• a successful DIY task you have undertaken
• one that didn't work out as planned and you overcame it
• an inspirational story about someone you know

By adding your story, together we can inspire each other to greater DIY and personal heights and share in the beauty of being a woman.

Send your stories to: info@diywoman.com.au



Changing a Broken Window Lock
After realising my old winding window lock in my bedroom wasn’t working properly, being the diywoman that I am (not?!) I attempted to unscrew the 2 screws on the front panel of the winding lock which only made the lock come apart. I quickly discovered there are so many pieces to an old winding lock! After trying to put all the bits together (do not try this as it is very messy and quite fiddly); after about an hour of frustration, I finally decided I had no choice but to call a locksmith. I ended up calling 5 locksmiths, all willing to charge me between $90-$150 to “fix” the lock or replace it. This was getting expensive, so finally the last locksmith I called said the locks are easy to replace yourself, so I said thanks and off I went to my local hardware store to buy my own lock. It cost me $40 thank you. Went home, got out my cordless drill and unscrewed the base of the old winder, then unscrewed the chain from the window and followed the instructions on the packaging and proceeded to replace my own lock. It took me about half an hour and gave me a huge sense of achievement after it was all done!   Jenny


Using the Right Paint!
I learnt an invaluable lesson the hard way... use the right paint the first time! I used matte finish paint instead of gloss paint for the skirtings in my home and although I was assured that it should be hardy enough to withstand scuffs etc...It wasn't! The paint has been badly marked and I now need to repaint the skirtings using gloss paint.  Samantha


Restoring an Antique Cupboard
I was given an old antique cupboard with leadlight doors from a friend who bought a house and it was in the kitchen. It took me a long time but with persistence I gradually sanded it back and stained it a lovely walnut brown. I get a comment from most people who visit my house as to how great it looks and that gives me a nice feeling.  Andie


Changing a Fluorescent Tube
I learnt from a quick phone call to my dad that if your fluorescent tube starts flicking it could mean that the starter has gone and will need replacing. These can be purchased for a few dollars from any hardware or lighting store. So I bought one and after making sure my light switch was off and the tube had cooled down, I carefully removed the tube by twisting the ends and then removed the starter by twisting in an anti-clockwise direction. I then replaced the starter and put the tube back in place. All fixed! (I’m no expert, but if this doesn’t work it could be that the tube needs replacing instead of the starter). And my trusty step ladder always comes in handy at these times!   Jenny


An Old Bed becomes New Again!
My son was 2 and it was time he needed a bed, but being a single mother I couldn’t afford a brand new bed so I had an idea. What if I buy a second hand bed and do it up? I had never attempted anything like this but I thought how hard could it be? So I got looking through the Trading Post and found the perfect bed. I then got a trailer for the car and drove to the Mornington Peninsula to pick it up. It was only $50 with the mattress, made of wood but it was bright red, not exactly what I had in mind! I thought, gee I’ve got a bit of work ahead of me! So I brought it home, set it up in the driveway, borrowed an electric sander and away I went! It took me weeks and weeks of sanding back the bright red paint to get it back to its original state. I nearly gave up claiming it was too hard, but I stuck with it and finished it. I then went to my local hardware store and bought some sample pots of stain paint, tried a few out on the bed, picked the one I liked and started painting! I ended up doing 3 coats and it looks fantastic! Everyone I show can’t believe it was a second hand bed, they think it’s brand new until I tell them what it looked like when I got it! I never thought that I could achieve something like this, as I’m not a very “handy” person around the house, but I did and now I feel I can do anything on my own if I put my mind to it!   Cindy