More cruise goodies!

Glitters and glues ready to go!

Swag from Etsy!

Special thanks to Christina Batch and friends at Etsy! The Crafty Chica cruisers will be so happy!

Visit Etsy.com

New swag for the cruise totes!

Thank you Art Girlz!!!!



Check out their site of amazing embellishments! ArtGirlz.com

Steady...steady...keep it steady!

(Master juggler, Rudy Horn)

Lots of balls in the air right now. Our garage, entry way and living are all covered in boxes of supplies and tote treats. I have to pack them all, plus finish my workshop project samples, do the laundry, and make Maya a fluffy poodle skirt for the school play she is in. So what do I do instead?

Plan a local craft fair!

I know, I know. I must have project A.D.D. or something. Every time I'm at the last stretch of a HUGE task, I suddenly divert my attention somewhere else. Right before the Lifetime TV crew came, I decided to stucco and mosaic my fireplace. Right before CHA, it was that crazy apron.

*Sigh.* This week, my time is zeroed in on the cruise, but I got this super fun idea of having one big art fair with all the different local craft groups in town!!! A few months back I had lunch with the P.C.M. and we tossed around the idea for spring. All it took was a meeting yesterday, a few emails and we are on our way to a super fly party!

The Phoenix Craft Mafia, Las Bandidas del Arte, Arizona Crafty Burritos and the Phoenix Fridas (my group) have all agreed. We're just waiting on the Phoenix Chapter of the Church of Craft to join in and we are set. Oh, I wanted to ask the Conspire ladies too! So, the official date is April 26, at the Duck and Decanter on 16th St. and Camelback and it is going to be a BLAST! A long time ago, I used to work as an event coordinator for these big corporate parties. It felt good to step back into that role, even if it was only for a couple of hours. Anyway, more on that event AFTER the cruise!

Another not-to-miss date that has come up: - 7 p.m., March 14th at Changing Hands Bookstore, they are hosting a panel discussion of local crafty business owners. The topic is turning your hobby into a business.

This is to celebrate National Craft Month, and to help local artists take their work to a national level! I've been asked to moderate, I'll answer any questions people have on what I've done in my career (wholesaling, books, branding, juggling!); Becky Stern from Craft Zine will be there to talk about blogging; Linda Young from Art Unraveled will talk about pitching and teaching workshops; and Cyndi Coon of Laboratory 5 (her handmade cards are sold all over the country!) will shares her tips too. More on that event AFTER the cruise as well!

Tomorrow I'm waking up at six and hustling to get everything in order. Only two days until we leave! I can't believe this time next week the cruise will almost be over! This time next year, my sewing book will be out, so I'm thinking of having fabric art as the theme for the next cruise. Can't you just imagine everyone strutting on board the ship, sewing machines in tow? Love it!


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* All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2008.

The magic has arrived!

Who can say "No" to 450 lbs of saints?

Tomorrow all kinds of crazy shipments are being delivered to my house - I'm talking juicy, glistening, freshly minted packages of supplies for the crafty cruise! Craft Zine, Etsy, Sublime Stitching, and Spanish Memories are the companies that have donated treats for the tote bags and workshops!

The biggest stash comes from Duncan, of course! Lindy and Alyson TOTALLY gave us cruisers the hook up with all the official Crafty Chica swag. They bundled up a whole industrial-size pallet stacked waist-high of boxes containing plaster Create-A-Saint statues, PLUS paints, glitters, glues, totes, crystals, and all kinds of other groovy goodies.

Excuse me while I have a flash fantasy at this moment.

*Closes eyes.*

The pallet somehow makes it to my room. I close the doors and shoo our four Chihuahuas off the bed. I dump all the boxes' contents out on the bedspread. I jump in and roll around face down in all of it.

*Opens eyes.* Oh jeez. Did I just type what I think I typed? Yikes. TMI! Sorry!

OK, back to the story...

The only problem is that shipping a pallet to a residential home is kinda weird. And expensive. Luckily, my friend John and his girlfriend Tammy, happen to have just bought a U-Haul business. John welcomed me to have this wondrous pallet delivered there on Wednesday (tomorrow!). This was last week, and I am so antsy for that pallet I can barely fall asleep at night. Can you imagine having a PALLET of craft supplies arrive with your name on the label? That's better warm chocolate sauce drizzled on a slice of lemon wedding cake.

