Meet Kate - A True Handywoman

I am thrilled to have Kate as our resident Handywoman expert. As a Consultant for Tomboy Tools she conducts workshops to teach women how to save money by doing their own home repairs. If you're not familiar with Tomboy Tools you can check out her website - www.ISellPinkHammers.com for more information. Now I will let her tell you a little more about herself. --Mom

Kate’s Korner – DIY Tips, Tricks and Secrets of the Trade!

Welcome to Kate’s Korner! Here you will find easy “how to” articles about DIY home projects, maintenance and repairs. Before I delve into the world of pipes, wires and caulk, I’d like to take a moment to tell you a little bit about myself.

My name is Kate Julian. I’m a stay-at-home mother of 3. I am the 1st Vice-President of my son’s elementary school’s PTA and I am a Director on a Fresh Water District in Texas. I am also a Tomboy Tools consultant. I sell tools ergonomically designed for women through home tool parties, vendor fairs and on-line sales.  My product line includes common household tools such as hammer and screwdrivers, to power tools and jumper cables.  These quality tools have a lifetime warranty and have been featured on The Today Show, HGTV, in O, The Oprah Winfrey magazine, Better Homes and Gardens, Popular Mechanics and MSNBC (just to name a few!)   One of my favorite features about the tools is that they are PINK!!! 

Tool parties are designed to be fun!   At tool parties, I demonstrate how the tools are used.  I also teach the guests how to complete small home repair projects.  I bring together women with common interests who want to learn more about home projects and how they can empower themselves to handle these projects on their own.  In today’s economy, every penny counts.  The skills I teach at my tools parties help women (and their families) save money.  A $5.95 plumbing snake and a little bit of knowledge is a lot cheaper than a $125 service call from a plumber!  As a Tomboy Tools Consultant, I help the hostess prepare for the party and then demonstrate the tools to the hostess and her friends.  My tool parties include how-to demonstrations such as:  Tool School 101, Painting Techniques, Mosaic Tiling, Drywall Repair, How to use Power Tools, Caulking and Basic Plumbing, Make Your Home Energy Efficient, and Installation of Crown Molding (again, just to name a few!)  I also teach classes to Brownies and Girl Scouts that help them earn their home improvement and do-it-yourself badges, as well as, offer classes to organizations that work with at-risk teens. 

My goal for Kate’s Korner is to provide a series of easy to follow DIY articles. Each series will include 3 – 5 articles that will be published every couple of weeks. Some of the DIY projects I plan to cover are: how to make your home more energy efficient, how to fix a leaking faucet, how to repair a hole in drywall, how to install a ceiling and many others. I welcome any suggestions, questions or comments. You can contact me via email: kate@isellpinkhammers.com. Until next time…happy tooling!

1. If your dryer continues to run and the clothes are not getting dry - check the vent hose. It could be clogged with lint. A simple clean out could save an expensive service call from your appliance repairman.

2. Always wear safety glasses when working on home repair projects. To keep the glasses clear of sawdust, wipe them down with a fabric softener sheet. This will eliminate the static electricity that attracts the dust.

3. You should always stir your paint thoroughly before applying it. To make your stirring more effective, drill holes along the length of your paint stick. This way, when you stir some of the paint is forced through the holes and not just around the stick.