The Interview Every Crafter Who Wants to Stay Organized, Be #1 Mom and Make Money While They Sleep Needs to Read

Megan Andersen, or Rad Megan, is one creative lady. One day she may be needle felting and the next planting a hanging garden in pinecones. All the while she knows how to photograph it beautifully (not in automatic either) and is raising her son to be just as crafty. Megan was always one of my favorite contributors to Kids Crafts 1-2-3 Magazine and one of the first bloggers I ever worked with through BlogHer. I was always amazed at everything she did and more importantly in awe of how she kept it all straight. Today I had the chance to quiz her about knitting forks, online classes, gardening and more.

Mark Montano Interview

Mark Montano must not sit still long. You can't walk into a book store, turn on your TV or scour the crafty blogosphere without running into him. I first saw Mark when he was hosting shows like 10 Years Younger on TLC. Next his name was appearing on the crafty bookshelves with his epic Big Ass Craft Books. Once he was on my radar I kept seeing him pop up at craft conventions, Yudu infomercials - you name it he was there.

Mark is one busy and one extra crafty dude. Just a peek at his blog, flip through one of his books or browse through his Etsy store and you quickly realize this guy has his finger in a lot of crafty mediums. I began to wonder if there was anything he couldn't do, and so I asked him.


Through the years I’m sure you have made countless projects for your books, blog and what have you. Lord knows I’ve made stacks in my time. We can’t display them all. What are a few of the things you have made that are proudly displayed in your home?

Wow, too many to mention. Since I photograph all of my projects in my home I end up leaving the items in the last place they were staged! Part is laziness and part of it is that they have found their optimum home. Ok, mostly it's laziness! My seashell encrusted bust is proudly displayed in my living room as is my chicken lady sculpture in my kitchen. Those two are my favorites.


You have become quite the prolific craft book author. I see there is a Big Ass Book of Crafts 2 coming out in October. Out of all the books you have authored, been featured in or contributed to what is your favorite project?

That's tough. It's like asking a mother to name her favorite child! But, in keeping with the tradition of my family, I will name my favorite child and it's probably My Magic Mojo Dolls which are in The Big Ass Book of Crafts 2. They are creepy and they freak people out! BTW, I have 5 brothers and my youngest brother Nate is my mom's favorite and she's not afraid to tell us.


Speaking of ‘Big Ass’, I’m curious did you have any negative reactions to that title? I know some people and stores might think ass is a four-letter word. When my book The Naughty Secretary Club came out I had several big box stores refused to carry it because of the word naughty.

Isn't that the dumbest thing?! I mean really! Yes, there were a few stores who refused the book because of ASS, but I'm happy to say that JoAnn's Fabric just picked it up. There were some people out there who didn't like the title, but over the years I think we've won them over. You know, if you have cable TV you're going to hear words much worse than ASS! We all have one, we all sit on it, we all need to get off of it more! Besides, what else can you call craft books that are almost 400 pages?!


How has your experience with the world of Etsy been thus far? Why the decision to open an Etsy store? I love the rings you have listed.

I love Etsy. It's easy to use, there is a wonderful community of creative people out there and I'm meeting some fantastic artists through it. For me, I create out of necessity. In all seriousness, I get depressed when I'm not creating. Etsy is great because I can sell all of these things I make to keep myeslf sane! Then they don't pile up in my house.


Do you come from a long line of creative people or are you an anomaly? I noticed on your blog you have a nephew that you craft for. Are you trying to encourage him to be crafty and in what ways? I just had my 6 month old finger painting with his feet this weekend so I’m a firm believer you can never start too early.

I have 5 brothers and countless nephews and nieces so Uncle Mark is a busy man. My entire family is creative and I have to say that I'm the least talented of all of them! My aunts can sew like crazy, my uncles are painters, cabinet makers and sculptures. My dad is a master mechanic with a background in architecture and my mom is a painter and published poet. My brothers are wonderfully talented and all business owners.


Is there any creative medium that you have not conquered and always thought you would like to take classes on or give a whirl? Dreams of being a black and white photographer, pastry chef or quilter?

Hmm.........I'm fascinated with blowing glass, shoe making and casting metal. I have no hopes of ever being able to cook something edible so I gave up on that a long time ago. Thank you Trader Joe's for your prepared meals!


What is your favorite social media outlet? I’m on a big Pinterest bender these days myself. Which social media outlet do you feel helps you promote your blog, books and Etsy store the most?

