New stuff

Photo shoots are tough. You have to deal with drama queens, long hours and technical difficulties. I'm only half-joking (we're not exactly a large operation). But it's kind of still true. Except for the drama queen part. All of my models have been pretty awesome.

The good news is I'm learning a lot the second time around and I've gotten a little better at directing my divalicious models. They've been great so far and the photos are coming out gorgeous.

Look forward to some new merch!

Mutability

I went on my way, in the midst of the world's transformations, being transformed myself. Every now and then, among the many forms of living beings, I encountered one who "was somebody" more than I was: one who announced the future...or I might encounter another who bore witness to a past beyond all return... They all had something, I know, that made them somehow superior to me, sublime, something that made me, compared to them, mediocre. And yet I wouldn't have traded places with any of them.
--Qfwfq in Italo Calvino's, "The Aquatic Uncle," Cosmicomics

This GlamKat's goal: To not be dictated by the desire simply to be great but to embody the spirit that is change (even if it means existing in that uncomfortable state of limbo) and be elevated for that. If there's one thing you that is predictable about the Katherines is that we'll always be a little different. And we welcome folks in all shapes and sizes, sans fins or scales (like Qfwfq our amphibious hero).

Now Open

Mullet Days

A couple of months back, I sported a mullet. I didn’t do this as a social experiment or because I thought it was cool, but by accident. My lovely long locks seemed to get in the way and I needed a change, so I asked the hairdresser to give me thin layers, thicker on the top and thinner on the bottom, which I realized later to my dismay was the definition of a mullet. The first week I tried my best to deal with it, thinking to myself that it wasn't so bad; I've now become an edgy and tough chick. Some days I felt like I could rock the mullet, but most days I questioned myself – Who do I think I am? I am certainly not Joan Jett. I tied my hair back for most of the month and then gave in, settling on a short bob that I am now happy with. Here’s to Mullet Days – managing days of insecurity and owning up to your mistakes.

Mullet Days is available under the store. Prints and possibly tees to come. But for now get the original.

xoxo K Chiu

Behind the scenes

The day started out wet and gloomy but the sun came out just in time for us to take pictures of the new merchandise. As the Katherines ran around helter-skelter, in contrast our model Dany was ultra-professional, even putting us in our places ("Direct me!" she demanded of us on several occasions.) The process took longer than I would have ever anticipated (over four hours). As a budding photographer I had no idea what to expect until I uploaded those images up onto Adobe Lightroom that night. My prior experience has been with furniture and the feedback I get from them has been mostly non-existent (there were artistic differences but we parted ways amicably). But with the help of Katherine Chiu as my fellow art director we were able to work through some aesthetic issues and sporadic weather and lighting.

There were some felicitous moments. For instance, we found a delightful red junk bucket outside of Dany's apartment that would prove to be one of the best props for the day's shoot. Some of our more brilliant and terrible artistic directions of the day were, "Stand by the car and pretend like you are waiting for someone," or "Channel more Urban Outfitters," or "How can we think more like a hipster," and finally the frequent, "oh, that's so Etsy."


Kat Chiu, holding down the fort


Pretending to be waiting for someone FAIL


Forcing Dany to break into a stranger's car


Channeling inner hipster


Calling for more Urban Outfitters




In addition to her part-time modeling career, Dany is also a wonderful artist. Check out her work at www.danydesign.net

Gray day

Ever since we created GlamKat, I've been trying to find inspiration everywhere. I was taking a lunchtime walk around the office building when I came across a transcendental vision--a grouping of five gaunt, leaf-stripped trees jutting towards a robin-egg blue sky. What struck me was the velveteen gray of bark and architectural branches. The discovery was serendipitous. If I hadn't stopped to observe these details I would have completely bypassed the beauty of the mountains today. Due to the impending storm, a cool, creamy mist had gathered. With a little effort I could even imagine that we were somewhere else all together like the Swiss Alps. The sober hue of the trees strongly resonated with me. I find it in the recollections of empty rooms, dim afternoons and partially pulled blinds. It is the color of the cement we played, jumped, ran and threw balls on. Gray is also the exact shade in some of Katherine Chiu's paintings, simultaneously sweet and melancholic, playful and sedate, which I think is much more evocative of childhood than any bubblegum pink, tangerine and neon blue that you see in today's marketing materials for youth. Sometimes I wish in our culture youth would no longer be associated with levity. In reality, it is quite the opposite. We as children take minor and major events quite seriously when we are young. In fact, some of the most grave individuals that I have encountered in my life were not a day over 7. Our youthful years may be the most earnest times in our lives.



Check Kat Chiu out at www.katherinechiu.net

Sparrows

After visiting the Little Moon and Rock, Paper, Sparrow boutiques in Redondo Beach, I got the idea to do wooden cut-outs of sparrows. Both stores have quirky trinkets, a peacock-like chair adorned with hats, and a vintage chalkboard next to the mannequins. I left thinking, I need to break out of the rectangular format! First, I drew a graphic shape of the birds and laser-cut them. Here are the birds naked on plywood.



I painted both sides with acrylics with a colorful pattern and then attached the set with basic yarn and a dowel. The set is ready to hang.



These sparrows are available under our Etsy store. Make sure to check back often as we will be updating with new items.

xoxo K Chiu

Treasure Hunt

I love the Rose Bowl flea market. It's like being seven again at Disneyland in which every corner there's an exciting new attraction. And like the happiest place on earth, there are the same rides I return to again and again. For example, the $10 shoe place that I cannot resist stealing a quick peek at right even when I'm juggling the million purchases (alluringly located right next to the exit so even when my feet hurt after two hours I cannot resist). Or the great Pyrex and toy booth were I bought my snazzy little honey-colored traveling trunk. Yup, the Rose Bowl flea market is like an intoxicating wonderland where someone else's trash is my oh-so beloved treasure.

The loot: A vintage gray Smith-Corona typewriter with forest green keys, a pair of caramel weave leather sandals, a flat gold chain (for my lovely fifties flower pendant an earlier find), a handwoven rainbow afghan and a gorgeous shimmery gold dress with a neat little cape in the back.