Harvest in Manchester is an Original, in Any Era

You need to get two of your closest friends a birthday gift, and you’re late. Plus, they are both wonderful women, and very different. One is a tall, blue-eyed former California girl who’s recently found true love, decades out of high school. The other is a down-to-earth Yankee with a killer wit. So, what do you do? You go to Harvest in Manchester.

Officially called Harvest Beads & Silver, the store is a popular repeat destination for lovers of original jewelry, custom work, beads, exotic fabrics, scarves and an array of curios. You really can’t help but browse. And buy. The prices are way affordable.

As Jerry Satriano, who co-owns the shop with his wife Karen, says, the prices of the stones are not too precious. A rose quartz nugget that some would price at $50 without the setting “doesn’t have to be that special,” he says with Bronx attitude and accent, calling rose quartz a good, workable stone.

The Satrianos founded the business as newlyweds in the ’70s and have been a team for some years – “39 in the store, 41 together,” Karen says. He used to do macramé, she’s always enjoyed bead work and jewelry making. They’ve seen trends come and go. “Oh, yeah, gold chains in the ’80s,” Karen says. And still they remain.

A trip to Harvest is like live entertainment. You never know who will wander in and what the conversation will be, as you admire the colorful scarves or check out the bezillion jewelry displays or watch the talented staff work at tables behind the front counter on their latest creations. No question, this work is not done by underpaid children in the Far East. It’s local…and gorgeous.

If you go way to the back, you’ll find print cloths that can be used as bedspreads, tablecloths or decorative wall coverings. “They used to go on top of your Volkswagen bus,” Karen laughs.

Back to the birthday girls: The California girl is thrilled with her sun face cameo, made from an ivory-like renewable plant resource from the rainforest, and the native Nutmegger loves her blue moonstone bracelet. Of course, it matches the earrings you got her a couple of years ago.

That’s the thing about Harvest. You can go back and finish the set. The Satrianos will be there, unchanged.

Harvest Silver & Beads is at 44 Oak St., Manchester. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., but open until 8 p.m. on Thursday. For information, visit the Harvest website or call 860-649-2908.