Inside a floral-printed canvas bag with leather handles, three sisters found a pinch of magic. Their grandmother, Mary Bryant, called the bag “The Valise,” and she’d fill it with art supplies for young Emily Gard, Danielle DeYoung, and Amber Casteel to explore. As children, the sisters curiously rummaged through its contents, pulling out whatever they needed to make something new.
“To me, [The Valise] had a presence because it was full of possibility,” Casteel said.
That monumental sense of possibility stayed with the sisters, nurtured by a mother who could revamp discarded furniture into something beautiful and a grandmother who filled their childhoods with poetry, museum visits, and Columbia’s Twilight Festivals. Now, the trio is creating a place where others can experience a little of that same magic.
By day, Gard and DeYoung work in real estate, while Casteel works in payroll. Outside their nine-to-fives, the sisters have joined forces to create Third Space COMO, a new art workshop and studio in Columbia centered on the simple, almost primal pleasure of making something with your own hands.
“Art is a human experience,” Gard said. “When we create, we are subconsciously processing whatever is in our minds and bodies. When I work with my hands, my mind quiets.”
Over an impromptu work-week lunch, the idea of Third Space began to grow legs and move beyond a fun hypothetical brainstorm.
“The three of us have been conceptualizing something like a shared art space for several years while raising kids and holding down our day jobs,” said DeYoung, “and we finally took the leap in late March 2026.”
Third Space began as a pop-up venture, bringing people together for ticketed, hands-on workshops in everything from linocut block printing and junk journaling to paint-your-date events. The sisters hosted their early gatherings at Range Free, with each bringing a different specialty to the table: Casteel in fiber arts, Gard in glass, and DeYoung in pottery.
By September, just six months after taking the leap, the sisters opened their first brick-and-mortar space in the North Village Arts District at 110 N. Tenth St. Taking over the space formerly occupied by aquarium shop The Basement Reef, the move has given the team room to welcome more attendees and further expand its lineup of creative workshops.
Inside, the sisters traded the former aquarium shop’s cold, industrial atmosphere for a warmer and more inviting vibe. Tables accommodate groups of four to six, making room for friends to craft together or strangers to strike up conversations over a shared project. Nearby shelves brim with paints, scraps, stamps, and other supplies, ready to become something new.
“I think we will, by osmosis, attract creative folks, but we’ve definitely witnessed some tag-alongs who were clearly roped into a ‘come on-this will be fun!’ scenario,” said DeYoung, “and it’s been really fulfilling to see how much they open up by the end of the event — to see them leaning into trying something new, begrudgingly. I think that’s my favorite thing to see happening in real time.”
For those who want to be creative without committing to a scheduled workshop, Third Space recently introduced drop-in hours. Visitors can choose a self-guided craft activity for $5 to $20 or bring a project of their own for a $5 studio fee.
October drop-in hours are scheduled for:
- October 16, 6-8 p.m.
- October 18, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
- October 23, 6-8 p.m.
- October 25, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Future drop-in dates will be announced each month on the Third Space website and social media platforms.
“We want a place for folks to hone their existing art skills, learn new ones, and invite anyone who believes they may not be creative to come on over and surprise themselves,” Casteel said. “Sometimes people just need a little direction and encouragement. We want to provide the space for all levels. You never know who might fall in love with creating once they get a chance to try it out with others who are figuring it out, too.”
For now, the sisters are focused on finding their footing as business owners while balancing their full-time careers. They’re taking things one step at a time, making sure the studio runs smoothly before pursuing larger collaborations or expanding their plans. Still, they have plenty of ideas for what Third Space could become.
“Success for me would look like being open daily, hosting craft socials regularly, being a consistent, creative outlet, and a safe and welcoming environment for community members of all backgrounds to meet new people and try new things,” said Gard. “We love when people arrive solo and meet another creative and really hit it off.”
Pull up a chair, try something new, and see what you might create. You may even find a little of the magic the sisters discovered years ago inside their grandmother’s Valise.
