Face to Face: Martika

At Beadingschool, creativity sparkles brightest when it’s shared—like beads strung together into something beautiful. We love celebrating the stories behind the jewelry, the beaders who create them, and the people who inspire all of us.

This Face to Face interview introduces a beader who is a regular at the Beadingschool live videos, posts, and shares her beautiful jewelry in the Beadingschool Club, on her Facebook often combined with floral motifs, a porcelain birdie in the background, or her gorgeous flower garden. She has a kind comment for everyone else and is a delight to have around.

So take a moment to settle in, enjoy the beauty of her artistry, and join us in discovering the inspiring story behind her beading path.

Meet the Beadingschool Club member, passionate beader, kind soul,

and support to everyone in the beading community – our Martika.

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

My name is Martika and I live in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA. Our city is a famous beach and tourist destination with lots of attractions. I like mathematics, physics, statistics and process engineering which are part of my life. 

I have lots of hobbies, including beading, gardening (encouraged by my grandmother when I was a little girl, so flowers mean a lot to me); cooking and baking sweet and savory dishes, pies, cakes, sourdough breads, and ciabatta rolls, and especially Christmas cookies (even German Marzipan Stollen); reading books and decorating for the holidays. As for the exercising, I love swimming, biking, strength training and yoga, 

I started creating when I was 6 years old by learning how to knit by my dear mother. My first project was a knitted scarf that I proudly wore that winter. At age 9, I learned how to cross stitch. I made many cross stitched table cloths, doilies and pictures that we got framed and hung on the wall in our living room. They represented flowers and yearly seasons (this technique was a little different as cross stitch). I learned how to crochet when I was 18, I was not as fond of it as of knitting. I learned how to sew with the help of my mother-in-law who was a seamstress. I sewed many clothes for my whole family when I was 25 years old. Here is one of my favorite knitted projects: the headbend I knitted and embellished with pearls when I was 27 years old, and I still wear it during winter time.

 

My love for beads started at a very young age. I created simple necklaces by stringing glass and wooden beads on heavy thread for sawing, later I tried making bracelets using stretching rubber. I started being more serious about beading when I stumbled on a YT video that showed how to bead a bracelet in 2014. It was a simple pattern but very pretty and it caught my eye so much I wanted to try to make it right away. I succeeded and even made a pair of matching earrings.I showed them to my colleague and she requested a set for her sister. And, that’s how my passion for beading started. The year was 2015, and I started building my stash of materials needed for my beading. Mostly, I bought them in the art shops and later, when I discovered online bead shops, they became my sources to go to.  I ordered materiL from our country but later also from the UK and now from the EU. I found my inspiration browsing Russian, Italian, German, Japanese, French, Spanish, Portugal and even South American sites such as Mexico, Argentina and Brazil. Even when I did not understand the language, I was able to create jewels just by following the video. But I learn a few words from each of the languages.

 

          

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

Beading is my big hobby. It provides a relaxation time, It brings me joy and satisfaction of being proud of my creativity. I love to wear my creations and usually receive many compliments and that pushes me to advance my skills and try to challenge myself. 

My average day is present with many activities and chores. But I enjoy cooking good meals, biking with my husband around our neighborhood, enjoying sunshine, swimming during summer months, going to craft markets, gardening, reading interesting and romantic books and doing puzzles (I love Sudoku!)

 

What did beading bring to your life?

Beading has become an integral part of my life in 2015, and it still is. After coming home from work, commuting 1.5 – 2 hours one way, I really needed to unwind, and TV had not always provided that. Even reading a book made me fall asleep. So that’s where beading started to give me the most precious relaxation time and joy. I felt rejuvenated and also proud of myself when I completed my creations. So I would rather spend time browsing the YT videos and finding projects that challenge me (usually ones that caught my eye right away). I was able to advance my skills and often sell my finished jewels to colleagues. I also gifted many more to my family and friends. I have always received lots of compliments, and that is what has driven me to continue with beading, learn new techniques. The Beadingschool of Erika Sandor has given me that opportunity, and I am very grateful to her and her team. I have been artistic all my life, I love drawing pictures, and my dream is to learn how to watercolor. 

 

Tell us about the piece of jewelry that is special for you, or that you are most proud of! 