I'm terrible on the computer. I look at these blogs and they have thousands of followers and I have 300 and it always makes me sad. Oh well. Truthfully, I'm consumed with creativity and I find the computer gets in the way of it. I get resentful when I have to be on there for more than an hour! I do love Face Book, though. It's easy and I've met some really wonderful people through it.


I’m always interested in talking to crafters about marketing. I occasionally teach classes on running on a small crafty business and the marketing end of things is my favorite section. Do you handle your own publicity? If so do you have a few tips you could share with crafters dreaming of one day making a living out of their hobby. If you have a publicist why and how do you think that helps you?

I have a publicist but I only use them for special occasions like book launches and when I start a new major project like a TV show. They can be quite pricey but totally worth it if you are focused. I think the key with marketing is having something to market! Otherwise you're spinning your wheels. FB, Twitter, and your blog are great ways to start. Being as real as possible and letting people know that you need their support is key. Returning that support is also key. Hey, we all need support!


Like several other big name crafters, Cathie Fillian and Vickie Howell for example, you straddle the line on working for large craft corporations but still have a firm grasp, roots and understanding of the Indie craft crowd. How do you think the gap between those two groups is getting bridged?

For me, it's more important to keep creating from my heart. I create like I've always created, with stuff I have around the house and with items that we all have access to. I buy basics like paints, glues, scissors, and things that are available to everyone. When I do use something special, I want to believe in it and KNOW that it works. I don't talk about products unless they truly work with what I'm doing. I won't promote a product that I feel is inferior because it's unfair. Because of that I feel that people trust my projects, my results and therefore I can keep my credibility. I also make sure to encourage everyone to make their own version of what I do. I'm not the end all beat all in creativity and I love how much I learn from other people every day.


What is on the crafty horizon for you? Are we going to see you on TV again soon? Any more book plans?

You know the saying about plans. We make plans and God laughs! I will write more books and we're currently working on a few TV pilots. It's never a sure thing and it's always a challenge, but I wouldn't change anything in my life. Well, maybe I could be a few inches taller. Just sayin'.


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Handmade Weddings - Interview & Book Review

Recently Chronicle Books sent me a gorgeous book called Handmade Weddings: More Than 50 Crafts to Style and Personalize Your Big Day. Oh how I wish I had this book 8 years ago when I got hitched. The book is written by Eunice & Sabrina Moyle the talented sisters behind Handmade Hellos and Shana Faust. Eunice & Sabrina run an adorable company called Hello Lucky while Shana is a freelance stylist. Just a glance at the cover and the ladies credentials and you know this book is going to be chocked full of goodness.

Today for I Love to Create I was lucky enough to chat with the ladies about crafts, weddings and more. Even if you already hitched you will take away lot's of ideas from the book that can be used at your next Birthday Party, Baby Shower or to just simply use as home decorations.



Why do you think handmade touches are important at a wedding?

They are the thing that make a wedding personal and unique and get guests really engaged and excited about being celebrating with you. Regardless of what the poo-pooers may say, a wedding really can be the honest-to-goodness best day of your life (when else do you get to party with all your family and friends and have it be all about you?). Handmade touches make an already wonderful day that much more awesome. 

Also, it's not just the product but the process of creating the handmade touches that are important to a wedding. Crafting is a great way to re-connect with friends and family, and build anticipation and excitement for the wedding day -- the celebration is way more meaningful to your guests when they've been personally involved in creating it and have truly shared in the experience with you.

I read that you guys all met while working on stationery for Shana’s wedding.  What luck to sync up with the style editor from Martha Stewart Weddings!  Are there any projects in the book that any of you have used in your own weddings?

Absolutely! The Dyed Coffee Filter Pom-Poms, the Ribbon Drink Flags, and the Crepe Paper Cracker Favors were all made for Eunice's wedding. We've also made several of the projects for our clients' weddings so have gotten to see them in action -- it is so satisfying!



What do you think a reasonable amount of time is to plan a wedding?  I know I spent over a year gathering vintage wedding cake toppers, Fenton Glass & 50’s table cloths to give my wedding a “Retro Homespun” feel.

It depends on what kind of wedding you want to have: if it's something small and simple, then you can do it in 2-3 months. If you have a more elaborate vision, then a year is ideal, especially if you are including a lot of one-of-a-kind pieces and handmade details (like you did!). Sourcing the right materials is half the battle in creating a successful hand-crafted project -- it can take time and research suppliers, collect samples, etc. (that's why we've included a very thorough list of resources for materials at the back of the book!).  Then there's the crafting, which takes usually takes longer than might think especially if you have to make multiples. For people who don't have a lot of time, we recommend choosing a couple of handmade details that will either be personally meaningful (e.g. a ring pillow) or give the most bang for your buck in terms of impact (e.g. pom pom strands). We've included a timeline of when to get started on various types of craft projects in the book to help break things down so it's not quite so overwhelming!

