Creative Shop Talk Episode 149 - Extending Grace

Extending Grace Featured on Creative Shop Talk

Devon and Susan were recently interviewed on Wendy Batten’s Creative Shop Talk podcast.

We hope you’ll take a listen because we could not travel on this wonderful journey without you! Your support and friendship mean the world to us!

We hope you can grab a beverage and have a listen!

Painted furniture at extendinggrace.net.

Sustainability = Vintage and Antique Furnishings at Extending Grace

Sustainability = Vintage and Antique Furnishings at Extending Grace According to the EPA, 12.1 million TONS of furniture were discarded; of that 12.1 million tons, 80% went to landfills. Let’s stop and re-read that. Those are crazy figures.

Extending Grace vintage and antiques.

The Extending Grace Story 2022

Or How Two Flexible 65-Year-Olds Follow Their Dream …

We didn’t start our journey  at age 65, but we certainly feel like we’re coming into our own this year.

Devon Cretella and Susan Mocker met and exchanged pleasantries in the 80’s. (Devon had on a corduroy jumper, that much I remember. She is always the more fashion conscious.) Then we passed like ships in the night until the late 90’s when we started going to the same church and the rest is history. 

A very rich history filled with spouses, raising kids, antiquing, art shows, house church and a deep lasting friendship. Things we’ve perfected over the years:

  • Road trips – we can take a 2 hour trip and turn it into a 12 hour adventure filled with antiques and thrifting. 
  • Weekend getaways – even if they fall on a Monday or Tuesday. We fill every moment with intention; learning new DIY techniques or creating an online store during the pandemic, we’ve learned to maximize these precious getaways. 

Things we’re working on: 

  • Making the shopping experience as seamless and fun as can be. We love having events at the store where folks can gather, shop and visit. We absolutely love it when friends get reacquainted while in the shop! What a treat! 
  • Improving the online experience through our app and online store! Did you know you can shop at Extending Grace from home 24/7 and still do local pickup? 
  • Ways to better serve our vendors as well. Our local artists, makers and collectors that create, hunt and gather to provide for you are priceless to us. We cannot do this without them.
  • Finding the coolest, most unique and affordable décor for your homes. Most of our items are one of a kind; we love that and we think you do too. 
  • Providing you with the tools and tutorials to create, update and restore furnishings and accessories for your home. We are constantly on the hunt for high quality brands that help you create your most hospitable home. 
  • Creating unique workshops that will spur you on to create in your own home and for those you love. 
  • Communicating more with you via email and new blog posts. 
Valley Voices magazine cover.

We Were Featured in Valley Voices!

What a treat to be featured in this fun, informative magazine! And we love this June’s focus on creativity! We are all about helping you create your most creative, hospitable space! We celebrated 5 years in July friends, and it’s such an honor and privilege to serve the Shenango and Mahoning Valleys. Our collectors, local artists and makers love what they do, and it shows. We’re so grateful for your support and your inspiration! We give, but we get so much more in return!

Thank you Valley Voices!

This is such a treat!
Valley Voices magazine cover.
Painting with Fusion Mineral Paint.

Now that you’re spending more time at home…

Is all this time at home causing you to re-evaluate how you use your home? Are you ready for some changes? Extending Grace is here to help with some ideas.

In the pre-COVID-19 world, many of us didn’t spend as much time at home as we do now. Work, school, schlepping kids all over the place and time with friends created a lifestyle that did not include lots of time hanging out at home. We liked our home, but our world did not revolve around it. That is changing for many, and in a lot of cases, that’s been a nice thing.

For many of us, our routines have changed:

  • Perhaps you’re working from home and would love a place to spread out all your stuff so you don’t have to gather it up before each family meal.
  • Perhaps you’d love a spot that’s all your own where you can have a bit of privacy and curl up with a book or listen to a podcast.
  • Maybe you’ve discovered that your family loves board games and would really like a designated spot to keep an ongoing game of Monopoly or Battleship going.
  • Maybe you started the garden of your dreams and you want really fun, funky pieces to store your stuff or entertain friends outside.
  • Maybe you’ve become a master bread maker and would love to re-do your kitchen space with sturdy pieces that won’t break the bank.
One of the things we love about vintage, antique and re-purposed pieces is that they’ve stood the test of time.

Vintage pieces are typically well made and construction is solid. The finish or the color may date them, but in many cases, a bit of paint or stain can help you re-imagine them for your home.

Vintage pieces are also affordable. Scrolling through Instagram and Pinterest can often leave you feeling that the look you really want is unattainable. However, with a little work on your part to update them, vintage furniture and accessories fit nicely in your budget. And sometimes Mom and Dad, or your neighbor wanting to downsize are more than willing to share with you.

We work with lots of customers that don’t know where to start, but know they want to make some changes. We offer lots of workshops on how to paint your furniture and create amazing, one of a kind home accessories with Fusion Mineral Paint and Iron Orchid Design products. And if you’re not comfortable with workshops yet, we’ll point you to tutorials for you to watch from home. We carry all their products and are eager to get you started with them.

Exterior sign at Extending Grace

How We’re Celebrating our 4th Birthday this year with COVID-19

Happy birthday to us! We’re 4 years old!

Due to COVID-19, we are changing things up a bit.

In years past, we’ve had this place packed with our local artists, collectors and visiting vendors!

Honestly, we miss those days, but
we ‘re up to the challenges this year!

We’ve put some things in place to reduce congestion and still give you a chance to celebrate with us.

 

*Instead of just one day, Spin to Win will be available all month long for our in-store shoppers. We’ll do the spinning for you to keep contact to a minimum, but the savings are the same. You will win 10-20% off your in-store purchases every day you come in to shop.

*We’re going to introduce to you our vendors during the month of July via FB! So instead of meeting them face to face, you get to meet them online and find out what makes them tick!

*Watch our Facebook and Instagram feeds and your email for give-aways. Each week we’ll be passing out the gifts!

*And we’re giving away a $50 gift certificate at the end of the month. Every time you come in-store and make a purchase, your name will be added to the basket! Come in once or come in every day and purchase, we’ll add your name to the basket each time!

Signage outside of Extending Grace 18 W. Liberty St., Hubbard OHIO 44425 extendinggrace.net