I do not have a special piece of jewelry, I love all the pieces I have made during the past 10 years. I proudly wear them and also give them away to friends and family. It makes me happy when I see them wearing my creations with joy. One jewel I have beaded from the book “Beaded Fantasies” by Sabine Lippert has challenged me. It is called “Floral Cascade Choker” and I have not beaded all the fringes shown in the book, but it resembles hers well. I have also beaded her “Aisha”  and “Double Star” earrings. I still want to bead her “Les Fleurs” necklace. Another project I am proud of beading are “Sonoko Spiral Rope” necklace and “Sonoko Wave” necklace. Both projects are from the book “Japanese Beadwork with Sonoko Nozue”. Those have been challenging, but I have mastered them, Happy Dance! 

 

Where do you like to create? Do you have a designated area 

I like to create in my jewelry/art room. In this room I have bookcases with my beloved books (including several beadwork books), a closet where I store my beading material (1st pic shows hiw my seed beads are stored, 2nd shows how all crystals, bicones, pearls, components, and findings, are stored, 3rd shows where all my bugles, 2-hole beads, Czech seed beads, gemstone and natural stones are stored), a desk where my Bead On It Boards are placed. Finished jewelry pieces are stored in special boxes in another bookcase (last picture). They are placed in plastic bags with a piece of anti-tarnish paper to be protected from being tarnished. I do not have name tags on them, but at least I remember the designer that I have used to create them from (most of them, and there are lots of jewels). 

 

 

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

I do not have a favorite stitch. I have used these stitches in my beadwork: RAW, CRAW, Netting, Peyote, Russian Spiral, St. Petersburg, Herringbone, Hubble, Brick, Zulu, Chevron, and many others. I have also created jewels with metal components, natural stones, and gemstones.

I like all colors and color combinations. However, my favorite colors used to be purple, red, salmon, light pink, lavender, tanzanite, fuchsia, turquoise, cobalt blue, emerald green, olivine, silver, gold, and bronze. From combinations, I preferred black and white, grey and light pink, fuchsia and turquoise, red and orange with yellow, and rainbow colors too. I do not avoid any color. 

 

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

I like to follow the instructions of a design either from a book or following the video. Also, I can manage creating a jewel using a pattern or a scheme. I am not a designer, but I like to add my touch to the original design just to make it feel like my own. Usually, I change colors or materials used or add some embellishments of my own. I have created few of my necklaces without any design, just laying beads on a board and playing with them until I am satisfied with the result,

I do not have my style but have used many in my beadwork. The finished piece of jewelry must be harmonious, with a pleasing palette of colors and most importantly it must catch the eye (being attractive) and be wearable (either on a special occasion or every day). 

 

Who are your favorite designers? Why? 

I have been an avid beader for over 10 years but I do not have a favorite designer. However, I have used designs from Sabine Lippert, Sonoko Nozue, Diane Fitzgerald, Isabella Lam, Carol Wilcox Wells, Alice Korach, Samantha Mitchell, Carolin Cave, Laura Landrum and Aimee Carpenter in my first 5 years of beadworking. Then, I found Jill Wiseman from JIll Wisemans Designs, Allie Buchman from Potomac Beads Designs, Stephanie from Bronzepony Beaded Jewelry, Luisa from Misty Moon Designs, Gina from Orchid&Opal Jewelry & Beads, and Juliet from Spoilt Rotten Beads Designs in the UK. These designers are still my to go even today. I love all their designs, and they are special to me. The most recent designers have suddenly come to my life in 2023 from the Beadingschool by Erika Sandor. Erika, Zuzi, Nitti, Veronika, Aniko, and their affiliated designers Ruxandra, Vicky, Laura, Heather, Chloe and Giulianna. I have learned a great deal from them and cherish every jewel I have created using their designs. Especially Ruxandra’s jewels are so different from other designers, they are lacy, intricate, distinctive, precious and always gorgeous. This year, I have joined Chloe Menage’s Pinkhot Designs from the UK. I like her designs and have already beaded two necklaces. I am currently working on the third necklace, Through the Looking Glass..

