Closed Thanksgiving Weekend! Thurs, Nov 24th - Sun, Nov 27th

We’re closed Thanksgiving weekend Thurs, Nov 24th - Sun, Nov 27th! Get your tools early so you can get those weekend projects done. Get together with your friends/family/loved ones and name some things you’re grateful for. Don’t forget to initiate conflict with your relatives by bringing up the real history of the holiday and before rolling that into a casual convo about the midterms.

“From the time Europeans arrived on American shores, the frontier — the edge territory between white man’s civilization and the untamed natural world — became a shared space of vast, clashing differences that led the U.S. government to authorize over 1,500 wars, attacks and raids on Indians, the most of any country in the world against its indigenous people.” -History.com

Sewing Machine Basics: BIPOC & Immunocompromised Editions!

Our new teacher Jackie has listed two of her new Sewing Machine Basics classes to be suited especially for BIPOC and Immunocompromised people! BTW - If you have a sewing machine kicking around that you never use - PLEASE DONATE IT! You can drop it off during open hours. THANKS!

Sewing Machine Basics Class - KN95 MASK PROVIDED & REQUIRED // 12.5.22

Why is this class 'Mask & Vaccination Required'?

People who are immunocompromised have a reduced ability to fight infections and other diseases. Having a weakened immune system requires consistent attention and care to remain healthy, especially in public spaces. We want to provide a safe(r) place for our immunocompromised community to gather and create! To attend this class you must wear a mask for the entirety of the course and provide a photo of your COVID-19 vaccinations. For more resources visit: https://primaryimmune.org/

Sewing Machine Basics Class - BIPOC ONLY // 12.14.22

Why is this class 'BIPOC Only'?

Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) need spaces without White people. In mixed groups, BIPOC people are often put in the position of teaching White people and so do much more of the emotional labor. White people may benefit and learn from the discussions but BIPOC folks often leave exhausted. Historical racial trauma can be triggered more easily in a mixed group and our intention is to create a safe(r) space to create art, connection, and joy. To attend this class you must be a Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color. Visit these links for more resources on Affinity Groups - Why Do Them, White Supremecy Culture/Norms, and the Racial Equity Movement in Denver.

Brand New Class! Macramé Plant Hangers

Macramé Plant Hangers! First Classes…

Wednesday, December 7th // 5:30pm-8:30pm

Friday, December 16th // 5:30pm-8:30pm

Begin your macramé journey with Sineah! Learn fundamental patterns and bring home a beautiful plant hanger to liven up your living room, bedroom, or bathroom.

In 3 hours create a macramé plant hanger using 2-4 basic knots. A white 6" pot is included, otherwise you may bring your own planter for a custom fit. A plant is not included (I would recommend something in a 4-6" plastic pot with holes for drainage). You may bring a plant to class or finish on your own time.

We will go over sustainable shopping for materials, knot techniques and other macrame uses. This class is an opportunity to connect with your crafty community and go home with a finished product. We will push past the need for perfection and enjoy creation for the fun of it! Bring snacks, hydration needs and comfy shoes as we will likely be standing.

Sineah keeps her class sizes small to give everyone the help they need. Can't wait to see you in class!

Sineah has been teaching beginner woodworking classes at the Denver Tool Library since 2018. She grew up in Maine, constantly curious to do things independently. After moving to Denver in 2016, Sineah discovered the Tool Library and soon after began encouraging others to safely use tools and build things with their own hands. She started teaching friends in her own backyard until we opened up the workshop. She has taught stool/ plant stand, bookshelf, leaning shelf, cutting board workshops and more. Sineah will encourage you to creatively problem solve and by the end of class, will send you home with a project intended to impress your friends and yourself. Check out Sineah’s work at www.facebook.com/denverdiyworkshop or @DenverDIYWorkshop

Thanks Colorado Village Collaborative!

Colorado Village Collaborative @coloradovillagecollaborative borrowed some of our tools to build a community garden for their tiny home village Beloved Community Village. “This garden already provides a calm, healing space for our #tinyhomevillage residents & Elryia-Swansea neighbors but come next spring and summer, it'll burst with veggies, herbs & flowers.”

What is the Beloved Community Village? The community named Beloved Community Village consists of 24 temporary “tiny homes,” one staff office building and a community space with three bathrooms and a shared kitchen. The tiny homes are about 100 square feet each and contain electricity, heaters, fans and outlets but no water or sewer connections. Those connections are made in the common house, which helps to keep the project costs down and to build community among residents. The village is a temporary residential environment that serves as an alternative sheltering solution intended to create additional access points into the housing continuum for our neighbors who are experiencing homelessness. The village first launched in July 2017 and during the past three years has served 42 unique people, 16 of whom have graduated from the village into stable housing.

Check out @coloradovillagecollaborative or www.coloradovillagecollaborative.org to see how you can get involved!

Let’s lend tools to more awesome orgs like Colorado Village Collaborative! Buy a Rad Orgs Membership and we will donate it to a group making a positive impact in our community. Checkout denvertoollibrary.org/sponsor for deets.

Volunteer with the DTL!

There's a few spots left for tomorrow's Volunteer Orientation 10/26/22

Ever wanted to hangout with super cool people like us while also doing super cool stuff for your community? Want to talk shop with tool library members while you check them in and out, zone out and organize/wrench on tools, or help us with whatever you’re already good at like outreach, fundraising, grant writing, indoctrinating more volunteers and getting them to join us, etc?

