We’re Having a Fashion Show!

We’re having a fashion show! Join us on Friday, August 25, 2023 from 6 - 8 PM for our Stitched Access Fashion Show hosted by Town Hall Collaborative!

Access Gallery is excited to announce its inaugural fashion showcase titled Stitched Access and presented by participating artists of Access Gallery’s first-ever fashion residency. Thanks to the generous funding received from the Creative Ideas Fund and in partnership with the Denver Tool Library, participants were able to develop their skills and knowledge in the world of fashion. Our event is a celebration of inclusivity, creativity, and empowerment through art, community, and fashion that empowers individuals with disabilities. It is the culmination of Access Gallery’s fashion residency that began in October of 2022. Join us for a night of fashion where you will learn the personal stories of Access Gallery artists, gain insight into their creative journeys, connect with community members, and be awed as each artist models their own creations down the runway. The showcase will also feature local design shop Lawrence and Larimer Clothing + Supply Co. who will be sharing their garments and ethos.

Access Gallery is an inclusive non profit organization that engages the community by opening doors to creative, educational, and economic opportunities for people with disabilities to access, experience, and benefit from the arts.

Denver Tool Library is a non-profit that provides the Denver metro area with low cost access to tools and the know-how to use them, all in a safe and supportive environment. DTL supports artists and local teachers that provide a huge variety of classes for the community!

Town Hall Collaborative is a women-owned community gathering space that features a bar, events, live music, and a creative space for classes and artists to share their mission and work.

Lawrence and Larimer Clothing + Supply Co. is a creative brand in Denver, CO. They place a strong focus on producing high-quality products that creatives can live in while building a lifestyle that feels good, is full of love and can be enjoyed, all the while building community. From clothing to home goods, they are a staple brand uniquely their own and inspired by the world.

Fashion Resident Artists: Enchanted Dichotomy, Jaida, Michelle, Rose, Skylar K., Stephen Ray Esparza

Teaching Artists: Karli Beedle, Jackie Drummond

Last Welding Classes until October!

Our welding classes will be taking September off, so if you’re trying to get your weld on soon, be sure to sign up for one of the last two Intro to Welding classes before the break: Either August 16th for an afternoon matinee class, or August 22nd for a regular evening class. If you already have your MIG basics down, the last Advanced Welding TIG class is August 23rd in the evening. Welding classes will return again sometime in October.

First Friday Party! 8/4/23

This next First Friday Art Walk is extra cool because they'll be closing off Santa Fe, so obvi we'll be opening our doors! While perusing art galleries, stop by the shop August 4th from 6pm-9pm to meet some fellow tool oriented folks, partake in a libation, and sing some karaoke. No matter if you've never stepped foot in the shop or you're a tool library veteran, all are welcome!

Private Workshop Hours & Group Events

Did y’all know you can book our workshop for private use for you, your group, or event? Private Shop Hours means you get our workshop all to yourself while working on your project. Your hourly fee includes a professional woodworker / shop monitor who will be there to teach, assist, and keep you safe along the way.

Additional info, availability, and pricing can all be found at denvertoollibrary.org/private-shop

New Member Discount Partner: Woodcraft Denver!

We have a new Tool Library Member discount partner - Woodcraft Denver! With your Tool Library Membership you’ll get 10% off Woodcraft’s tools, materials, and hardware in addition to 10% off at Austin Hardwoods and 10% off at Rockler Woodworking. If your project is big enough, the money you save at these places might cover the cost of our super affordable $150 annual membership - so cool!

You can see a complete list of our partners and discounts at denvertoollibrary.org/member-area

Sweet New Volunteer Perks!

We’ve updated our volunteer system so that those who regularly donate their time to the mission get some super sweet perks! This includes free memberships, 50% off classes, discounted open shop hours, free merch, and of course getting to chop a watermelon in half on your anniversary. Keep on reading for step-by-step deets…

STEP 1: BEGINNER VOLUNTEER

GET YOUR FEET WET AT THE LOUDEST LIBRARY IN TOWN!

BEGINNER VOLUNTEERS come in once or twice a month to:

• help our world-renowned tool librarians

• clean, beautify, organize!

• perform tool repair and upkeep

• do endless and varied special projects

• preach about us at markets and special events

BEGINNER VOLUNTEERS receive:

• invites to special events and meet-ups

• being a part of a cool group of humans

• the feeling of satisfaction and blissful night’s sleep you get from contributing to a worthy cause

NOTE: No specific tool knowledge/experience is required to volunteer - just kindness, reliability, and respect for the DTL ethos and community.

STEP 2: CORE VOLUNTEER

GET MORE INVOLVED, DRINK THE KOOL-AID.

