Queen Bee Creations

In terms of clothing and accessories, there isn’t a lot here that’s my style. I visited once last year and didn’t find anything except a beautiful narwhal mug. LOVED the narwhal mug… but it was $ 28. That’s a pricey mug. Decided agaisnt it and moved on with my life.
Fast forward to the present. Just purchased the new Chinook Book which contained a 20% off any full-​priced item at Queen Bee. I decided to visit again and purchase the wonderful narwhal mug if it was still there.
It was still there! Yay!
Now 20% off…$ 22.40. Still a lot for a mug. It’s my most favorite mug in the world though. It’s just the best.
Pay them a visit and you might find something that you think is just as amazing as the narwhal mug.

Queen Bee Creations carry unique items that cannot be found elsewhere. We were drawn in by a children’s faux fox stole that was just absolutely darling and needed to be bought for my friend’s niece.
The lady who helped us was very friendly and we were in and out within 10 minutes. This is a shop that sells local products, and I love them for it!
Go and check them out.

I absolutely love love love this place! Got my first purse and wallet last week and I love them more each day. If thats possible. Very well made product and everything in the store is so cute. You end up going in circles trying to decide what to get. My friend turned me on to this store and Im grateful! Was in Bend this past weekend and saw a couple ladies carrying some Queen Bee, I had to smile. Word is getting out … Buy Local! Loved the store set up too. Can see where they do that awesome work!

Love, love, love Queen Bee Creations! My husband gave me a Queen Bee purse for my Birthday. I liked it, but didn’t love it. I went into Queen Bee and asked to exchange it, they were happy to exchange. They even looked up the receipt for me. I like to wear my purses across my body and need an extra long strap. No problem. They were happy to make me an extra long strap. Then, the icing on the cake… I had another purse (not even Queen Bee) that the zipper had come out of. I asked if they would be able to fix it for me. Sure– no problem. The man working behind the counter sat down at his machine and fixed it on the spot!!! When I asked him how much I owed him. No charge! What fabulous customer service and a wonderful place. I would highly recommend shopping here!

So… we gave Queen Bee another try this year as I got an email about a huge anniversary sale taking place on the same exact evening we were in Portland.
The email really led you to believe that every single thing was 25% off so I was ready to spend a lot of money. We get there to find out that there are a lot of restrictions on what is 25% off, specifically, everything I brought to the check out didn’t qualify.
I was delighted to see a woman worker going above and beyond in terms of customer service for a handicapped client who was shopping there right as we walked in. The Queen Bee associate even decided to walk this customer to her next destination. She left us with the male attendant who was no more enthusiastic than the woman we were met with last year.
After he explained how to identify marked down items, I pointed out that my $ 100+ hoodie I picked out was in fact labeled accordingly and he argued saying that it was mislabeled but I insisted that he honored the price since a. I came in just for the sale and b. I was spending $ 270 there anyway.
Overall, because of the misleading email that I will attach a screen shot of and the continuing apathetic-I’m-better-than-you-because-I’m-an-artitst service we tend to be getting, I’m keeping Queen Bee at three stars.
Maybe one of these days I’ll be helped by the owner who seems to be genuinely upset to hear my complaints and is the core designer of all the fabulous, yet pricey, products.

What a great place! I was recommended to visit here by my Airbnb hostess, and I was so happy I did! I bought a vegan wallet that has a bird on it! How perfect from Portlandia! I am crazy about my new wallet! It is roomy and soft and super organized! Also, they are delightfully friendly here! Well worth a visit!

I haven’t even gotten my products yet so maybe I’ll change my review once I receive them. I’m reviewing my ONLINE experience here:
I thought I placed an order on ¹⁄₂₉ but I never received a confirmation email so I called a week later on ²⁄₅. My order was in a category for unfinished orders — even though I’m positive I completed it — credit card and all. On ²⁄₅ I was told the order would likely ship on ²⁄₆ or ²⁄₇ at the latest, and I would receive an email then. I did not. I finally received a UPS confirmation on ²⁄₁₀ (after I sent an email asking for confirmation on the shipping date).
The order contained Valentine gifts and now it will arrive ON ²⁄₁₄ — provided I’m home to get it… UPS often does not leave parcels.
I paid nearly $ 20 in shipping and I have zero guarantee that I’ll have the package in time — and I didn’t receive any kind of explanation about what the delay is, nor did queen bee try to make it right by expediting shipping (at the very least). I received a UPS confirmation and the tracking number was not yet even in the system — likely because the items were just marked for shipping.
UPDATE: Queen Bee reached out to me and offered me a discount code for a future purchase as well as refunding my shipping. Still haven’t received my items but I’m pleased with their efforts. It means a lot to me — given a choice, I will always choose to support a small business!

The service at Queen Bee is phenomenal. I recently needed a repair on a bag I had received as a gift, and had no receipt or anything. They graciously fixed the bag, with minimal turnaround. Next time I need something, this will be my first stop, hands down.