Well you’re in luck! We still have a few spots left for our monthly volunteer orientation tomorrow 10/26/22 at 5:30pm. Just go to our Volunteer page, fill out the form, and we’ll get you all set up.

Stop Buying Gifts, Make Them Instead!

Use our Community Workshop or Tool Library to start making gifts now and have them ready for the holidays!

You spend your money on some junk online because you have to buy a gift but really they don’t want it so it ends up taking space in their garage until they finally find a reason to use it but the battery is already dead because it got cold and of course you can’t replace the battery so then they need to spend the time to figure out how to recycle electronics or feel guilty about throwing it in the landfill. Meanwhile (insert giant retailer here) is making enough money per day to buy a small country full of hungry people who will remain generally hungry during a holiday based on (insert giant religion here) which is all about feeding/clothing/healing those in need.

This is all to say - made gifts take a while to make so we have to break the rules and bother you before Halloween to tell you to use the Community Workshop to build those you love nice quality gifts! You know a made gift is a meaningful gift so buy your hours punch card today to save a few bucks while you build! Rather build something at home? Then sign up for a membership and take our tools home and make something. Hell buy them a gift membership too! It’s almost the holidays for Christ’s sake! Spend your money on us and not them!

Brand New Class! Sewing Machine Basics

Sewing Machine Basics! First Class: Wednesday, November 30th // 5:30pm - 8:30pm

Sewing empowers people to transform the world and the materials around them! Whether you are curious about clothing design, creating functional items, or upcycling fabrics - you need to know the fundamentals! The purpose of this class is to develop or deepen your understanding of basic sewing machine techniques. You will leave prepared to take the next step in your journey with a one-of-a-kind tote bag you created and the pattern you'll need to make it again and again! Bring 5-10 items of old clothing or various fabrics from around the house and we will upcycle them into a handy tote bag to store all your future sewing projects or Holiday goodies. Don’t worry, we’ll also provide a collection of funky fabrics to choose from and practice with. We will learn: vocabulary & tools of sewing, hand sewing, and various stitches: straight, reverse, lock, and box!

About The Teacher: Jackie Drummond (they/she) grew up in Colorado learning to sew from their mother at a young age. While studying Technical Theatre at Fort Lewis College, they learned techniques involving pattern making, alterations, and design and explored the historical and cultural importance of sewing. Jackie encourages BIPOC, LGTBQIA+, and Neurodiverse creators to join them in class, where they intentionally hold space for marginalized people to reclaim joy!

We got a new Teacher! Jackie Drummond

We’re excited to announce our new fiber arts (and more) teacher - Jackie Drummond! Jackie’s first class with us is going to be Sewing Machine Basics 11.30.22, but keep an eye out for a more classes she’ll be teaching in the future. BTW, if you ever want to stay up to date with those new classes and all of our other new classes, join our Classes Newsletter denvertoollibrary.org/classes-newsletter

About The Teacher: Jackie Drummond (they/she) grew up in Colorado learning to sew from their mother at a young age. While studying Technical Theatre at Fort Lewis College, they learned techniques involving pattern making, alterations, and design and explored the historical and cultural importance of sewing. Jackie encourages BIPOC, LGTBQIA+, and Neurodiverse creators to join them in class, where they intentionally hold space for marginalized people to reclaim joy!

Intro to Beekeeping is Back!

Intro to Beekeeping is back! First class of the season: 12.6.22 5:30pm-7:30pm

This class is designed for anyone who is interested in starting a backyard hive or is just interested in what is involved with keeping honey bees. Alex will cover all the basics to get you started on your beekeeping journey including: honey bee biology, different hive designs, what tools to buy, how to place your hive, how to acquire bees, honey harvesting methods, and common hive pests.

Alex has been keeping bees for 5 years and is passionate about sharing this knowledge with others in order to help the local pollinator population. She is interested in keeping bees on a spiritual level and aims to be a steward of the earth through this ancient practice. You can see more of her work on her Instagram @alma_apiary

Brand New! Midmod Candlesticks Woodturning Class

Midmod Candlestick Woodturning! First class Saturday, December 3rd // 4pm - 7:30pm

Working with the wood lathe is simultaneously exciting and meditative, and this class is perfect for you if you’ve been wanting to try it out without committing to the full day Intro class. Or, if you’ve already taken Intro and just want to take this class for more practice and a cool project, that’s all good too!

You’ll learn the basics of shaping a spinning block of wood on the lathe using just one tool- the spindle roughing gouge, and then you’ll use your new skills to craft an elegant midmod inspired candlestick with a brass accent.

The cost of the class includes practice wood and all the materials necessary to craft your candlestick including a hardwood blank, the brass accent hardware, sandpaper, and an oil finish.

This class is taught by Chris Hoehle, one of our community workshop monitors and a professional woodturner with over fifteen years of experience on the wood lathe. In addition to teaching woodturning for nearly three years here at the Denver Tool Library, he has also taught week-long workshops at the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg Tennessee, and he sells his work at local galleries and art festivals. You can check out his work on his website, studiocsh.com, or on Instagram @studiocsh.