Tonight Tammy called to invite Patrick and me to a party, and I later asked her, "Sooo. Are you ready for my pallet of supplies tomorrow?"

"Uh-oh. No, I didn't know about that..," she said.

I almost choked in horror. Before I could cough out a word, she continued: "Wait - It doesn't happen to be 450 lbs worth of saints, does it?"

I relaxed. "Well, by golly, it does!"

"Ah," she said. "It arrived safe and sound today. I'm glad I called you tonight because I had no idea what it was for!" (John hadn't given her a heads up about it!)

We both cracked up. How weird does that sound? 450 lbs of saints?? Yes, I agree - that is weirder than asking a stranger if he makes shoes.

"Wait," I asked. "You mean you accepted a huge pallet without even knowing what it was for?"

She chuckled. "Sure did. I took it as a sign of good karma. If someone brings me 450 lbs worth of saints, there's no way I'm sending them back!"

I'll post pictures within 24 hours...


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* All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2008.

Ellen DeGeneres: Please don't be a glitter hater!

It's a been a rough day. First, all the Starbucks in the nation are closed, and then this.

Ellen! I LOVE you. But you've shattered my heart in a million tiny (sparkly pieces) again TODAY! Oh, the heartache!

Remember the last time I wrote about this? I prayed and prayed maybe somehow you read my note (I only plastered it all over your web site, sent it to your producers, a bulletin to my 10,000 MySpace friends!!). But I guess you missed it.

Please do not hate ALL glitter! I do believe it is "loose" glitter you have issues with. But there are all kinds of "safe sparkle" alternatives, as I mentioned before in my previous letter. Now you are trying throw the glitter Haterade all over Hillary?

Here is my post again of safe sparkle glitter!


I know you will probably never see this, but I want to help you find the right glitter for your personality!! And then you can share it on your show next holiday season so when people send you cards they will know what kind of glitter to use that will be still be sparkly, without the trouble.

Water-based brush on glitter: This comes in a bottle, in liquid form and you simply brush it on over any surface. It dries, and the glitter stays in place, no stray flecks anyway! May-jah sparkle!

Squeeze on glitter: This is concentrated glitter that comes also in a thick creamy gel in all different colors. You squeeze it on and when it dries, it looks like it is loose glitter, but doesn't shed.

Spray-on glitter: This comes in a bottle or can and you spray where you want it. And it sticks! No muss, no fuss!

Glitter paint: This is paint that has glitter in it, again, it dries, looks brilliant and you don't have to get it on your fingers!

Glitter fabric: My favorite is red glittered vinyl. Like the kind used on retro barstools. You just cut and sew and go!

There are gobs more, but these are just a start. I think if more anti-glitter people were educated on this topic and all it's varieites, the world would be a happier place!Let's all practice safe sparkle, let's stop the hate, the misunderstandings, and come to love all things that sparkle and shine.

Love you, Ellen!



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* All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2008.

Tearjerker movie alert: La Misma Luna (Under the Same Moon)

I love movies that make me cry (in a good way). I can already tell I'll be sobbing at this one. Even the trailer makes me sniffle. The clue? There is a coffin, and it has FRINGE!

Under the Same Moon (La Misma Luna) opens next month in theatres.

From Fox Searchlight:

"UNDER THE SAME MOON (LA MISMA LUNA) tells the parallel stories of nine-year-old Carlitos and his mother, Rosario. In the hopes of providing a better life for her son, Rosario works illegally in the U.S. while her mother cares for Carlitos back in Mexico. Unexpected circumstances drive both Rosario and Carlitos to embark on their own journeys in a desperate attempt to reunite. Along the way, mother and son face challenges and obstacles but never lose hope that they will one day be together again. Riggen's film is not only a heartwarming family story; she also offers subtle commentary on the much-debated issue of illegal immigration."

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* All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2008.

Mexican Cowgirl Collage

I was going through old photos and came across this one I made a few years back. It's an altered vintage Mexican cowgirl postcard layered (foam core in between) on top of collage paper I made. Add a frame, and boom! Instant art for your walls!


