As Seen On : Kate McAfee

[intro + interview by kayla doyle]

“When I feel like I am spinning out with my head in the ether, she always has a way of distilling things down and giving the best advice.”  Amy, musing about her friendship with Kate.

Great friends ground us, remind us of what we believed wholeheartedly and so quickly forgotten, they bring levity, and with each conversation, we quietly remember how important they are to us. We see a flash of so many other moments when the conversation was similar - both unspoken and spoken conversation. Long talks. Little looks. Locked eyes. Big hugs. Hand squeezes. Drives in the car. Side by side. On the bus. It plays like a movie if you let it. 

Recently, I was able to speak with Kate McAfee, a very close friend of Amy’s from childhood. I’ve never met Kate, and after learning more about her from Amy and through her questions, I hope that one day we do. I am grateful for what Amy and Kate both shared as it made me want to pick up the phone and relive so many times, so many scenes; bike riding to the West Newbury Food Mart, ding-dong-ditch at the grouchy neighbors house, sharing our latest crushes, bags of goldfish that felt never-ending, imagining together where life would go. 

PS. It feels important to note that at one time, Amy and Kate had a book club with their moms. The book club name? Hens + Chicks. 

Childhood chicks, there’s nothing like them. 

-kmd

Kate, you and Amy have known each other for some time now. Do you remember the first connection or your first meeting? I find these stories heartwarming, especially when they involve us as children.

Amy and I grew up in a really small town. I first met Amy because we were on the same bus route to school. We pretty much arrived at school together every single day from 3rd grade through high school. First on the bus and then in high school, my dad drove us until we were old enough to drive ourselves. When we were in middle school our go-to was biking around town. We would pack lunch and be gone for the day, mostly to canoe, catch frogs, build forts and buy and consume massive amounts of penny candy at the general store. In high school there were lots of sleepovers, sports, and our summer job was at a candy store at Hampton Beach.

Childhood friendships are a unique kind of friendship. They are usually built on hilarity, simplicity, innocence and a little bit of mischief. What is the foundation of your and Amy’s friendship? 

Yes, to all those things! Besides having so many shared experiences growing up together, I have so much admiration for Amy. Amy is so passionate and this is a thing I really admire about her. She cannot physically do something she doesn’t fully believe in. I think it’s because of that passion - if she doesn’t love the job she’s doing, the art she’s creating, the jewelry she’s designing, she can’t and won’t do it. I just love that about her.

You recently began working as the Associate Commissioner of Hockey East. In all honesty, I’m not sure I entirely know what this means. Can you share a bit about your current job and what you’ve done in the past? 

I officially started at Hockey East in early May, so I’m still learning about all the aspects of the job myself! Hockey East is an NCAA Division I hockey conference that supports 11 men’s and 10 women’s teams and I’ll be working to support and advocate for the teams in our league. Previously I was at the University of New Hampshire’s Athletic Department in event management, which entailed game day management, staffing, project management and coordinating tournaments and post season play.

kate mcafee unh women’s ice hockey

You are also a mother to two girls. In this world, what are you working to instill in them? 

Confidence. To me if they have confidence that means they will be able to overcome adversity, believe in themselves, create and maintain healthy relationships and help to build up and support others. I have worked hard to instill that in them. I’ll let you know in 20 years if it works or not…wish me luck...

Do your daughters wear jewelry? What has that been like? How has it gone for you, as their mother, watching them explore this for the first time?

Amy just recently gave my daughter Fiona a necklace for her 11th birthday. Amelia is 13 and she has a few of Amy’s pieces. She treasures them so much she never wears them for fear of losing them but has them hanging up in her room as part of her decor-which is what I do as well, but I actually wear them! Both of my daughters have been inspired by watching Amy create and grow her business.

What piece of Amy’s can you be seen wearing? How do you typically wear it?

Right now, I am most often wearing the Ambra Threaders in gold. I love them. They are a perfect quarantining accessory! So light you forget you are wearing them, classy for a zoom conference call and sexy teacher vibe for homeschooling!

You will soon be doing an Instagram Takeover on Amy’s Instagram Story Channel. Are you into social media? I’m excited to ask, what can we expect? 

I’m excited to do the IG takeover! I’ve got some of Amy’s “early works” I’ll be highlighting (teaser, there are painted seashells involved) and I’ll let my daughters advise me on some photos and posts so they are appropriately cool.

Thank you so much for reading our latest installment of As Seen On, and please tune in to Amy’s Instagram stories on May 23rd to see a day in the life of Kate’s AVE jewelry collection. Plus, there will be some special discount codes sprinkled throughout the takeover for the designs that Kate features.

Until then, please enjoy 20% off Kate’s ASO featured designs, The Ambra Threaders and the Mina Hoops. Discount is taken at checkout. Click HERE to shop now [ a little thank you for letting us share our story with you, and for reading until the end! ]

If you or someone you know wears Amy’s pieces and is interested in being featured in our “Ode to the Wearers", please reach out to us. We’d love to learn more about you and what you wear.