Class Spotlight! Picture Frame Woodworking

Picture Frame Building. Next class is 9/3 @10am (1 spot left!) or 10/1 @10am. Learn how to safely use our industrial woodshop machines, understand foundational woodworking techniques, AND bring home a beautiful picture frame that you built (tip: it could be a lovely gift)! In this woodworking class you will learn how to take a piece of wood from a rough sawn board to a fully constructed picture frame ready to hang on your wall. All skill levels are welcome from total beginner to advanced.

You will learn tips and tricks for milling, how to cut rabbits and different methods for doing so. The best and different ways to cut miters. Different joinery methods, edge details, sanding and finishing techniques. Lastly we will go over how to cut glass and fully assemble your picture frame with your artwork/picture inside.

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 @north20woodworkingco or website north20woodworkingco.com

We're Hiring! Winter Fundraising Coordinator

The Denver Tool Library is looking for an experienced fundraising coordinator to develop and lead our fall/winter fundraising initiative. If successful, we may be able to offer a more permanent position running seasonal fundraising events and online campaigns for DTL. If you have experience in fundraising and want to be a part of a real cool team, head on over to denvertoollibrary.org/jobs for position details and how to apply. The application deadline is 9/12/23. Thanks!

Jessie Met Mercury Stardust!

Tool Library Coordinator Jessie waited in a line longer than Splash Mountain's to meet @mercurystardusttopz during her book signing at @tatteredcoverbookstore. If you aren't familiar with Mercury Stardust, she's The Trans Handy Ma'am who (in Jessie's words) is out to destroy dude-bro tool culture.

Jessie managed to score a signed copy of "Safe and Sound: A Renter-Friendly Guide to Home Repair" which you should totally Google, as well as a signed pic that's now hanging on our Gold Member Board. We're stoked to have you as an honorary Tool Library Member, Mercury!

Class Spotlight! Portrait Oil Painting

Portrait Oil Painting. Next class is this Monday 8/28 @5:30pm.

Installing drywall is useful and all, but how often to do create something solely for the sake of art? Learn to create realism while listening to your intuition, and expressing yourself freely with Jen Starling (@jenstarlingart)! All skill levels are welcome from total beginner to advanced.

During this three hour class we will go through the step by step process of completing an oil portrait. We will use a reference photo that I will send you. We will focus on correct proportions, composition, and paint application. You will watch me paint, work on your painting, and receive feedback. You will be encouraged to find your personal creative voice, listen to your instincts, and play!

Why take an art class like oil painting? You’ll get a better understanding of color theory and design that they can apply to many different areas (like figuring out what colors to paint that drywall). Oil painting is proven to help you cope with stress, trauma, and increase self-esteem. Practicing art can boost your day-to-day creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.

Learn a new skill, meet like minded folks, and take home something you create. We hope to see you in class!

Open Workshop will be CLOSED 8/26

Open Workshop Hours will be CLOSED this Saturday, 8/26 from 10am-3pm. Tool Library hours and scheduled classes will not be changed.

We are in the process of onboarding a new totally super cool shop monitor (deets on that soon), however for this Saturday we simply don’t have anyone who is trained to safely show y’all how to use our machines while you work on your projects. Open Shop will be running during its normally hours again starting Thursday, 8/31.

Shop Monitor Tomas is Leaving!

Shop Monitor Tomas is a traitor and got a cool job elsewhere. Just kidding - many congrats on the new job Tomas!

You may recognize Tomas (Instagram @north20woodworkingco) as the Saturday guy covered in sawdust corralling hordes of Community Open Shop patrons while they safely make rips and cuts, routes and planes for their projects. His last day was Saturday so we loaded him up with donuts and balloons and sent him on his way. If you love Tomas as much as we do, don’t worry! He will still be teaching some of our woodworking classes like Floating Shelves and Picture Frame Building, so sign up for a class and tell him he’s a traitor that his wood wielding expertise that he shared with the community was and is much appreciated! Thanks Tomas!

Class Spotlight! Knowing Your Car

Knowing Your Car. Next class is this Sunday 8/20 @ 5pm.

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, roadside emergency procedure, and how not to get ripped off by your mechanic!

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!

We're Hiring! Shop Monitor for Saturday Shifts

The Denver Tool Library is hiring a part-time woodshop monitor for our Saturday 10am - 3pm shifts. This person would oversee our community open workshop hours making sure people are safe and properly using our industrial woodworking machines while they work on their projects. If you know your way around a woodshop and you’re into teaching others how to woodwork, we’d love to hear from you! For position details and how to apply, please visit denvertoollibrary.org/jobs.

Class Spotlight! Moss Box Wall Art

Moss Box Wall Art. Next class is 8/19 @ 4pm

Do you find yourself daydreaming of the mountains? Are you naturally drawn to the calming effects of lush, green scenery? Do you wish you lived in The Shire? Look no further! In this class, you'll learn to make Moss Box Wall Art, a piece of nature for your indoor space. All skill levels welcome.

About the Teacher

Hiii everyone! My name is Liz. I started making Moss Boxes in 2020, during the pandemic. Being a nurse during COVID means wildly stressful times. Amidst the chaos, I was looking for something, some sort of hobby, to bring me back to the present moment. I wanted to just zone out and make something nice. Also, I wanted a piece of natural art that you can... well... just stare at for awhile... something that takes you away. What you see is the result of a stressed out Nurse finding peace through making Moss Boxes in her garage. And once I started, I haven't been able to stop. I really love making Moss Boxes. Check out Liz’s work at denvermosscreature.com or on Instagram @denvermosscreature