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* All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2008.

Crafty Chica of the week: Elsa Mora!

This is Cuban artist, Elsa Mora. She is waaayyy more than a crafty chica. Her crafts are actually art. I just discovered her by way of the CraftZine blog.

Elsa, a mom of three, lives in Los Angeles with her hubby who is a film producer. She got to attend Sunday's Oscar ceremonies - and she made her own gown! Can you say magnificent?

Check out this other dress she made, that she even titled El Jardin de Maria Julia:



Check back on her blog because she is going to post about what it was like being there (at the Oscars)!

Crafty Convo: A new read!

Recently I was reading Mark Montano's blog where he talked about adding tin foil to paper and thinking he was a genius, only to discover he made Wrigley's silver wrapper paper!! Which I think is totally cool. Mark is such a celebrated designer, who would think that he would have something turn out different than he expected? It was so sweet to read his crafty experience.

It got me thinking, so many people think creativity is something that happens or it doesn't. They give up easy the first time something goes awry. Truth is, it is kinda like a muscle, you have to work at it. For every five projects you are proud of, there will be one or two (sometimes three) that make you cringe. And that is perfectly normal.

So I got this idea to share this intimate crafty convo with my friend Margot Potter, The Impatient Beader. We both make a living in the creative arts industry, but we are far from perfect! I hope you like this, it is something new. If it goes over good, I'd love to have more crafty convos with artists about all kinds of topics. And I want you to as well! Just email back and forth on a topic you are passionate about. Like a telephone conversation. Post it on your blog and send us the link so we can share!

And PLEASE - share your thoughts in our comments!

Here you go....

***

Sunday, February 23, afternoon

KATHY: Hi Margot! Guess what? Next week is National Craft Month! Are you excited as me? Don’t you just feel like paying it forward one shiny bead at a time?

MARGOT: Oh I like this idea! Tell me more!

KATHY: Well, maybe we can share something profound here to inspire people across the globe to pick up a pair of needle nose pliers... or better yet - spray hi-gloss varnish on something random! Honestly though, I feel guilty. I feel like I have to come clean first....

MARGOT: What...what?! Okay, I need to know...spill it, sister!

KATHY: I know living the artsy life is supposed to be uplifting and colorful, but I have some may-jah (as Posh Spice says) confessions. After all these years, I feel like its time to come clean. Crafty scandals, I guess you could say. But I’ll only share them if you air your dirty paint rags too.

MARGOT: Oooo...True Craft Confessions! It’s not all sunshine and glitter is it?! I have a lot of what I like to call Craptastic Craft Days. You know, when you have the opposite of the Midas touch...and everything you make turns to crap?! I look at that as crafty fertilizer...in it are the ingredients for something cool. You just have to poke around a little...okay wait...that’s just plain gross isn’t it?!

KATHY: Do you want to go first, or should I?

MARGOT: You go first...that way I can gauge just how much I can reveal...eek.

KATHY: Not fair, woman. OK (clears throat). Here goes. One time when my daughter was a toddler, I was immersed at the art table. She kept saying, “Mama, I thirsty!” I replied, “Hold on sweetie, just let me cover this last little area with glitter...” The next thing I knew - she picked up my cup of paint water (which happened to be one of her Disney mugs!) and took a huge swig. I gasped and lunged across the table to take it from her. She smiled at me, 100% content. She had a red mustache, like a Quentin Tarantino milk ad! Thank goodness, it was non-toxic water-based paint. I rinsed off her face and ditched the art table for the night out of pure guilt.

MARGOT: HA! Bad crafty mommy! I often am knee deep in my work when my daughter gets home from school. So it’s me saying...”Yeah, yeah...what was that dear?” while my daughter is sitting at my desk in my studio doing her homework. My husband has to check everything because I’m in the zone, and I have no clue what she’s asked me. “Sure, honey New Zealand is the capital of Massachusetts. What was that?!”

