Seeing Ourselves Through His Eyes

A Christ-Centered Women's Retreat March 12–14, 2027 | Noel, Missouri

Reserve My Place

There is purpose in the in-between.

There are seasons when we find ourselves somewhere between where we've been and where we're going. Seasons of waiting, becoming, beginning again, or simply wondering what God is doing in the middle of it all.

But what if we could learn to see those places...and ourselves...differently?

Grace-Colored In-Between is an intimate, Christ-centered women's retreat centered around one simple invitation: Seeing Ourselves Through His Eyes.

For three days, we'll gather at The In-Between Studio here at Rainy Day Vintage to step away from the noise and spend intentional time with Jesus and one another. Through Scripture, prayer and praise, honest conversation, and creativity, we'll explore what changes when we stop measuring ourselves by the voices around us...or even by our own...and begin looking at ourselves through the truth of who God says we are.

Creativity will be woven throughout our weekend. We'll paint, work with clay, explore, make, and spend time creating alongside one another in The In-Between. There will be guided creative experiences as well as open studio time to follow your own ideas and work with the materials you love.

This retreat is intentionally Christian and rooted in Scripture, prayer, and a shared faith in Jesus Christ.

Only 12 spaces will be available.

photo by Jim Chalmers

Born from gathering together.

This retreat grew from something we've already experienced...the difference it makes when women come together in faith, pray for one another, share honestly, create together, and make room for the stories God is writing in each of our lives.

What began through prayer and friendship became a desire to create a place where a small group of women could gather in person for an entire weekend.

A place to pray and praise. To create. To sit around the table. To listen and encourage one another. To laugh, share our stories, and make room for Jesus in all of it.

And perhaps, in the safety of that kind of gathering, to begin seeing ourselves a little differently...not through our past, our mistakes, our insecurities, or the expectations we've carried, but through His eyes.

That's the heart behind Grace-Colored In-Between.

A weekend with room to breathe.

Our time together will be centered around Scripture, prayer, praise, creativity, and time spent with one another.

We'll gather around the table, share stories, pray and praise together, and spend plenty of time creating. The studio will be ours for the weekend..with room to paint, work with clay, experiment, journal, pull out favorite supplies, and simply enjoy making alongside other women.

Renee will lead us in a plein air painting experience, slowing down to notice the beauty of creation and responding to what we see through paint. If March weather has other plans, we'll gather near the windows of The In-Between Studio and paint the landscape from inside.

Abby will lead us through a clay pottery experience paired with devotion, giving us another opportunity to create with our hands while exploring the heart of our weekend together.

But not everything creative will be a scheduled class. The In-Between will be open for exploring. There will be other creative experiences and materials available throughout the weekend...things like Renee's Expressions of Joy art cubes and other opportunities to make, play, experiment, or try something simply because it catches your interest.

There will be things we've thoughtfully planned for our time together, but we aren't going to fill every minute.

We want there to be room for the conversation that runs long. The prayer that needs a little more time. The painting you aren't ready to put down. The unexpected creative idea. The laughter around the table. Or a quiet moment alone with Jesus.

No previous art or pottery experience is needed.

Come a Little Early

If your travel plans allow, we'd love to have a little extra time with you before our retreat officially begins.

Thursday, March 11 | 6:00–8:00 PM

We'll open the doors of The In-Between Studio for an optional welcome evening. Dinner will be waiting, and we'll have a relaxed evening to meet one another, settle in, see the studio, and simply enjoy being together before the retreat officially begins.

Friday, March 12 | 10:00 AM–12:00 PM

For those who'd like to join us, we'll gather Friday morning to shop for the food and ingredients we'll use as we prepare and share meals together throughout the weekend.

Then we'll have a little time to grab lunch and reset before we begin.

Grace-Colored In-Between officially begins Friday at 1:00 PM.

Can't arrive Thursday or join us Friday morning? That's completely okay. You won't miss the beginning of the retreat.

