This month's Curious Person is Kathleen (she/her)- an illustrator, thrifter and the creative behind my absolute favourite Youtube Channel. We explored the theme of Weirdieval Wonders over on our collaborative Pinterest board and looked at everything medieval- from epic knightcore fashion to just some weird little guys.
About You
Introduce yourself!
I'm a creative focused on personal expression through sustainable style and craft. By day you can find me working as a creative director in capital "T" Tech and by night (okay, also day if we're honest), I create YouTube videos and illustrations to exorcise my creative jitters.
Did you always know you wanted to do what you do? What was the journey like to get to where you are now?
When I was little, I used to tell people I wanted to work in a "Think Tank" when I grew up. (Okay, originally I would say I wanted to be President. Not because I really wanted to be a politician, but because I thought I could. Annoyingly precocious, huh?). I think what I really meant is that I had too many ideas and not enough arms to draw them all.
While I never anticipated having a YouTube channel specifically, the writing has been on the wall - from being the "art kid", to editing music videos with my friends as a tween, to racking up hundreds of hours on-air as a livestream host for Adobe interviewing creatives and teaching creative techniques. All of these things have coalesced into a slightly burnt-out tech worker searching for a creative outlet during the pandemic who decided to film her thrifting excursions. Four years later, we've built a super sweet, creative (and dare I say badass) corner of the internet all revolving around a pursuit of expression through creativity - whether that's through clothing, art or craft.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I'm one of those blessed/cursed beings who turned their hobbies into a job. It started with thrifting, which I've loved since I was a kid and is the original locus for my YouTube channel. Other hobbies include trying every art form and craft known to humankind (I've been doing a lot of collage lately!), partaking in the latest farming simulator (Fields of Mistria is my current obsesh - shout out to the character designer Yuko Ota for making the most charming and dateable npc's ever seen), reading all of the sci-fi, fantasy and horror I can get handle and swimming. I'm a Scorpio through and through and feel the need to be immersed in a body of water pretty much at all times.
The Pinterest Board
See the board we collaborated on here.
Tell us what you think of the board theme- why does it inspire or interest you and what’s your connection to the theme?
Medieval marginalia (or drolleries) are funky little illustrations made in the margins of manuscripts. I've loved them since I took an illustrative lettering class in college. When I started learning more about fashion history, I was drawn towards historical costuming, especially royal court styling through the ages and how medieval (and beyond) motifs can be used in modern day fashion. This board is an ode to the strange quirks early illustration and how details from hundreds of years ago can add depth to how we express ourselves. Plus, I love a court jester vibe. Who doesn't?
Laura note- This video by Kathleen introduced me to the cursed website SENDACLOWN.COM, just the top of the clown-core iceberg on Kathleen's channel. You have been warned.
If you could collaborate with anyone—living or historical—on a project around this theme, who would it be and why?
I'd love to know what the originators of these quirky illustrations - usually unnamed scribes and monks - think of our current interest in their work and antiquated fashion. I'm also a huge Vivienne Westwood fan (RIP) and will always wish that the world could see more collections of her incredibly punk, historically-inspired work.
What’s the absolute, non-negotiable piece of content you pinned that people must see?
This image of Kate Bush from 1980 wielding a sword if only to let people know what my 2025 Halloween costume will be.
Closing Curios
Beverage of choice?
I'm currently on a mission to try every Espresso Tonic in my city (so far, so-so).
Favourite recent find (could be a book, tv show, website, tiktok account)?
The band "Jokers"! They're a Korean band from the 70's. One of their songs, "Path" was recently featured in "K-Pop Demon Hunters" as an homage to the history of music showcased in the film and I haven't been able to stop listening since.
Laura note- the soundtrack is SO GOOD absolutely recommend capturing a K-Pop Demon Hunters earworm.
Favourite ever thrifted find?
It's obviously my rescue dog, Kashi!
Last niche interest you dived deeply on?
I've recently been really into the history of scams and charlatans. Why? Couldn't tell you. I think maybe it's the satisfaction of learning how they were finally taken down. Most recently I listened to "The Greatest Scam Ever Written" which is about a huge letter-writing scheme based on a famous psychic that spanned continents and was finally topped with the help of postal inspectors.
What ridiculous item is on your wishlist that you want to buy but absolutely do not need?
There's an online estate sale auction that features a closet full of line dancing dresses that just SCREAM rodeo clown. I do not need them... and yet.
Stay in Touch
You can find Kathleen on Instagram or watch her brilliant Youtube channel here.
