The Painted Stone Emporium is a unique shop filled with houseplants, crystals, locally made goods, handmade pieces, and creative experiences. What began as a bead shop has evolved into a community-minded space where visitors can explore nature, art, and meaningful finds in many forms.
We spoke with Erin Howard-Anderson, owner of The Painted Stone Emporium, about the shop’s evolution, its thoughtfully curated collection, and what it means to be part of the Sturbridge community.
Q: Can you tell us about the inspiration behind The Painted Stone Emporium and how it came to be?
A: About a decade ago, The Painted Stone primarily started out as a bead shop. It was a great time, when our team and others from the community bonded over a fairly niche craft.
Near the start of our journey, I decided to reach out to local artisans to see if they’d like to sell at the shop. My mother was an artist by trade for a good part of her life, which inspired my own creativity, as well as my desire to support other creatives. We continue to carry items from about 20 local makers, as well as some of our own handmade pieces that we make right here at the store.
If you’re familiar with the shop, it’s clear that we have evolved a lot over time. As the demand for jewelry-making supplies dwindled, we began to explore other things that piqued our interest. If you walk through our doors today, you will first see an abundance of houseplants and crystals, or natural stones. Both have become fundamental to the livelihood of The Painted Stone.
Although some of our offerings have shifted throughout the years, we continue to lead with a community-minded focus. We want the store to be a place where people enjoy their experience, surrounded by nature and art in its many forms, and perhaps find something different and meaningful to bring home. This may be a beautiful houseplant that you can’t find at big box stores, a crystal that you connect with, or something from a local maker whose work brings you joy, deeper meaning, or a more natural way of living.
We also host events here at the store and at other local businesses, including sip and plants, plant bingo, crafting and art nights, and crystal-related classes. Mora, one of our employees, also hosts a monthly tarot circle.
Perhaps the largest event that we’ve helped organize is the now annual Sturbridge Holiday Stroll. Mallory from Vintage and Swoon and I decided to collaborate to create something special for the town during the holiday season. We hoped it would inspire community connection and bring greater visibility to the amazing small shops in Sturbridge. 2026 will be the fourth year of the Stroll. We have been amazed at how it has grown over the past few years, and by the magnitude of community support we’ve seen.
Q: How do you curate your collection, and what makes it unique compared to other stores?
Over the years, houseplants have become increasingly important to The Painted Stone. We have been accumulating, bit by bit, some amazing vendors for our houseplants. One of our primary goals is to find plants that aren’t easy to find elsewhere. We especially love the unusual, weird, and striking, but also provide the everyday plants that people are familiar with. Some of our plants come from farther south by delivery truck. We also travel to wholesale-only greenhouses, and I grow some plants right in my own home. One future goal is to have a greenhouse at my house, as well as at the shop.
Years ago, when we were primarily a bead shop, people would ask about the meanings behind the stone beads. This helped strengthen my interest and exploration of stones. There are meanings behind each different kind of stone, and some believe they carry different types of energies. Others simply collect crystals for their beauty, interest, and the fact that they are many millions of years old. Whatever the case may be, many people find a fascination with, and natural draw to, crystals.
We always try to carry a broad variety in terms of stone type and price point, and we seek out ethical suppliers. While we do a bit of online ordering, we love to go crystal hunting in person. We have vendors that we travel to and go to wholesale gem shows whenever possible. Shopping in person is undoubtedly an amazing experience, and it additionally helps to ensure quality.
When it comes to accepting locally made items, we have some criteria. The first thing we consider is whether the products will fit well with the vibe of the shop and appeal to our customers. Some of our offerings are still somewhat niche. We tend to gravitate toward items inspired by nature, especially plants, animals, insects, stones, the sun, the moon, and the stars.
We also want to ensure that items are reasonably priced, exceptionally made, and unique. When it comes to anything one applies to the body or ingests, we look for products that are 100% organic and non-toxic.
We do have a waitlist right now, but we are always open to looking at locally made items that might be a good fit in case anything should open up.
Q: For those planning to visit Sturbridge, why should The Painted Stone Emporium be on their must-visit list?
A: There have been times when visitors stopped in looking for a traditional Sturbridge gift shop. We love Sturbridge and Old Sturbridge Village, but our vibe and offerings may not be the most traditional when it comes to the area. On the other hand, we’ve met many people who have been pleasantly surprised to find a shop like ours in town.
I encourage all visitors to peruse and experience something a bit different. We also carry a great deal of exceptional products made right here in Sturbridge and the surrounding area. This includes, but is not limited to, pottery, stained glass, candles, organic skincare and makeup, jewelry, furniture and home décor, wall art, planters, crocheted items, cards, tees, sweatshirts, and a lot more.
Q: What is your mission?
A: Ultimately, our mission is to create a unique and meaningful experience for locals, our staff, local artisans, and visitors. It seems that so many towns have been taken over by big businesses, online and off. What were once quaint storefronts have become abandoned or turned into offices. I hope that we can continue as a brick-and-mortar shop where our staff can have a meaningful place to work, and where people can escape the screen, be present, explore, and perhaps find something that brings them joy.
Q: Is there anything exciting coming up in the future?
A: There are always plans in the works! 2026 is becoming the year for us to really get out there. We are vending at a plethora of shows and fairs this year. This helps us keep our brick-and-mortar shop alive and offer more diversity in products locally, as we always divide items between the store and shows.
We’ve been diving deep to find more unique plant vendors and have been primarily hand-picking our crystals in person.
We invested in jewelry-making supplies to create new pieces, hoping to combine old and new products. As you know, prices are out of control right now, so 2026 might be our biggest DIY year ever!
Flowers are on the way to create an outdoor garden. We’ve dabbled with the idea of selling outdoor perennials. It never worked well in the past, but maybe we’ll offer a few to see.
Q: What does being a part of the Sturbridge community mean to you?
A: Being part of the Sturbridge community has always been important to me. As teens, my friends and I loved walking Main Street and exploring all the old nooks and crannies throughout town. We loved to stop at Sadie Green’s, naturalist stores, and the old mill yard, now The Marketplace by the Falls, to name a few.
Having worked in Sturbridge for a long time, I have seen the town ebb, flow, and change in many ways. Throughout the years, I have heard visitors express disappointment by saying that Sturbridge “is not the same” so many times.
We’ve seen amazing new businesses pop up here and there, as well as a multitude of amazing locally owned restaurants. Through conversation, I have learned that many small retail businesses in Sturbridge are struggling right now, however.
I don’t know all the answers to this problem, but I do know that Sturbridge has a lot of potential. With Old Sturbridge Village, all the amazing restaurants and historic buildings in town, and the quality, passion, and work ethic of the shop owners, I think Sturbridge could find revitalization. As I travel, I see many small towns that continue to thrive. I think this would require a strong community effort, especially among business owners, town administrators, and commercial property owners.
The Painted Stone Emporium offers visitors a chance to experience something creative, meaningful, and a little unexpected in the heart of Sturbridge. Click here to learn more about The Painted Stone Emporium and find your next treasure.
