A bunch of ladies wielding saws in your salon? Fun!

Tool School

Remember the Tupperware parties of suburban lore? Clusters of women chatting in the living room, listening intently to the demonstrations, and gasping with admiration at the goods being featured? Replace the plastic, burping containers with hardware and you'll come close to what happens at a Tomboy Tools party.

The "Let's Hammer Out Breast Cancer" hammer.

"The women are all learning together."

For those who are forever looking to put an interesting spin on a friendly get-together and can't stomach the idea of hosting a charades evening, tool parties are the perfect way to make a memorable time - what could be more unforgettable than having a bunch of ladies-who-lunch wielding saws in your sitting room?

Since 2002, Tomboy Tools, a Denver-based, female-focused, home-improvement retailer founded by Janet Rickstrew, Mary Tatum, and Sue Wilson, has offered women nationwide a way to demystify the world of hammers and power drills within a relaxed social setting. Like any other party, there's wine, pigs in blankets, and friendly chatter, but there's also the added bonus of learning important new skills. In the end, home-improvement tasks that once seemed overwhelming can suddenly become associated with things that are in the realm of "fun."

To throw a party, a hostess gets in touch with a local Tomboy Tools consultant through the company's Web site, then invites her guests (10-15 attendees are the norm). The Tomboy Tools consultant brings the necessary tools and tailors the class to the party's theme, which can be anything from plumbing, drywall repair, and mosaic tiling, to hanging wall fixtures and painting. Instructors also emphasize the safe and effective use of often-intimidating power tools in their demonstrations. As the women roll up their sleeves and get to work, a sense of support and camaraderie is palpable.

Once the lesson is over, the snacks and beverages come out, and the guests can unwind or pore over the selection of Tomboy Tools, a line of ergonomic, light-weight hand tools designed with women in mind. Of the tools, a favorite for novices is the The Body Pocket, a set of basic household tools housed in a self-contained tool apron. There's also the "Let's Hammer Out Breast Cancer" 13-oz. pink hammer the company created as part of their new partnership with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Once the women are full of cookies and newfound home improvement knowledge, they return home to face new projects alone. But they'll most likely never forget where they were first taught these impressive new feats.

"[A tool party] is a nonthreatening and comfortable environment in which to learn these skills," says Jennifer Imel, a senior vice-president of Tomboy Tools. "There is no one making them feel inadequate. The women are all learning together."

Posted on September 11, 2006