While visiting, my daughter and I stopped in as she loves to make jewelry. The selection of gems and beads and supplies was stocked so well. We walked out with quite a haul. The service was friendly, (it may have been the owner behind the register as she was training another person). Super friendly, super helpful, & highly recommend read more

This is the wonderful store to visit! Lost of special stones and beautiful carved rocks. Great gift ideas! Take your time and experience everything read more

Such a great shop! Such customer service! Such great AC so you can shop in comfort on a hot day. Such variety- your creative mind will go wild. SO well organized, even colored coded so you can shop by hue! We love you Ira, for have such a well- stocked store. Just a joy to visit on Main St.!! read more

The bead goddess is with me. I just started getting back into beading and was taking a class, and wishing for a bead shop in downtown Portland. The instructor informed me that Let it Bead just opened!!! I was bewitched and bewildered at finding it right near my workplace. This of course, is going to be extremely dangerous for me. I got to talking to Ira, who's been the manager at the "Let it Bead" stores going on 15 years. She actually took her first bead/jewelry class when she was 8 years old and that's how she got hooked. They've got your usual fantastic bead supplies including findings, wire, tools, and of course beads of every color/shape/size from everywhere you can imagine. There was a unique, nicely dressed older gentleman that walked into the store admiring some of the store's items including some beads that he implied looked like peyote. I knew they were addicting!!! read more

See all

I love sparklie things. Years ago, I used to make jewelry quite often and sell it. My jewelry was simple: I would just string pretty beads on a wire add a clasp and voilà! I had a necklace or bracelet. Although my creations were simple, they were quite nice due to the high quality of beads and findings that I used. Mostly I bought semiprecious, precious, Swarovski crystals for my beads, .925 silver for my findings and I bought wholesale. When I had need for something immediately, I always turned to Let it Bead as they have a great selection and I loved how knowledgeable and friendly the gals at the shop were. These days, I don't really make jewelry anymore but I do fix my costume jewelry when it breaks or I alter it if I think it needs help. My go to place for parts is still Let it Bead. Regardless of your creativity level or your needs, the gals there are super helpful. read more

The owner of this store is lovely. She is very helpful and kind to every person who walks through her door. Prices are good and we love going and perusing the gems. read more

Me and a friend came from Salem to look at your store and buy stones, the sign said you opened at 12 on Sunday, we waited around and still it was closed. You guys owe us a free crystal. read more

I am always looking for beads for my Etsy store. It would be nice to not have to order them online and pay shipping. I decided to stop in this morning and have a look at what they have. Most of their beads are plastic and the charms are not made well. I would say the majority of the beads here are for novice jewelry makers. The best bead store I have been able to find is all the way in McMinnville. read more

This is definitely not my bead store of choice when in Portland. I've visited twice, and both times the experience has left me wanting. Firstly, the staff. The woman who was working the counter seemed not to give a rat's ass about anything. She was giving off stoner vibes and didn't even bother to greet us when we walked in. Just continued to recline herself behind. It definitely didn't add to the atmosphere. When I checked out and attempted to make some small talk to try and see if she was really as uncaring as she acted, it was clear that she couldn't even pretend to care or act even slightly interested. It's a pity. The beads were also not anything special nor anything I would consider buying again. The singles cups pretty much all had broken or imperfect beads mixed in with the good ones. It's been like that both times I've come and just shows an astounding lack of attention to detail. I had visited 2 other bead stores the same day, and didn't see a single broken/chipped or otherwise flawed bead in their single selection. I shouldn't have to paw around crap beads to find one that is worth buying. Low quality beads (at least in the singles section) being sold for a price they just aren't worth. Would it kill the owner to cull beads before setting them out? Maybe then they'd realize that they're purchasing crap beads to sell and getting ripped off by their supplier! The first time I had been to this store, the bead situation was much the same. I remembered there was a bead store in Portland that I should avoid, but couldn't remember which. I also was looking at a glass half full and was willing to give the store a second chance anyway. Very disappointed that the conditions are the same. In short, there are better bead stores in Portland. Ones that care about the product they're selling, and don't offer culled beads with the good stock. They also have staff that are attentive and more professional with their demeanor and at least pretend to care that you're buying their stock. This bead store isn't even at the bottom of my list anymore; it's not even included. read more

This place has such a great atmosphere! So calm and welcoming. Ira is so friendly and her daughter is a doll !! I love all of the products they carry and will always be one of my favorite trips to make read more