Is there any aspect of a wedding that you would not try to make handmade?  I recently went to a wedding where the bride made her own cake and I thought man a few days before my wedding I was like a chicken with my head cut off I can’t imagine buckling down and making a fancy cake.

We would definitely generally avoid making handmade foods because it has to be so last-minute, and because of potential liability issues (guests who allergic to peanuts, etc.!).  There are also some things that it just obviously makes more sense to rent than to buy: glassware and silverware, tables, chairs, lighting, a dance floor, etc. (Cautionary tale: Eunice had the idea of collecting vintage silverware for her wedding -- she bought a couple of big lots on eBay and ended up with mostly dessert spoons and crab forks, and so gave up!). Flowers are a tricky one because they again have to be last-minute, so it can be stressful. That said, if the arrangements are simple or the flowers are hardy it can be do-able (we have examples in our book - the Teacup Centerpieces and the Terrarium Place Cards & Favors). 



I love that Handmade Weddings is broken into various themed chapters based on style like Organic Minimal and Happy Graphic  Which chapter appeals to you guys the most aesthetically?  Any project that you love just a little more than the others?

It's so hard to choose because we love all the styles. But our favorite is probably Retro Homespun. It's pretty and feels cozy/nostalgic so is a great style to bring to an event as personal as a wedding. It also lends it self to so many great textures and techniques, from yarn to embroidery to fabric to buttons and ribbon.  

Any ideas on making a wedding more kid friendly?  I had several kiddlets invited to my wedding so we had sidewalk chalk, customized wedding themed coloring sheets & even a piñata to keep them all entertained.  The Bride and Groom Shakeys seem like they would keep little hands pretty busy.

It's a great idea to have fun, interactive activities at a wedding, but why save them only for kids, we say -- have adults get involved, too!  Games and activities are great icebreakers for people of all ages. At Eunice's wedding we had a photo booth with lots of great costumes and props (from a glittered bunny mask to a Mad Hatter hat, to mustaches and word bubbles that people could use to write funny exclamations) -- it was a huge hit with all the guests.  Have favors at each place setting that encourage creativity and interaction - mad libs about the wedding, song request cards (including songs they don't want to hear!), fortunes, jokes, paint-by-numbers style coloring sheets, parlor games, bingo (guests can play based on when certain words or phrases are uttered during the speech - some funny/unpredictable ones can be planted by people who are giving toasts), etc.  Fun novelties (e.g., stick-on mustaches) or gag gifts are great favors, too -- check out Archie McPhee for ideas.



Besides of course your lovely book Handmade Weddings – where are some other places brides to be can look for wedding inspiration?  Any fave blogs, mags or books?

100 Layer Cake, Design Work Life, Grey Likes Weddings, Snippet & Ink, Head vs. Heart,  Lovely Package, Anthropologie, Kate Spade, J. Crew, and local retail Bay Area & NYC stores Mokuba, Tinsel Trading, Tail of the Yak, Bell'ochio, Lotus Bleu, and Castle in the Air; the Alameda Flea Market. The Domino Book of Decorating, Tim Walker Pictures, children's books by Paul Rand.

Budget is of course a huge aspect of any wedding.  Do you think a wedding full of handmade touches saves money, works out about the same or adds a few very worthwhile pennies to the bottom dollar?

It really depends on what types of projects you choose, but a wedding full of handmade touches is often going to be more expensive, not less. Beautiful DIY often comes down to the quality of the materials used, and unfortunately great looking papers and fabrics can be pricey.  Traditional vendors have economies of scale so can often make things more cheaply than you could make them yourself, and there is also some trial and error involved in DIY that means it takes take several attempts (as art supply bills pile up!) to achieve the right look. That said, you can pick and choose a few gorgeous, high-impact projects and save real money while adding beautiful details to your wedding day.



Is there any project in the book that you thought to yourself “man I wish I had done that at my wedding” or “I can’t wait until I get hitched because I am totes having those”.

The Paper Link Chains! They are such a simple, inexpensive graphic and gorgeous way to decorate, and they can go in so many awesome directions stylistically. Eunice just made some super skinny ones for her New Year's party using aqua and gold papers and an effect where the links fade from one color to the next - it was amazing.

What is next on the horizon for you 3 lovely ladies?  Handmade Weddings was such a lovely book I’m waiting with baited breath for Handmade Parties or perhaps Handmade Babies.

