Join us to Welcome a new BK Team Member // Kei!

Greetings from Baum-kuchen studio! We are so excited to announce that we have a new BK team member to introduce. 

(drum roll, please!)

Please join us to welcome Kei! 

As we slowly grow and stretch our wings at BK, we are pouring our energy to create a sustainable and inspiring space for our team to work, collaborate, and grow together. I am thrilled to start our journey with Kei. 

Eunice conducted a fun interview story with Kei. I hope you enjoy getting to know her as much as I did!

-wakako

------------------------- 

Bk:  Hello Kei! Thank you so much for sitting down with us to do this fun interview to learn a bit more about you. We are so thrilled to welcome you as the newest member of the Baum-kuchen team! Would you briefly introduce yourself? Where are you from? Anything you’d like to share?

Kei: Hello, my name is Kei (pronounced as a letter K), and I am so excited to join the Baum-kuchen team this spring! In the past one year, I had the privilege of living in Chicago, Kyoto (Japan), Brooklyn, and now in Los Angeles. And yes… we’ve moved A LOT this past year, but I am hoping to stay in the LA area for the time being.

I was born in Japan, and spent my first 10+ years in a small town in Hiroshima prefecture. In the year 2000, my family decided to move to the U.S. I spent most of my teenage years in the West suburbs of Chicago. Although I went away to Rochester, NY for my college education, I decided to return back to Chicago and I’ve spent most of my adulthood in Chicago!

Bk: What is your background or area of specialty?

Kei: Before joining the BK team, I was an UI/UX designer and a Learning Technologist for an EdTech company. Design and technologies are still something I care a lot about, but I am taking a quick break from the fast-paced tech world to prioritize my own life and passion projects, including ceramics and illustrations.

Bk: If you could live anywhere in the world (besides Los Angeles) where would it be and why?

Kei: After spending a full year of moving, I think both my husband and I realized that we love the simplicity of living in Japan. If we did not have to work in regular corporate jobs, and get to pursue our passion for food and journaling, living in Japan would be most ideal. I would love to live in the countryside of Osaka or Nagoya, since I love the Kansai area so much!

Bk: Do you have a recent accomplishment that you are really proud of?

Kei: I think completing the cross country move with two cats with our tiny car in two days was something I am super proud of! Although it was super stressful to pack and plan the move, my husband and I handled the change so well. My next goal is to complete some of the online courses that I am taking currently and keep learning new skills on my own!

Bk: If you could master one skill, it would be…

Kei: I am a type of person with a jack of all trades, and master of none… so picking one skill is super difficult! Haha but, to pick one… I would love to master sewing (and pattern making) so that I could design and sew my own clothes as I need!

Bk: If you had to think of a title for an autobiography of your life what would it be called? Please elaborate!

Kei: I had to think about this for a bit since I never thought of titling my own autobiography! But I would probably title it: My Perfectly Imperfect Life.

I can be a perfectionist when it comes to projects or plans, and I used to chase “perfection” in my own life as well. But I am slowly accepting imperfections in life, and stopped chasing what I think is “perfect” for my life. Instead, I am focused more on what is unique about life in general, and being okay with my imperfect and not “instagramable” life! And for the side note, my autobiography would be filled with my mundane but chaotic life that I have lived in the past!

Bk: If you could eat only one food for the rest of your life what would it be?

Kei: This is so hard to pick since I love food, but if I have to pick one, it would be Hot Pot (with spicy broth). I can continue to eat hot pots everyday if I could!

Bk: What is your favorite color(s)?

Kei: I love olive green :)

Bk: What does your everyday carry analogue setup consist of? Could you briefly share how you use them?

Kei: It took me at least 3 years to finally be happy with my EDC for my analogue setup, although this may change again in a few months. Currently, I carry my TNR in the olive edition, PLOTTER ring binder in Bible size, and Thinking of You Book (A5). I also carry two pencil cases, one for fountain pens and other for regular pens and mechanical pencils. My goal for this year is to consolidate my planners into one to make my EDC smaller and more simple.

Bk: What is one analogue artifact you cannot live without, why?

Kei: Simply a sheet of paper and pencil!!! My analogue journey started out from a sheet of paper and pencil when I was young. Being able to express myself without any judgment (from the world and even my own) is something so soothing and inspiring. I love all of my notebooks and planners, but I cannot live without paper and pencil :)

THIS or THAT?

Bk: Daylight or moonlight?

Kei: Daylight

Bk: Coffee or tea?

Kei: Coffee

Bk: City or countryside?

Kei: Countryside

Bk: Books or movies?

Kei: Ahh I love them both for different reasons, but if I have to choose… Books

Bk: Sweet or savory food?

Kei: Savory food!

Bk: Ocean or mountain?

Kei: Ocean

Bk: Pen or Pencil?

Kei: Pencil

Bk: Camping or “glamping”?

Kei: Camping!

Bk: Circles or Squares?

Kei: Circles

Bk: Library or Museums? 

Kei: Museums

Bk: And lastly, do you have a favorite quote you live by?

Kei: “A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.”

- Text and photos by: Kei Suehiro

Where you can find Kei: IG @ricecake.journals

Bk Artifacts Featured: 

• Traveler's Notebook / Regular