We recently had the chance to connect with Charles Nicolosi and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Charles, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about your customers?
When I started 6 years ago, I didn’t expect to feel emotionally touched by my customers reactions. Recently I’ve had two different interactions that caught me off guard. A customer had purchased an Emotional Support Chicken for her nephew and he recently become so attached to it, that he has it with him all day long and sleeps with it. Another customer purchased one of my decorative landscapes immediately knowing that his wife would love it. It only took him 5 minutes to decide.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am the Geek In Stitches and I began sewing around 13 years ago.
As of 14 months ago, I retired from IT at the University of Georgia
I can be found at an increasing number of 1 day and 2 day events and festivals in both Athens and all over Atlanta.
I create a few practical items, but I really enjoy making both fabric based and mixed media artwork. I incorporate LGBTQIA+ themes across everything I make. My artwork style is very unique at most of the events I participate in. I’ve come to see that as my best strength.
I’m currently creating so many new pieces of artwork for 3 upcoming 2 day festivals in Grant Park, Candler Park & Brookhaven. I’m really enjoy making new Y’all Means All , Decorative Landscapes and some very geek themes pieces.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
I spent so much of my life emersed in IT. I started with a Commodore Vic 20 around 1982 and also spent 30 years in departments all across the University of Georgia in various IT roles, including programmer, desktop support, network and servers.
When it came time to hang up that part of my life, I easily let it all go to embrace creating artwork.
There are only a few computer related things I do now. I made my own website, I built my own online store and I occasionally play on my private Minecraft server. I really don’t miss that part of my life at all!
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I started so small when I began doing my first events. It was scary putting myself out there.
When you can’t get a conversation with someone, when they just glance and walk by and few people even give you a second chance- bad events can crush you and I was crushed many times.
Those first years made me question my decision to keep going, but I stuck to it and 6 years later, my skin is a little thicker and my confidence has strengthened. I can’t even imagine not doing this anymore.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
I incorporate LGBTQIA+ themes across all of the things I make- from Bowl Buddies, Emotional Support Chicken and many types of artwork.
I certainly did not expect to hear people say they are happy to see me at events and representing the community. They see the rainbows everywhere in my artwork. I’ve seen children smile when they see it and I see parents pointing out what something means.
I’ve come to see the importance of being out there and visible. Y’all does mean all.
This is even now more important with the current political climate. I am going nowhere!
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
All my life, I either did what I was told to do or what I thought other people wanted me to do.
I follow my gut now and I get to do what I want to do and create the artwork that I want to create. I’ve come to see everything I do with my business is what I was meant to do. I do very few things that involve other peoples schedules now, especially since I retired!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.geekinstitches.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geekinstitches/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GeekInStitches/
- Other: Online Store: https://shop.geekinstitches.com/
