Face to Face: Meet Sabine Lippert
Face to Face interviews continue and we’re able to meet and to know more about people in our community in this way.
This time, a wonderful designer says “yes” and answer our questions. Since we at Beadingschool greatly admire her work, we were over the moon!
When I think of her, first words coming to my mind are: perfection, precise architecture of each jewel, laughter and a book! If you are around beads for some time, it’s very possible you recognize the name or own one of her books about beading. She is also behind some bead shapes that were produced under her supervision and are available on the market!
If you want to explore and experience new beading adventures, she’s the right person to join!
Meet the Trytobead designer and mastermind.
Wonderful, inspiring, full of energy – just like her jewels and designs!
Sabine Lippert
Please tell us about yourself and your brand a bit!
In my first life I was working as a physician with the addiction to everything thread related. Knitting, crochet, embroidery, tatting, bobbin lace…. no thread was secure when I was around. As a school girl I even made my pocket money by knitting samples for a yarn store. Beads were not a theme, as there were sources for nice beads. One first attempt in doing peyote was a disaster because the only beads I could get were some silver-lined 3mm beads in blue, green, yellow and red. One day I found a bead shop in my hometown and they had a small collection of Japanese seed beads. That was about 2007… The rest is history. I started out with bead crochet but thanks to some gatherings with other beaders and the internet, I quickly started to enter the universe of seed bead techniques.
How did your story as a designer begin? To those who know your work – can you tell us one interesting and one fun fact we don’t know yet?
I kept showing up at my local bead store with the things I had made, buying new beads and one day the owner asked me to teach a class. My first patterns were more rough sketches for classes but after a while they got more and more polished. One German Publisher (Claudia Schumann from Creanon) contacted me and the first book was published (Perlenkochbuch/Beaders cookbook). In the following years there were two book publications in the USA (Beaded Fantasies and Beadwork Evolution). Meanwhile I was writing instructions like crazy and the former Hobby took over more and more of my time. I was still working full time in a doctors office and finally decided to cut the cord and go fulltime into the beading. My former boss shook his head and said „Why on earth did you go to university then?“ My reply was: „That gave me the skills to create nicely constructed beadwork and write patterns“
Do you remember the first piece you sold? What was it?
Well I sold some pieces on smaller fairs, but that was never really a big thing, I was focusing from the beginning on „sharing the knowledge about beading“. My mission is to infect others with the beading virus. It was actually never the finished piece that tempted me, but the way to create it.
Please tell us how does your average day look like! It’s so exciting to get to know more about your lifestyle!
I am German, so I have my strict office times. Every day starts around 7am (that is sleeping in for someone who started early shifts in hospital at 6 am ;-)), and then I have the luxurious decision between paperwork, beading, kit packing, pattern writing. I work 7 days a week often 10 hours a day. But at 8pm I drop the hammer, go upstairs into my „Yarn room“ and knit or crochet (yeah right, when I stop moving my hands I fall asleep).
What makes your designs stand out from the crowd of other designers? Which are your favorite colors, shapes, materials, etc?
Where does your inspiration come from? Do you have some rituals to boost your creative energy, a favorite place for work?
My inspiration usually grows out of technique. I have a piece of beadwork e.g. flat RAW, roll it up, fold it, think about how or where I can add a stone bead whatsoever and just let it grow and at some point I see a structure and it assembles. It is kind of intuitive… no big plan behind it. It can begin with the idea of making a necklace and it ends as a bracelet or earrings or beaded box.
What kind of clothes and accessories do you wear? Who are your favorite designers and why?
Well I wear what fits. With my covid figure vanity goes right through the window 😉
What is your goal in the future? Where would you like to see your brand?
If things stay as they are now, I would be a happy camper!
You can visit, support and follow Sabine at:
- Trytobead Webpage
- Or you can also get one of her beautiful books about beading.
Would you like to get a bunch of free beading tutorials?
Thank you for answering my questions, Sabine!
Dear friends, you can use the comment section if you have more questions you would like to ask, or greet Sabine.
Stay tuned for more interviews for Beadingschool.com by Erika Sándor!
Great story of how your beading has evolved. I admire anyone that can be so creative as to design a piece and then convey that design to the world. Thanks for the inspiration! I wish I could bead all day everyday!
Great article. I had heard her name and seen some of her designs made by our club members!!! Thank you!
Thank you for this wonderful article :-).
When I started my beading journey my very first order was one of your kits.
I am very glad that I could read this article.
You’re a role model, a wonderful teacher and a source of inspiration. I had the pleasure to meet you in person in Hamburg, unfortunately not the opportunity (YET) to attend a workshop of yours, but that time will come! 😉 I beaded and admire many of your designs and keeping an eye on your work. The more complex, the better it is! Hugs & kisses from Stockholm! <3
Its was a pleasure to read your article and learn a little about your life . So nice to see some of your beautiful jewelry all are stunning ! Thank you✌
Sabine, Thank you for letting us get to know you better! I love your work and I’m gathering the courage to stop drooling over your projects/books, AND start making them. I do admit, SUPERGIRL is very enticing!!!
Such a wonderful article , glad to meet you and see your creations,I have to say I’ve seen your bracelet a lot in so many variations I really love it ❤️ . Maybe one day I’ll add it to my collection.
Thank you for sharing.
I appreciate your designs and work, thank you for sharing! I have a friend who is a knitter and her specialty is shawls using sock yarn. She would like to incorporate beads in her work. What types would you recommend?