Plus you’d think my kid would have the coolest costumes or the best home made cards...but it’s so not true. Which makes me feel like the World’s Worst Mom. I do my best...but you should see the ’80s style ensemble I threw together last month for her Vocabulary Word Parade. Thank GOD she won most complex word, because her outfit under the sparkly cape looked like glitter glue barfed all over it. Uh, yeah, I’m a professional...don’t try this at home.

KATHY: Ooo, yah, those are good ones. Can you imagine Avalon in class: “But my mom said New Zealand IS the capital!” At least it wasn’t anything they could call CPS on you for! Again: Thank goodness it was non-toxic paint in that cup. I would have left the emergency room in handcuffs and tears. OK, let’s dig deeper, girlfriend. Have you ever made something you are totally embarrassed of?

MARGOT: Every day. I mean this, seriously. I have so many horrible crafty skeletons in my closet it’s frightening.

KATHY: With my craft column, sometimes I just plain run out of ideas. Every so often I crash and burn. Like the time I made a hanging lantern out of a crumpled paper bag. I once I almost covered a corn husk in glitter. Call the Crafty Enquirer, here’s the worst confession of all. One time my super sweet Aunt Connie gave me a birdcage to paint. By the time I got around to it, it was two years later. I forgot where it came from. I had it for sale for $25 at an art festival, and she came out to support me. As soon as she walked up to the birdhouse, a weird expression came over her face. Just then I remembered it was HERS! Oh God, talk about wanting to crawl in a hole and hide! She never gave me anything to paint again.

MARGOT: HA! That’s priceless. I can relate, sometimes you are working on such tight deadlines that you get wickedly flustered. Okay, so I was working on my second book and I planned to do a polymer clay project. Of course, as is often the case, I was crafting by the seat of my pants. I made this rubber duck that was super cute - until I burned it and it turned into a brown pile of poly clay dog poop. It looked really good though! So if I ever need a doggy doo project, I’ve got that covered!

KATHY: You never know. Maybe there is a pet-themed shadow box in your future!

MARGOT: Well, here’s something pretty funny and poop related. (There’s a segue for you!) My first craft project was when I was a baby. I was in my crib and apparently bored silly. So I reached into my diaper and did a finger painting on the wall.

My poor mother! What can I say?! I had an urge to create even then. A gal has to use the materials she has at hand.

KATHY: Um, literally. Hee-hee! Geez, with all these confessions, I hope we don’t turn people off from crafting for National Craft Month! We better come up with an uplifting message to tie it all together - quick - like:

“Expect accidents, people! Don’t let them stop you from making something wonderful!”

Margot...help me out here!

MARGOT: Well, sticking with my theme I say: Into every crafty garden, a little crap must fall. Don’t be afraid, just stir it around and let it turn to crafty compost. Then plant some new seeds and watch them grow! There are no crafty accidents, there are just creative opportunities. Everything is about perspective and true creativity requires the willingness to make glorious messes!

KATHY: And to that, I raise my cup of red paint water and say, “Ditto!”

What are your crafty confessions? Share them in our comments! And we want you to have a crafty convo with your friends too. If and when you (hopefully) do, send us the links!


(My crumpled paper bag lantern)


(Margot's '80s pants for her daughter)






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* All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2008.

PROJECT: Fabric Pillow Ring

Just another idea for those tiny fabric scraps. Who in the world could toss out a 1" square piece of animal print fabric?

Supplies:

2 pieces of fabric, a little over an inch.
Small image printed on fabric paper, or any other kind of soft image.
Sewing machine, or hand needle & thread.
Acrylic paint, liner brush and micro glitter.
A pinch of batting.
Metal glue.
Flat ring base.

Directions: Sew the image to the front of one of the pieces fo fabric. Sew the two pieces of fabric like a little pillow (inside out on three sides). Turn it right side out, add the pinch of batting, and sew up the open side. Glue it to the ring base. When it is dry, hold it steady in your hand and use the liner brush to paint on a border. Sprinkle on the micro glitter while the the paint is still wet.

This is just how I made it, but you can take it from there and add whatever else you want! Trims, charms, etc... I love using fabric for unconventional means, and this idea is perfect for that.

And if you ever get sleepy, you can just put your head on your ring! Kinda, sorta...


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* All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2008.