We would love to work on another craft book. We all have babies now, so Handmade Babies is a possibility,  or maybe Handmade Baby Parties!  We're also waiting in turn with baited breath for Oprah to call us and offer us a craft show on her new network.  Tick tock, Oprah, tick tock!





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Tina Sparkles and her Little Green Dresses

Today starts an exciting new chapter in my weekly I Love to Create posts. We are going to start having interviews with various mavens of craft, whoo-hoo! We are starting things off with my friend Tina Sparkles who has just released a sewing gals dream book - Little Green Dresses: 50 Original Patterns for Repurposed Dresses, Tops, Skirts, and More.

Let me preface this interview and book review with openly admitting that I am a little biased when it comes to Tina Sparkles. We have been friends since college, are both founding members of the Austin Craft Mafia, ran a little fashion show and craft bazaar together for years called Stitch and both teach at the Stitch Lab in Austin. HOWEVER - even if I had never met Tina I would still think that she had talent oozing from every pore. She is always prising about town in custom clothing she made for herself, her last name is Sparkles, she has a fabulous new book out that even makes me want to dust off my sewing machine and she loves to teach and mentor others on sewing and going green. What is not to love?



My mother Fredda Perkins and I contributed the 'Bib Dress', to Little Green Dresses, but that is only one of the many reasons why I love this book. A handful of the 50+ designs are by other fabulous designers other than Tina which makes for some nice diversity. The main bonus of this book is that the clothing is cute. So many times sewing books for clothing don't do a thing for me, I often walk away thinking I would never wear a single thing inside the book. Flipping through Little Green Dresses it was almost the exact opposite, it was more like what wouldn't I wear in this book. Not only are there little green dresses to make there are also rompers, skirts and even a coat.

Not only do the cute clothes set Little Green Dresses apart from the rest of the sewing books out thee, but so does the information inside. Many books these days give you the actual clothing patterns, but not our friend Tina. Remember the part I said about her being a teacher and a mentor? Tina teaches you how to make your own patterns from scratch! Think of the limitless outfit possabilities once you learn to make your own patterns. Reading chapter number 2, Sewing and Creating Patterns it is if Tina is right there teaching you how to place the Curved Hip Ruler onto the newspaper.

Ok enough gushing about Little Green Dresses, let's get on with this interview (and giveaway)....



Let’s get a little background on Tina Sparkles. When and why did you start sewing and making clothing? Did you go to school for fashion design? As an Austin Craft Mafia founder you have a long crafty history - is clothing and fashion where you started in this industry?

I think maybe we can trace it back to a pillow that was in the shape of a pencil from Reader’s Digest Complete Guide to Sewing. My mom had a bunch of sewing books and a sewing machine and used to make clothes for me when I was really young. I used to look through the books and dream about making everything in the books and started messing around with her machine when I was in 6th grade. One of my first design projects was a velcro bow-tie that I “invented” for a school project and around that same time I started reconstructing my Kmart clothes. The whole situation got amped up even more when I discovered thrift stores when I was in high school. In college I actually studied psychology and philosophy, but after I got out into the real world after graduation I realized that I was daydreaming more about making cute outfits to wear to my cubicle job so I decided to go back to school to study fashion. I went to UT and studied in the fashion and textiles department for a few semesters and then also got some private lessons on draping. Other than that, most of my fashion education is DIY. I love getting textbooks and experimenting.

In 2001 I started an internet based business called Sparkle Craft where I made and sold glittery wall hangings and little art pieces, but after awhile I decided to transition into making guitar straps and accessories. After doing that full time for 6 years, I decided to close Sparkle Craft to write my book and focus on the world of sustainable fashion!!



Knowing you personally there seemed to be an abrupt and profound moment when you went completely green. What happened that spurred you to quit buying new clothing and start creating your own?

Yes, I definitely had a moment when I started to become aware of our consumer culture and what it is doing to people and the environment. Once I started having this awareness there was no way that I could continue to participate in it. When I think about that time period, I think about stores like Forever 21 and H&M that I was once sooooo excited about. It was so great to be able to buy tons of cute clothes super cheap, but for me the excitement quickly turned to guilt and other bad feelings when I thought about how the clothes were made and their history and impact. It wasn’t worth it to me, and since I loved fashion so much I wanted to feel good about it, so I decided to just stop and see if I could make my own and only shop 2nd hand. I had no idea how far it would go, but that was back in 2005 and I haven’t looked back. I still buy new undies and socks and sometimes shoes & accessories, but I try to make sure to consider their elements and buy responsibly.