I've been meaning to stop by the new store for some time, but haven't had a chance due to working some longer hours and therefore not having time to make jewelry. When I was less busy and more into making jewelry, I used to stop over by the old shop on 23rd a couple of times a month. However, a friend gave me some beads, and asked me to design and make some bracelets for her, so it was time to stop by and visit the new store. I had heard it was in larger quarters at 6th & Washington, so I had great hopes that there would be more basic findings & supplies available. For instance, I enjoy making rings, but have to order out or go to bigger chain stores to find a variety, and I'd really prefer buying not only local but close to home. They have only one ring form available. They carry a relatively limited supply of findings. They have increased their counter space to feature jewelry and other items made of more expensive items and findings (precious stones, silver chain, turquoise jewelry, and the like) and increased their space for teaching classes. I'm sure these are the money makers, and one can't blame them for doing that at all, but I think some energy could have been put into a greater selection of findings for those of us at-home jewelry makers who do after all give them a lot of support and money (in smaller amounts I admit) over time. Their customer service is overall pretty good, but not stellar. I stepped into the store and started making my bead choices. I was working on that for several minutes before I was greeted. The two ladies who were manning the counter, however, went right back into their conversation. The younger woman was troubled by something, and the older woman was trying to counsel her, and then they started slamming Tri-Met. To tell you the truth, when I stop by stores like this, I'm there to relax, indulge in creative fantasies, and think about what pretty new project I can design and make. I'm not there to listen to counseling sessions and other businesses getting slammed. Their conversation disturbed and distracted me so much that I finally gave up, bought the couple of handfuls of beads I had chosen, and escaped. I would have spent more time and money, but I just couldn't take all the negativity. I wonder if some light music playing in the background would help customers focus more on looking at their products and considering purchases rather than having to listen to negative background chatter. I know it sounds like I just kicked them in the rear with my critique, but I will return. Once one does get up to the cashier, the conversation picks up about what project a person is working on. The cashier pointed me towards some similar beads to what I was buying, thinking they might be less expensive, but they weren't just the right color. I do appreciate that. The store is cozy and friendly still, and the items I do buy here are of great quality. I appreciate that they're close to home as well, and eventually I do want to take one of their classes. I hope in the future they will work a little harder on a wider selection of findings and less personal chatter and negativity when customers are in the store. I really do want them to continue to be my beading store of choice and to succeed in the downtown core area. read more

I was excited to check out a bead store while in town on vacation. I was hoping for some unusual beads, or something to inspire me, or at the very least to stock up on chain or findings. Nothing very interesting and the prices were so high I didn't buy anything. That's probably the first time I've ever left a bead store empty-handed. Mediocre. read more

I'm making my first piece of jewelry and complete ignorant! The sales lady went above and beyond. She took her time to explaining and demonstrating how to create these jewelry pieces. Tip- Save your recipes. Once you have spent $100 you're able to get a discount. read more

I have an onyx necklace with small silver skulls that I had bought online from New Zealand (Dead Ringer Skull Rings)but after years of wear the string had finally broken--not only did let it bead fix it but they improved it for a very reasonable price read more

Love this shop! Good variety of beads, wiring, and cord at reasonable prices. Great service and friendly atmosphere.

Great service and they had everything I needed! Highly recommended for all your beading needs.

Let It Bead was the perfect stop for a last-minute holiday gift. Kristen was really helpful and open to whatever changes I wanted to make. Highly recommend. read more

So lovely and wonderful! The sales associate was kind and helpful. Prices were reasonable. All the pliers are pretty much $10. Score!

I have visited Let It Bead twice when in town visiting from Minnesota. I have found "gems" both times. The first time I found a rose quartz pendant I took home to my jewerly making sister. She made a necklace for herself. Then she lost it and asked me to get another. Well I'm back in town checking for another pendant. They didn't have the same type of pendant this time. But, I found three other things I know my sister will love. And, I bought myself some earrings that are fabulous - made by Kristhn who works at the store!!! She didn't tell me they were hers until later in our conversation (In other words, she didn't try to get me to purchase her work instead of something else) I will definitely be returning to Let It Bead when I am back in Portland in October! read more

Great selection of beads, but poor customer service. Every woman who I've seen working there is always absorbed in her own project, and never seems to care at all about mine. I feel like I am annoying the staff each time I ask for help. Please at least pretend to be enthusiastic about what I am trying to create. I might have to find a new bead store in Portland. read more

This is a real "jewel" of a bead store and I go there often when I am in Portland. They have a wonderful selection of beads and findings but I mostly go there to have my existing jewelery re-worked. Ira did a wonderful job of lengthening two necklaces and shortening another. They are perfect! I will never again hesitate to buy a piece of jewelry that isn't "quite right" because I know Ira will work her magic and make it all good. I also took a private class from Ira and now I can do small fixes myself. Thank you Ira and all the staff at Let It Bead! read more

I've stopped in this store several times for help on projects like making magnetic clasp necklaces as childrens' gifts, making a necklace for myself with a capsule to hold the heart medication I need to carry, or a better way to attach a pocket clip to my key ring. While those latter projects are unusual requests for a bead store, the staff there have always helped me find creative and attractive solutions for whatever I needed. They were also very skilled at putting the components together to make the result quite durable. I'm surprised by some of the low reviews here because I've had marvelous experiences. read more