Vashon Tool Library - Fix-It Cafe - MakerSpace

The Vashon MakerSpace mission is to empower the Vashon community to promote sustainable and equitable practices by providing access to shared resources and learning.

Our story started in 2014 with a group of dedicated islanders who believed that the sharing economy should thrive on Vashon. They founded the nonprofit organization Vashon MakerSpace, which operates three programs, the Vashon Tool Library, the Vashon Fix-It Cafe, and the Vashon MakerSpace.

Borrow It!

Vashon Tool Library

We are proud to share that in 2024 our team of 31 volunteers donated over 1,800 hours to keep the Tool Library open three days a week.  We completed over 3,000 tool loans, from over 700 different tools. Our inventory currently includes over 1,500 tools, and we continued to increase the diversity of tools available.  Expanding battery operated tools, improving tool quality and our maintenance programs will be our focus in the coming year.  The Tool Library operates with the generous support from Open Space for Arts and Community, and our 400+ active members. 

Fix It!

Vashon Fix-It Cafe

In 2024 we held three Fix-It events that repaired over 1,400 pounds of broken items and diverting them from landfills. Fix-It volunteers contributed over 300 hours to help repair a wide variety of items including lamps, vacuums, small home electronics, lawnmowers, sewing machines and fabric repair.  Fix-It events are held in collaboration with Zero Waste Vashon, Vashon Eagles, Vashon Island Time Exchange, Vashon Care Closet (Vashon Care Works) and the King County Eco-Consumer Program. 

Make It!

Vashon MakerSpace

The MakerSpace unit has the vision of offering classes on a wide range of tool use topics and possibility offering workspace for community use.  In the last three years the MakerSpace has started with the class offerings in woodworking, chainsaw safety, fly casting, and shed building.  Our goal for 2025 is to expand these class offerings  in both subject matter and frequency.  Class topics with the strongest interest included advanced woodworking, metal working, home repair and fabric arts.

In early 2022, the Vashon MakerSpace Board began the build out of our very first physical MakerSpace Classroom. Located inside of the O2 warehouse at Open Space, our new 680 sq. ft. multi-use classroom is powered up and stocked with donated tools.  Resulting from the efforts of our volunteers the space is lined with custom made maple-edged workbenches and work tables.  This major step forward in our organization was made possible by the many thoughtful and riveting discussions of our board members, the countless hours of labor and craftsmanship of our volunteers.