Being Geek Chic is a blog about one woman navigating the male-dominated industries of production and tech. It's written by Elizabeth Giorgi, Founder, CEO and Director of Mighteor - one of the world's first internet video production companies. Learn more about Mighteor here.
Friends. I know most of you don’t live in Denver. BUT! For the small, small, small portion of you that do (hi, 47 of you last month according to Google Analytics!) - I have a thing I want to see you at! Hooray.
I’m going to be teaching a Smartphone Photography Class at Share Denver next month. To be precise, it’s on Wednesday, Aug. 5th. Share Denver is an amazing organization in the Park Hill neighborhood of Denver where makers of all kinds share their skills with others. From knitting to kimchi making, it’s a lot of fun. In my class, you’ll learn lots of things, but we all prefer clarity so:
- You’ll learn how to take pictures that are frame worthy using nothing more than your smartphone and a few simple accessories and a mix of recommended apps.
- You’ll learn the basics of photography composition, exposure and lighting using a Smartphone as your tool.
- You’ll learn how to use some basic and inexpensive tools that you can pick up to improve your photos should you wish to go the next step.
So, make it happen! Join me! I’d obviously love to have you. You can register for the class here.
Ashley Berthiaume (@GoFollowRabbits) can usually be found at a whirring sewing machine—with Doctor Who playing in the background and a dogearedcopy of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” at her side. She’s the owner of GoFollowRabbits, an Etsy store full of geek chic skirts designed and sewn by this Lady Geek.
Our favorites? The (pink!) Delorean skirt, the sweet as can be Snow White inspired skirt, the trompe l'oeil Alice in Wonderland skirt (check out the back detail), and the swishy skirt fashioned with nebula photographs taken by the Hubble Space Telescope.
We fully condone visiting GoFollowRabbits and buying yourself a holiday present. While you’re waiting for your stylish package to arrive, check out Berthiaume’s interview with BGC!
Q: How did you discover your passion for sewing geek chic skirts?
A: When I started creating the skirts, there really wasn’t much out there besides t-shirts for girly geek girls like myself. I started with the concept of using geek quilting fabric for the skirts but soon moved into designing my own prints. I soon learned so many more girls like myself appreciated these fun and flirty items and knew I had to make more!
Q: The name of your shop is GoFollowRabbits. How are you inspired by the adventures of Alice?
A: For some reason, every point in my life has included this story, so the natural move was to use this in my brand name. I’ve always related to Alice and her crazy adventures she found herself in.
Q: If you could take any character out for a drink, whom would you choose and what would you drink?
A: This is a hard one, I’m a huge history buff and am highly influenced by strong women who have overcome the odds. I would love to take Mae West out for a drink just to hear her wild stories, you can’t get that many great quotes without living a full life right? I would probably drink something hard like bourbon or whiskey, as i imagine she could drink me under the table.
Q: What would you tell your 13-year-old self?
A: “It does get better"…no seriously, I would tell myself to stop caring so hard about what others think and that the "big” problems in my life and how I acted at that time would help define what kind of person I would be.
Q: What’s the title of your memoir?
A: “The more I see, the less I know for sure.” It’s a John Lennon quote, but it really applies to me.
Emma Bauer is a Being Geek Chic Contributor. Clearly, she’s got great taste. She is a PR enthusiast, dog lover, tea drinker, art appreciator, and of course, aspires to Be Geek Chic. Follow her on Twitter: @emmalynnbauer
Sometime when I was in middle school, my grandma taught me the art of embroidery. But nowhere in her circa-1970s pattern books of rosebud pillow cases and seasonally themed of dish towels did I find designs for Yoshi, a Tardis, or Captain America’s shield.
But that didn’t stop Sarah Jean, cross stitch queen and our Lady Geek of the Week. She’s the proud creator of Synapse to Synapse, an Etsy shop full of geeky cross stitch projects and gifts. Her designs bring together the “retro art of cross stitching and avantpop ideas,” celebrating pop culture, retro gaming, science, and trending fashion.
Our favorites include the 8 bit Ms. Pac-Man pin and the cross stitch interpretation of Home Alone’s beloved holiday greeting. (Currently, Sarah Jean has stocked her shop with Christmas ornaments, gifts, and decor to get you prepped for a thoroughly nerdy holiday season.)
So check out this Lady Geek’s interview with Being Geek Chic, and be sure to follow her on Twitter (@SarahSynapse), Instagram, and Facebook. Read on and stitch away, lady geeks!
Q: How did you discover your passion?
