Blue Skies

While we await the arrival of 

a purportedly wicked storm to hit the Pacific Northwest tonight,

we feel like OUR storm is finally breaking up. 

We see blue skies ahead, and it's the dawn of a new month  - 

so we're starting it with a whole new state of mind. 

{Click here to hear 'Blue Skies' by composer Irving Berlin}

Within days, we hope to hear some very good news 

about the future of Retreat... 

but we've learned to wait until things are 

absolutely positively final to say anything at all. 

Just know that things are in motion on our behalf - 

and as was pointed out to us {repeatedly} by many of our friends:

"God has something better for you"

why, yes... yes, He does! ;0)

{Even though we couldn't begin to imagine it

or find it, or even hope for it in all the chaos.}

He led us right there... just like He did before.

We can't wait to share it with you -

as soon as we safely can!

Thank you all so much for your encouragement, prayers, and help...

On The Move...

To make a long, crazy, stressful story short  

{and believe us, you do NOT want to hear the long version}: 

The Camano Island farm on Arrowhead Road 
has been sold to another buyer.  So we are moving.

We’ve lived here for two years, hosted shows, and submitted several offers to purchase the farm. But, it wasn't to be, and we'll be moving off of this property in November. We'll get Retreat back on track as we move to a new location here on the Island, but all Retreat activity will be on hiatus until after the first of the year.

We want to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support, friendship, assistance and prayers over the past few months… you have seen us through a very hard part of our journey as we have faced many difficulties at once. It is such a blessing to be surrounded by such loving, caring, generous people! Your comments here and on facebook and your calls have been a balm to us.

Without the hands-on help of some very special people, we would never have made it through our Autumn Petite Retreat and traveled to the Remnants of the Past show in California, following Bob’s catastrophic injury & surgery in September. We are forever in the debt of many wonderful friends, who came to our farm and shows, and contributed their time & energy to help us. Bless you all...


Bethany Kennedy Campbell, Daughter with muscles & heart
Troy Campbell, Grandson who made us smile
Diane Clark & Mike McMullan brought the muscle & machinery!
Patty Green & John Chasteen gave us their time, hugs, and muscle!
Mari Bloomberg, Creative Muse!
John MacKey, John Chasteen and Mike Liptack, Parking & traffic control Kings!
Lisa Hildebrand, Creative Muse!
Beth Evans-Ramos, Creative Muse!

Dona Morrison and her sweet helping hands!
Two very kind LDS missions boys and their muscles!

And the vendors who brought their very best to Petite Retreat:

Elise Liptack, Elise Marie Photography

Jo Marie Richman, Rose~Marie

Debi Bock, Garden Party

Linda Wright, My Mother's Buttons

Donna King, Scandia Coffeehouse

...and those who helped us at Remnants of the Past:

Pamela & Dennis Johnson, Pammy's Attic
Judy Watkins & son, Remnants of the Past
Judi Powers, Dana-Powers House
Jenny Kompolt, Jenny K & the Junk Girls
Paul & Kathy Mendelson, Deb's Mom & Dad Extraordinaire!

We'll keep you up to date on how things are going as we move forward into the next phase for Retreat… our blog, websites, and facebook pages will remain active while we are on hiatus.

_________________________________________________________

Just one more thing...

Please be aware that any future shows, events, or activities 

on the Arrowhead Road farm are not affiliated with, related nor connected to Retreat, Petite Retreat, or Bob & Deb Kennedy. 

We have not sold our business or our name – 
only the property that we leased for two years has been sold. 
We just want there to be no confusion about the fact that 

anything happening on this property after November 30, 2010 

is NOT affiliated with nor endorsed by Retreat.

We Have a Scream Queen!

We Have a Giveaway Winner!

 All of the comments from our blog & facebook Page were entered, 

and the name drawn was:

Lynda Smith

who commented on our RETREAT facebook Page!

 Linda will receive this faaaaaaaaaaabulous prize:

Linda, please email us with your mailing address ASAP

and we'll get the Scream Queen Crown sent on it's way to you

in time for you to reign over Halloween at your house!

Congratulations to Linda,

and thank you to everyone who entered...

Calling All 'Do It Yourself Decorators'!

  We just received an email from a casting director at 

TLC - The Learning Channel, 

asking us to help spread the word about a new series they are casting. 

We're happy to share the news! 

(And who knows - one of our Retreat readers 

{in the Los Angeles area, that is} 

may just become a star on this new home decorating reality show!)

So, if you quality and are interested,
send an email entry to OurHouseCasting@gmail.com

TLC website     TLC on facebook

A Halloween ReTREAT!

