet on a bathroom sink that a plumber tried to scare me out of
trying. He was a bad plumber who wanted to take advantage of me (wanted
me to buy the faucet from him & said that basically, we'd have to buy a
new sink). Unlike my much handier husband, I find that slow & steady
makes for a good job. Lay everything out in order, read the directions &
understand that you can call in a pro if you mess up too badly. But you
probably will do a great job!

Lots of good advice! Atta Grrl, Montana! [But where was "handier"
hubby when that plumber was trying to (ahem) 'take advantage' of
you?!]

--John W. Wells