Your Weekend at The In-Between

  • Gather

    We'll gather around the table for conversation, prayer, praise, laughter, and meals shared together. On Friday evening, Abby will treat us to a homemade Mexican dinner, and throughout the weekend the table will be part of our time together...not simply a place to eat, but a place to share stories, linger, and get to know one another.

    Photo by Rhonda Vesey

  • Create

    Creativity will be woven throughout the weekend. Renee will lead a plein air painting experience, Abby will guide us through a clay pottery experience with devotion, and The In-Between will be open for exploring...art cubes, journals, favorite supplies, and other creative opportunities you can pick up and experience along the way.

    Bring the supplies you love, follow your curiosity, and create without the pressure to make something perfect.

    photo by Michele Riplogle

  • Make Room

    We'll make room for Scripture, prayer, and praise throughout our weekend. Renee will share from the heart behind her “grace-colored glasses”...what it means to see ourselves through grace and begin seeing ourselves more clearly through His eyes.

    Abby will also lead us in exploring what it means to be a friend of God, as we spend time considering who He is, who we are to Him, and what that means for the way we live and see ourselves.

    And we'll leave room for what can't be scheduled: a conversation that needs more time, a quiet moment with Jesus, an idea you want to follow, or simply sitting with what God may be showing you.

    photo by Sandy King
I Want to Be There

Meet Your Hosts

Renee Smith

Artist • Teacher • Faith Mentor • Inventor

Renee Smith is an artist, teacher, faith mentor, and inventor whose work is rooted in faith, creativity, and the belief that there is purpose in the in-between.

Through her original artwork, creative teaching, and the experiences she creates at The In-Between Studio, Renee encourages others to rediscover hope, create with confidence, and become more fully who they were created to be. The studio has become more than a place for her to make art...it is a place for creating, gathering, sharing stories, and making room for the ways God works through creativity and community.

The heart behind Grace-Colored In-Between is deeply connected to something Renee has shared for years...learning to put on our grace-colored glasses and see ourselves through the grace of Jesus rather than through our past, our failures, our insecurities, or the expectations of others.

Throughout the weekend, Renee will share more of that heart while inviting women into the creative part of her world through painting, plein air, open studio time, and opportunities to explore and create together.

For Renee, this weekend is about opening the doors of The In-Between, gathering around the table, and making room to see ourselves more clearly through His eyes.

Photo by Sandy King

Abby Vukovich

Abby Vukovich

Artist • Creative • Teacher • Community Builder

Abby Vukovich is an artist, creative, and owner of The Pink Flea Studio, where art becomes a vehicle for creativity, connection, and renewal.

Through acrylic and watercolor painting, air-dry clay, paper crafts, and 46 years as a dollhouse miniaturist, Abby encourages women to rediscover parts of themselves through creativity and find connection in community.

Her faith in Jesus Christ and His grace are at the heart of the way she creates, teaches, and connects with others. Alongside her husband, Abby has also owned and operated River City Recreation, a bowling center, for 38 years, making gathering people and building community a lifelong part of her story.

Abby’s heart is to help women make space to feel inspired, supported, and free to become more fully who God created them to be.

Reserve Your Place

Grace-Colored In-Between is intentionally limited to just 12 women.

Your investment for the full Friday–Sunday retreat experience is:

$500 per person

Your place can be reserved with a $150 deposit, with the remaining balance paid in two payments:

$175 — January 15, 2027

$175 — February 15, 2027

Or you may choose to pay the full $500 when you register.

Your retreat registration includes our time together at The In-Between, meals during the retreat, creative experiences and materials, your retreat journal, and the special details we're preparing for the weekend.

Lodging and transportation are not included.

Yes, I want to be there!

Planning Your Stay

Grace-Colored In-Between will be held at The In-Between Studio inside Rainy Day Vintage in Noel, Missouri.

Lodging and transportation are not included with your retreat registration, allowing you to choose the accommodations that work best for you.

We're putting together helpful travel information, including nearby lodging recommendations, airport information, and other details to make planning your trip as easy as possible.

Registered guests will receive additional travel and lodging information as we get closer to our weekend together.

Retreat begins Friday, March 12 and concludes Sunday, March 14, 2027.