What is your favorite place to shop for materials? Do you love finding clothing to re-work at the thrift stores, picking up old curtains at the flea market or is finding a stash of vintage fabric at the antique mall what really curls your toes?

Thrift stores are the BEST because they are so cheap and there is the thrill of the dig, but what I love most is going to vintage stores because the prints and fabrics on old clothes are so awesome. I also love just looking through the racks of vintage and looking at the shapes and details of the garments. It makes me so happy to think about how I might incorporate old design elements into something new. I recently encountered a dreamy situation.....it was a thrift store that had been closed for 10 years and all of the clothes were just sitting on the racks untouched for 10 years. They opened the store for one day only and everything was only 25 cents! I accidentally happened upon it that day and I couldn’t believe it. I spent $15 and went home with a box full of potential.



What is the most unusual item you have ever up-cycled into a new and exciting piece of Tina Sparkles fashion?

This summer I made a dress out of recycled computer wires for a fashion show at the Austin Museum of Art. It was really hard to work with the wires, so it took me a couple of months to finish it because I kept procrastinating. To make the dress I recycled a thrift store curtain to create the base of the dress and then cut up the computer wires to create a ton of circular pieces of wire with electrical tape and then I stitched each of the wires onto the dress using a zig-zag stitch. It was a total pain, but I was really happy with the result once it was finished.

You made majority of the clothing in Little Green Dresses, but there are a handful of other designers including yours truly. How did you go about selecting the other designers in your book?

I just made a list of indie designers who I admired and who I thought might be interested in the concept and sent them an invite to submit a project. After I got the submissions I had to narrow it down to only a few and those decisions were made by how well the designs fit into the book - both aesthetically and also how well the project instructions fit in with the way I organized everything.



At what point did you get into making your own patterns? It seems like a big step to go from ready made Simplicity and Burda patterns to making your own?

When I went to UT to study fashion, I learned about flat pattern drafting and I really fell in love with it. I am very much into math, logic and geometry so the whole process really appealed to me. From there I got a bunch of textbooks on pattern-making and just started experimenting with shapes and ideas. To me, knowing how to make your own patterns is really liberating because now I can pretty much make anything that I dream up.

Out of all the clothing you made for Little Green Dresses what do you find yourself wearing the most? I was excited to discover the bib dress my mom and I made for the book translates quite nicely into a maternity dress.

Right now I am really into the Deluxe Rectangle Skirt, the Genius Leggings, the Body Tube and the Such a Square Blouse patterns, but I love mixing all the Little Green Dresses designs in with the rest of my wardrobe. I feel like I have so many possibilities!



I know you also helped style the models for Little Green Dresses. You have always had such a great eye for fashion and are always ahead of the trends – what do you think about Little Green Accessories? Do you try and make your own or buy used in that department too? Any quick and easy tips for spicing up sandals, making a necklace new or putting some pop back into an old purse?

Thanks! I have to say that you definitely inspired me to realize how accessories can really take an outfit to the next level!! I think it is important to consider the history and impact of anything we might purchase (or make) including accessories and I think it is always more fun and special to revamp old stuff rather than buy new. I recently started to fix up a pair of sandals from the thrift store....they are kinda like gladiator style sandals, but I didn’t like the color of them so I cut up a bunch of long thin strips of knit fabric in fun colors and I’m wrapping each of the strips tightly around the parts of the sandals. I think it is turning out pretty cute so far....we’ll see....I put that project aside for now since it is getting cold!

For those out there that don’t sew what are some other options for people to refashion their wardrobe?

One word -- embellish! There are gobs of books and magazines dedicated to the art of embellishment and tons of ways you can really make a big difference on a garment by doing simple things like embroidering, screen-printing, painting, dying, changing the buttons, adding jewels, etc.

I also like the idea of just being fearless and taking your scissors to a garment just to see what happens. Start out with something cheap from the thrift store and don’t think too hard about it.....just have some fun being creative.

What is Tina Sparkles up to these days? Any new books on the horizons? Working on any Little Green Dresses for yourself?

I’ve thought about the possibility of doing another book at some point, but not right away. Right now I am working on putting together some digital downloadable patterns for my website. Some of the designs are from my book and some are other of my designs. I figured there are probably plenty of people out there who might not want to draft their own patterns, so I want to give them an option to easily sew up some of my designs. Other than that, I always manage to keep myself more than busy teaching lots of sewing and design classes locally in Austin, organizing events and I even picked up my guitar again recently.....

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