Groton — Susan Thomas had been collecting bits of vintage Americana for a decade when she decided last spring to open The Collected Cottage off Pearl Street in Noank.

"I tend to like things from the 1840s to 1940s," said Thomas, who nevertheless adheres to Etsy.com's interpretation of vintage as being at least 25 years old.

Thomas, who also works as a Pfizer Inc. contractor, describes her store as leaning toward cottage and farmhouse decor. She prefers rustic, sometimes battered industrial or architectural pieces with an interesting shape or patina.

Thomas picks up pieces at yard and estate sales and antique shops, among other places, and she reports traveling to the Brimfield antiques show and flea market in Massachusetts several times a year to stock up. She also uses the space to create jewelry that she crafts from old silver-plated cutlery and sells there.

The store came about as she was searching for studio space for an artist friend. The friend had already found a spot by the time she discovered the cozy place in back of Universal Package Store, so she decided to rent it herself. 

"I always wanted a bricks-and-mortar store," she said.

Among the items she carries are old wooden clothespins, bingo cards, egg beaters, flour sifters, irons, rulers, shutters, dominoes and Scrabble tiles (50 cents per letter). She also has a penchant for watch and clock faces, old maps, vintage suitcases, Asian decor and classic books.

So far, Thomas has done very little in consignment, though she said that could change in the future.

"Everyone wants to clean out their basements and attics," she laughed.

One of her prized pieces at the front of the store is a 1920s-era Royal typewriter that still works well.

A lot of people use her store to find perfect pieces for art projects, she said. Thomas' mother supplies one of the few non-vintage touches with her tuna-themed throw pillows in various designs.

She imagines many of her customers mixing old items in crisp, modern designs to add visual interest and warm up the space. Old salt-and-pepper shakers are popular, she said, as are old drawer pulls, bird cages, camping equipment, cookie cutters and driftwood.

"I sell driftwood like crazy," she said.

The shop is a bit hard to find because of its location behind Sherman's Market and the package store, so Thomas said most of her customers so far have been locals walking by after a day on the water. But she reported sales as going well and a clientele split almost 50-50 between men and women.

She acknowledged, however, a need to get the word out, especially during the colder months when walk-bys will be less frequent. Thomas, who lives in a 19th century home in New London, has been working with counselors from the volunteer business-advisory group SCORE to develop a business and marketing plan that will get her through the winter.

But Thomas has a backup plan, figuring she can always spend more time in the winter working on her own jewelry projects. She also plans to continue to sell on the craft and collectible website Etsy, which is where her business started to take off in the first place.

"I love all kinds of materials and different patinas," Thomas said. "I just can't help myself."

l.howard@theday.com