Vickie Howell & Knit Out 08

Vickie Howell made her first movie. It's a video blog of her adventures at Knit Out. A must-see!




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* All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2008.

PROJECT: Mixed Media Key Chain

Today's project is all about making the most of the odds and ends in your art room. Once I cleaned out all my extras, I realized that I could put them all together to make something functional! I posted a picture earlier and got a few emails about it, so I thought I'd share the crafty recipe for it!

First let me say that here in Phoenix, we have this magnificent craft warehouse called Diane Ribbon and Notions. It's been around for more than sixty years and is owned by the original family! You walk in there and it is a wall-to-wall paradise of cardboard boxes stacked from the floor to the ceiling. All superfly crafting treasures! And because they have been around so long, you can find really wild treats from the 70s and 80s.

So anyway, last time I was there I picked up some blank dog tags. I glued down scraps of paper on them and then a picture, and then painted on accents, added micro stars, and glitter. Yes, even in the tiny space of a dog tag, you can cram in all those elements! I covered each one in resin.

And then I took some mini-bottles, filled them with glitter, attached a chain, added word beads and charms and some old-fashioned key rings. Now that I look at the picture, I think it would have been cool to add a bit of yarn too!

As far as the glitter in the little bottle...just think - you will have (contained) sparkle with you where ever you go! I actually glued the lid down. That way I can tell people "In case of emergency, break bottle of glitter!"

Supplies:

Keyring
Decorated dog tag, or another large picture charm of some sort.
2" of chain
mini-bottle filled with micro glitter (add a bit of glue inside the rim to hold it tight)
Eye pins
Beads
Needle nose pliers
Jump rings

Directions: Attach the dog tag. Attach the bottle to the chain, and add that to the keyring. Put the beads on the yee pin and use jump ring to attach!



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* All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2008.

For your viewing pleasure!

Last summer I had the pleasure of not only meeting, but getting to hang out with Amy Sedaris at the BlogHer conference. She is a super crafter, as well as a master cupcake maker! So yes, I am an Amy cheerleader!!

My sister passed along this new ad Amy did for Microsoft and it is just adorable as all get-out. I only wish it were a Mac commercial (wink)!

Enjoy!




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* All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2008.

"Do you make shoes?"

You know, people always ask me, "How do you juggle everything?" "How do you keep track of it all?"

Well juggling lots of things comes with a price. I have a few rusty bolts in the memory department. Here is a little snippet of what I'm like on a regular basis. This is what Patrick has to deal with. Bless his beautiful soul...

OK, it is the day before the CHA show in Anaheim, and Patrick and I decided to spend a fun-filled day at Disneyland. We checked into our room and took the hotel shuttle to the park. On the ride over, we met a really fun family on their way too. I chatted with the husband about the new Finding Nemo ride that we were all super excited to go on.

We soon discovered our favorite rides were closed, and the Nemo ride had a 2 hour line. We realized we were super sleepy (we left Phoenix at 5 am that day) so at one point we wandered aimlessly, shuffling our way through Fantasyland.

Just then, I heard this lady whining to her man, and I glanced over. They had a group of young kids and a nanny-type lady ((I'm just assuming here...). Her guy turned around and said, "So what do you want to do next? Hurry up so we can get through this!"

I knew this guy from some where...hmmmm

Suddenly, I gasped.

"Patrick! That's Wyclef right there!"

"No way." Patrick says before second guessing his diss. "OK. Where? Show me."

Can I just say that I spent many years interviewing movie stars when I was an entertainment reporter for the newspaper? I KNOW my celebrities. I can pick 'em out a mile away - and tell you what kind of cologne they are wearing. Patrick knew this so he gave me the benefit of the doubt.

We semi-stalked Wyclef. We saw him turn around and raise his jacket up on his back. Across the back of it read "REFUGEE".

"Oh, snap!" I said, all proud and stuff...

Patrick kept teasing the rest of the day, saying that he didn't think it was him. I knew for a FACT it was. I had just seen a new You Tube video he put up, so his face was fresh in my mind.

Fast forward to Sunday. We came back to our hotel after a long, draining (but very exciting) first day at the convention. We were dragging our spaghetti legs to the elevator when I saw this guy.