Halloween is just a little over a week away...

but why wait for Treats?! 

Nope, it's not a Trick - 

Let's do another Giveaway!

Last year, Deb created the one of a kind 

SCREAM QUEEN CROWN shown above,

complete with two tiny pumpkins 

and a vintage bottle cap with a witch

It didn't sell at Poppyseeds

(cue sound of crickets chirping....)

so we still have it - and want it to be

a special ReTREAT for one of our sweet friends!

It would make the PERFECT addition

to a scary sassy vintage witch costume

for a very lucky girl, of any age.

So..... you know the drill:

*Leave a comment here on our blog for one entry.

*Leave a comment on our facebook Page for one entry.

*And ya' gotta' have a LINK to your blog profile, facebook Page or profile, 

or email attached to/in your comment, so we can contact you when you win!

Enter until Tuesday, October 26th at midnight PST.

The winner of the SCREAM QUEEN CROWN 

(witch hat shown in photo not included)

will be announced on Wednesday October 27th, 

and we'll ship off your crown as soon as we hear back from you!

Wishing you all the best of luck!

Party Time, Show Time!

It's Time!

Tonight is the 

Ruffles & Rust Un Marche` Vintage A` Inspire 

(A Vintage Market to Inspire)

Facebook Fan & Blogger Ball

in Monroe, Washington

and Saturday is the SHOW!

Timi posted some 'sneak peeks' on the

Come Junk With Us facebook Page...

and it's lookin' goooooood!

Though we are not going to be at the party or show, 
we send our best to all participating dealers and guests for a GREAT time!

Not So Ordinary Miracles...

So, for some people, it may seem strange that in the midst of the 'durm und strang', chaos & mayhem of our life right now, we had a giveaway for two tickets to a party. Maybe it even seemed rather frivolous. 

But we promised Timi we'd help her promote her Ruffles & Rust show, and she very generously gave us those two tickets to give away on our blog. So, we kept our word - which we always try to do. We had no idea that in doing so, we were actually being the Hand of God, reaching out to bestow a blessing on a deserving heart....

When we received the email response from our winner, Kathy, with her mailing address, it also contained a message that reduced us to tears. Our hearts both broke and rejoiced for this sweet woman and her family, and their story. As a result of her winning the tickets to the Ball, Kathy & I (Deb) have exchanged six lengthy emails today... and now know each other a LOT better. 

I asked her if I could share her first email - because I believe that God works ordinary miracles every moment of every day, and His M.O is all over this situation.....

I hope that as you read her message to me, you will see why it is that Bob & Deb walk forward one little bitty step at a time, doing what we feel God has asked us to do with what He's given us, knowing that there is a reason for it all. Even when it's messy. And once in awhile, we find out what that reason IS:

"Deb,

Well I was persistent, lol.  After a really rough year good things have been happening for us.  I am thinking God just wants me to smile a little bit : ) 

My husband was paralyzed last year after a rare spinal infection and I am now his caregiver.  I was lucky enough to get help for him and recently got to go to Art Camp with my Sister for 5 days, it was amazing and a much needed break.  That was a big smile.   And my Son is in Iraq in the Army, and we found out he will get to come home next month for 2 weeks for some rest before returning to Iraq.  That was a HUGE smile!  And my daughter who is the most positive person I know, just won student of the week from KMPS for her good grades and her community service and strong spirit.  Another big smile.  And now I won these tickets to get a night of fun.  God is very good!!!  Thank you again, I am so blessed.

Hugs,

Kathy"

So if you see Kathy at the Ball on Friday night, and she's smiling, now you know who is responsible for it: GOD is! Not so ordinary miracles, every single day.....

And the Winner IS...

All of the entries from the blog and from our Facebook Page
have been copied, pasted, and printed, cut into strips, and put into a bowl,
and then my blindfolded assistant reached in and picked out one slip of paper...

The winner of our giveaway of TWO TICKETS

to the Ruffles & Rust Blogger & Facebook Fan Ball

is....

{drumroll, please....}

Kathy of 'Kat Collects'!

Congratulations, Kathy!

Please contact Deb at retreatstyle@gmail.com - 

we need your mailing address ASAP so we can send your tickets

and a lil' something special from Retreat for you & your guest

to you before Friday's Ball!

We KNOW you two are going to have a BALL (pun intended)!

~

...and one last thing:  
Everyone keeps asking us what's up with the property and our future.
We just can't tell you how much your thoughts and prayers mean to us!
We don't have an answer yet...
God is still working on it on our behalf.


