How a Halifax woman is spreading joy one trinket at a time

Artist Jemma Arthur is spreading joy one trinket at a time with her Halifax Keychain Library.

A Halifax woman is spreading joy one trinket at a time.

Jemma Arthur created the Halifax Keychain Library after getting inspired by something similar she saw while scrolling on social media. The little library, which is located on Tower Road in Halifax’s South End, hasn’t even been open for a month but it’s already a hit.

“Every day I fill it up. Every morning around 10:30, I try to make sure I get out there and fill it up for people,” said Arthur.

Hundreds of items have been donated to the library so far.

“I really didn’t expect it to get as big as it did, but I have really enjoyed making the keychains. It’s something I look forward to every single say,” she said.

“I’ve had so many cool finds in terms of little trinkets, like old things from the 90s from cereal boxes or things from popular TV shows, things from toy boxes.”

Whether someone takes a keychain or leaves one, Arthur is just happy to make her mark.

“It’s just a joy project that I wanted to bring to the community so that kids and adults alike could enjoy something,” she said.

Transforming trinkets

For the items that aren’t already keychains, Arthur is able to transform almost any small item using a hand drill.

“We have a little trinket box on the side of the keychain library. You can put trinkets in there if they’re small enough,” she said. Otherwise, larger items can go in the parcel box on the nearby porch.

Since she launched the Halifax Keychain Library, there have been some very creative donations.

“It’s been really cool because we’ve gotten a lot of local artists who have brought their own little creations,” said Arthur. “We’ve had crocheted little things or artists who painted little keychains.”

It was important to Arthur to make the library accessible for everyone.

“It was designed with accessibility in mind. Whether you’re a wheelchair user or a child or somebody with mobility issues, it is an accessible height and there’s nothing you have to open or anything.”

‘Perfect timing’

People have come from near and far.

“I came all the way from Cape Breton just to visit the keychain library,” said Grace MacNeil. “I saw it on Facebook and I know that I had to come and see it for myself and give some creations.”

MacNeil said she recently received a bunch of beads and craft items from friends as a graduation present.

“They know that I love to create. I’ve been really into making keychains lately for friends and family to have them as bag charms and stuff. So, it was perfect timing how I just started getting into this,” she said.

She would love to see someone start a keychain library back home.

“Absolutely. I think Cape Bretoners would love this kind of stuff if we did one, maybe in Sydney. I think down on the boardwalk it would get a lot of visitors,” said MacNeil.

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