You know the drill! Once a nerd, always a nerd. Amanda ("Andi") started her love for fandoms like many of you: as child being introduced to the likes of Star Wars, Star Trek, the X-Men and books, books, books. She also has always had a love of artistic and crafty endeavors which has helped created a perfect storm of inspiration, ambition and determination to make art a living. (It also didn't help that she had wanted to own her own business since graduating high school.)

After moving to the Chicago-land area in 2013, Andi needed a hobby and started putting her designs online. As interest grew, she started bringing her designs to local comic cons and branching out to various cities including the Supernatural convention circuit. The SPN fandom family helped propel things forward allowing her to quit the corporate world in 2016 and turn Nerdtastic into a full time job.

2017 also brought a small re-naming. "42 Nerdtastic Place" was chosen because it sounded like a place that you would go to celebrate those things you were passionate about. To help build community, we also opened our Facebook group to bring like minded individuals together. (Later in 2022, we launched our Book Club as well.)

As the shop expanded and found it's niche, candles, Andi started thinking about what she really wanted from the business. It was no longer a hobby: it was her livelihood and career. After many months of pondering on what to do, the decision was made to make one final rebrand. In 2020, "Serpent & Flame Candle Co." was born. The mission is to create scents for the wayward, witchy, weird and wondrous people we have met on the road and those we have yet to meet on the path forward.