My husband bought me a beautiful ring from Twist a few months ago, and I enjoy it so much. I even wrote the artist an email to thank him for creating the ring. And, he responded back. It's great to have that personal connection surrounding my ring.

Also, I love going in to Twist and having it cleaned whenever I'm in the area. Then I can just walk around the store while it's being cleaned and try on jewelery with the great sales staff. Rene is one of my favorites. She's always dressed so well and has sassy dark hair. She is a certified diamond expert. Everyone who works there is very nice.

I lived in Portland ten years ago and my true passion for art became alive the minute I found Twist. I had no concept that what appeared at first to be just a silver necklace and then, a beaded bracelet could cost what they did. But, after spending some time looking around and speaking with one of the staff I soon learned there was more to it than that. And thus began my love for this art.
When I left Portland I missed shopping at Twist. But found that I could still find most of my favorite artists via the net. Over the years artists have come and gone as they do anywhere. However, Twist has an astonishing eye for keeping their gallery fresh, on the edge, and always an exciting place to visit. I have my favorites too and some are gone and some are still there. I've been to many of the artist?s galleries to shop/browse. A couple that I've done a lot of business with I've actually been into their studios?. I had a small birthday celebration at one of my favorite artist's galleries. When traveling I am always on the lookout for artisan galleries/shops that carry my favorite artist or maybe a new favorite. I somehow inevitable end up in conversation about Twist and have learned what admiration other galleries have for Twist.
To address what some view as cons-cost. Find your budget and stay there for a while. Mine was low when I first started. Also, find a piece that you really love (maybe double your budget) and save up to buy it for it for a special occasion/reward. (You should see my wish list.) However, every time I wear a piece from one of their artists I receive complements. And it is art, so I know everything about that piece and the artist and share it. The same as if you received a complement on whatever is dear to you. It's art. So, if you are just looking for a piece of shiny silver to wear this is probably not the place for you. Can?t wait for my next visit!

I recently returned some "art" I purchased at Twist 6 years ago because the little gold things all came off of the glasses ($48 each) and they had never been used. When I returned them to the store to see if they could be repaired I was told that they no longer worked with that artist. I pointed out that I didn't do business with the "artist", I did business with them. There was a halfhearted comment made that maybe they could call the artist and ask about how to repair the glasses (four, and all of the gold beads had fallen off every one of them). I noticed the owner standing there and asked him about it and he said I should just glue them back on. I was hesitant because I thought "art" might be more complicated than that. The owner was insulted that I would bring back glasses that were 6 years old. I told him that I thought it was art and the whole scene ended with him telling me to take my business elsewhere. I'll never shop there again and the buyer should beware paying art store prices for something that will not last...even though it was never used...just sat on a shelf. If you shop here you might want to stick to the cheap stuff that you don't expect to last.

An acquaintance has introduced the term ?wearable art? into my vocabulary. For some this might be complimentary. For me, it is not. Something that I would consider hanging on my wall or displaying on a mantle is not the same thing that I want hanging from my earlobes. And for jewelry, if I have spent a gazillion dollars on something, I want it to look that way. I don?t want to look like I have spent a gazillion dollars on paying a slightly unstable tortured artist?s rent for two months. I don?t want my ring to look like it was chewed into shape just because it was ?naturally pounded.? Call me crazy, I like smooth edges, complimentary colors, and a little bit of symmetry. And yes, they do cover a wide variety of prices, and maybe this is a complaint against all jewelry stores, but I don?t like having to ask if every piece that catches my attention is $100 or $3,000 because they choose to keep the tags concealed. And with the type of jewelry this store carries, I really can?t tell the difference myself. Maybe its you, but its not me.

This store is a lot of fun to browse in, as well as a great place to pick up gifts or fun and funky accessories for your home. They also have a selection of jewelery.

Although the items are on the expensive side, they are also very unique and you are paying for quality and the fact that not every home you go to will have one of their items displayed.

Parking can be a bit of a pain, as with many places on NW 23rd, you just have to time it right. There is a lot, but it is very small.

This store has a few other locations, though, so that might be worth checking into if parking is an issue and you're in the mood to look at some interesting and eclectic creations.

PROS: Fun things, creative
CONS: Pricey and parking