Tabitha Parker of Palm Bay, Fla., is one handy woman.

"I will attempt anything," she says. "I've replaced toilets, laid flooring, built a shed. I used to build pool screens. I think women are capable of doing just about anything."

Parker, an Ace Hardware assistant manager, is so capable of doing handy work that she remodeled her entire home in six weeks — while she was pregnant. She had some help from her mother and boyfriend, who handled the heavy lifting, but Parker took on a lot of the work herself, including hanging a new ceiling fan, electrical wiring, painting, building closets and replacing walls.

Parker is one of many modern women who refuse to depend on men for home improvement and maintenance projects. It's safe to say she considers herself a handywoman.

"One thing my boyfriend hates is that I'm self-sufficient," Parker says. "Sometimes he has to ask me how to do things."

Parker says she learned all the tricks of the trade from her parents. Her mother, Sheryl Parker, also is knowledgeable when it comes to projects once left for the men.

"I got it from watching my dad and my grandfather," Sheryl Parker says. "I just kind of started doing it on my own."

Her favorite project, she says, is "ripping out walls and putting up new ones."

"It's such a dramatic change that you can do yourself," Parker says. "It's so rewarding."

According to a survey by the Home Improvement Research Institute, women accounted for more than $70 billion worth of purchases in the home improvement industry in 2006, compared to $55 billion in 1995.

One reason for the increase is that more women than before are buying houses. Another reason could be the inspiration coming from television's home improvement role models like Paige Hemmis, a carpenter on ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."

"It's hard to believe the show is as popular as it is," Hemmis says. "Originally, it was my opportunity to get out there and show that just because you're a girl does not mean you can't be an integral part of home improvement. I love to inspire women."

Unlike Tabitha Parker, though, Hemmis didn't know much about any kind of building or maintenance projects until adulthood. It all started about five years ago, she says, when she began investing in real estate.

"I got my first estimate for painting, and found out it was going to cost $12,000," Hemmis says. "I was like, 'What? I can paint.' "

So from that point on, Hemmis started doing things on her own, from drywall to plumbing projects, until she knew enough to write her own book, "The Tuff Chix Guide to Easy Home Improvement." Hemmis says her workbook-style manual tells what tools are needed for the job, how to do it, and how much money you save by doing it yourself.

'START SMALL'

As a woman with long blonde hair who wears a lot of pink, Hemmis considers herself a girly girl, and to viewers, that might make homebuilding look glamorous and easy. Becoming a handywoman doesn't happen overnight, however.

"Start small," Hemmis says. "I've met a lot of women who decided to redo their bathroom and stopped halfway. But redoing the bathroom is huge. Get gradually bigger. When you complete a project, it inspires you to do more."

Hemmis suggested starting with something simple, like painting or drywall.

"The first project I ever did was a tiny addition to the wall," Hemmis says. "I learned drywall. It was so easy."

Whether you're a novice or semi-experienced, the most important thing to do before firing up a power tool is research.

"I think you should always try something by yourself (before hiring someone to do it), but look to the Internet for resources," Parker says.

As long as a woman doesn't jump into a big project too soon or try to take on a task she's not quite fit for, she can learn to be a handy female.

"I've met so many women who are out there trying things on their own, and I'm so proud of them," Hemmis says. "I love the fact that they aren't waiting. Women will just say, 'I'm going to make my own honey-do list.' "

'USE PROPER FORM'

Hemmis says the physical difference between the sexes is why men take on more home improvement projects.

"They're bigger," Hemmis says. "And a lot of things, you need strength for."

Unless a woman is a professional body builder taking special supplements, chances are she can't become as buff as the average man can. That doesn't mean, however, that she should not attempt the same projects men do.

"Sometimes you can use tools as leverage," Hemmis says. "Obviously there are things that you need help with, like carrying something heavy, so just have a couple of girlfriends over to help you."