But we DO know THIS:

Faith is being sure of what we hope for
and certain of what we do not see
{Hebrews 11:1}

Ruffles n' Rust TICKET GIVEAWAY!

As promised, RETREAT is helping to spread the word and promote this
sure-to-be-FABulous vintage event in Western Washington.
Even though we won't be participating as vendors,
we are happy to advertise it here on our blog and on Facebook.
And Timi made sure we got our hands on two of the HOTTEST TICKETS in town!

  Yep - we have TWO TICKETS to the  

Ruffles n' Rust Bloggers' & Facebook Fans' BALL!

...and we're givin' them AWAY!

That's right - YOU can WIN two of these HIGHLY sought-after and LIMITED tix

to attend the party of the season with a friend, mom, sis, daughter, partner...?

A fabulous evening of shopping, sipping, noshing, giggling, and 

generally strutting around in ruffles & lace...

 Sounds like a marvelous way to spend a fall evening, oui?!

NOTE:

This Giveaway is limited to entrants that live or can travel at their own expense to the location of the  

Ruffles & Rust un Marche' Vintage A' Inspire  

Blogger & Facebook Fan Ball Event 

in Monroe, Washington (East of Seattle)

on Friday, October 22, 2010

Please do not enter if you cannot do so. 

Retreat does not imply that we or the event are responsible 

for any travel expenses or details of such for the winner of the two tickets. 

We are providing only the two tickets for entry to the private event Friday Night.

 

So how do you enter to win our giveaway? 

1. Leave a comment here on our blog for one entry.

NO ANONYMOUS COMMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED.  

  You must provide a contact link to your blog profile, blog, web site, or Facebook Page.

2.Become one of our blog Followers on Google, and leave a comment here on our blog 

to let us know that you just became or already ARE a follower, for one entry.

NO ANONYMOUS COMMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED.  

You must provide a contact link to your blog profile, blog, web site, or Facebook Page.

3. Click 'LIKE' on our RETREAT Facebook Page for one entry, and leave a comment on our Facebook wall to let us know you just became or already ARE a 'fan'.

(We will count all entries starting after this post goes live on Friday AM Oct 15)

4. Post about our giveaway on YOUR blog or Facebook profile and/or Page, 

linking to this post in your post, and leave us a comment here or on our RETREAT Facebook Page with the link to your post in it for one entry for EACH POST. ;0)

 We will accept entries until 

Monday, October 18 at MIDNIGHT Pacific Time.

We'll tally up the entries, and announce the winner of the TWO TICKETS 

on Tuesday October 19th

here on the blog, and on our RETREAT Facebook Page. 

We'll also contact you via the contact link you provide in your entries. 

You MUST provide a contact link to your blog profile, blog, website, or Facebook Page in each entry to win. Entries without a contact link will be discarded.

The winner will need to respond to us, and then we'll arrange to 

either MAIL you the two tickets

or have them held at 'WILL CALL' at the ticket window at the Ball. 

And there will be a lil' something special from RETREAT with them! ;0) 

We wish you all the best of luck! 

_________________________________________________

And now, without further ado, 

The Event Details:
(direct from the Come Junk With Us website)

Ruffles & Rust un Marche' Vintage A' Inspire
Blogger & Facebook Fan Ball
Early Shopping & Social Event

Friday October 22nd from 5:00-8:30pm
Evergreen State Fairgrounds
Monroe, Washington (East of Seattle)

Wear a pageant sash that represents your blog, business, fan page or just you, and meet other bloggers, facebook fans, and new junkin friends!

We will be awarding prizes for the best sash
We will also be awarding prizes for the best dressed
Come dressed in your high society interpretation
of Ruffles, Rust or Ruffles and Rust...

Someone will be crowned 'Ruffles & Rust Queen'
for the best overall outfit and sash combo!

Tickets for this event are limited!
$25 entry fee

They can be purchased online through PayPal
on the sidebar at www.comejunkwithus.com
or at a Come Junk With Us ticket outlet:
Annie’s in Snohomish, Glitter and Ivy in Monroe, The Well Dressed Home in Bothell, Bountiful Home in Edmonds, Poppyseeds in Stanwood, Today’s Country Store in Sumner, and The Shed Antiques in Arlington. 

 The Ruffles & Rust show will be open to the public on Saturday, October 23

PLEASE VISIT www.COMEJUNKWITHUS.com
for FULL EVENT DETAILS & LOCATION INFORMATION 

People... People Who Meet People...