"Hi!" he said. "How are you?"

For the life of me, I couldn't remember where I knew him from! The convention? Home?

Just then it hit me...he looked like this guy I met at the BlogHer conference last July. He worked for a sneaker company and wanted Patrick and I to design a pair of Day of the Dead shoes.

As tired as I was, I was still "on" from the convention. I approached him super perky...Patrick put his hand on my arm to tell me something. Patrick and I - we can read eachother's minds. He thought I forgot who this person was, but I knew!

So I go to this guy:

"Hi! I remember you! Do you make shoes?"

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Patrick put his hand over his eyes and turn to face the other direction.

The guy gave me the weirdest look and replied: "No...um...I sat on the same Disneyland shuttle with you yesterday..."

"Huh-huh. Oh yah...sorry..." I said, dazed and embarrassed.

Patrick slipped his hand through my elbow and said, "Come on, Wyclef, let's go."

OK, so maybe I messed up on the shoe guy, but I know it was Wyclef at Disneyland!! Patrick has been giving me a hard time ever since. Every time I make a confident proclamation, he says,

"Do you make shoes?"


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* All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2008.

PROJECT: Glittered Soda Pop Bottle

This is a project from my Crafty Chica Collection book, glittered soda pop bottles!

Here's how to do it:

Buy some glass pop bottles. I love the Mexican ones because they have raised designs or the labels printed directed on the glass. But you can also use flat paper label ones. It's all good!

You'll need acrylic craft paint, assorted brushes, and toothpicks for the micro spots.

You'll also need decoupage medium and ultra fine glitter in colors that match your paint colors.

First paint the entire bottle, and all the little details. Let it dry.

Next, working one area at a time, coat it in a thin layer of the decoupage medium and then pour on the glitter. Don't sprinkle the glitter - POUR it! If you sprinkle, you'll miss some spots. Trust me. Tap off the excess glitter and move on to the next spot.

Stop when it is all covered in glitter. Spray with varnish to seal it.

You could skip the paint part, but I like to do that step because it makes the glitter more vibrant. Red glitter on red paint, yah, baby, gimme more....

Now you can use your bottles as vases, centerpieces for a party, for a window sill, etc.


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* All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2008.

Duncan Design Team: Our Artful Aprons!

Last week at CHA I spent many happy hours in the Duncan Enterprises booth. I shared my apron drama here, but you should know that mine wasn't the only handmade apron at our booth! Check out these others!


This is Candy Purse designer, Candace Marquette! She is a die-hard Duncan-ite, you may have seen her (and her artwork) in Tulip and Aleene's ads.


Next is Alexis Sadler, ("the face of Duncan! as my friend SwellGirl says). Alexis made her apron from a men's dress shirt, a men's tie and one of the Tulip jumbo metallic iron ons. Que cute! Alexis designs many of the projects you see for Tulip and Aleene's.


And here is Cheryl Ball with her apron she made from PAJAMAS! She explained it for us:

"The apron skirt was the front of the pj's with buttons and pockets. the rest of the pj's were cut up for ties, waistband, bib etc. I cut up old sweaters, blazers and fabric for the dimensional design. "I sewed them together with floss then glued them in place with Fabric Fusion. I embellished the design of the pj's with Iron-On Crystals from the multi-pack colors."

Like Alexis, Cheryl is one of the queen designers for Aleene's and Tulip! She recently had a feature on her felting artwork in Make It Mine Magazine! I think it is so funny that Cheryl's last name is "Ball", as in ball of yarn, and she likes to felt with yarn! I wish I had a crafty name like that!


This is the fabulous Traci Bautista. She demoed for two days in the booth, promoting her new line with Duncan! It is called "Collage Pauge", plus she has a whole line of cool papers out too. She didn't even need an apron, she is a walking art piece!

I didn't realize until the show - that wearing a handmade apron is such a great way to promote your own signature style of art. It also is functional. I made my apron using all kinds of Crafty Chica products and every time I left the booth, people stopped me to either take a picture of my apron, or ask about it. I was able to give them a 5-second spiel and point them to the booth. And it was so fun to hear people comment about the "Duncan aprons! Go see the Duncan aprons!" Alyson Udell and Lindy Selnick are the marketing team who came up with the idea. Very clever ladies!

