SHOPPING + ART RETREAT SPRING 24 RECAP

During the Spring 2024 Antiques + Design show, we had the honor of hosting our inaugural Shopping + Art Retreat - something I’ve been dreaming about for many, many years. It was an unforgettable experience, with 5-days of shopping the fields, creating new friendships, and fostering creativity alongside my dear friend, artist, and co-host, Jeanne Oliver. Working with Jeanne and Kelly (her amazing husband and business partner) on this retreat was such a gift! Jeanne pours her heart and soul into everything she does and to everyone she touches — sharing light, love, knowledge, and a bit of fairy dust along the way.

 Day 1: A Warm Welcome

As our 12 retreat guests arrived from both near and far, we were busy prepping for the Welcome Celebration. The intention behind the celebration was to allow everyone to connect, unwind, and prepare for our treasure-hunting and art-making journey together. We wanted everyone to feel comfortable and at ease, so we created a charcuterie spread down the middle of our long table to make mingling a bit easier. Grazia grapefruit rose spritzers were waiting for them (we’ll be sharing the recipe soon) along with a selection of wines from One Hope Wines, an impactful winery that donates 10% of every purchase to a cause of your choice. 

Our lovely attendees found their handmade RVT totes to use while shopping, and Jeanne’s signature name tags hung by a leather beaded lanyard (that can be turned into a wrap bracelet or necklace), when they checked in. We’re thrilled that the totes came in handy - not only to fill with purchases each day but to help identify our group from afar! Overall, the celebration was successful – it connected each of our kindred spirits and set the tone for the rest of the retreat.

Day 2: Shopping Part 1

The first official day began with breakfast in our Boho gathering room while I shared information about Round Top and the antique show - its history, how to navigate the show, some of my fav venues + vendors, shipping, and everything in between. 

Then we all jumped in the van and headed for the fields! Our first stop was at Blue Hills, where Stephanie, the venue owner, had a Wolffer Estate rose toast ready for us in the Unsubscribe tent. The next stop was Market Hill, for an incredible mimosa brunch at Duo (the venue restaurant), before our second round of shopping commenced, and then finally on to The Arbors at Round Top, to meet owner, Curtis Ann, for yet another attendee celebration before finishing up our first day of treasure hunting.   

We returned to the cottages for some much-needed rest and sustenance - by way of pizza from Boon + Co, and Pie Haven cuties for dessert. Afterwards, we gathered for a show and tell of everyone’s purchases which was my favorite part of the day! Getting to see the excitement each attendee had, not only for what they had found but also for what others had found as well.    

Day 3: Art Workshop

The following day was dedicated to art, with workshops led by Jeanne. We picked the perfect day for this portion of the retreat as it rained throughout the morning but gave way to the sun when it was time to take the group outside to learn all the different ways art can be created using nature.  

Lunch was served in the 1450 cottage, with rave reviews about the Texas-style deviled eggs, pasta + chicken salad, and warmed homemade bread all prepared by Local Roots (you can find Melissa’s food truck during each show in front of Junk Gypsy). Once the second art session ended, a special bottle of French for Water wine was opened to toast and celebrate their hard work and creations!  

After an inspiring, creative day, we all got dressed up and headed to Rancho Pillow for the Dinner in the Field, an experience our guests deemed as truly one-of-a-kind and unforgettable. They all met Sheila, the owner and visionary of Rancho, shopped at the Mercado, and ate a delicious meal prepared by Chef Karla Subero Pittol. It was a gorgeous evening sitting in an open Texas field, under the stars, with a full moon to boot. Overall, this day was the perfect reset before heading back into the fields to find more treasures! 

Day 4: Shopping Part 2

We had a full agenda for our last shopping day, including Marburger Farm, The Horseshoe, The Compound, Excess I + II / Box Road, and The Halle’s. The day began as we waited for the bell to commence shopping at the Marburger Farm opening. After a few hours of power shopping there, our next stop was The Horseshoe - a new venue that has a lot of our fav vendors. Next up was The Compound where venue owner, Mark Massey, who’s also the Round Top mayor, met our group and shared some of his family’s history that is tied to the town’s growth (Henkel Square is a big part of the story ). Excess and Box Road were our final locations for the afternoon, before the Paper City Sip and Shop at the Halle’s, which is conveniently located directly across the street from us. 

Our final gathering that evening was bittersweet as we reminisced about the experiences we shared, the treasures we found, and the friends we made in the process. My heart was full as the retreat turned out even better than my vision of it so long ago. The best part was knowing we’d fulfilled a dream that all of these wonderful women had, some for decades, of attending the Round Top show - but with all the perks of the elevated retreat experience attached that they will not soon forget.

Even though it was not possible to hit every one of our friend's venues due to time, we offered our ladies an eclectic mix of styles and price points for a tiny taste of what the show has to offer. Our hope is they’ll return in the future to visit even more of the amazing venues and events that make up the magic of the Round Top Antique + Design Show!           

The following morning, we said farewell to our newfound friends and felt a sense of accomplishment and excitement for the future. This inaugural shopping retreat was the first of many to come, and we are already looking forward to next season’s retreat! If you’d like to be on the first-to-know list for when we open registration for future retreats, sign up here to join our retreat waitlist. Each retreat is extremely limited in capacity and spots fill quickly! We hope to have the opportunity to host you in Round Top soon and would love to see you at our next retreat! 

 xo,

Paige