Saltwater Jewellery Design has opened in St George’s as the Old Town continues to transform itself into an eclectic centre of art and small niche shops.Selling necklaces, earrings and bracelets made of Bermuda seagrass, semi precious stones, fresh water pearls and Italian Venetian glass, owner Kelli Thompson and her mother Rose Claire Thompson, also a designer, opened their York Street storefront for locals and tourists in early March.Ms Thompson has been designing jewellery for the past 14 years but worked out of her home, selling her wares on the vendor and hotel circuit, including Harbour Nights in Hamilton and the St George’s Market.But when the chance arose to set up a shop, Ms Thompson decided to make the move.“It’s always been a passion of mine to do open a shop,” she said. “When the opportunity arose and we found a store front that was suitable, we said ‘let’s just do it’.”The reasonable rental market in St George’s has made it viable for small start-up shops to take the plunge, she explained.“St George’s is quite a unique town right now,” said Ms Thompson, who is from Devonshire. “Everyone is trying to revitalise the town and we’ve always done the St George’s Market, we’ve always been here selling so it was just a spin off. We know the area, we know the capabilities of the town and the customer base — the locals as well as the tourists. And, the rents were reasonable. There are a lot of opportunities right now in St George’s.”In the past week, The Royal Gazette has reported that a law firm and a nightclub that have also opened in the East End.In their new space, the mother-daughter duo will offer design classes for adults and parties for children for as young as five and six years old.“If you want to come down and have a ladies’ night out, we can organise that,” said Ms Thompson, adding that she has a long history of holding design parties and also organises them for business conventions and conferences. “We have a design wall where guests can come, pick out their own beads and create.”Her expectations for the shop?“Hopefully it grows and becomes popular as do the classes,” she said. “We are very excited. Hopefully the storefront will help revitalise St George’s, bring people into the area — it’s becoming quite an artsy town.”“So far it’s been going well, we’ve had tourists and locals alike come in and enjoy the space,” she added.Saltwater Jewellery Designs is located on 22 York Street in the Minors Building. Contact 519-9906, e-mail kellit@transact.bm as well on Facebook page — Saltwater Design.