So this is a message to artists who are working, teaching, talking, demo-ing or even just visiting a craft convention/workshop/conference, etc...MAKE AN APRON and wear it proud!!!





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CLICK HERE to see my crafty videos at LifetimeTV.com!

Other links:
STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR

* All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2008. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * for awesome crafty resources check out DuncanCrafts.com

JUICY FICTION: Chica Lit! Abiola Abrams! Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez! Laurie Notaro!

While being a wife, a mom, and an artist takes up most of my waking hours, I also have a foot in the fiction-writing/reading universe. I love to read more than I love to write, paint, or sprinkle glitter. Well...maybe not that last one, but pretty close.

Anyway - I belong to a "Chica Lit" writing group and every so often we do these fun blog tours, where we all take turns posting our original mini-stories. The last round was for Valentine's Day, but with all the excitement of CHA, I didn't have time to partake.

I know it is a little late, but I want to share the blog tour links with you. If it were up to me, Valentine's Day would be EVERY day! So check out the stories below, leave comments with the authors and check out, better yet - BUY - their books on store shelves! They will appreciate it!



The Ballad of Aracely Calderon" by Mary Castillo
http://marycastillo.blogspot.com/2008/02/por-un-amor.html

“The Painting” by Mayra Calvani
http://www.thedarkphantom.wordpress.com/

“A Box of Valentines” by Jamie Martinez Wood
http://jamiemartinezwood.blogspot.com/

“Missed Connections” by Margo Candela
http://www.margocandela.blogspot.com/

“Dream Catch Me” by Barbara Caridad Ferrer
http://fashionista-35.livejournal.com/


OK, secondly - I just finished my cyberfriend/fellow passionate creativity blogger, Abiola Abrams' new novel, DARE.

Four words: Smart. Saucy. Soulful. Sexy.



Back when I was heavy into my podcasting days (I plan to return to them soon!), I came across Abiola's podcast called "The Goddess Factory". Maybe you remember me blogging about her back then? Each episode radiated with ideas and tips for living an artful life and practicing self-empowerment at every opportunity. Abiola is based in NYC and in her recordings, you could hear the taxi horns in the background, you felt like you were right there in her living room.

I immediately felt connected to her because as much as I was into building a creative career doing what I love (art!), she was right there too. Her passion was film making and poetry. I emailed her then, and we connected briefly. Fast forward a couple of years later, and we both have come so far, almost on parallel levels. She is now connected with BET for her film making, me with Lifetime. We both wrote and sold our debut novels, etc. We're both making a living doing what we love with multiple vines growing into all kinds of creative ventures.

Who am I kidding? Truth is, her career is like, double/TRIPLE what mine is, but it sure feels good to say "I knew her when". I am so proud of how far she has come because she is 100% about preaching positivity! We recently chatted through MySpace, gave eachother the cyber high-five, and I am so excited to meet up with her for lunch the next time I'm in the Big Apple!

I'm telling you - check out her podcasts, her blog, all of it! Here is Abiola talking about her new book. I read it in one day, it is that good!



And last!! If you've been following my blog since I started, you'll know that it was the book The Dirty Girls Social Club, by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez that got me back into reading, and ultimately writing.

I remember cooking a meal in the kitchen for la familia, and Alisa was being interviewed on CNN about her book deal. The interview was about her fresh fictional take on the modern Latina. Even better, she happened to be coming through Phoenix for a signing that week. I went, met her, bought the book, and the rest is history! I've been a devoted fan since.

It goes further: I spent nine months writing several drafts of my novel. I presented it to my book agent and he sent it back to me. He said it "was a good first draft" and I had a lot of work to do. I cried and figured I'd give up. Six months later, Alisa invited me to teach a writer's shrine workshop at a Miami Chica Lit conference she organized. I came home from the trip so motivated to write, that I dove back into redoing my book. I didn't stop until it sold to a publisher. And I know I'm not the only one who can say that about Alisa's influence. She is more than inspiring!

