Ono Mangano

Sew Ono ap*par*el (website)

Circa 2004

What made you start working in your craft? Was it a dream? Was it an accident? Was it payment on a bet?
Although my greatest influence has come from my female ancestors, it was my father, the construction worker, who gave me the courage to take the crafting plunge. When I was in college I had no goals or ambitions and then one cold January morning when my father was dropping me off at school after break he very plainly said to me 'You are always making stuff, why don't you
do something with that.' Of course my mother, the computer programmer, thought this should include graphic design, but obviously I wasn't interested. I have always been creative but it was the toughest man I knew who taught me to sew a button and many years later gave me the courage to do something with my life that wouldn't offer a 401k. Wow, that was a bit tear-jerking, ay.

Where do you work? What does your fantasy work space look like?
Currently I share the spare bedroom with a double bed, old floor model record player, and my boyfriends office, but in all fairness he owns the house so I can't complain when I know that I take up 3/4 of the space. My fantasy/future space is a studio all to myself where I can paint the walls something bright and girlie. I would have lots of closet space for finished pieces and stock waiting to be seam ripped and reassembled, all color-coded of course. I also dream of shelving, thick, durable shelves that I could pile fabric onto as well as heavy tools. And display shelving too, for all of my grandmothers' vintage sewing tools and fabulous found and gifted sewing kitsch. Storage of any kind would be a step up. Are you there God It's me Ono...I also 'need' a couch, like I had in grad school, old and comfy, perfect for sketching, reading and power naps. That should do it.

We all have vending horror stories but has anything really really GOOD ever happened to you?
I don't have a really awesome vending story...yet. But, like summer camp, I met a really awesome crafty chica over the summer at ICE in Atlanta and we keep in touch weekly. I am horrible at staying connected to people in other cities so this is a big deal for me.

If you had to pick a superhero spokesman for Sew Ono who would it be and why?
I think Rouge would make an awesome spokeswoman for Sew Ono, she's young and hip and doesn't give a crap what anyone thinks of her (a superhero prerequisite of course.) Other choices would include my great-grandmother, the original Onofria, only young and alive. She and other female ancestors have been influences in my creative life all along. I adore the 'cheesecake' photos of my grandmothers during WWII so they would have to fit in somewhere too. Oh, and the Virgin Mary. For someone who doesn't go to church I have a suspicious number of Madonna statues on display. Wow, this is turning into quite the not-so-motley crew. I can just picture then all together in some sort of Super Friends poster layout.

Working on your craft can be a solitary and sometimes lonely venture. What keeps you company?
I actually enjoy the lack of company. My studio time is when I get to be alone and have peace and quiet, to really get involved in my work. I rarely play music unless I need a little inspiration and then I turn to Guns N Roses or anything I have on vinyl, like Nancy Sinatra or, my all time favorite, Journey.

We all have dreams of money – but what would you do if you had the TIME?
There are so many options, I would probably craft more for myself and spend more time learning different craft genres. I would really like to crochet and make some sassy necklaces. I would also make elaborate costumes for the hell of it. I would redecorate the house seasonally, myself. I would sit at the coffee shop all day and read. I would finally alter all of my pants to fit my waist without a pin and my height without 3 inch heels. I would build a greenhouse. I would finally sort through my boot box full of photos, organize, label and album them. I would become a spy known only as 'the seamstress.'

Crafting beverage of choice?
Morning Juice! AKA a cup of coffee with cocoa stirred in.

What is the one craft tool you can not live without?
Aside from my essential Singer, I am lost without my seam ripper. Every inch of fabric must be saved.