Uses for Binder Clips: Clothing Repairs

The uses of binder clips as stylish fashion accessories has been well documented. They can also be used for emergency repair. I understand a respected provincial tribunal member made good use of these three clips in two formal proceedings last week when a hem needed repair. [Update: I am reliably informed that was actually a seam repair, not a hem repair.]

I would name the presiding member that used this repair and the tribunal involved but a duty of confidentiality has been imposed on me. This also precludes me from naming the kind photographer who provided the image.

[Just to be clear, you know that those aren't my trousers, because mine are not that nice.]

Uses for binder clips: Coping with a dead microwave

If you have a spare microwave oven, you might consider giving it to my sad, tea-drinking friend. Do you see the arrangement he has had to make to keep his tea warm?

As you can see, he is resourcefully adaptable. But this arrangement is not going to help him if he wants to warm up a slice of pizza in a hurry or cook a potato in 5 minutes.

And while we're on this topic, perhaps we can start a movement to convince the Americans that there is a common Canadian expression about putting a toque on a teapot. I welcome your thoughts on how it would be phrased and what it might mean.

Debatable Uses for Binder Clips: Storing Beer

"Use a binder clip to keep beer stacked" by Muteboy

Two friends, Jay Zee and Are Jay, sent me the link to a binder clip use reported on a Lifehacker posting that picked up on a Flickr photo by Matthew Petty.

The comments in the Lifehacker post point out some of the issues with this:

• Beer probably shouldn't be stored on its side
• Fridge space is wasted when bottles are stacked on their sides
• Many fridges do not have wire racks that a binder clip can attach to

But if you have a wire rack in your fridge and you need to put beers on a shelf that isn't high enough for the bottles, by all means, you should use a binder clip to keep the bottles from rolling.

Uses for Binder Clips: Laser Pencil

Woodsy who is on a bit of a roll at Coloured Marbles lately has developed an excellent new use for a single binder clip. She says:

I unintentionally came up with another use for binder clips while fiddling during a long meeting.

I can now:

• easily pick up my pencil (great for anyone with arthritis),
• prevent the pencil from rolling off the meeting table,
• prevent chewing my pencil (see the bite marks?), and
• subtly aim it at speakers that are boring me and pretend it is a silencing laser!

Uses for Binder Clips: Cat Doors and ODD

When you install your screened-in porch, you may find that your cat is reluctant to use her new swinging cat door.

At first, our cat Magi did not at all seem to like the idea of pushing against the screen flap.

Holding her and pushing her through resulted in very unpleasant struggles.

Young Zander tried to demonstrate by pushing his own head through. But perhaps because the rest of his body would not go through or perhaps because Magi suffers from Oppositional Defiance Disorder like everyone else in this household, Magi still did not take to the new door.

After Manon put a binder clip on the flap to keep it partly open, Magi got the idea she could enter and leave the porch on her own with no assistance. The binder clip was adjusted to have the flap lower and lower and now, Magi is in and out like she owns the place. With no assistance and no binder clip.

This should cut down on scratching damage to the screen door and demonstrates that sometimes the best way to deal with the oppositionally defiant is to let them come to the right decision in their own time.

Uses for Binder Clips: Wedding Presents

The box of binder clips Real Grouchy gave Manon and me for our wedding was an excellent gift that keeps on giving.

What makes it especially good is that they were free binder clips. Real Grouchy has a relative who works somewhere that receives lots of documents. Apparently even though they tell the people submitting the documents not to clip them together, the submitters ignore the instructions and send in their documents with all manner and sizes of binder clips attaching them together.

Instead of throwing all these unneeded clips in the garbage, the relative saves them for Real Grouchy and he was able to spare some for us.

At his workplace back in May, Real Grouchy had an identity card machine. This meant he was able to make Manon and I official wedding cards.

I carry mine in my pocket.

Uses for Binder Clips - Showing your Canada Day Patriotic Fervour

Missing the Point with Binder Clips?

Either binder clips are about to get really big or they're about to jump the shark.

Here are the signs:

• They now have their own fan blog;
• CBC radio is negotiating with several local bloggers for an interview on their uses (sticking point: use of aliases); and
• Mumsnet dissed my use of binder clips to hold up my sleeves.

Yes. It's true.

On April first, I noticed a spike in my traffic. This was odd because I hadn't posted for weeks. I thought maybe someone had picked up on a clever joke I blogged. Except I don't remember blogging any clever jokes other than the chia keyboard and it wasn't my idea.

It turns out the hits were coming from a discussion forum on Mumsnet (by parents for parents) that was started by someone calling herself Dumbledoresgirl who wrote:

I've just driven past a couple of young men, ok boys and one had his sleeves pushed up and I couldn't take my eyes off his naked forearms. But it isn't naked forearms per se otherwise men in t-shirts would be sexy, it is the pushed up sleeve business.