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Where is Grace-Colored In-Between held?

Grace-Colored In-Between will be held at The In-Between Studio at Rainy Day Vintage in Noel, Missouri, Renee’s private working studio and creative gathering space.

This is where we’ll spend our weekend together...gathering around the table, opening our Bibles, creating, sharing meals, praying, praising, talking, laughing, and simply having time together.

The exact studio address will be provided to registered attendees before the retreat.

Where can I find travel information and connect with other attendees?

Once you’re registered, you’ll be invited to a private Grace-Colored In-Between Facebook group just for the women attending the retreat.

This will be our place to connect before March, get to know one another, and share helpful information as we plan our weekend together. You’ll find suggestions for nearby B&Bs and places to stay, travel and driving information, what to bring, retreat updates, and other helpful details.

It will also give you a place to connect with other women attending if you’d like to coordinate travel or lodging together.

Is this a Christian retreat?

Yes. Grace-Colored In-Between is a Christ-centered women’s retreat rooted in Scripture, prayer, praise, and a shared faith in Jesus Christ.

Do I need to be an artist to attend?

Not at all. Creativity will be part of our weekend together, but no previous art experience is needed. Our creative time is about experiencing the process, noticing what is around us, and responding in your own way—not about creating a perfect piece of art.

What supplies should I bring?

Bring your favorite creative supplies...your Bible, the paints and colors you love, brushes, tools, journals, or other materials you enjoy creating with. You don't need to bring your entire studio, just the things you naturally reach for when you create.

Any special materials needed for specific retreat activities will be provided, and we'll send a suggested supply list before the retreat so you'll know exactly what to pack.

That also works for women who aren't experienced artists because the later supply list can give them a simple starter list rather than making them wonder what “favorite supplies” means.

How many women will attend?

We are intentionally keeping Grace-Colored In-Between small, with space for only 12 women

What happens if the weather doesn't cooperate for painting outdoors?

March gets a vote in that. 😊 If the weather allows, we'll create outdoors. If not, we'll gather near the windows of The In-Between and paint from the landscape around us while staying warm inside.

What are the retreat times?

Grace-Colored In-Between officially begins Friday, March 12 at 1:00 PM and concludes Sunday, March 14 at 3:00 PM. Our Saturday and Sunday mornings will begin at 10:00 AM. You're also invited to join us for an optional Welcome Evening on Thursday from 6:00–8:00 PM and optional Friday morning gathering from 10:00 AM–12:00 PM.

Are meals included?

Gathering around the table will be part of our weekend together. We'll enjoy some meals prepared for us, including Abby's homemade Mexican dinner on Friday evening, and we'll also spend time preparing and sharing meals together at The In-Between.

We'll keep things relaxed and flexible. Noel also has a few local options for grabbing a meal when needed, including pizza and a local café.

Coffee, drinks, and light snacks will be available throughout our time together. We'll share more specific meal plans with registered guests before the retreat so everyone knows what to expect.

Is lodging included?

No. Lodging and transportation are separate from your retreat registration. We’ll provide registered guests with helpful information for planning their stay.

How does the payment plan work?

You may reserve your place with a $150 deposit. Your remaining balance will be divided into two payments:

$175 — due January 15, 2027
$175 — due February 15, 2027

We'll send you a secure payment invoice before each due date. Payments are not automatically charged to your card.

Your $150 deposit is part of your $500 total retreat investment, not an additional fee.

All retreat payments are non-refundable. If you're unable to attend, your registration may be transferred to another woman or the amount you've paid may be held as a credit toward the next Grace-Colored In-Between retreat.

What is the cancellation policy?

Because Grace-Colored In-Between is intentionally limited to just 12 women, all retreat payments are non-refundable.

If you're unable to attend, you may transfer your registration to another woman or choose to have the amount you've paid held as a credit toward the next Grace-Colored In-Between retreat.

Your retreat registration will include the full Friday–Sunday experience, meals during the retreat, creative materials, and a special retreat journal. Additional details will be added as we prepare for our weekend together.

Reserve My Place

Grace-Colored In-Between