Avon's Petite Boutique Approaches Its 15th Anniversary

Every vintage bead in Susan Greenwood's necklaces, bracelets and earrings has a story.

Her store will soon be celebrating its 15th anniversary in September.

At her Petite Boutique store in the 51 East Main Street shopping plaza, the oldest beads you will find in her unique jewelry designs date as far back as 1920. Many of them come from a woman's large collection in Cornwall and a Virginia homeowner whose father owned a bead factory in New York.

"I've been working with these beads since 1999 when I opened my store," she said.

Many bead factories closed in the 1940s and 50s because they had to make blankets for the soldiers in the war.

"They don't make them today like they did then," Greenwood said. People know a vintage bead when they see one."

When vintage jewelry artists find a descendant of one of the factory owners who still had the beads, they strike gold. Or maybe vintage glass or crystal.

Greenwood has both in many of her glimmering designs, including Venician glass beads and Swavsky crystals. She also works with various stones, including but not limited to cultured pearls, moonstone, aqua marine, opals and turquoise. Greenwood's most rare vintage beads are the "Confetti" beads by famous jewelry designer Miriam Haskell.

Greenwood's design ideas often come to her when she's sleeping.

"I just do it as I go. I get inspired in the middle of the night," Greenwood said. "You can always let your creativeness come in when your mind's at peace."

When Greenwood was a makeup artist at Bagish Apothecary years ago, she stumbled upon a bead store in West Hartford Center. She made a necklace with some beads she bought and sold it the next day at Bagish.

Petite Boutique was in the former Old Avon Village for 13 years and has been at 51 East Main St. for a couple. In honor of the approaching anniversary, the store is offering a sale on merchandise ranging from 20 to 70 percent depending on the item.

Earrings and bracelets typically run from $20 to $250 and necklaces for $50 to $800.

Hours are 10 a. m. to 5 p. m. Monday to Saturday. Greenwood can be reached at 860-678-1922.