I just don’t get around Vallejo enough these days. I was driving along Florida Street a couple of months ago and I noticed a bead shop. The thought of a bead shop in Vallejo just somehow didn’t register immediately -- I love beads, and I love making jewelry even more, so I had to repeat ‘bead shop’ a few times in my head before excitement truly set in. It actually took until Halloween, a day I just could not find a parking space in front of my own house, before I parked near the shop and walked through the doors.

I was immediately greeted by a warm smile and an introduction to the store. My mind was screaming ‘jackpot’ but that familiar anxiety also kicked in as I realized that I couldn’t buy everything in the store. I listened attentively during the tour, talked to another patron who was finishing a couple of projects, and the owner left me to gaze, caress and obsess over strands of my favorite gemstones.

Needless to say I have become somewhat of a regular at Pomegranate Seeds Galleria. Recently, I had the pleasure of sitting down with one of the store’s owners, Tonya Collins and learned as much as I could about what has quickly become one of my favorite neighborhood merchants.

Tonya explained that she had formed a partnership with her parents in 2007 to open a gallery and boutique. Fond of interior design and art, but acutely aware of shifts in the economy, the partners decided to focus on beads in February of 2009. Tonya is an experienced beader - she has lent her talent to Chabot College teaching bead craft and in assisting her fellow beaders in other bay area bead stores.

The owners of Pomegranate Seeds Galleria have a goal - they would like to establish a craft studio to include workshops in wire work, beading, jewelry making, seed bead classes, soldering. Candle making, soap making, and glass bead making workshops will be offered beginning late January.

Aside from just being nice and very helpful, Tonya is very business savvy and understands the business side of beading, jewelry selling and marketing. She’s an instructor at Women’s Initiative in Oakland and offered some solid advice for new beaders and jewelry makers - “Just jump in. If you are a left-brainer that doesn’t think you’re a right brainer, then beading is the place to start. I discovered my creative side by picking my first beads and stringing them. Pomegranate Seeds will welcome you wherever you are in your craft and help you achieve success!”

Pomegranate Seeds Galleria is located at 538 Florida Street in Vallejo.