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.
Like the name of her Etsy store implies, Lady Geek of the Week Nikki Padilla is quirky. She loves gaming, pop-culture, sporks, her New Jersey home, and most of all, jewelry—which is why she decided to launch The Quirky Geek. It’s a shop full of handstamped, handcrafted bracelets, necklaces, key-chains, and the like that are sure to charm you.
The pieces we love the best? Padilla’s matching key-chains (Time Lord + Companion? Adorable.), the Deathly Hallows gold earrings, the delightful “Mischief Managed” cuff, the passively snarky grammar-police necklace, and of course, the doe charm necklace, inscribed with “always.” (After all this time.)
The Quirky Geek all started when Padilla wanted some geeky accessories that she could pepper in to her 9-5 wardrobe. Over 800 Etsy sales later, this Lady Geek is going places. But we’ll let her tell you more. Read on, and be sure to follow her on Twitter: @thequirkygeek1.
Q: How did you discover your passion for creating geek-inspired jewelry?
A: I needed to find a way to express myself and still appear mostly normal, I realized I was able to do that with jewelry. It all started with a cuff I created for myself which read “If they only knew what was going on inside this head of mine.” While dressed the part that I needed to be to maintain my (at that time) full time job, I had this little secret on me, and I felt like I could be myself even when the world was attempting to force me to beboring.
Q: Where do you find inspiration in life?
A: I draw my inspiration from everything around me. I am never short of ideas, they come to me every waking hour, even while dreaming. I use my art as a way to vent all of the creative energy inside me.
Q: If you could take any fictional character out for a drink, whom would you choose and what would you drink?
A: I couldn’t possibly choose just one, Maleficent, Rumpelstiltskin, Jareth the
Goblin King (from Labyrinth), Rorschach (from Watchmen), Loki (from Thor), and
The Mad Hatter. We’d be drinking fruity martinis and having some insanely good
conversation.
Q: What would you tell your 13-year-old self?
A: Value time, it’s precious, use it wisely. Tell the people you love how much
they mean to you, life is precious and fleeting. Strive to achieve your goals
and don’t get sidetracked.
Q: What’s the title of your memoir?
A: “I tripped over my own feet and fell down a spiral staircase into a pot of gold.”
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
I’ve had science on the mind. Science and jewelry and good manicures. As such, this combination came to be in a form that I am quite pleased with.
This ring is pretty freaking sweet, because it’s on trend for those that care about having street cred with the fashion set, but also has a natural element that geologists and naturalists can totally get behind. There are, however, a few activities I don’t recommend you try when wearing this ring.
No punching.
No cooking.
No typing.
Or perhaps, maybe you should do all those things while wearing this ring!
It serves as excellent self-defense.
I could muddle the shit out of some fruit or veggie with those jagged edges.
If you are desiring finger biceps, a rock this big will give those fingers a workout.
In case you care, the polish on my nails is Deborah Lippman’s Prelude to a Kiss and my ring finger gets some bling-tip love from Essie’s Set in Stone. Ah, to be girly.
I know… get onto the damn instructions, E. Here you go:
1. Buy yourself a geode rock. eBay will be your online equivalent of rock-picking in this instance. Did that work for you already lovers: Here’s a good source.
2. Get yourself some super glue and a ring base. You can buy a ring base anywhere, but I bought this adjustable ring base so I could wear this ring on many fingers. Don’t forget the brush on super glue.
3. Brush some glue on the flattest part of the stone. Brush some glue on the ring base. Place the ring base onto the stone and let it dry for a bit.
Wear it and enjoy!
You need:
A geode!
Ring base
Super glue
5 minutes to assemble
1 hour to dry
Total cost: About $7
Remember my glasses sweater DIY? I wore mine to workkkkkkk!
Here’s what I’m wearing with it:
1. Glasses Sweater: I DIY’d it! Here’s the tutorial. It cost me only $8 to make.
2. OPI Mermaid Tears nail polish: $9 on Amazon
3. Love Life Leather Bracelet: $14.99 at Target, J. Crew mint rhinestone bracelet: no longer available, Kate Spade Uptown Downtown Bangle: no longer available, but there are some on eBay.
4. Skirt: I DIY’d. Knee high socks from Target. Mary Jane heels are vintage.
I’m loving the warm weather in Minneapolis right now. More skirts and dresses are in order!
This DIY project will give you the most sparkly, fabulous pair of color blocked neon earrings. Neon is so 80s, but since I’m a child of the 80s I really don’t mind that this trend is having a moment.
Here’s how I made them!
1. Use painter’s tape to make a straight line across a flat gem. (Like these.) Tape it right to the place you are painting it on. I use a cutting board for this.
2. Put two coats of a bold neon on your earrings. Let it dry thoroughly.
3. Remove the painters tape. Get some super glue or craft glue and glue an earring post to the gem. (Like these.)
4. Let the glue dry overnight and enjoy!
You need:
Flat acrylic gems
Neon acrylic paint
Paint brush
Painters tape
Earring posts
Total Cost: Less than $.50 a pair. If you buy all the materials you can make literally 50 pairs of these!
The House of Harlow 1960’s most recent collection feels like it has a direct connection to my love and admiration for Katniss and archery.
All these arrows have an incredible amount of detail worked in, but still stay true to the basic simplicity and brilliance of an arrow.
Check out the entire collection, ranging from $40 to $225 on Amazon.
