Window Shopping || 8

Lace Shirt: Bird On A Wire Vintage | Glitter Necklace: Each To Own | Waxed Canvas Tote: Barnacle Bags | Patterned Harem Pants: Gypsan

In summertime, I try my best to break away from jeans. But shorts aren't always my jam. They ride up, they sometimes show off things I'd rather not show off, and I just generally find pants more comfortable. With that in mind, I keep an eye out for lighter, softer pants that don't look like pajamas! It's a hard balance, and patterns on pants can often be a bit overbearing. I think these ones from Gypsan are really lovely and look super duper comfortable.

I would pair patterned pants with a simple top, with a little lace detailing, a neutral bag, and a little glitzy necklace just to add a little pizzazz to an otherwise very neutral outfit!


Is there anything on your wishlist lately?

Creative Crush: Andrea Castro

Textured paint splotches, portraits, muted colours, patterns, and tactile bead work; Andrea Castro's paintings are everything that I love!

In this particular piece, I adore the hits of greens and pinks in the skin that echo the colours of the paint splotches. The solid black hair is also a really nice balance to the soft muted tones every where else!

Castro's work also obscures the identity of each model for the most part, which I find extra intriguing and leaves a lot more to the imagination. Everyone loves a little sense of mystery, right? These paintings make me want to get painting myself! Ah!

Check out more of Castro's work on her website!


Are there any artists you've been crushing on lately?

Follow my Adventure on Instagram!

Off I go! As I will be 'backpacking' and won't have a laptop or anything, the most in-touch I will be will be through instagram! Follow if you like traveling and pictures of cool things.

Follow me on instagram @katiaengell_ !

I'll be back in June!
xo

I'm a Graduate!

Hey look it's an OCADU graduate... oh surprise, it's me!

Well, I suppose it isn't really a surprise after 4 years of hard work. It does feel a little surreal though, and very unreal!

I started university as a wee 17 year old, due to my late birthday. I had just gone through a tough break up and was soo, soooo ready to move on and become the new, best me that I could be. Obviously, I have changed and grown in ways I could never count or measure! I lived on my own for the first time, I did a semester abroad and lived in an entire other country on my own, I made so many friends, became more sure of myself and confident in my abilities. I also developed a backbone and no longer let people walk all over me. That only took me 20 years to develop! Haha.

Now, I am again, ready to move on and become the new, best me that I can be. It's a funny cycle, the feeling of being ready to move on from something you so looked forward to, and I don't know how it will be now that my current 'life phase' is indefinite. There are no more 4 year chunks of specific education that have an absolute end date, no more set life phases except the ones I will determine for myself. It's exciting! Scary, but exciting!

My Graduation show was really wonderful - it was so very, very heartwarming to have all my close friends come out on their own time, even ones who don't live in the city! I am such a fortunate gal with so many wonderful people in my life. Some of my cousins came by with their partners, some of my former co-workers and bosses came out, a friend from work came, one of my friends bought me sushi because I was starving, and my fella kept me company the first and last days. He also got me the most ridiculously gorgeous bouquet with purple lilies and big yellow flowers, and we are off to Europe TOMORROW as a big celebration (and also just as an exciting trip!). Life is swell.


So here's to 4 years of learning and growth, to ending on a very high note, and the rest of my lifetime to continue learning.

Cheers!

xo


ps. I have a few scheduled posts for the next 3 weeks, but as I will be away it will be a bit quieter around here! I promise I'll be back soon with lots of cool travel stories to share, so keep an eye out & have a great few weeks!

Window Shopping || 7

Conch Shell Necklace: Dreams By The Sea | Embroidered Tunic: Trashy Vintage | Mint Floral Shorts: Zvedzdana Vintage | Socks: Medium Rare

This outfit is so summer-y!  It makes me think of eating popsicles from the icecream truck at the beach (because that's tradition, no beach trip is complete without an icy treat!)

I've been really trying to lighten up my clothing lately; more florals, more pastels, more colours. It's hard though, with my thrifting rules and budget, to use what I have and not splurge on a full new summer-y wardrobe! That's the whole point of this window shopping series though - some make believe shopping and imaginative outfit making, haha.

How great are those socks?

I have a funny thing with socks - I don't love them. I don't like wearing them. But my feet get cold and then I get cold and that's an issue! So I buy funky, funny socks. This pair is so fun; the colours, the abstract designs, the patterns. Perfect!

What Spring clothing are you lusting over lately?

Weekly Photo Capsule .11

Here are a few quick snapshots from my show - as well as another fun drawing I did for my friend's project!

In the top left photo is one of my dearest friends who brought me sushi while I hung out by my art because he's the best. Bottom left is my two little brothers when they came to my show! And by little, I mean in age only... Bottom right is the beautiful work of an artist that goes to my school named Katie Morton whose paintings I fan girl over a little bit, and it was great to see them full size and not just on my instagram feed!

I'll still be spending the weekend at the show, but it's all done Sunday at which point I will be celebrating with the new Game of Thrones episode! Wild, I know ;)

What did you get up to this week?

10 Things You (Maybe) Didnt Know About Me!

My grad show is this week! I have been showing people around and celebrating the end of our degree all day every day - it is exhausting, but terribly fun and I will share all about it when I'm all done!

For now, I thought I'd do a little 'About Me' post, because I realized some of you might be new readers and it's always fun to get to know one another a little better.

1. I really like burritos. Love them, even. To the point where some people know this about me before they know anything else (Because I always suggest we go get burritos).

2. I lived in Paris, France, for a half a year in 2014 and it was life changing and wonderful, but I'd never move back. I am however going back to visit in a few weeks!

3. I'm the eldest child - I have a younger sister, a younger bother, and a younger step brother!

4. I have a little sunshine tattoo on my wrist!

5. I am a big fan of patterns. My coworkers have a chuckle whenever I do a lesson that involves patterns, or compliment someone on their dress if it has a really fabulous pattern on it.

6. Grey's Anatomy is my guiltiest guilty pleasure and I cry like a baby when they kill off main characters.

7. I am an illustrator! I also teach art lessons to people with Alzheimers & Dementia.

8. Coffee is one of my favourite things. I used to work at a Starbucks and was drinking way too much of it, but have since weaned myself off of it, and treat myself to only one coffee treat in the morning.

9.  I'm a dog person! I don't by any means dislike kitties, but I would never choose to own one. I have a silly dream of wanting a white dog with black spots one day, because I'm generally into that kind of pattern.

10. I daydream a LOT about interior design and how I would decorate my future space! Homeware is definitely something I risk spending a lot on when I've got my own place....


Do you have a 10 facts about you post? Share the link in the comments so I can see yours!


ps. In a week I will be in Europe! I'm excited to take pictures and, fair warning, my blogging may be a little travel-centric afterwards.