One of the best parts about traveling to participate in shows all over the West is the people we meet. And we meet a LOT of people! Some we recognize from Facebook or blogs, others are strangers who become friends, and then, occasionally, there are faces we look up to see that take us a bit off-guard.

These two happen to fit that description...

The gentleman talking with Bob, above, is an absolute double for a dear friend of ours from the past. Tom Slimocosky was the father of one of our daughter's schoolmates, and we met at the bus stop in Lake Arrowhead, Ca. He and his wife Melinda became very good friends, and we spent a lot of time with them. We moved to Washington, and sadly, were not able to visit them on a return trip down two years later. Tom died suddenly shortly after that. So when I looked up and saw this man, chatting with Bob, I was immediately shocked. I told him that he reminded me of our friend, Tom, and then asked his name...... uh huh. TOM. Not the same Tom, but the similarities are a little spooky.

Adding to my dismay was this lovely lady, Frankie, who was with Tom. They were ogling our farm table & chairs, engaged in lively conversation about where it would fit and how to get it home with them. Watching her, I was astonished to see the same characteristics of my lifelong friend Lori: sassy personality, a perfectly spunky hairstyle, sparkling eyes, ready smile, and wicked sense of humor. Bob saw it too, as he's known Lori as long as I have. It was like meeting Lori's long-lost older sister, I swear. {She doesn't have one, to my knowledge!} I told Frankie about Lori, and she loved it.

I'd love for the two of them to meet... what a kick. 

But I don't think I could keep up with two of them...

This is Lori & I at the SHS Reunion in July. She's gonna' kill me for posting it but it's the best shot I have of the two of us together... sorry, honey, I had to. Do you see the resemblance between Lori & Frankie?!

What we do is really ALL about the people we meet. Most become supportive repeat customers who seek us out at subsequent shows, some become rabid fans who follow us to every show and on all of our web pages, and some become friends. Others become our dearest, most cherished friends & allies... and every last one makes us feel blessed to have had the chance to do what we do, and to meet such wonderful people along the way everywhere we go.

Thank you ALL for your support, your thoughts, your prayers... we need 'em.

Sunday Morning Call to Prayer...

 This business, this place, is our absolute dream.

We'd really love to continue doing what we are doing with Retreat and Petite Retreat,
creating unique products and holding seasonal shows. We've got big plans for the future of our business. But right now, there are some things happening that have put us on hold... some things that, quite frankly, are completely out of our control to do anything about. And these situations could end it all - very quickly.

Normally, a business keeps that kind of news to itself, and either soldiers through the difficulties or fades away into the sunset. We're not a 'normal' couple or business, and so we wanted to share our situation with those who have been so faithful in supporting us for the past three years.  

We have an urgent request for your help today:

If you would, could you send up a prayer, a 'power of intention' mention, a thought, on our behalf today? We'd so appreciate that. If we are meant to do this, and stay here on this property, we know that something can happen within the next 48 hours to allow that to come to fruition. It will take a miracle, but that's ok.... miracles happen. ;0)

Thank you so much. Knowing that we have this kind of support will help us make it through some very, very stressful and heart-wrenching days... and we'll let you know how and when that miracle arrives. ;0)

Thank you,

Bob & Deb

Retreat

At Table, In Style

We love a good party, don't you?

We've been fortunate to have attended some really great ones,

and this one was just the icing on the cake. 

The Remnants of the Past Vendor Dinner, 

hosted by venue owner Judi Powers and her family at their home,

is a lovely and gracious tradition at this show. 

Everything was perfect - 

from the gorgeous garden setting to the simply elegant table decor...

 To the incredibly tasty and creatively presented food...

(um... there was more food... I just couldn't get photos of it!}

 To the entertaining company at table...

 Deb's mom Kathy, hubby Bob, and Dad Paul, 

{finally relaxing after a long day of taking orders from Deb!}

...and the wonderful vendors who work so hard to bring their best to this show.

What a remarkable group of people!

Everything about the evening was wonderful...except that it had to end.

Thank you, Powers family, for another beautiful experience.

{And for providing so many terrific & inspiring ideas 

for all of us for our OWN party decor!}

Retreat Booth photos

Home at last! We're back at Retreat Farm, 

and ready to start on our next project.

But first, those photos you've all asked for....

Our RETREAT booth at Remnants of the Past:

These shots were taken Friday after setup was complete.
There are more available on our Retreat Facebook Page.

I truly, truly wish I had taken photos of the booth 

on Saturday afternoon, after the show closed...

but you'd be bored to tears. 

It was all GONE! ;0)

Thank you...

To all of the wonderful shoppers 

who loved our products, our originality, our style, and our prices - and said so.

