Brand New Class! Hand-Dipped Beeswax Candles w/ Jackie

Brand New Class! Hand-Dipped Beeswax Candles w/ Jackie Drummond @jackieuvalltrades. The first class will be Friday, May 3rd at 1pm!

Come learn how to make dipped beeswax candles! We will go over the basics of how to handle and care for beeswax, prepare wick for dipping, and the general techniques on how to build up the body of the candle. Dipped candles differ from poured candles in that the beeswax is layered over and over upon itself to create a stronger structure, similar to the growth of a tree in rings. Beginners are welcome!

About the Teacher: Jackie Drummond (they/she) grew up in Colorado in a mutli-cultural and mutli-generational house. They are excited to share a variety of information on lineages of candle making, curiosities / rituals and uses while leading the community through this chill and meditative class. Jackie encourages BIPOC, 2SLGTBQIA+, and Neurodiverse creators to join them in class, where they intentionally hold space for marginalized people to reclaim joy! Find Jackie on Instagram @jackieuvalltrades and follow along for new classes and offerings at their website Interwoven.

Share the Tools Fund: April Bday Donations Matched!

🎁🎉April 4th is our Birthday! Donations Matched!🎉🎁

The Denver Tool Library is turning 9 years old on April 4th, and for our birthday we are asking you to help us start our new Share the Tools fund! Best part is, during our fundraiser from April 1st to April 30th, 2024, all donations are matched dollar for dollar.

HOW DOES THE SHARE THE TOOLS FUND WORK?

Every dollar you donate goes into a fund. This money pays for the tools, space, and staff needed to ensure that underrepresented individuals and organizations creating positive change have access to our programs. So long as there is money in the fund, we are able to provide free to heavily discounted Tool Library Memberships, Classes, and Open Workshop Hours.

Your money directly goes to…

  • Increasing the availability of scholarships for underrepresented makers

  • Adding new, high-demand tools for you to borrow

  • Repairing and maintaining our 5,400 available public-use tools

  • Taking care of our staff so they can take care of our community

Help us reach our April birthday goal of raising $5,000 for our new Share the Tools fund! You can help by: 

  1. Making a donation that is meaningful to you. 

  2. Starting a fundraiser and asking your friends and family to help you reach an even higher amount. Everything's better together. Our fundraising toolkit can help you get started. 

  3. Seeing if your workplace matches employee donations. You can double your impact. Better yet, start a workplace giving campaign. 

If you have any questions about how you can help us reach our April goal of $5,000, please reach out to sandra@denvertoollibrary.org. 

2024 Share the Tools Funding Stats

All through 2024 we aim to raise $20,000! On average, this will help 500 Denver residents and organization gain access to the tools they need.

Want your name or your companies name on the lead donor board below? Donate today!

Class Spotlight! Woodworking I: Shop Safety & Certification Class

Want to use our big fancy woodworking machines in our community woodshop during Open Workshop Hours so you can build the project of your dreams? You gotta take our Shop Safety & Certification Class first! Watch the video to learn what it’s all about.

“I’ve been trying to get into the class but it’s been sold out!” you say? Well, we just released a bunch of new class dates thanks to your favorite woodturning instructor Chris Hoehle @studiocsh, who is teaming up with Ian Saunders to keep these class dates available.

See y’all in the shop!

What The Heck Do These Tools Do??

What the heck is this stuff?? Take one of the many new Shop Safety & Certification class dates that have recently been listed and find out! Once you've taken the class, you'll be able to use our Open Shop Hours and build the project of your dreams with helpful tips, tricks, and guidance from one of our all-pro shop monitors. Learn how to woodwork and take home something you built!

DTL Turns 9! Birthday First Friday Party!

Spring means our First Friday parties are back, and to kick off these events during @denversartdistrict’s Art Walks, we’re celebrating our 9th Birthday! Best thing about it is that First Fridays will now be hosted by your fav sewing instructor @jackieuvalltrades Jackie which means there’s going to be fun classes and live music in addition to the typical karaoke and libation shenanigans!

This party is also the kick off to our new Share the Tools Fund, which we are matching dollar for dollar all through our birthday month of April. This fund will give low-income individuals and organizations making a positive impact in our community free and heavily discounted access to Tool Library Memberships, Classes, and Open Workshop Hours.

Holy Moly, that's a lot of Shop Safety & Certification Dates!

We’ve been having a tough time keeping up with open Woodworking I: Shop Safety & Certification dates, but good news if you’re one of the people who have been waiting to get in - we just released a TON of new class dates!

Many thanks to your favorite woodturning instructor Chris Hoehle @studiocsh, who is teaming up with Ian Saunders to teach Shop Safety & Certification. They will be doing their darndest to get you into Open Shop Hours so you can build your dream project quickly, easily, safely, and even fun-ly!

What's Your Zodiac Tool Sign?

Which Tool Zodiac are you? Ugh, I knew it!! That's so you!

Oh you think this is BS? Then let me see your palm. Yup, says right here you need a Tool Library Membership. Well, good thing they're only $150/year.

Not into palms either? Well, I have your cards here and I’m pretty sure all those cups and swords and wheels mean you need to take a Bowl Woodturning class.

Share with a friend you want to upset.

And the Winner of Guess the Nuts is....

It's the day we've all been waiting for! The results are in for GUESS! THE! NUTS!

And the winner is.......
.................

.*suspenseful music plays*

..................

JASON AUGUST!!!

The total number of nuts in the jar is 779, and Jason's guess of 740 got the closest without going over. For being so talented when it comes to hardware jar quantity guessing, Jason wins a $25 DTL Bucks gift card that's good toward a Tool Library Membership, Class, Open Workshop Hours, or some super cool merch!

Lucky for you, these prizes aren’t as expensive as a brand new car. You can always be a winner get your own DTL stuff for cheap at denvertoollibrary.org

Thanks to everyone who played this round of The Nut Is Right! See you next time!

How Does Open Shop Work? Live Action Video!

Have you been wanting to use our industrial woodworking tools to start or finish a project, but don’t really understand how our open workshop works and you feel too afraid to ask? Don’t worry! Here’s what you need to know before you head down to our community workshop. Up to date hours, fees, and guidelines can be found on our website. While you’re there- check out our class calendar for Shop Safety and Certification times (hint: you'll need to take one of these before you can use Open Shop!)

Open Workshop Hours are not the same as tool library hours! Currently, the workshop is open Thursday’s from 2-7pm and Saturday’s 10am-3pm. See you in the shop!