A: I have always had a big imagination. As an extremely shy child, I found comfort in creating and crafting. It gave me a platform to embrace being silly and to subconsciously connect with other people. I think my passions are always evolving, but my one constant passion is for people. I studied Psychology and love human interaction. Synapse to Synapse became a place where I could create pieces referencing fandoms I love and at the same time, reach those who have similar (and differing) interests. Embracing your geekiness is bound to start conversations.
Q: What was your first cross stitch project?
A: My first, main cross stitch project was Yoshi. I didn’t have a lot of practice cross stitching, but I dove right in after my grandma shipped me a huge box full of embroidery thread. My boyfriend still makes fun of me for stitching my first piece with multiple colors in a 4 inch hoop rather than choosing something smaller and simpler. Yoshi still hangs on the wall at my house. I love getting requests to stitch him again, but I could never part with the original.
Q: Where do you find inspiration in life?
A: Inspiration to me is endless. I get inspired by music and alone time. Scrolling through Instagram and going to Disneyland. Joking with friends and exploring other artists’ work. When I surround myself with people who are also excited about what they create or obsess over, I cannot help but feel inspired too.
Q: If you could take any fictional character out for a drink, whom would you choose and what would you drink?
A: Garth Algar. You know, the geeky babe in Wayne’s World. We’d share a giant, tiki cocktail with little umbrellas and crazy straws. Then Garth would sing ‘Foxy Lady’ to me.
Q: What would you tell your 13-year-old self?
A: There are a lot of things I could say to prevent mistakes, but what if it would completely change my future? Back to the Future taught me plenty about the ripple effect and its potential consequences. So instead: Keep being a goofball who loves everyone. I’m proud of you.
Emma Bauer is a Being Geek Chic Contributor. Clearly, she’s got great taste. She is a PR enthusiast, dog lover, tea drinker, art appreciator, and of course, aspires to Be Geek Chic. Follow her on Twitter: @emmalynnbauer
This week’s Lady Geek reached out to me to inquire about putting herself in the running for a Lady Geek feature. As I’m an aspiring public relations gal, I couldn’t help but admire her proactive self-promotion.
(Editor’s note: This also gets at a very important point I’d like to make about this community - REACH OUT! Say hi! Tell us about you! We can’t help each other build a community if we don’t know about one another.)
So this week, we’re featuring Mandy Curtis, a blogger, a nerd, a creative, and above all, a go-getter. Follow her on Twitter @mandyannecurtis, and then read her interview with Being Geek Chic!
PS: Still not wooed? Curtis has a dog named Mrs. Mollie Weasley…
Q: What has led you to your passion?
A: I’ve always been a quasi-nerd, having grown up with sci-fi loving parents. (Being named after Spock’s mother, Amanda Grayson, didn’t hurt either.) In and after college, however, my nerdy tendencies just grew. I got more into graphic novels, I began attending more midnight movie premieres, I started a blog on which I post a variety of nerdy things, and I got a seriously nerdy tattoo. I’ve long been obsessed with everything pop culture, but only recently have I realized that that obsession truly is a passion.
Q: What inspires you in the world?
A: People who are doing what they love and making a living doing it. I enjoy my day job a whole lot, but there’s a distinct lack of geekiness in it; I would hope to someday be able to say that I’m a geek in all aspects of my life. What, exactly, that means, I’m not entirely sure, but I’ve got plenty of time to figure it out.
Q: What are you up to when you aren’t blogging?
A: By day I’m a copy editor/writer for an educational nonprofit, by night I’m a DIY-, TV- and movie-loving dog mama and wife of my high school sweetheart.
Q: If you could take any fictional character out for a drink, whom would you choose, and what would you drink?
A: If Agent Phil Coulson and I were to go out for a drink—because I couldn’t really choose anyone better to go out for a drink with—we’d likely go out for a beer. It would be something imported and somewhat traditional, but nothing too common. But we’d only have one, since remaining vigilant and being able to go into action at a moment’s notice is essential for all S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel.
Q: What would you tell you 13-year-old self?
A: Keep doing what you’re doing. I know you’re often torn between your individuality and fitting in, but being you is what makes you awesome. Keep reading, keep dreaming and keep being passionate, even if people tell you that what you’re passionate about isn’t cool. You’re going to find a great community of people in the not-too-distant future who think and love the same way you do. Also—You’re not fat.
Q: What would be the title of your memoir?
A: A Small Town Girl Living in a Nerdy World
Post by Emma Bauer, who works as BGC’s official intern. Clearly, she’s got great taste. She is a PR enthusiast, history scholar, tea drinker, fashion devotee, and of course, aspires to Be Geek Chic.
Follow her on twitter: @emmalynnbauer