We came across the Queen Bee Creations studio on North Williams. Within this homey loft-​like space is where their products are made. The store up front has almost a pop-​up quality, as though erected overnight to hold ready-​to-​go merchandise. The work stations beyond the store can be glimpsed at times.
The products are predominantly bags and wallets, with a smattering of fabric items, and a nice selection of biking accessories. Materials are vegan, with mostly use of fabrics and faux leather. Theirs is a whimsical, organic aesthetic with distinctive stitching and prints. The colors can pop, but there is nice use of muted shades, especially grays, browns, and sages.
A nice shop/​studio showcasing unique, locally-​made accessories. They have an online store also.

I dare say last year I was spoiled by my Bird who has witnessed firsthand my effortless ability to destroy pretty, delicate things and couldn’t take anymore. My purses live a tough, yet adventurous life until they are sent to their untimely fate in the big purse heaven in the sky. He finally found a purse that I haven’t been able to destroy in my need to go through life in a hapless manner that involves jumping in puddles, spilling beer and hugging strangers. Not only that, he got me a cute wallet too! My Queen Bee purse and wallet are made of durable faux waterproof leather and the purse has a seatbelt strap that has not so much as frayed one thread in a year of hard use. The Trucker and Truckette bags don’t come cheap at $ 100+, but it’s a heck of a lot cheaper than going through several bags a year. Mine is also a clean enough design to make me look more put together than I really am.
I can’t pass by this store on Williams without drooling or stopping in to see what new purses, bags, wallets, hats, scarves and other Portland-​y goods featuring roses, Beavers, birds, etc that they have in stock. Naturally my treasures have birds on them so I think of my Bird wherever I roam.
I also have a hat from here. The size he got me didn’t fit so they called me when they had that size in again. Seriously, they actually called. I can’t say enough good things about the folks who work here. I challenge you to come in this charming little local shop without desperately wanting to buy something adorable, yet indestructible!

Products that are made in the USA, have cute designs, are durable, and made from quality materials; may the reign of Queen Bee be long and prosperous.
Most of the items leans towards the cute, feminine side, but they do have some more unisex products. I found a little zippered pouch that will be perfect for carrying all the little items I tote around.
Prices may seem high but the quality of the materials and craftsmanship make it worthy. My little zipper pouch has a YKK zipper, a Japanese zipper many higher– end products use. Also, being able to watch people actually manufacture the product added an intangible value to the product. Quite the opposite of a sweatshop. One of the seamstresses who was also working the counter was really friendly.
A great place to pick something up for yourself or for a friend or two.

I can’t believe I haven’t written this review yet! I first bought a Queen Bee vegan product when I was visiting a friend in New York City about 4 years ago — at Moo Shoes, in fact! I got this fantastic black bi-​fold vegan wallet with «yes» and «no» embroidered on opposite sides. I still have this wallet and it’s definitely a conversation piece — sometimes if I am in a transaction, I will hold up one side or the other instead of speaking the word and it always gets a giggle.
Fall 2009, I did a road trip to Portland on my motorcycle — and had the opportunity to pop into Queen Bee — and was very impressed with the quality and selection of items. Not being a purse toting female for the most part, and being on my motorcycle, I didn’t buy anything on this trip but for the past two years, I was coveting the red on black poppy design which had gone out of production. Then back. But I didn’t get it before it went away again but then — it returned! I joyfully placed my order for the most expensive accessory I have ever bought — and got a cute coin purse with blue birds on it as well.
The Truckette is big enough to fit an iPad and a book, hairbrush, wallet, handkerchief, coin purse, some pens, a phone and a moleskin (I know — why bother with the book, pen and moleskin if I have an iPad, I’m just that way).
Quality cruelty-​free products with gorgeous designs and excellent workmanship. Highly recommended — go check out their store or their website pronto!

Last year my husband didn’t buy me a birthday present.
A number of people I knew had great looking Queen Bee bags, so I hustled myself in there and «he» got me a bag… and a wallet.
I love my bag. It’s a workhorse, it holds all my social worker stuff and then some. And my wallet is awesome, it gets a ton of compliments, and it’s so pretty and functional.
I gave a girlfriend a Queen Bee diaper bag and she adores it.
I think their stuff is expensive, yes, but totally worth it. Local, sustainable, pretty, functional. Nice.
Thanks, Honey. You done good. Forget my present again, would you?

I haven’t been into the store but I bought a wallet from Queen Bee online and I am delighted with my purchase. I’ve been using my wallet for just over a month and because it’s just so nicely laid out and everything stays so neat and flat, even still, I’m a little excited every time I pull it out to pay for something.
I was a little nervous about making the purchase because they have a tough return policy (no returns unless there’s something wrong with the item) but thankfully, this was better than I could have imagined. I have a few friends with other Queen Bee items, all of whom swear by them. I’ve never spent so much on a wallet in my life, but it’s so good that when this one wears out, I will definitely be getting another one just like it.

