The Truth Will Set You Free

Here's to LOVE.

Here's to honesty.

Here's to people being authentic, real, and original,

and sharing themSELVES.

Here's to focusing on meaningful, lasting, and important things.

Life gets busy and out of control and complicated.

Business... well, it SUCKS sometimes.

Even when it's your 'passion', it ain't always easy.

But there are things in life 

that really make everything else worth it.

Thank you, Jermonne & Joe, for reminding us!

We really needed that right now.

(go to their blog, you'll see what we mean)

Creating, Retreat Style

Since our whole design philosophy is about 

creating restorative, relaxing rooms you can live in,

we plan to share the process of doing just that to our new home. 

Our Retreat series of posts will follow us through the coming year

as we transform and 'backdate' a mid-1990's house 

to make it look like an old farmhouse. 

We'll be using creativity, salvaged materials, thrifted goods, 

our own RETREAT products and a lot of clever & cost-effective ideas.

We hope to inspire you with ideas that will help you

to make your home & work spaces reflect your style,

and feel as relaxing as a great vacation retreat. ;0)

First up is the first room in our home that's 'done':

{Well, for the moment... change is constant!}

Deb's Studio

Deb has written a great article about the process

of designing this vintage-style room and the storage in it

for the online design blog Vintage Indie.

You can see photos and read about the design process here!

There will be wood floors in this room eventually...

{See? We're already planning the next phase!}

One Step at a Time...

Last weekend, we attended the first vintage event we've been to 

since last October 1.

[Yeah, it's been THAT LONG since we were out in public!]

Our visit to the February 2nd Saturdayz Urban Market was SUCH fun!

What a joy to be among our fellow vintage 'peeps' again, 

feeling the energy of the biz we love so much,

and to be welcomed so warmly by them.

Today, we attended the Ruffles & Rust Vintage Flea Market, 

and saw even MORE of the crazy, insane, hoarding, wheeling-dealing gypsy souls 

who do this for a living. Ah how we LOVE them all! 

Such great energy fills the air at these events, you just can't help but smile 

and laugh and hug everyone you see. It's true community.

We are well under way planning for our own upcoming

Retreat Vintage Market shows here in Summer & Fall,

and FINALLY have products in process for the shows we'll be participating in 

across Washington & California this year.

Our very first appearance of this season as vendors 

will be the March 12 2nd Saturdayz Urban Market in Seattle, 

and we are SO excited to get 'back in step' with everyone workin' shows! 

[BTW, HUGE Congrats to Linda Morrison and Debi Bock 

for the recognition their show received in the new issue of 

'Flea Market Style' Magazine! 

2nd Saturdayz is listed as one of the Reader Favorite Markets!] 

With a mere three weeks to go before our seasonal 'debut', 

we've got a lot of ground to cover...

But considering that just five months ago today, 

THIS is what Bob was up to 

(and getting to this chair outside my barn took all the strength he had) 

we'll take each of these steps one at a time - and enjoy every bit of them!

And pretty soon, we'll be runnin' with the big dogs again ;0)

Thank you all for stickin' with us on this journey...

PLAY DAY for DeBob!

 Saturday is a PLAY DAY for us!

We're heading into Seattle to catch up with the 'Junk Tribe' 

at 2nd Saturdayz Flea Market. 

Have ya' been yet? You really don't want to miss this great vintage show

that Linda, Debi, and their stellar vendors put on. 

It's held inside Hangar 30's 'Workshop' area at Sand Point, 

in Magnuson Park near U Village (So even if it's raining, the shopping is ON!)

Visit their blog and find driving directions in the sidebar.

And if you see us there, say hi - we've missed everyone!

It Has Begun...

Yesterday morning, we sent out invitations to 30 FABulous vendors,

asking them to join us for our shows this year.

We already have over ten enthusiastic "YES!" responses!

This afternoon in the sunshine, we began staking out the show field.

And then this glorious sunset appeared. 

Every day, Retreat Vintage Market gets closer!

A very special Vintage Experience, 

coming to Camano Island in June & September...

Have a heART...

Deb shares a quick tutorial for making these sweet Vintage-Style Swedish Hearts on her personal blog, 'Hummadeedledee'. If you are looking for a fun craft project with the kids this weekend while you are snowed in [or just can't sit and watch the big game without doing something with your hands, like Deb!], gather some paper and scissors and give this a try!

[image by Deb Kennedy]

When All Else Fails...

Do you know what you do when the weather is so COLD

that you can't feel your feet and your hands won't haul boxes 

out in the shop & garage anymore?

You go inside and paint. ;0)

One more room done!

It's not that we don't WANT to just paint the whole place...

because we DO!...

but that's not really the 'business' part of this, 

and that's where we need to focus right now. 

But it IS starting to feel like HOME.

{And I think the soft tan walls make us FEEL warmer, too!}

We've also been working on details, plans, and paperwork

for Retreat Vintage Market 2011!