About Kiki of Sweden
Kiki of Sweden is built on the pride and inspiration that founder Maria (nickname Kiki) finds in her Swedish heritage. Our Swedish art, jewelry and linens represent the beauty and incomparable quality that have been part of the Swedish art and handcraft traditions for generations.
About our founder
I was born in Stockholm, Sweden -- my mother’s family came from Hedenaset (way up north near the Torne River that divides Sweden from Finland) and my father’s family came from Vendels socken (north of Stockholm) and Gagnef in Dalarna. My roots in these regions are a big part of my inspiration in creating my arts and designs.
I spent every summer with my mother’s family at the beautiful 350-year-old farm house that our family built generations ago. My summers were filled with picking strawberries and rhubarb, digging fresh potatoes from the dirt, gathering in vegetables, and wandering the fields to pick akerbar (artic raspberry) that we would turn into a sauce for the delicious desserts we made. I would watch my grandmother (mormor) take care of the cows and my grandfather (morfar) tend the crops and hay, build barns, and construct stone fences.
Mormor was up at 5am every morning baking bread in her old wood-fired stove, and I would get up with her because I loved to be around her doing all her chores. She taught me to enjoy the peaceful silence of the early morning – and the late nights when we would sit, drink a cup of tea and watch the moon over the river. Unselfish and loving, she continues to inspire me to see beauty in everyday life.
The summers with my mother’s family are commemorated by the arctic raspberry in my logo design, a berry that is rare to find nowadays.
How Kiki of Sweden began
After moving to Annapolis in 1999 and being away from my home country, Swedish life and traditions began to matter more to me. Kiki of Sweden initially found its strength and roots from my father’s family, in the folklore of Dalarna. I created a series of watercolors and blue pencil designs for different folk costumes from different regions of Sweden, and started taking my artwork and designs to regional shows. I was proud that my design for the Gotland costume was selected by the Swedish military attaché, as he was originally from Gotland. The military history of my father’s family also provided the design for my “tre kronor” earrings, which were molded from the buttons of an antique army uniform.
Over the years, I continued to add new art pieces and jewelry designs to my collection – with my 35 years in Stockholm providing a major influence in my work. I love the beauty of the Gustavian style of design, the period of Gustav III and Bellman, the colors and allure of Old Town and the archipelago with its sailing boats and old steam ships. A midsummer night’s walk through Djurgardens bountiful parks! The smell of summer flowers, the songs from the birds. It is all poetry that can be translated into art and design. Living at Mosebacke torg and feeling the artistic pulse of surrounding life still inspires me across thousands of miles of ocean.
I also expanded Kiki of Sweden to include Ekelunds linens, products that very much represent my ideals of design and quality craftsmanship. Ekelunds started their business in 1692 and the same family still runs it today at the very same location – Horred on the West Coast of Sweden, near Gothenburg.
Where we are today
Kiki of Sweden continues to represent all of the experiences and inspirations from my homeland that I want to share – the beauty, strength, and old-fashioned quality that I associate with all things Swedish.
After creating and offering so many different products over the years – and receiving many customer requests for a website– we have finally built our online store! We also still continue to sell Ekelunds linens at Plat du Jour on Main Street in Annapolis, as well as travel to shows throughout Maryland, Virginia and New Jersey.
Please enjoy the new website! We started with the most requested products, but will adding new items over time – including new finds from our travels to Sweden. Please let us know if you have any specific requests, or if just want to say hello. As always, thank you for your business!
Regards,
Maria Smedberg Knoll
Kiki of Sweden