To all of the shop owners who purchased our products to sell in their stores.

To the decorators who purchased items for their clients.

To the dealers who purchased furnishings to use as fixtures in their own booths.

To the lovely people who found 'just the perfect thing' for their own homes.

We are so grateful to you for your support and encouragement.

We love what we do, and your continued positive response 

really makes it worth driving over a thousand miles for a show!

Heck, we're even flattered by the copycats - 

those who photographed & measured our original designs,

and walked away talking loudly 

about how to copy them to sell in their stores.

We'll be on to our next original idea by then......

Her Maj

We have a lot to share with you all about this weekend... and yes, that includes lots of photos! But to begin our 'State of the Remnants' report without addressing the Queen of all things vintage and Shabby and Chic would be, well, a travesty of royal proportions.

And so.... Let's talk about Rachel Ashwell, shall we????

Somewhere in the middle of the afternoon, after a throng of people had waited in line to meet her Maj and get an autograph from her, I finally had a moment to leave our busy booth and catch her between conversations. I presented Rachel with a small ivory cashmere Sweet Sweater Pumpkin, adorned with a darling bling-y pearl & rhinestone earring. {Did I take a photo of it before giving it to her? nooooooooooooo}. I shared that these are my own original designs, and she smiled and said "I LOVE that! SO original!" in her oh so proper and soft British accent. SO gracious and kind...approachable. Sweet. Not what one expects from an international megastar designer at all.

Rachel graciously posed for a photo {so I could prove to you all that I really did meet her LOL}, and when asked by my very own cheerleaders on the sidelines, vendor Pammy J and customer Frankie, "Have you SEEEEEEEEN Deb's booth?!" Miss Rachel looked at my 'Retreat' name tag and said "Oh, yes! You had the raw chairs! And such lovely presentation, really... well done."

Did you hear my jaw drop? 

Just the fact that she remembered my booth by seeing our business name...

well, remarkable. To me, anyway.

And then to compliment it... wow. 

{Even tho I am still trying to figure out WHEN she was there...}

I took a moment to tell Rachel that although I love her creativity and her style and all that she has given us in the decor world, what I am truly thankful for is that she shares her heart and her journey as a woman in business with all of us who face the same challenges, struggles, losses, and triumphs. I thanked her for her honesty, and told her that her journey gives us hope when we falter, or face a mountain, or think a door is closing on us. And we ALL feel that, don't we??? We all have those days. (Maybe months....)

The photos of Rachel and I were taken by sweet Judy Watkins (above right). Judi Powers (above center) and her daughter Megan (above left), whom I just met via Facebook and then in person, were also in on the conversation with Rachel. I was surrounded by women whom I consider to be amazing successes in business, and wonderful people & friends as well. It was a lovely moment, and I thank them all for the opportunity.

As I was typing this post and Bob peered over and saw the photos, he said "Is THAT Rachel?" When I answered yes, he said "I had no idea that was her when she was in our booth. She asked about the hemp chairs."

Did you hear my jaw drop AGAIN???

Where the HECK was I when she was in our booth talking to Bob?!

Retreat Sneak Peek from Remnants

We hope you will be joining us
{and the throngs of rabid shoppers and inspiring vendors!}
on Saturday morning at 9 AM,
for the 7th Remnants of the Past Vintage Show,
in Nipomo California (near San Luis Obispo).

It's amazing - trust us.
We've seen the goods.... you are going to LOVE this one!

Just a lil' peek at what you'll see in our Retreat booth.
There's LOTS more, too! ;0)

Nipomo or Bust

We're Here!

We arrived in Nipomo Wednesday night {late} after driving for two long days. 

We spent Thursday unloading the trailer. {Which, I might add, was expertly packed by me & our daughter Beth. It rode like a DREAM!!!} Thanks to the help of Deb's Mom & Dad {trade show veterans}, Pammy J & hubby Dennis, Judi Powers, Judy Watkins, and Jenny K of the Junk Girls, the unload process was quick & easy, the booth got set, nothing got damaged, and no one got hurt. ;0)

Oh, and Bob expertly supervised from his comfy chair with his leg elevated. 

He endured two whole days and nights without ANY pain meds to drive us down here... the man was in sheer agony. Once here, he got back on the meds and now he's a happy camper again!

Friday, it's foof up the booth with RetreatStyle.

{And maybe Bob, too. He sits still too long, you never know WHAT I might decorate him with!} I'll try to post some sneak peek photos Friday night, but there IS that famous vendor party to attend... with RACHEL... I mean, I just may not make it to my computer. But I'll try!