Why is this, do you think? (assuming you also find it sexy and it is not just me with some weird perversion)

This generated 142 comments: responses to the question, discussion of what makes a sexy forearm, how exactly the sleeve should be rolled, the importance of the shirt being tucked in, and other fine points. Other comments linked to photos with examples of rolled sleeves. Sexy examples and non-sexy examples.

And at 14:06:33 on 1-April-2010, on the fifth page of comments, FalafelAtYourFeet wrote:

this man has totally missed the point

and linked to Uses for Binder Clips - Holding Up Sleeves, which features this photo:

If you mouseover the picture you'll see it comes with excellent advice. I don't think I missed the point at all.

Uses for Binder Clips - Thoughtful Gifts and House Forts

In her latest delightful post, the elusive Woodsy demonstrates two prime uses for binder clips. First we learn that one of her cherished gifts from her father was a metal box of binder clips.

Then we learn that one of her innovative uses for binder clips was building indoor forts with her sons:

My favourite use for binder clips will always be the bed sheet forts that the boys and I would build using clips to secure the half dozen or more sheets to tables and chairs - hours of fun.

Of course, long-term readers of this blog already knew that binder clips are a perfect gift for hipster indie girls, but now you know that they are also a perfect gift for single moms (and especially so for hipster indie single moms).

Uses for Binder Clips - Cleaning the Ceiling

Hats off to Megan Butcher for finding a second terrific use for finder clips this week -- attaching a wet rag to a broom so she could clean cobwebs off the ceiling.

Megan gets extra points for this because cobwebs are made by spiders and even though Megan has an overwhelming fear of spiders (it's true), she was able to keep her head clear enough to come up with this solution and execute it.

Uses for Binder Clips - Scarfs

Just the other day, someone I live with was expressing displeasure that her beautiful scarfs are tucked away out of sight. And now, Megan Butcher and Mae Callen have found a solution to this problem that makes excellent use of binder clips.

I understand that the real joy with this scarf display method comes when you shhhhk the scarfs back and forth in a satisfying manner.

Uses for Binder Clips: Fashion and Belts

Megan Butcher demonstrates how a well-placed binder clip keeps the extra portion of her belt from flapping around.

I would do the same but my belt only extends a couple of inches past the buckle and doesn't need to be clipped down. Perhaps the fact that I would have a legitimate reason to wear a binder clip will act as incentive for me to lose some weight.

My Window Mirror

Someday, at my place of employment, I hope to have a workspace with a window.

In the meantime, rather than curse the darkness, I have strategically hung a mirror that I removed from a broken microfiche reader.

I can glance up and see if the sun is shining. I can also see whether traffic is moving on Baseline Avenue.

Not that it matters to me, but it's soothing. Like watching tropical fish in an aquarium.

Valentine's Day Round-Up

I'm glad that Bob LeDrew sent me a link that tells you how to turn boring old "trombone" paper clips into heart-shaped clips today. That is because I almost spent the evening messing around with melted glass instead of sharing pre-Valentines advice with you.

First, while that heart-shaped clip idea is bound to bring a smile to the face of your sweety, don't forget the power of the binder clip.

Our friend La Canadienne was out this week and met a young man who had cleverly made a teabag for loose tea with a hemp sack and a binder clip. Directly from her blog:

Me: Liam, is that a binder clip?!

Liam: Uh, yeah.

Me: Can I make out with you now, please?

I love a man who can use a binder clip.

Ladies, you should know that there are also men who appreciate a woman who can use a binder clip.

Of course, binder clips are already Valentine's Day friendly:

1. You can buy binder clips with heart shaped handles; and
2. You can decorate them with messages of love instead of messages of efficiency.

If you're trying to think of things to do with your sweety this weekend, you might look at the suggestions given to K in A Reader Seeking Advice, or consult my famous romantic things to do in Ottawa post or Marcie's 101 Things to Do in Ottawa (12 anyway). [Followup: K reports that he met his date at a downtown Irish Pub. Unfortunately, although K is exactly as he described himself, she expected he'd be different and she's too busy for a relationship anyway.]

The Tricked-Out Travel Mug

This summer I saw an elaborately decorated travel mug at one of the shoppes in Westboro. This mug had gold trim and gems and looked great. But it made me think, if you're going to add stuff to a mug, why not add useful stuff?

Naturally, I had plenty of useful stuff in my collection and everything else I needed was at the dollar stores. I bought the actual mug at Zellers because dollar store mugs aren't really built for being tricked-out.

My first TOTM became a gift for Jimmi Jettz even before I started putting it together because Jimmi loves coffee and he loves gadgets.

If you can't see the embedded google doc presentation, maybe you can see it by clicking on this link.

