A Bead Source

I like the way you
Have the trays with bags & tags so I can bag myself so I can remember the prices. Nice selection. Lots of colors. I didn’t find all I wanted but I did find some treasures.

I agree with some of the reviews, liked the selection. But was totally put off by the staff, there were 2 employees at the counter «visiting»! We were not even acknowledged when we came in, much less asked if we needed help. We were leaving and stopped by the counter to look at a few items, still being ignored we left!

Wonderful store and great stock. If they don’t have it, they are more than willing to make recommendations and get it for you asap. Great diversity in sterling silver spacers and findings, which is think is very important, and I just love the gem stone beads. High quality for those of us who need our real stones, and a massive variety of non-​gem beads for those who prefer them. Also, don’t overlook their pendants and, next-​door, rings.

I love this store! If they don’t have it, they’ll get it for you.
There’s so much to choose from. Whenever I have a «special» project and need a little help, wow. Colleen is my favorite person to go to for just that.
Everyone there is always very, very helpful. I hope they’re going to be in business for a long time!
(For some reason, my husband’s name keep showing up in this review but it’s really mine! I can’t fix it, I guess. Ann)

Terrific experience at the Bead Source! I went to this place based on previous Unilocal reviews and was very glad I did.
Pros were great bead selection, low prices and excellent service. I was picking out beads to make multiple bracelets with friends and walked away very happy with the supplies I got for the price.
Only con was that it was out by 150^th Ave SE so a little far from central Portland. However, it was definitely worth the drive. I will go back very soon.

For some reason, the bad review stuck in my mind and I almost didn’t go here. Wow, I have to say that there is almost no relationship between what that person wrote and what this store looks like — it’s great.
I’m not a jewelry maker so I’ve been going around to the bead stores in town looking for a good source of seed beads and someone who knows something (anything) about loom work so I could ask a few questions. This was the fourth place I went and was, hands down, the very best store for the type of work I want to do — at least out of the stores I’ve visited. There are supposed to be two more that are good that I will check out.
The person at the checkstand was very friendly. She even went so far as to POUR OUT a tube of beads and count them for me so I could get the exact number I needed for my project. That blew me away.
I got what I needed for beads and she got me into the right thread and a good size needle for my project. After buying a whole set of the wrong beads at another place, it was a relief to get what I really needed and not waste any more money and time.
Love it, I will be back, even though I live north of Hillsboro, it was worth the drive.

I so miss this place! Moving to Las Vegas, you’d think there would be bead stores as good as A Bead Source, but sadly, no. The Swarovski selection is the best I’ve seen. Always have the findings in that I need and in bulk, too. Ladies are helpful, not super friendly unless they’ve seen you before, but that doesn’t bother me too much. I learned to wire wrap at this store for free, took all of five minutes. My visits back to Portlandia will for sure include a nice long shopping trip to A Bead Source.

I love A Bead Source. Someone who wrote a so-​called «review» had a bad case of the Nasties that day. I’ve been coming here for years and have always been treated courteously – the staff is knowledgeable and friendly. The selection is excellent, and they carry things you don’t normally find in most bead stores, such as raw materials for those who do Rendevous, and persons seeking beads for Middle Eastern costume.
Be sure to close the door on your way in. There is a sweet shop cat on duty and sometimes the owner’s small dogs are there too, although they usually hang out behind the counter.
Plan on spending some time here. There is a lot to see, and a lot of decisions to make!

I’ve been here a few times now and have had a good experience each time. My first time in, I spent close to $ 100 and zero regrets; some of the beads I purchased were on clearance and just want I wanted! Score!
The second trip in was because I called every place in town for a replacement bead– they had it so happily I drove across town. They saved my kiester by having that bead in stock. I ended up buying a bunch of other things, but that’s how it goes when one walks into a bead store.
Last trip in (last week) I got to meet the cat, Violet who is well mannered and takes little cat naps in the various sunny spots around the store. She did not get in my way or bother me, she did get excited while they were cutting my chain, but she kept her cool. It was hilarious to watch.
All in all, good prices, huge selection and good customer service.

I have visited this place only once, but I had a good experience. They have a fantastic selection. When I went to check out, the girl informed me that if I spend $ 5 more dollars I could save $ 10. So I thought that was really nice. I’m going shopping there again today. So I definitely give it a thumbs up.

I casted my beady eyes on this place when I walked in. I get so overwhelmed entering this store because there are so many beads, and beads supplies everywhere I look. There’s also the cutest little kitten hanging around as well. I cannot believe how behaved it was too. So many toys to play with!
Anyway, I have enough beads at home to also fill up a store like this so I averted looking at any more beads. I did need chain and some findings which they also have a good amount of here.
I did have a question on a particular finding and the counterperson immediately showed me an example of what you would do with this item. Very helpful indeed.
I’ve been going here for years and I truly appreciate that they are here and located near enough to home, though not close enough to create too bad of a habit.

This is my favorite bead store. I’ve been to a good number of the ones in town, and Bead Source has the most selection of what I look for, with the best prices. Not to mention there’s actually parking, which can be difficult further into town.
They have a huge selection of charms, swarovski, and semi– precious stones. There are so many choices of random beads that it’s like a candy store when I come in here, and my friend and I are like «ooh look at this» and we pull eachother back and forth at least a few times every visit. We don’t really do this at other bead stores. They have sales on random things, the people are nice, and they’ll exchange things with a receipt.

I have recently been bitten really hard by the jewelry making bug and have visited most of the bead shops in town. Beads are the new crack. I’m sure others have noticed that beads are often measured in grams. That cannot be a coincidence.
Sure, A Bead Source is way the heck out on Division, but is worth the trip. They stock a lot of Czech glass beads, including the pressed glass flower beads that I have only seen online & hard to find bugle beads of varying sizes. They also have a good selection of loose beads and hanks for sale. They also have Czech seed beads, which are hard to find since everyone is all about the Japanese beads these days. The prices are good, the inventory vast.