Mr. Kate

I planned for today’s blog to be about a friend of mine — her wonderful achievements, and why I admire her so much. But then the landscape of my news and social media became saturated with rainbows and I wondered if I should save my idea to write about Kate, and turn my thoughts to this past week’s historical events. But then I realized the reason I want to write about Kate is because she personifies a rainbow better than almost anyone I know. She lives her life expressing every color inside of her and reflecting all those colors in everything she tackles.

So, to my friend, Kate, or Mr. Kate, as she is known and beloved . . . This is in tribute to you.

I’ve always known Kate as creative and a free thinker. Even her emblematic alter ego, Mr. Kate, with a beauty marked mustache as her symbol, is a statement of her inner yins and yangs. As she puts it, “her humor and intense ambition, prettiness and roughness, weird and real, rhinestones and dirt, feminine and masculine, Mr. and Kate.”

Mr. Kate’s mustache logo

As I’ve gotten to know her more I’m witnessing the full prowess of that emblem. The creative, bouncy, enthusiastic girl I’ve seen on the exterior is housing the interior of a driven, tough, uber smart cookie. Kate works harder than almost anyone I know. She is entirely self-made – well, her darling husband Joey is a big part of her success, literally and emotionally. Together they churn out content for her website that is useful, inspirational, extremely high quality, and without end. Videos, pictures, blogs, actual pieces that can be purchased in an online store – you name it. I mean, sheesh! When do they sleep?!

Me with Kate and her husband, Joey.

Practically every day there is a new DIY project to try – could be jewelry, could be clothes, could be furniture, could be nail art, could be anything and everything. And it’s all photographed so beautifully, it makes her projects attainable and aspiring at the same time.

She recently released a book, A Hot Glue Gun Mess. Seriously, you all need to buy this book right now! It’s not like any DIY book I’ve ever seen. And dear lord, when did she have time to write a book?!!! She’s unstoppable, I tell ya. In it you will find terrific DIY projects, each inspired by a story from Kate’s life. This book is full of information, but it will also make you laugh and think and cry. I saw a review that mentioned her as the Nora Ephron of DIY. I’d say that’s accurate. I cannot stress enough how much I adore this book. And even if you never try one of the DIY projects you’ll still thoroughly enjoy the read. It’s so funny and raw and silly and heartfelt. It’s all the things Kate is.

A Hot Glue Gun Mess

I admire her moxie so much. There are so many times I find myself depending solely on my agents input, or wondering if a new gig will be the answer to all my worries, or waiting for someone or something to present itself as my saving grace, determining what my future holds. Kate waits for no one. She produces her life from morning to night. I think she is a superhero.

With Mr. Kate there are no limits, no barriers, no bar that can’t be lifted. And she’ll do it all in a frilly skirt, kicking ass, and taking names. She is my hero and as beautiful as a rainbow.  “K, bye.”

Now go order that book!!!