Let’s talk about how a girl from Philly ended up with a bag from Queen Bee.
Girl visits Portland.
Girl eats at the nearby dessert place one night and glimpses Queen Bee from the corner of her eye. Friend tells her, «That’s a sewing shop, or something.»
Girl eats at the nearby microbrew bike pub the next day, walks by the closed Queen Bee afterwards, and admires the cute display in the window.
Girl visits Queen Bee the next afternoon, before she leaves on the Amtrak train that night.
Girl ends up with an adorable purse (without a bird on it) which receives numerous compliments from random strangers around town who demand the name of the shop from which it was purchased.
«Queen Bee? Where’s that?»
Girl smirks. «Portland.»
(There’s an online shop if you can’t visit the airy studio and coo over the colourful displays and reduced-​cost imperfect product corner. For those that are as lucky as the Girl, why aren’t you there already?)

I’ve been shopping with Queen Bee ever since they were a one woman operation. It is truly awesome to see how far they have come!
I love their wallets. I have one of the larger ones that has 6 places for cards and room for dollar bills, change and a checkbook. Sometimes when I don’t wanna carry my purse I just take out my wallet and go, it has pretty much everything I need in it. I also get compliments on it pretty frequently. In addition to wallets, they sell bike bags, baby bags and regular bags. I’m hoping to get one of those one day.
The designs are unique, everything is handmade and it feels good to support a business that cares about their employees and community!

I came up to Portland yesterday for a meeting at my son’s school. It was a long day as I took the first flight up from Oakland and returned on the last flight back. That gave me several hours before the meeting to explore Portland a bit more. I had previously spent a lot of time Downtown, in the Pearl District and around East Hawthorne near Reed. This time, I decided on the Historic Mississippi District and received some great bacon– and chocolate-​laced advice from Suzanne F. and Jen K. before I arrived.
I took the Red Line to the Rose Quarter Transit Center and then transferred to a #44 Bus, which dropped me off almost at the front door of Queen Bee Creations. I peered into the window and saw all sorts of neat wallets and bags. Unfortunately, they were closed, so I walked over to Mississippi for awhile and then doubled back before lunch.
Queen Bee Creations has a somewhat small, but comfortable and nicely appointed show room, and from the street, you can see their folks making the bags through the window. The person at the counter was super friendly and I ended up with a nice Maximo wallet to keep change and paperwork for our honeymoon trip to Portugal next week. There were also some seconds available for purchase at significantly reduced prices.
I liked their designs and their workmanship, even though as far as the larger bags go, I’m still struggling with the utility of messenger bags over backpacks. I also prefer a combination of heavy cotton twill with leather accents, and I struggle with the tactile feel of Queen Bee Creations’ fabrics.
This place is also a local business and is in keeping with Portland’s sustainable persona. The products here are attractive and of good quality, and if you can’t make it to the factory store, the Queen Bee line is available throughout the Rose City, including Powell’s Books at PDX on the way home.

Raising boys is a tricky business. It is also a lot of fun. But I do wish I had a little girl to accompany me on shopping trips. Someone who might actually enjoy the experience and not roll his eyes. So I was thrilled to finally make it to Queen Bee’s factory and retail store after seeing their amazing bags, purses and wallets at boutiques around town. My son was not so thrilled, but he knew that ice cream was the next stop on our agenda.
It was pretty comical shopping with him, because he actually had an opinion about certain bags:
«Does it have a pocket for your cell phone?»
«Ooh, cool, this one has lightning bolts.»
«Mom, this one looks like it has paddles for rowing.»
I was shocked. The reason I timed my visit for today was that in addition to their normal sales for abnormal and flawed items (everything is handmade on-​site so things happen), they are having a 25% off sale for the older seasonal collection and discontinued items. These are pricey bags, so that is a fantastic deal.
In the end, I selected the bag that was my son’s favorite. «Get this one. Duck’s colors!» I think I might send him back with his Dad on Mother’s Day. Turns out my little one has excellent taste.

I remember the Queen Bee bags back when Otsu in SF used to sell them when they focused less on paper products. I always thought they were some of the cutest bags with their stitching and designs, and loved that they were handmade and non-​leather. I’m not much of a bag gal, so spending $ 100 on one is hard for me to justify, but seeing them again in person, right where they’re created, made it too hard to resist.
They did have a few bags on sale for nearly half the price, so there are some deals to be had. It’s not a huge location, but there’s enough variety of messenger bags, totes, wallets, and purses to find something to suit your liking. If you’re not fortunate to make it to the studio in person, you can order her bags online.

I have never been to the store in Oregon, but I got my fabulous bag on
& I get compliments ALL the time & I just can’t stop raving about my handbag!
Have you received that email about all the nasty stuff that is on a woman’s handbag from her placing it on the floor or ground? Well… This type of handbag (or wallet, laptop bag, diaper bag, coin purse…) eliminates that problem because you can wash it with soap & water or clean it with wipes or whatever you have handy as often as you’d like! It holds up even with tough lovers like I am.
And the prices are oh-​so reasonable!
I also must note that I had a drink with a loose lid spill inside my Queen Bee bag & it stayed contained! I cleaned it on the inside & the liquid never made it through to the outside.
Long live Queen Bee Creations!