       

The next 4 pictures represent my beadwork (not entirely) since I started in 2015 through 2025. The first picture shows my most valued jewelry pieces from famous designers (2015-2020). In the first picture is the necklace I loved to make shown as a U shape with two dangling earrings laying between the sides of the necklace. The designer is Sonoko Nozue and she named it Cheerful Midafternoon. It is created applying a Zulu stitch and uses small lily Czech beads to create an amazing dangling effect.  Next to it on the left side is another of her famous beadworks she had taught at her workshops even in the USA and it is called Sonoko Spiral Rope.  The 2 necklaces on the left are designed by Stephanie. The one above in the middle is designed by Jill Wiseman. The long dark red one on the far right is designed by Alice Korach. The long CRAW necklace in the right corner is designed by Jill Wiseman, as is the black&white rope next to it and the dark red rope necklace on the far left. The necklace on its right side is from Stephanie. Two necklace/earrings sets at the left lower corner are designed by Isabella Lam.

 

 

The second picture shows my jewelry I beaded from 2020 through 2025. These pieces are designed by Luisa, Allie, Gina, Juliet, Stephanie and designers from the YT sites I mentioned in the text.

 

 

The third picture depicts the rest of my jewels, simpler ones except 2 pieces – at the top is the piece designed by Sabine Lipert called Floral Cascade Choker. The lime green necklace is designed by Carol Wilcot Wells (middle caged component) the rest of the necklace I designed myself, the chain is beaded using St Petersburg stitch, and 2 round components are created by caging large beads in.

 

 

The fourth picture shows most of my bracelets and earrings. All that I show in these 4 pictures represents apr. 75% of my work. The rest was gifted to family and friends or sold to my colleagues. They don’t include the BSC jewels.

 

 

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

I love all her designs. I really loved to bead Swanee earrings, Soldanella necklace, Blooming Heart pendant, Moonlit Wave earrings, Gypsum earrings, Abundance earrings, Eblouissants pendant, Roxanne necklace, and Hint of Light necklace, and these two earrings. I ordered two of her Theodora designs during Advent sessions and would like to bead them in near future. That is one of her majestic designs.

 

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

I own many Swarovski crystals (crystal pearls, bicone crystals, crystal rivolis, fancy stones and components) which I treasure the most. I also have a huge stash of 2-hole beads (Czech and Japanese), seed beads (Japanese and Czech including 15/0s, 13/0s charlottes,11/0s, 8/0s, 6/0, 2/0s, bugles, and super duos), Potomac beads (2-hole and 3-hole beads, crystals, cabochons, halo beads), Chinese crystals, natural stones, gemstones and wooden beads.  

I use any bead from my stash in jewels I create if I find them suitable for the design.

 

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? 

Marie Curie for her being a woman and achieving two Nobel prizes, in 1903 in Physics and in 1911 in Chemistry. 

Marylin Monroe, a Hollywood actress for being my idol in my youth (Someone likes It hot) pictured below

Audrey Hepburn, a Hollywood actress for I am fond of her talent (Sabrina, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, My Fair Lady, War and Peace) and humanitarian work worldwide

Julie Andrews, a Hollywood actress I like for her musical talents (Sound of Music, Mary Poppins)

Jane Austen, a writer I like for her courage to write and publish stories and books at times when this was a privilege of men only (Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion). She has changed how the lives of women have been presented to the public, 

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

Since beading is my passion and hobby, I would like it to stay that way in the future. I do not intend to convert it to a business or a profession. I enjoy creating for my own joy and needs.

I really would like to learn bead embroidery. I have seen so many beautiful embroidered jewelry pieces in the Beadingschool Club, especially in the mini challenge competition that push my curiosity forward. I have created only one piece of embroidered jewel when I attended the Potomac Beads Company Beaders Retreat in 2023. It was a rose pendant design, and I finished it as a Christmas ornament. It hangs on my tree every year to remind me of that fun beading. Also, I would like to learn Kumihimo. I have had a book by Beth Kemp “Twist, Turn, & Tie 50 Japanese Kumihimo Braids” in my bookcase for years now, so I shall make use of it!!

 

Bead embroidered Rose pendant (Christmas ornament).

 

Where can we see and/or buy your designs?

I do not design myself but create jewels using patterns from designers (I have mentioned in previous questions) with my personal touches added so they differ from the originals. I have a gift for picking colors and making my jewels stand out and last. You can see them on my Facebook page Martika Beading. If by any chance you really like any of them and have a desire to own them, please send me a request through my messenger and I would be happy to assist you.

 

 

 

Thank you for answering our questions and sharing more about your beading journey and inspiration, Martika!

We’re very happy you’re beading with us and we enjoy your company in the Beadingshool Club. We wish you grow your beading skillset, continue to create beautiful color combinations in your garden and on your bead mat!

 

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

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