IN LOVING MEMORY OF Diana Barns

Maker and Friend

On Mother’s Day, we lost an irreplaceable piece of The DIME Store, and the grief feels insurmountable. Diana made almost all of the pottery you've ever seen at DIME with an integrity and care that showed in every single piece. Quality wasn't just something she cared about; it was something she couldn't help but put into everything she touched.

She was laid back and servant-hearted. She had a generous laugh that made you feel immediately at ease. She would drop anything to help someone out, and she meant it every time. She was a cheerleader, a sounding board, and an exceptional friend. Always down for an adventure. Always in your corner.

She loved dogs. She loved small businesses. She loved people, and people felt it.

Diana was not just a maker whose work lined our shelves. She was woven into the fabric of DIME. The mugs you've held, the bowls you've loved, she made those with care and a complete refusal to make anything less than her best. Diana's fingerprints were on almost everything here. She made a significant portion of our inventory. She took our product photos and managed our social media. She worked in the shop weekly and helped shape our events and the creative direction of this place. She was present in this store's creative life in ways that will take us a long time to fully understand, let alone replace.

We are so grateful she was ours.

We are heartbroken, and we are also trying to figure out, in real time, how to keep going without her. Those two things are happening at the same time, and it feels impossible.

Our shelves will have gaps for a while. Our photos will be scrappier. Our social media will be quieter. We are a small team doing our best while also grieving someone we deeply loved.

We are going to find our footing again, but it will take time, and we are asking for your patience while we do.

We need your support. Not someday, but now, while we are in the thick of it. When someone is hurting, the instinct is often to give them space, to step back and let them be. We are asking you, gently and honestly, to do the opposite. Come closer. Come in, even just to say hi. Let us see your faces. Let us feel that this community is still here, because that is what will carry us through this. Buy something, even something small. Share us with someone who doesn't know we exist yet. Be patient with us when things aren't perfect. We really need your help.

Thank you for loving this store. Thank you for loving her work.

We love you forever, Diana. Forever and ever.