Divide and Label

Seeing something in clear type offers the promise of order. Fortunately, efficient portable electronic labelers, such as the new LetraTag QX50 from Dymo (5 by 5 1/2 by 2 inches, $25, www.walmart.com for store locations), are now affordable. In addition to common office uses, such as naming files and disks, labels can be used in other, surprising ways around the house.

Buttons

Problem: A favorite cardigan is missing its special mother-of-pearl button, and the spare is somewhere inside a box brimming with random buttons.

Solution: Identify buttons and yarn that come with garments and you won't have to settle for mismatched repairs.