How does she achieve this? Just take a scroll through her blog nerd JERK. You’ll find Cortés’ stories about inspiring others and inspiring herself. In addition, nerd JERK is packed with some lovely DIYs. Have you ever wanted to cross-stitch a geek chic brooch? Or had a hankering to create nerdy felt ornaments? Is it on your bucket list to plan a comic convention wedding? Then nerd JERK is for you.
Once you’ve followed and bookmarked nerd JERK, take a peak at Cortés’ Etsy shop. You’ll find oodles of cross-stitched, felted, homemade goodies from Cortés. With love in every stitch. Our favorites are this adorable typewriter necklace and of course the cross-stitch Wayfarer glasses pendant.
Cortés confidence and enthusiasm is infectious, so read her interview with Being Geek Chic and get empowered to admit that you’re “effing awesome.”
Q: What has led you to your passion?
A: As a lady nerd, I have a lot of passions… it’s pretty much a passion party all up in here! I think what has led me to pursue the most burning passions was following a trail of what has made me happiest in the long run. I enjoy helping other humans, I enjoy awesomeness, I enjoy comedy and I adore adorableness. I think I combine most of those passions when I’m in front of other awesome humans, like at craft fairs (because we can crack jokes about squishy amigurumi and “30 Rock” at the same time), but especially when I’m speaking at a small business engagement to help others build their creative businesses. If I could do that all day, all the time, I totally would! The look on someone’s face when you tell them their brand needs some balls is priceless! It’s even better when they take you seriously and start succeeding!!
Q: You can choose one superpower. What is it?
A: Oooohhhhh, I love talking theoretical superpowers! I reckon that my late-night obsessions with dark hallways and afternoon jaunts in Colma, CA with an iPhone app would indicate that I’d really love to directly be able to talk to ghosts anytime I like! Maybe not a “Ghost Whisperer” kind of thing where they stalk me all the time, but more of a light switch kind of thing. ;D
Or, at very least, I could get my Psychic DJ superpowers back. Psychic DJ, you ask? It’s exactly as it sounds… help someone out with a problem by weaving seemingly random songs together to create a solution. It was fun while it lasted. ;D
Q: If you could take any fictional character out for a drink, whom would you choose and what would you drink?
A: Since I don’t drink for real alcohol for religious reasons, I might make some tasty lemonades for me and Felicity Fox of the “Fantastic Mr. Fox” film by Wes Anderson (based on the Roald Dahl children’s book). I’d love to just snuggle up in that awesome tree home (in my movie theater it hasn’t been destroyed yet), paint some lightning storms and see where the crafternoon takes up!
Q: What would you tell your 13-year-old self?
A: Wow! I think I wrote a letter to myself when I was 13 to my “old” self, but if I was able to write back?
I’d probably tell smaller Steph that she is about to embark on a love for an Australian pop group (Savage Garden) and it will make her some great friends along the way. Keep up with that creative writing… you get better at it when you start writing fan fiction and letters to pen pals around the world. One day that writing thing will help you really break out of your shell. And don’t be so wrapped up in what you look like right now… you get so much hotter later on (hint: we learn to love dresses and make-up!). You’re still flufftastic, but you still find loads of cute guys down the road that are totally into who YOU ARE on your insides and outsides. I know that was a big deal for you, but it doesn’t have to be! Your future husband is awesome and together you enjoy being in a rock band where you’re the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter, you draw comic books about nerdy humans, you make nerdy plush toys and craft kits for those humans for a living (!!!), you help out a bunch of real life nerdy humans, and you get asked to do interviews!!! Life is allllllll riiiiiiigggghhhttt!
Q: What would be the title of your memoir?
A: Ugghhh! I swore I had an answer for this question if I was ever asked it! Umm, currently it vacillates between “Carpel Tunnel *MIGHT* Be Worth It: The Story of How I Crocheted My Way into Geeky Hearts” and “From the Bottom of My Pixelated Heart: How Playing Video Games and Learning How to Embroider Changed My Life.” Either way, they’d talk about how crafting stuff from bits of yarn and thread helped me bring my nerdy dreams into a reality. :)
Emma Bauer is a Being Geek Chic Contributor. 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