Belle's Tool Box, project space for children, opening next month in south Minneapolis
See more of the story One of Lucy Elliott’s life mottos is “Make Do,” a phrase her parents often used and one that sums up her years-in-the-making effort to create a children’s activity center in south Minneapolis. The retired educator has collected old materials for crafts and projects, as well as books and toys she’s used in her jobs and raising her own family, and set them up in a renovated auto garage at E. 34th Street and 42nd Avenue S. She’s calling it Belle’s Tool Box, an homage to her mother. Once Belle’s opens in September, Elliott said she hopes parents will bring their kids there and engage with them in different crafts and activities. She’ll encourage a phone-free policy in hopes that parents will follow their kids’ leads and focus on whatever book, toy or project catches their eye. Elliott said her family’s basement, garage and backyard were formative spaces as a child, where she was always working on a project and learning new skills. She said she hopes that Belle’s can ...