Stringing beads a social art at Red Bank Bead Co.
Photos by CHRIS KELLY staff Diane Pettineo, Rumson, wants her new bead store to be a place where people could socialize while making jewelry.
BY GLORIA STRAVELLI
Staff Writer
Diane Pettineo searched for a year and a half for just the right spot in Red Bank for her new bead store, Red Bank Bead Co.
About to give up, she spotted a "For Rent" sign in the window of 12 W. Front St. and didn’t waste any time.
Red Bank Bead Co. stocks more than 2,000 different kinds of beads, ranging from crystals to coconut shells, for beaders to choose from.
"The sign went in the window in the morning, and by that evening the landlord had a check in his hand," said Pettineo, Rumson.
The space she was looking for was small and had to have a certain ambiance.
"A lot of the places we looked at were much too big, too cold," she said. "I wanted a comfortable atmosphere. I wanted it to be a place where people would come and stay. Most beading stores are very social places.
"We’ve been coming to Red Bank for years, and early on there was nothing to do here," she explained. "We’ve seen it grow and grow. My husband and I are here three, four nights per week. We just love Red Bank. We’re always drawn to it. It’s almost as if we were searching for something to put in Red Bank.
"I think we’ve created a ‘Red Bank’ space," she said.
Pettineo and her family vacationed on Martha’s Vineyard, and each sojourn included a visit to a bead store that is a popular attraction on the island.
"We used to say, ‘This is what we need in Red Bank,’ " she recalled. "After our last vacation, we said, ‘We’ve got to put a store like this here.’ "
Open for just two weeks, Red Bank Bead Co. is already staking out an artsy niche in the downtown as well as an eclectic social scene.
According to Pettineo, beading devotees have already "found" Red Bank Bead Co.’s large selection of beads and accessories and are being followed by those discovering the craft for the first time.
"We’ve had a lot of true beaders come in and say our selection is awesome," she said. "People are finding us already, there’s a steady flow. We stayed open until 11 p.m. one night because people were still coming in."
The 850-square-foot space at 12 W. Front is lined on both sides with exposed brick walls that provide a rustic backdrop to the vibrant palette of colors and textures provided by beads, pearls, silver accent pieces and stringing materials hanging on racks and displayed in baskets, bowls and on specially designed tables.
"We have close to 2,000 beads in different shapes, colors and varieties," said Pettineo, who has a retail background. "We have the largest selection of seed beads in the area – 400 colors in four sizes."
Red Bank Bead Co.’s inventory includes beads from around the world made from semiprecious stones, Czech glass, blown glass, recycled glass, Swarovski crystal, resin and ceramic, silver and pewter, African beads carved from cow and fish bone and ostrich and coconut shell, wooden beads, freshwater pearls, plus a large array of wire, leather, suede, elastic and silk cording and silver toggle closures.
Prices range from 25 cents for a brilliant Swarovski crystal bead to $4 for a frosted Czech glass bead, $80 for a strand of semi-precious stones, and $6 to $80 for a strand of freshwater pearls
"Plus we have lots of great focal pieces like chunky silver pieces and larger stones like Chinese turquoise," added Pettineo.
"We also have beads that are less expensive, specifically so children can come in and make something affordable," she added.
To encourage young men to come in and create jewelry, there’s a table devoted to wooden beads, crosses and pieces with appeal to young surfers.
"I wanted to have something to appeal to everyone," she noted.
In fact, Pettineo is hoping teens like her daughter Lia, a student at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School, will gravitate to Red Bank Bead Co.
"There are a few places for them like Internet Café, but there’s nothing like this," she said. "I wanted to create an atmosphere where they don’t feel put off."
Red Bank Bead Co. is not just about stringing beads, Pettineo emphasized. It’s about tapping into your creativity.
"I wanted to create an atmosphere where people would feel that they’re working on a real piece of jewelry — just what a jeweler would give them, but they’re making their own color and design choices," she explained.
The necklace-making process begins with beaders taking a cloth-lined tray and perusing the beading tables which are divided into compartments filled with beads and accent pieces.
Selections are then arranged on a bead board that has templates of different lengths of necklace or bracelet strands. The board provides an idea of what the necklace will look like and gives beaders the ability to try out different bead combinations.
Last Saturday, Pettineo helped out as a group of beaders worked at the wooden table and chairs at the back of the store. The table provides a communal place where pieces can be assembled and beaders can trade ideas and advice.
"We want people to stay and do the beading here," she explained. "It’s more of a social environment than anything, and you can get help. We’ll show you how to do it, and if you don’t have any idea, we will help you. If you want to match an outfit, make a gift, make something in a particular price range, we’ll help you do that."
Pettineo is also planning after-hours classes, for beginners through advanced beaders, in techniques like pearl knotting and in particular styles like chandelier earrings.
Special sessions for bridal parties, mothers and daughters, and ladies’ night out are also envisioned.
Initially, the store will open Tuesday through Sunday at 11 a.m. There will be at least one scheduled late night on Thursday, when the store will be open until 8:30 p.m.
"We’re finding it’s an evolving thing," she said. "We will play it by ear."
"I just want people to come in and be comfortable here and enjoy themselves. I don’t want them to be intimidated. If someone has no clue, we say, ‘Find one bead you like and we’ll go from there.’ "