Books, plants and now crafts have become a source of community connection on a street in Keiraville. Photos: Margaret Warner.
On any given day, Braeside Avenue is a bustling cross-section of Keiraville life. Local and international university students rush past parents walking their kids to school, while weekend strollers head toward the botanic gardens.
But a few things stop them all in their tracks.
What started two and a half years ago as a humble street library and plant exchange is blossoming into a “sharing economy” with the community’s latest addition — the Braeside Avenue craft library.
At the centre of it all is resident Margaret Warner. She kickstarted the neighbourhood’s sharing culture years ago with the street library and plant exchange, and once again, it was her vision that galvanised the community to bring the craft library to life.
“The library and plant exchange are always very active — people drop off and pick up items constantly,” she says.
“One day, I got to wondering if they would be as enthusiastic about a craft library. So I asked on the Keiraville Community Facebook page and about 60 people said they thought it was a great idea.
“The Keiraville community has always been a lovely, friendly, giving community, and this is my way of giving back. But as it turned out, I didn’t have to create the library itself. A resident named Stella organised for someone else to make the library for free. My family painted and installed it. So it’s a sort of monument to community coming together.”
Two weeks since its installation, the craft library is proving just as popular as its book and plant counterparts.
“There is a lot of foot traffic along Braeside Avenue, and it’s very diverse. So a real cross-section of the community who benefits,” Margaret says.
Residents are encouraged to donate any surplus craft materials for adults and kids alike, new or preloved, including wool, knitting needles, crochet hooks, embroidery kits, beads, paper art, card making, sewing, paint and craft sets. All of it is free to give or take.
“If you have overflow in your craft drawers from the kids’ school projects, donate them — it may end up on other school projects,” Margaret says.
Finished items can also be donated, and community members are invited to start group projects.
Margaret has once again led the charge on this.
“I have suggested a little community project where for anyone who wants to knit squares can do so towards small blankets. I’ll put them together with a toy and, through another community organisation, donate them to kids leaving difficult situations,” she says.
“You can’t really underestimate the power of something like this in the community, its ability to bring people together and to promote sustainability and a circular economy.”
