Face to Face: Kiki Kiki

Beadingschool is a place where we bead together, share inspiration and celebrate the stories behind every piece of jewelry. We honor both the hands that create and the people who inspire our community.

We came to the last Friday of the month, when we publish new Face to Face interview. We’re excited we can introduce a beader who beads every single one of the small motifs published by Beadingschool and our friend-designers. Take a moment to slow down and enjoy a personal story, with the beautiful jewels.

Meet the Beadingschool Club member, a kind beader-friend to many in the community, Kirsten Schülp who everyone knows as our Kiki Kiki.

 

Please tell us about yourself a bit! When and how did you start to create? How did you learn to bead?

My name is Kirsten, I am 57 years old, and I come from Germany. After my husband passed away, I started a new life in Spain. Today, I live in the north of the beautiful island of Tenerife. My first beading class was at an evening school, where I made a pendant. I was so proud of my first piece that I immediately wanted to learn more. Later, I continued learning in a bead store in Bonn, Germany, where I discovered many new techniques and materials. Beading quickly became a very important and joyful part of my life.

Is beadwork your hobby or profession? How does your average day look? When do you have time to create?

Beadwork is my hobby and my creative passion. After cancer in 2010, I had to stop working, so now I have more time for the things I enjoy. I love discovering Tenerife by bus, going for walks, meeting friends, and enjoying the beauty of the island. Most of my beading time is in the evenings, when everything is calm and quiet. Creating jewelry helps me relax and gives me happiness at the end of the day.

What did beading bring to your life?

After cancer, I discovered the beauty of crystals and immediately wanted to create jewelry myself. Beading has brought so much joy into my life. The beautiful colors and sparkling crystals help me forget the sad moments for a while and allow me to focus on something positive and creative. Before beading, I often felt overwhelmed by difficult experiences in life. Now, creating jewelry gives me peace, inspiration, and something wonderful to look forward to every day.

Tell us about the piece of jewelry you are the most proud of!

I am especially proud of my first bead embroidery pieces. One of my favorite creations is a pair of peacock earrings that I made during a workshop at the Perlenmesse in Hamburg. They were challenging to create, but I loved every moment of the process, and I was very happy with the final result.

Where do you like to create? Do you have a designated area in your home where you keep your beads?

I usually bead in my living room. I have a large table there and the best light in the house, which is very important when working with small beads and crystals. It is my cozy, creative space where I can fully enjoy beading.

What is your favorite stitch? Which colors do you like the most? On the other hand, is there any color or color combination you try to avoid?

My favorite stitch is Peyote stitch because I enjoy its rhythm and versatility. My favorite colors are blue and pink, especially in combination with sparkling crystals. I generally enjoy working with many colors, although there are some strong or very dark color combinations that I use less often because I personally prefer softer and brighter tones.

Do you follow instructions or do you like to develop your own designs? How would you define your style?

I mostly enjoy following instructions because I love learning from talented designers and improving my techniques step by step. My style is elegant, colorful, and inspired by sparkling crystals and beautiful details.

Who are your favorite designers? Why?

I especially love the designs from the Beadingschool. Beadingschool Erika and all the talented designers in the Academy are a constant inspiration for me. Their creativity, beautiful color combinations, and detailed tutorials always motivate me to try new projects and techniques.

Do you have a favorite design by Erika? Tell us about it!

It is impossible for me to choose only one favorite design because I truly love so many of them. Erika’s designs are always elegant, creative, and inspiring, and each new project teaches me something new.

Which is the bead or component in your stash that you treasure the most? Do you already have plans on how to use it?

The pieces I treasure the most are my beautiful art cabochons. They are so unique and inspiring. I would love to create more bead embroidery projects with them in the future and continue improving my embroidery skills.

If you could design something for a well-known person or maybe a fictional character from a film or book, who would it be, and why?

I would love to design jewelry for Penélope Cruz because I enjoy watching her films and I think she is a very interesting and elegant woman. I can imagine creating something colorful and sophisticated that would match her personality perfectly.

What are your plans for the future as a beader? Is there something you would really like to learn?

I definitely want to continue being part of the Beadingschool and the Academy because they inspire me so much. I would especially love to improve my bead embroidery skills and learn even more advanced techniques in the future.

Where can we see and buy your designs?

At the moment, I do not create my own original designs. However, you can see my finished jewelry pieces in the Beadingschool Facebook group, where I enjoy sharing my work and connecting with other beading enthusiasts from around the world.

 

 

 

Thank you for answering our questions and sharing more from your beading life and journey. We are so happy we could get to know you better, Kiki!

It’s always a joy to connect with you in the Beadingschool Club. We wish you lots of health, a wonderful time beading your new jewels, and exploring Tenerife.

Dear beading-friends and beadwork admirers, please, use the comment section if you have more questions you would like to ask, or greet our Kiki.

Stay tuned for more interviews for Beadingschool.com by Erika Sándor.