Uses for Binder Clips - Holding Up Sleeves

The first thing I do when I put on a long-sleeved shirt is roll up the sleeves. This habit is so engrained that whenever I am wearing a suit I have to unroll my shirt sleeves before I put on the jacket.

I am good at rolling sleeves so they stay put. But some sleeves will fall down no matter what you do. Especially if you are doing something like washing dishes where you really don't want them to fall down.

Can you believe it was not until this weekend at the Bloggers' Brunch that I realized I could clip my sleeves in place?

I owe this discovery to XUP because she brought a selection of beautiful binder clips to the brunch and I wanted to wear mine.

Hard as it may be to believe, some of the bloggers there were not familiar with the "Uses for Binder Clips" series. Jo Stockton and I tried to explain about it but I got side-tracked when the phrase "king of the binder clip" was spoken. Side-tracked because a king must have a crown. I was anxious to get home and make one. But I stayed to the end because I was having fun.

Uses for Binder Clips - Cords and Hardware

Since binder clips are back in style, I have no reservation about passing on two new methods innovators have discovered for using our favourite clips to more easily connect hardware to power and data cords.

Yesterday, Bob (using Google Reader!) kindly emailed me a new post from Lifehacker, Clip Your Laptop Plug to the Back of the Desk, that details how one of their readers, LT, used a binder clip to attach a power cable for a MacBook to his desk so that he doesn't have to go crawling around on the floor any more. LT's innovation didn't come out thin air. He built on the previous work of Lihab, who came up with the previously blogged DIY binder clip cable catcher that was not specifically for MacIntosh cables. LT says:

My MacBook's power cord has two parts—midway through it the brick plugs into another cord, and I never take the bottom half of the cord with me. So, using the clip, I secured the first half of the plug to the desk, and now I plug in the brick when I get to the office—no climbing required.

Today, Kerri sent me a link to DIY iPhone Binder Clip Dock, a 10-minute video that shows you how to turn 15 binder clips into an iPhone dock. I don't have an iPhone, and now I think I will not get one. Because:

1. I don't have the patience to watch 10-minute long Youtube videos;
2. I don't think I could give up 15 of my precious clips for one gadget; and
3. Nothing I would do, not even a 30-binder clip iPhone dock would be as cool as the input device that James wired for his iPod.

What did James do? He wired a rotary-dial phone and a hand-crank phone so they can plug into his iPhone and be used for listening and talking while the iPhone stays flat on the ledge of the crank phone.

Links:

• Pictures I took at Kerri's opening at the Manx
• Some of Kerri's photos
• Previously on this Blog: Uses for Binder Clips - Cable Management

Inappropriate? Uses for Binder Clips: Art

I have been meaning to blog about this since March. It has taken so long partly because I was so disturbed.

A bloke named Mada put up an Instructable for making Industrial Picture Frames. The frames relied on alligator clamps for keeping things together. Naturally, I asked if binder clips could substitute. The answers dismayed me.

Mar 13, 2008. 3:45 PMdscrimshawsays: Perhaps binder clips could substitute for the clamps... Mar 15, 2008. 2:11 PMbbqpopesays: Yeah, but no..... binder clips are already associated with art. I have seen too many shows hung with them. I think the clips he uses are cool because they are not art related. Mar 14, 2008. 10:37 AMmadasays: Sure would - I actually tried that at first but liked the looks of the clamps better.

Could it be that binder clips are no longer stylish? I wondered.

Fortunately, my faith was recently restored when I had the opportunity to take a tour of the new apartment of the always-in-style Megan Butcher. Megan's apartment has nothing out of place and she had a set of decorative binder clips displayed in plain view.

Uses for Binder Clips - Cutening up a Party Dress

One of Manon's Halloween costumes wasn't quite right. "What does this need?" She asked me.

This question is always a no-brainer. "A shorter hemline," I said. And this time she agreed. How do you quickly shorten a silver party dress? Binder clips of course.

And if you have any clips left over, you can straighten out your lapels.

Dubious Uses for Binder Clips: Boot Storage

Unclutterer posted a reader suggestion this week for people who need to store lots of boots: Use binder clips to suspend up to 5 pairs from a hanger. The reader, Lisa, recommends putting fabric between the teeth of the clip and the boots to prevent indentations.

I love hanging things and I love using binder clips, but I cannot support this binder clip use. As the clever commenters point out:

• Even with fabric, the clips will probably permanently indent leather.
• The point of being an "unclutterer" is to not have so much stuff that you need to hang 5 pairs of boots from a hanger.

Storage is not a big issue for my 2 pairs of boots, but I can tell you that I'd make a huge mess if I started storing them in a clothes cupboard without putting them in plastic bags first. And if they're in plastic bags, no need for binder clips.

I suspect these people hanging their boots in the closet don't live in winter geography. I'd wonder why they have boots at all, but they make it clear that it is not about necessity.

Wikihow has some better ideas for boot and shoe storage.