Author: Guelph Tool Library

You may have noticed the construction and updates taking place in our building at 131 Ontario Street. This has caused some unfortunate fluctuations to our hours, and we are sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused.

We will be closed today and tomorrow, but you are welcome to drop off tools during the Two Rivers Market, which is in the schoolyard tomorrow from 3-7pm. Just be sure you leave your tools with Susan Carey or Stephanie Clarke so they can mark the tools as returned in our system.

We hope to return to regular hours on Monday, June 11th. Late fees incurred as a result of the closure will be waived.

Thank you for supporting the Guelph Tool Library!

Wow, Guelph! You certainly are a generous bunch! We’ve received as much as we can handle in sewing machines, fabric and notions, but we wish to thank you for your generosity. Sew North was a new project for us, and it has been highly successful so far!

But it’s not over yet! There are still a number of ways we need your help. First, we are seeking financial support for the costs associated with this project. You can make a donation online, and every contribution $10 or higher qualifies for a charitable tax receipt. https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/108099771RR0028-church-of-st-james-the-apostle/campaign/sew-north/

We are also looking for volunteers that can help clean, test, and tune up machines. This requires basic knowledge of sewing machines, and some repair skills if needed. Most of the machines are running great, but a few need some extra skills! We will be working on machines Thursday, April 26th from 4-6, Tuesday, Mat 1st from 3-6 and Thursday, May 3rd from 4-6 at the Guelph Tool Library, 131 Ontario Street. Join us if you can!

We will be packing up supplies this Saturday, April 28th from 9 am to 11 am at The Church of St Matthias and St James the Apostle (86 Glasgow Street).

We will host a final packing and fixing day on Saturday, May 12th from 9 am to 1pm at the Church. Snacks and lunch will be provided for our volunteers, and we would love for your to join us!

https://www.guelphmercury.com/community-story/8559851-guelph-tool-library-s-sew-north-project-an-overwhelming-success/

The Church of St Matthias and St James the Apostle and the Guelph Tool Library, a Transition Guelph project, would like your help with a sewing machine and materials collection drive called “Sew North”. We will be collecting materials at the church and the Guelph Tool Library from April 15 until May 12, 2018 and looking for donations. On Saturday May 12, we will host a packing\fixing day to service and tune up all the machines going north at the church.

How can you help? First, tell your friends and family about Sew North. We have decided to concentrate on sewing machines, materials and notions. This can include buttons, fabric, yard goods, trims, zippers, pins, needles, threads, or any items for handwork. We are also looking for machines of any type and make. They do not have to be in working condition as we will be servicing all the machines. Also, on Saturday May 12, we will need a number of volunteers to help out with logistics, working with our fixers, and packaging up materials.

We also need financial help to pay for parts for broken machines, extra or needed materials that are not donated, packing materials, and technical support for the fixers. Donations of $10 or more will be issued a charitable receipt.

Click here to donate!

Sew North is being carried out as part of the Inuit Outreach Project (IOP) which has been running for over 9 years in the Diocese of Niagara. Materials are sent to the north through a program offered by Air Inuit. Air Inuit flies to a number of communities in Northern Quebec and provides free transportation for the collected materials. Program Co-ordinator George Gastle of St Paul’s says their aims are twofold, firstly, ‘to provide essential items for daily living and secondly, to learn about yesterday and today’s Inuit Culture and share information about living conditions for our Northern Neighbours.” George reports shipments have gone to nine communities in the past 9 years.

The idea for the project came from Environment and Social Justice Committee member Mary Ann Robinson. She said “this is an excellent project to both provide assistance where needed and at the same time, moving some things out of your own storage after you no longer use them. Downsize with purpose!”

John Dennis who is a Tool Library Coordinator reported that “this was a natural collaboration between the church and the Guelph Tool Library. We have our volunteer fixers from our Repair Cafes and the church will have a need to service and tune up a number of sewing machines.” The church was the host of the first ever Repair Café Guelph in August of 2016 and the Repair Café will be returning again this August to the church.

