In April of 2020, Nia West-Williams found herself jobless due to the pandemic. Applying to tons of jobs with no leads, she began to pick up some hobbies during quarantine — including beading. Finding that no online websites sold unique colors of waist beads, she decided to make her own. Fast-forward a few months, she had created an Instagram page to show her work, hosted some pop-ups locally, and then decided it was time to open her own storefront. Lo and behold, about a year later, she’s the new brick-and-mortar owner of ‘Mind Your Beads and Seeds,’ a plant and jewelry gift garden — as she calls it — that just opened in Montclair at 147 D Valley Road as of April 3, 2021.
The new spot on Valley Road {all photos provided by Nia West-Williams}
“I was in the house 24/7, cooking banana bread, and me and Netflix started to become real good friends!” Nia shared with us about her quarantine life after being out of a job in early 2020.
But one day, she was online searching for a boutique that sold waist beads. “All the sites were the same. Same colors, same patterns, nothing unique. That’s when I said to myself, ‘you can make your own!'” The next day, she went to Michael’s Craft Store and made herself a few.
“I loved they came out and surprisingly found the process of making them relaxing. So I decided to make an Instagram page displaying my pieces and the rest is history from there. Mind Your Beads was created!”
Nia’s business started to do so well on Instagram that she branched out and started making bracelets, necklaces, and earrings.
“Next thing I know, my mom and I are doing local pop-ups but we decided to add plants to the mix — because who doesn’t love plants. That’s when Mind Your Beads and Seeds was born!” the Montclair native told us excitedly.
^Nia + Sonjii, mother-daughter duo + owners of ‘Mind Your Beads and Seeds’
Read More: This Local Montclair Designer Gives Back for Women’s History Month
They received so much support and great feedback from doing pop-ups, Nia said, that the mother-daughter duo decided to open up a brick-and-mortar ‘gift garden,’ as they called it.
And just one year later, they made it happen.
“I’m so excited to share this journey with everyone,” Nia told The Montclair Girl.
Their new boutique will offer potted plants and succulents, gift items like crystals and soaps, and of course — beads. What’s even better —everything that Nia carries is made by local artists, including some family members.
The shop soft opened in March, but its grand opening is April 3, 2021. Hours at the moment will be 12-7PM, with weekend hours being Saturday 12-6PM and Sunday 12PM-5PM {and subject to change at Nia and Sonjii get the first few weeks under their belts}.
Read More: A List of Women-Owned Businesses in Montclair
And if you’re interested in buying a plant but clueless on how to take care of it, Nia + Sonjii also share tons of tips on their Instagram @mindyourbeadsandseeds about plant care.
View this post on Instagram
Have you been to Mind Your Beads and Seeds yet? Stop by this weekend for the grand opening and say hello!
Read More: All the Montclair News You Missed This Week
