Craft. You. Interview: Mark Montano

Mark Montano
Craft. You.

Crafty wunderkind Mark Montano has the kind of enthusiasm and joie de vivre that is completely contagious in the best way possible. His 'Big Ass' Books are jam packed with inspired projects and ideas that will jumpstart your creativity and make you laugh out loud. He has a larger than life personality and wonderfully wicked sense of humor. Mark has been a host and designer on a variety of TV shows including While You Were Out and Ten Years Younger. He is currently working on promoting THE BIG ASS BOOK OF CRAFTS 2 and writing his next Big Ass Book due out October 2012. Mark is a shining example of the power of doing what you love and loving what you do, and doing the hard work to make it real.

* Hi Mark! You know I adore you and your work, so excited to feature you here on Craft. You. Give us a little background into what you do, where you come from and where you’re going!

Wow, that is a BIG question, Margot! Basically, I spend my time gluing and sewing things together and trying to find uses for things we run across every day. My background is fashion and lately I’m obsessed with how we adorn our bodies….AGAIN! It’s amazing how things come full circle. Everything from style, to fashion to hairstyles and ultimately who we are.

* What inspired the Big Ass series? Was there resistance from the publisher on the name? If so, how did you convince them? You know I think it’s brilliant and cheeky, which is why it stands out on the shelves.

After many years as a fashion designer and then more years on TV creating projects for rooms (tossed in with writing for Hearst Magazine for 10 years) I just had so many ideas that needed to be organized in a book. When I was explaining it to the editor at Simon and Schuster I said, basically, I want to write a BIG ASS BOOK of CRAFTS. She said, OK, that’s what we’ll call it. It was really that simple. I only panicked about the name when it was time for the release. I thought people might not take me seriously. I’m over that now. Since I’m rarely serious, no harm done!

Shoestring Shoe Copyright Mark Montano Big Ass Book of Crafts 2 2011

* Have you always known what you wanted to do with your life? You were a fashion designer for a while, how did you get here from there? What led you there? Where do you see it all heading?

The only thing I’ve known for sure my whole life is that I wanted to be creative in some capacity from morning until night (that and I did not want someone telling me what to do). School basically got in the way of my creative endeavors and more often than not I was doodling my next dress or project in my algebra notebook. Focus and hard work and tons of luck helped me succeed in the fashion world. I moved to NYC when I was 19 and scrounged my way through the fashion world. Basically worked my way from a gofer to an assistant and then started my own collection and opened boutiques. All a gamble and big risk but EXCITING! When I moved in to TV and book publishing, those same things applied. Love what you do and work at it every day until you pass out. That’s my motto! As far as where I’m going? Well, you know the saying “We make plans and God laughs” I hope to keep publishing and inspiring people. How that happens is up to the universe. Maybe more TV? Definitely more books? Who knows? I’m open.

God Save the Queen Briefcase Copyright Mark Montano Big Ass Book of Crafts 2 2011

* Do you believe in luck or do you believe in making it yourself? What advice do you have for folks who want to do what they love for a living?

Yes, I believe in luck to an extent. Your recipe for success has to be mixed in with drive, desire, hard work, diligence, focus and a few glue gun burns to give you credibility. My mom has a knack for pointing out the obvious. “If so and so can do it then so can you. You have two hands, two feet and you’re just as talented, etc. etc.” It’s true, if other people are living versions of your dream then it is possible isn’t it? There, you now have permission to get out there and live your life the way you want to. Rev up that glue gun and get going! Now more than ever you have ways to get your message out there. It’s literally at your fingertips!

* How has creativity impacted your life? Has it helped you through hard times? If so, can you speak to that a little?

Gosh, I just wrote an article for someone about my struggle with adult depression. I stopped taking medication for it several years ago and every day I would have to remind myself that what I was feeling was not “real” that it was chemical. My challenge was that the medications I was taking were making me feel like a zombie. The Color Purple couldn’t even make me cry! Creativity has been the only way I have been able to work through my feelings and actually feel better. It grounds me and keeps me sane. I can’t stop what I do because I don’t think that I could get by day to day without it.

* Thanks so much for taking time to talk with Craft. You. Can you tell folks where to find you?

www.MarkMontano.Com is a good place to start.

(You can also find Mark at his fabulous blog, Twitter and Facebook fan page.)

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