If you need more information or assistance with transporting, sorting or packing, you are welcome to contact : Mary Ann Robinson, John Dennis or Ann Chidwick at office@sjapostle.ca

Come support the Guelph Seed Library and the Grow Garden by watching the movie Seed: the Untold Story and staying for snacks and a discussion about seed saving at Miijidaa afterwards.

What is a Seed Library? A seed library is a collection of seeds where members can “borrow” seeds. This means they take a package/or a number of seeds, grow them and save a similar quantity or more to give back to the seed library for the next year. We understand that not all crops are successful so if we don’t get the same crop back that’s ok! We do ask that you donate some seeds that you have purchased or saved in return for the seeds you borrowed. The Guelph Seed Library is located in the Guelph Tool Library, 131 Ontario st.

http://www.transitionguelph.org/project-list/the-guelph-seed-library/

The Grow Garden is a teaching community garden developed by Transition Guelph’s Urban Food Working Group. The garden is located at Grace Community Church. The aim of the garden is to help folks learn to garden and grow food for themselves. We would like to give people a chance to understand the importance of a a fresh food diet, while also helping relieve some of the strain on their monthly food budget. The excess food will be donated to a few emergency food shelves in Guelph which also feed those in need during times of need.

Tickets are available online through the link below, or at the Guelph Tool Library any time during operating hours

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/seed-the-untold-story-seed-library-fundraiser-tickets-43247451291

The Guelph Tool Library and the Two Rivers Neighborhood Group invite the community to an indoor, garage-sale style event where they can swap their stuff with other participants on Saturday, march 17th from 12-4pm.   Contributors can drop off donations ahead of time, during Tool Library hours from March 12th-16th. Participation in the swap is Pay-What-You-Can with a suggested donation of $5.

Unclaimed items can be picked up by donors at the end of the event.  All remaining items will be donated to a local thrift store or community organization. Due to the constraints of the space, no furniture will be accepted at this event. We regret that this space is not fully physically accessible.

If you would like more information about this event, please contact The Guelph Tool Library by at email at info@guelphtoollibrary.org or visit our Facebook event page https://www.facebook.com/events/2061153767462382/permalink/2061153774129048/

The Guelph Tool Library is pleased to launch a new workshop series, Monday Night Makes.

On select Monday nights from February 26-April 16th, we will be offering hands-on, affordable workshops that will help you learn new, practical skills using the supplies available at the Guelph Tool Library. All workshops require advanced registration, which can be done online through Eventbrite, or in person at the Guelph Tool Library

February 26th, our Upcycled Bread Bags workshop will show participants how to turn vintage tea towels and cloth napkins in to a reusable bag for purchasing and storing fresh bread. Sewing machine experience is not required, and all materials are included. $5. 7-9pm.

https://www.facebook.com/events/159205621398533/

March 12th – Build a wooden crate. Learn to assemble a fun and functional rustic wooden crate that can be used for storage or as a functional display piece. All materials included. No experience required. $20. 7-9 pm

https://www.facebook.com/events/1687680591318176/

March 26th – Recycled Leather Accessories. Participants will make 2 styles of keychain and one coin pouch from recycled leather. They will learn how to trace a template, cut leather, wax thread, stitch leather and use the rotary punch and snap setter. Workshop fee is $5, including all materials. 7-9 pm

https://www.facebook.com/events/317501485438054/

April 9th – Macrame plant hanger. Learn to make a small macrame plant hanger with Chakrame by Sharon. All materials included. Additional kits may be available for purchase, subject to availability. $15. 7-9pm

https://www.facebook.com/events/177921012824387/

April 16th – Clone your clothes. Participants will bring a well-fitting t shirt they would like to duplicate, and they will learn how to create a pattern from it to start constructing a new one (includes pattern paper and instruction sheets only – participants must bring their own t shirt. This is not a sewing class). Workshop fee $5. 7-9 pm

https://www.facebook.com/events/491587951244516/