A Life in Beads: Kirsten’s Story
We visited Kirsten, a Danish Trollbeads collector, on a Friday afternoon.
Kirsten lives in a cozy townhouse in a small town on Zealand, Denmark. In her front yard, roses bloom, and she opens the door with a big smile, wearing a red-striped blouse and denim overalls. Her home smells of freshly brewed coffee, and her adorable dachshund greets us. We’re here to talk about her truly meaningful Trollbeads collection, which she has built over many years. It's already laid out on her dining table along with two warm mugs of coffee as we sit down for a chat.
Kirsten is a colourful and lively character.
She works with children and loves storytelling—both in her professional and private life. She is warm, positive, and energetic.
Kirsten began collecting Trollbeads when her ex-husband gave her the first bracelet: a silver foxtail bracelet with a silver Swan bead and Swan clasp, symbolizing loyalty, nesting, and sticking together through life. That gift marked the beginning of Kirsten’s Trollbeads journey. From then on, she fell in love with the idea that jewellery can carry a personal story, and that’s what motivated her to continue collecting.
"To me, it has always been about the story. Every time I've gotten a new bead, it has been about my story. I find that incredibly unique."
Kirsten keeps her bead collection on two sterling silver bracelets. Each bracelet tells a story—stories from her life. One symbolizes her love life, the other her life with her children. Initially, all her beads were on the bracelet from her ex-husband, but as her collection grew, two distinct bracelets naturally emerged. She wears them every day.
She smiles and says,
"My colleagues are always saying ‘Here comes Kirsten!’ when I walk down the aisles at the school where I’ve worked for many years. They can hear my bracelets from afar. I love the feeling of wearing them on my wrist."