CORE VOLUNTEERS have volunteered regularly at the DTL for a good period of time, have undergone further training on librarian operations, and can be depended on to show up for specifically scheduled monthly or bi-monthly shifts to:

• check folks in and out

• sign up new members

• give the disneyland tour

• perform more detailed tool repair and upkeep

• and much more!

CORE VOLUNTEERS receive the same benefits as Regular Volunteers, PLUS:

• free DTL Library privileges

• free and discounted use of DTL Open Shop

• 50% discount on DTL Classes

• DTL merch will be forced upon you!!

OTHER WAYS TO VOLUNTEER

Have some Special Pro-Level Skillz in mind to contribute? Reach out to us if you…

• have connections at tool manufacturers or construction companies for tool donation

• have connections to help with outreach and community engagement

• have experience in grant writing or fundraising

• are able to provide DEI trainings or consulting

• have experience in tool repair/maintenance

READY TO GET STARTED?

Fill out our DTL Volunteer Form and come to an orientation.

Brand New Class: Own It! Home-Buying

Brand New Class: Own It! Home-Buying with Sarah Wells of LiveWork Denver. The first class will be 7/26.

If you’ve ever felt home ownership is out of reach or too confusing, this class is for you. We'll take a non-judgmental, education-based approach to empowering people to start their home-buying journey.

In this first-time homebuyer class, we will discuss the buying process, how to get started, and share creative strategies to finance and enter the housing market – including downpayment assistance programs, innovative acquisition strategies, and how to prepare yourself for the journey. We'll also walk through some of the common contracts associated with home buying in Colorado, walk through the steps in the process and cover common items that come up when you're buying a house.

Sarah is passionate about empowering people and businesses through ownership. A seasoned real estate agent from LiveWork Denver, Sarah enjoys working with new buyers to identify their needs and patiently guide them through the topsy-turvy process of home-buying. Her previous background includes nonprofit and sustainability as well as marketing and community relations, so it’s no surprise that she loves enfranchising artists, activists, and entrepreneurs through property ownership. Considered an expert in collective living, co-buying, and a champion for housing innovation, Sarah thrives in finding creative solutions and spaces for all.

Thanks for the Tool Donation, Amazon!

Wow! Never thought we'd see the day where we say thank you to Amazon, but here we are. Folks at the Amazon warehouse donated all these tools that they aren't able to sell for whatever reason, and now y’all get to reap the benefits!

Notes from Tool Library staff to marketing: "Thanks to Phil, Sam, and Mark for collecting all these tools for us, and to Oliver and Scott for sorting ‘em out and tool-detectiving what the weird ones are! 🕵️‍♀️ Any tools we can’t use, we send on to other rad orgs doing good work in Denver. Yada tada blah! Social media."

Brand New Class! Knowing Your Car Automotive Class

Brand New Class! Knowing Your Car with our new instructor Care Leite from Good Judy Garage, an LGBTQ+-owned auto repair shop. The first class will be 7/22.

We spend on average 17,600 minutes in our cars per year! Why not learn about how it gets you from point A to point B? In this class you will learn the basics of automotive function and how to care for your own vehicle in a mixed lecture and practical style class so get ready to get down and dirty under the hood.

We will be covering automotive maintenance and repair concepts for the student with little or no background in the automotive field. You will be learning a variety of major vehicle components including; theory of operation, intake systems, fuel delivery, ignition and charging systems, engine cooling, basic maintenance, and roadside emergency procedures.

Learn what's what under the hood of your car and never again be nervous about that weird light on your dash, or that not so inconspicuous fluid stain in the driveway!

About the Teacher: Originally from Brazil, Care Leite moved to Colorado in 2019 and has been working in the automotive industry for the past 3 years. He is currently a repair technician for Good Judy Garage, an LGBTQ+-owned auto repair shop, and has worked in other shops around Colorado. They have a passion for fixing cars and sharing their knowledge with others.

Brand New Class! Picture Ledges

Brand New Class! Picture Ledges with our woodworking instructor Tomas Vallejos. The first classes will be 7/21 and 8/7.

In this class you will be creating your own picture ledge. This project is a perfect way to spruce up a room in your home as well as be able to showcase your favorite pictures and memories. If you are interested in learning how to woodwork but are unsure of where to start, this is a perfect introductory project.

This is an entry level class designed to get you more comfortable with some of the most commonly used tools in a wood shop. We will be going over techniques and safety practices for the table saw, router table, and miter saw. We will also touch on some hand power tools like drills and drivers, nail guns and orbital sanders. Gain confidence in woodshop tools and leave with a fun project for your home!

This class will be taught by Tomas Vallejos. He is a Denver local who works as a custom picture framer, carpenter and woodworker with an emphasis in custom furniture making. He is also a current student of the fine woodworking program at Red Rocks Community College where he continues to ever expand on his woodworking knowledge and skills. Take a look at some of his work via his Instagram page @north20_finewoodworking