Many moons ago I decided it would be fun if I introduced you to some people I find absolutely inspirational. Here’s another part of that series!

Do you remember when I told you that you can only be truly good at something if you are completely happy with your choice?

Were you convinced then? No?

Well, here’s an excellent example:

Kate is based in California and designs jewellery and impressive headwear, made from feathers. She also lives in a tree house with her dogs and friends. And the feathers Ke$ha was rocking on stage the other day? Yeah, those were probably Kate’s creation as well.

Ready to meet her?

Dear You, while I understand some people would rather stay mostly anonymous on the internet, I‘d still love for the readers to know a bit about whom they are dealing with. Say hi, and introduce yourself!

Hi everybody! My name is Kate Marie Thompson. I’m 23 years old, I live in a beautiful old house tucked away in a giant avocado tree in Echo Park, Los Angeles CA with three dogs, one wolf, two turtles and my two close friends.  I went to college and graduated with Honours from Loyola Marymount University with my BFA and a minor in creative writing, but instead of utilizing anything I learned in college, I ran away with a circus and started dabbling in costume design, jewelry, life, love and unapologetically discovering and becoming the person I am today. Nice to meet you :)

The reason why I have started the little series on my blog is to inspire people all over the world to go after their dreams and make them come true. You design feather jewellery and head dresses – where did you get the idea from? And where did you learn to work with feathers, did you teach it yourself?

The feather is one of the most loaded symbols. It has always been synonymous with the sky and freedom. Native American Chiefs wore them to show their communication with the Great Spirit, and feathers were recognized as a symbol for spiritual evolution and ascension to a higher plane of consciousness. The Ancient Egyptians believed that Ma’at, their god of the sky, used feathers to weigh the hearts of the dead—the feathers symbolized truth and purity, thus determining the worthiness of a soul. There’s so much historical symbolism in feathers, I’ve always been truly inspired by them. Plus, have you ever ust sat there and stared at a peacock feather for a minute? The colours are infinite! So many accessories and trends today are so plastic and unnatural looking. I wanted to bring back the oldest form of jewelry—adorning ourselves with what the Earth gives us. I don’t know, I grew up in Lake Tahoe. I was raised a flower child. There’s just something off to me about wearing neon pink plastic cuffs when I can throw off my shoes and pin a feather in my hair. I think a part of me never grew up, I convinced myself I was half faery when I was little and I never decided I was wrong, haha.

As for where I learned feather working, it never would’ve been possible without falling in with Lucent Dossier. The head of it, Dream, literally locked me in the warehouse one day after hearing I was an artist and after throwing a bunch of hair, fur, bones and feathers at me said “okay. Make something.” Best thing that ever happened to me. I just sat down and started experimenting, gluing, wire-winding. I was so nervous she wouldn’t like anything I made, but it was the exact opposite. She commissioned me to make stuff for the troupe, and that was the beginning.

Some of your pieces have a very vintage touch to them. Where does the love for that style come from?

I grew up in Lake Tahoe, Northern California. I was always in nature or wandering around old cabins and gold mining towns. Always outdoors. Always exploring. I have my father and grandfather to thank for that. When I was a little girl, all my spare time was spent birdwatching, fishing, catching lizards, toads, snakes… I wasn’t your typical girl. I loved being outdoors. I loved old things. I still do. My dad has five sisters, all of who’s old vintage clothes and trinkets I now own. My grandmother LOVES antiquing. She totally brushed off on me too. Their old house growing up was a gigantic cabin-mansion in this place called Greeley Hill, just north of Yosemite National Park. It had enormous wooden bookshelves that were overflowing with works for all decades, beautiful antique sun dials in the front yard and a giant dress up box of all my aunts, uncles and grandparent’s old clothes. I decided when I was a child THAT was the way I wanted to look. My taste hasn’t changed much at all.

Personally, I find all your pieces stunning! All feathers seems to be of an amazing quality and the colours are breathtaking! Where do you get the material from?

I get my materials from all over the place. Bird sanctuaries and zoos sometimes send me feathers they’ve collected. I get basic turkey and ostrich feathers from a warehouse downtown. All my uncles and cousins who live on farms or hunt send me whatever they salvage. Sometimes I even collect and clean them myself. My main concern is trying to be as animal friendly as possible. I don’t want to use feathers that have been taken from a bird that was tortured or mistreated.

Now, I do think you have a job that is quite different from your usual 9 to 5 work. How does a day in the life of Kate usually go? Do you have a routine and daily schedule?

Haha. Every day is a completely unique adventure of its own. There are days when I don’t leave the house all day because I’m knee deep in feathers. Some days I drive into the desert and hike for hours looking for materials. Some days I wake up in Vegas. I never cease to surprise myself.

How long does it take for you to work on any of your items, like the headpiece you wore in one of your recent photos on Twitter?

It totally varies. I can whip out earrings in five minutes, or I can feather a cape for Ke$ha for 12 hours. Usually the big headdresses take 3-4 hours, if I’m concentrating.

Do you sometimes take a look around the internet for hand-made fashion items? Can you recommend any online shops?

I don’t shop, believe it or not. I force myself to make anything I want. It saves me a ton of money, and challenges me everyday!

Now, a completely random question to end this little interview: I‘m so jealous of your location, Los Angeles. People have told me it‘s a lot like London, only with a beach and less rain. What‘s your favourite spot?

Los Angeles is whatever you make of it, and whoever you choose to hang around. I love this city, but its because I have some of the best friends in the world who constantly have my back here… not to mention a pack of amazing dogs that I tend to travel with. (I have a pitbull, a teacup Pomeranian, a wolf hybrid and my roommate’s long haired Chihuahua living with me presently). Los Angeles is amazing because of the people and creatures I’ve chosen to surround myself with. If I was in New York or London or Nebraska with them, I’d be just as happy. But yeah, it’s awesome being right by the mountains, desert, ocean and a giant industrial city. It’s the best of every world, and the weather is PERFECT.

My favourite spot in Los Angeles would have to be Topanga Canyon. It’s absolutely breath-taking, my favourite thrift store Hidden Treasures is located there, and I’ve had nothing but lovely memories under its green oak tree forests.

Isn’t Kate a darling?

Have you tried feather clips with your favourite hairdo yet or are you looking for an original piece of bone jewellery? Head over to her shop on etsy and see what Kate has on offer. I assure you there is plenty!

Kate also updates on her life and posts cute photos of her wolf puppy on twitter.

(The photos are borrowed from Kate’s shop – the first one shows Rare African Grey Parrot Earrings, the second shows the Sacred Scarab Bone Necklace.)