Thursday
Feb182010
Who is this man, and why is he wearing a toupee on his face?
Thursday, February 18, 2010 at 7:53PM 
His name is Charles Dickerman. This picture was taken in the late 19th century. He was probably wearing a wool suit. He was definitely growing something on his face.
I would like to take a moment to thank Charles Dickerman, wealthy businessman, entrepreneur, and (obvious) wool wearer. Thank you, Charles E. Dickerman, for building this building in 1901:
Thank you, Charles E. Dickerman, for building this building that in 1901 served as a women's millinery shop, a furrier, a clothing store, and on the second floor, a dance hall.
Thank you.
Thank you for building the future home of Three Irish Girls.
How do you think Charles Dickerman would feel about his building being used for ballet?
And now, for yarn?
When Charles Dickerman built this building, he intended for there to be three retail stores on the main level and a larger dance and meeting space on the second floor. Over the course of more than 100 years, you can imagine that the building saw some challenges. At least seven fires occurred here. I'm going to do my best to make sure there aren't eight. Disrepair. But the bones were good, and no amount of new construction can create a history like this one. I love knowing that I'll be working where women used to make and sell fancy hats.
The building was purchased and fixed up several years ago, and three loft-style condos replaced the dance hall.
We're moving at the beginning of March to our brand new, bigger, more awesome, absolutely fantastic home. (Yes, that's only a couple of weeks away!) We're packing everything we own, bidding our windowless but colorful studio in the suburbs of Washington, DC adieu, and moving across the country to Duluth, Minnesota.
Our new studio has twice the space of our current studio. And it has windows, which is an unimaginable luxury to the likes of us. We'll be occupying two of these spaces on the main level, the space in the middle and the space on the left.
The space in the middle and the space on the left will give us more then 3,000 square feet of dyeing, drying, and storage space -- space that is sorely needed. It will also give us the ability to work better, smarter, and faster, as we're able to set up the most efficient work area possible.
Having lived with the limitations of my current setup for more than two years, I have often dreamed of what I would do if I ever had the opportunity to build a dream studio. And you're looking at it, kid: Yarnista's dream studio.
We've taken these two spaces and made them adjoining on the inside with a French door. It's already happened. It happened while I was here in DC answering your emails and dyeing your yarn and shipping your packages. It's like magic.
Moving home to Minnesota means that I can be close to my mama and daddy and sisters and nieces and nephew. Moving home to Minnesota means that my kids can play with cousins and spend the night at Grandma's and go sledding anytime they want, practically all year long.
The plumbers are more than 80% done with the work on the new studio. They've installed the water lines for the sinks and the washing machines. They've put in the mother of all hot water heaters. The electrician is putting in lots of ambient lighting, and is installing modern pendant lighting for the color mixing and dyeing stations. The painters are painting, the carpenters are carpenting, and I'm marveling.
Years ago, in this very city, a twelve year old girl tried to knit a blue cotton dishcloth. And now she's coming home to nest here:
I can't even believe it. Over the next few days, I'll give you some studio updates, including the colors I picked out for the walls while on my secret mission.
I feel so grateful that my years of early mornings, late nights, sore backs, burned arms, and delighted eyes have created something to be proud of. Thank you for coming along on this journey with us.
Things are going to get even better from here.
XOXO
-- Yarnista
P.S.
Reader Comments (58)
Oh, wow!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! What a wonderful step for you to be making. I wish you amazing success.
I loved Duluth when I visited a few years ago. Maybe I should go back sometime soon? ;-)
WOW!!! I am so extremely excited for you & just so happy that I have tears in my eyes!!
CONGRATULATIONS and may all your transition be smooth!!!
OMG!!! This is so amazing!! Yaaaaaay! *does a happy dance for Sharon * What a dream come true!
Congratulations! Though I'm sad that you won't be local anymore - we'll miss you!
Congratulations--I'm so happy for you! You're clearly thrilled with your new set-up, it'll be great for you...and as a frequently moving Navy wife, I get the hunger to be close to family, especially when there's children. I just wish Minnesota was a lot closer to DC.
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congrats Sharon!!!!!!! that sounds and IS fantastic!!!
Oh Sharon! Congrats. It always feels so good to go home again. You are so amazingly deserving and well...amazing! Don't kid about those lofts... I may have to snag one :P
Oh my goodness!!! Sharon! This is HUGE. (I know. You said that. I underestimated you. Rookie mistake.)
I'm so excited for you, and happy that you're getting to move home. Selfishly, I'm bummed that I won't be able to claim to be local to The Yarnista anymore. If we come visit in Minnesota, will you give us a tour and fill our heads with random facts about Minnesota? Do we get to have a going away party for you?
congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just may have to check out Duluth, since you talk so much about it :)
OMG this is so so awesome!!!! I know what a dream it will be to be near your family again. When we moved away from my family I knew my kids would miss certain things because they weren't near their grandparents, aunts, and uncles...
I must mapquest how far this is from my house now!!!! But I think it's so cool that the building you bought has so much history.
Sharon, I'm beyond happy for you, truly. You've worked harder than anyone I've ever heard of, and the product of that work is amazing. I'm so proud of you! Maybe you need a design studio above? Or a jam palace? ;)
C
Congratulations!
What will it be like to have all that going on just a couple hours away?!?!? Hmm....
Congratulations on moving back home! What a wonderful feeling that must be.
We will take all 3 lofts available (we will need them all!) if we can be honorary assistants ;)
Congratulations! Best wishes and may all your dreams come true!
Sharon, congratulations!!! The building is gorgeous. I understand the no-windows work place, being one who works two floors below ground. Enjoy being able to see the outside world and work at the same time!! Safe move and smooth transition to you.
Lori
wow cool! being near family is the best thing ever.
I'm fascinated by the architecture of this building! Could you take more pictures inside and outside some days, please!?
It's a beautiful investment !
There is nothing better than being close to family. Congrats :)
Yayyyyy! Now, why did I move AWAY from Minnesota 18 months ago? Oh well, another reason to visit home!
Wow! Congrats!!!!!! That is so very awesome!
Yikes!!!
No wonder you have been so busy. Lucky for you and your family.
I am living my dream and loving every minute of it, I wish the best for you and can't wait to see my yarn!
Awesome, I'll have to come visit when I run Grandma's Marathon :)
Sharon, congratulations once again. I can't wait to see the new space.
Will you have a retail front? Can we visit? ;)
Congrats!!! I love, love, love Duluth!!! When can we come visit? I have such happy memories of Duluth, and now my favoritest yarn ever will be created there. Wow!!!
Oh! I am so very excited for you. Moving is tough, but you are tougher. Can not wait to see more. BTW The Yarn Ninjas are adorable!