Hey there, can you introduce yourself?

My name is Sophie Maletsky, I live in San Francisco, California, where I create parties for children and adults. I also have a website called Sophie’s World where I share creative ideas, and a YouTube Channel where I post crafting tutorials on everything from recycled materials to duct tape.

Tell us a bit about the book?

Sticky Fingers: DIY Duct Tape Projects is basically a teaching guide that walks you through each and every step you need to create any type of duct tape project. There are, of course, projects, over 60 of them to be precise, but the idea is to teach you the steps you need to create your own inventions. By the end of the book you’ll be able to look at basically anything, deconstruct it, and recreate it in duct tape.

What was the inspiration behind it?

The inspiration for Sticky Fingers really came from my viewers online and from working with kids at parties. People kept saying – “you really need to write a book about all the fun things you make.” My clients and their guests helped me to develop and test many of the projects you find in the book. The knowledge and practice I acquired at my crafting tables was invaluable. As far as deciding what type of projects people wanted to see, I turned to my YouTube audience. They are very vocal about the things they would like to see being made.

Which is your favourite project?

Personally, I’m very fond of the earring tree. I think because it mixes recycled materials in as well. I’m also really into the projects that use the end of the roll (the part that has cardboard on the back) and the used centers of the rolls. I love using every bit of a product if I can.

What is your craft space like?

LOL – at the moment – it looks like a bomb went off in it. We have so many parties going on right now. My crafting space is a 3500 square foot warehouse. About 1/3 of it is dedicated to crafting, 1/3 to offices, and 1/3 to party décor and supplies. It’s sort of like Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, without the chocolate.

Have you always been creative?

I come from an extremely creative family. My Pop was a storyteller and jewelry designer, my mom is a painter, my dad is a painter and sculptor, my aunt was a puppeteer, and my Grammy was a teacher. My sister is a fine artist who helps me design and develop the projects. She also photographed the step-by-step photos for the book.

When did you first start crafting?

I started doing crafts with my Grammy when I was three years old. She’d set me and my cousin up at the kitchen table, give us a bar of soap and a butter knife and let us whittle away. She and I made this amazing dollhouse out of boxes and recycled materials. We’d work on it every time we got together, and it just became more and more elaborate over the years.

Who are your crafty heroes?

I love the puppetry of Julie Taymor, the amazing creativity of Jim Henson, the art and whimsy of Red Grooms, the dedication and raw talent of the artists of Creative Growth (an art center in Oakland, California, that works with the developmentally disabled). For authors – Dav Pilkey, Maurice Sendak, Eward Gorey, Dr. Seuss, J.K. Rowling, Suzanne Collins, John Green, Lauren Oliver, Becca Fitzpatrick, Ransomm Riggs, Jonathan Stroud, C.S. Lewis, & Rick Riordan (this list could go on and on actually).

Where do you find inspiration?

To my viewers on my YouTube Channel, my workshop students, my terrific party clients. I find inspiration in magazines, old books, the Internet, shop windows…everywhere really…there is so much creative fodder that surrounds us every day.

What's next for you?

I’ve got a new series of crafting lessons that I’ve just developed for curious.com, I’m teaching my first 12 week session on duct tape for a local school, I’m doing tons of workshops in local libraries and bookstores, and I’m working on three new children’s book ideas. And of course, I’d love to do more crafting books!