Here is her blog so you can see all the cool things she is up to these days - including promoting the release of the DGSC sequel (!!!) called Dirty Girls on Top.



Wait - one more! OK, this book does not come out until this summer, but it is by one of my long,long, longtime best friends, Laurie Notaro. She has sold millions of books for good reason! I love you Laurie!



***
CLICK HERE to see my crafty videos at LifetimeTV.com!

Other links:
STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR

* All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2008. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * for awesome crafty resources check out DuncanCrafts.com

OK, I'm done making stuff.

OK, I'm officially done making stuff. For now. I just had to crank out some things that weren't tied to anything! I just shut the light off in the workshop and don't think I'll be back in there for a few days.

Since Saturday, I made four purses and a batch of charm keychains. *Stretches arms over head*.

Here's a few pics, and if you are interested - I put them up for sale in my store, ChicanoPopArt.com!






***
CLICK HERE to see my crafty videos at LifetimeTV.com!

Other links:
STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR

* All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2008. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * for awesome crafty resources check out DuncanCrafts.com

Fabric collage purse for sale

This is the first weekend in a LONG time that I've been able to take my mind off of work. Our art orders are done, the book is done, CHA is done.

So what do I do?

Art.

I made this purse today and it felt sooooo good. It's a cutie, and I want to sell it. $75. PayPal.

Any takers? First one to message me can have it!

It measures 8" x 11", and has a 36" black strap. It is a fabric collage - meaning it is made of 8 pieces of fabric (one piece that I hand-dyed a while back), plus assorted pictures such as a painting of mine, a scene from a Mexican novela comic, and the Virgin of Guadalupe.

It is stamped with the word "vida" - meaning "life". I hand sewed word beads that say "grab some fun now". And then I used some imported French yarn to hang a resin on metal muerta dogtag that has one of Patrick's illustrations on it. And it is tricked out in teal glitter, plus a few other sparkles...

Oh! and it is trimmed with purple fringe and black ball fringe too!

The body of the bag (photo below) is from a heavyweight tablecloth.
UPDATE: This purse is sold!


***
CLICK HERE to see my crafty videos at LifetimeTV.com!

Other links:
STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR

* All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2008. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * for awesome crafty resources check out DuncanCrafts.com

PROJECT: Tricked Out Tee

One of the biggest rewards of crafting is seeing a high priced item at a swanky boutique and grinning - because you know you can go home and make it for a fraction of the cost. On a recent trip to New York City, I came across a wildly adorned (and very expensive) rock star T-shirt that had all kinds of hand-applied crystals all over it. Talk about going from grunge to glam! I could hardly wait to get home just so I could make my own version. I decided to take it up a notch by starting with a faux-vintage tee and adding on some sequins and glitter too. The various sparkly textures play off each other nicely without being too over the top. Note: This project will take one solid afternoon (or two chick flick DVDs), but will be worth every second of effort.

Tricked Out Tee
(NOTE: Because I work for Duncan, I have access to all their fabulous products, so I used a lot of them on this shirt!)

Supplies:
1 T-shirt with a simple image
1 piece of cardboard lined with freezer paper to slide inside the shirt
1 large package of crystals that match the image (I used these from Tulip, and you will need about 100 of them, depending on how much you want to apply)
1 crystal iron-on heat tool (I used this one from Tulip)
1 crayon
Polyester glitter (made for use on fabric, like Tulip Fashion glitter)
Sheet of paper
Sequin trim
Permanent fabric adhesive (I used Aleene's Fabric Fusion)

Directions:
1. Slide the cardboard inside the shirt.
2. Working on a flat surface, open the crystals and lay them in front of you.
3. Working on a small section at a time on the shirt’s image, pick up a crystal with the crayon and place it on the fabric. Use the heat tool to adhere it by pressing it on the crystal until its adhesive backing melts.
4. Place more crystals where you want them (in groups of four or five work good), and then continue applying them the with heat tool.
5. Add the glitter. Work over a sheet of paper. Fill in other areas of the image with the glitter by painting the surface with the permanent fabric adhesive, and pouring the glitter over it before it dries. Tap off excess.
6. For other areas, apply the fabric adhesive and add the sequin trim. Let it all dry.
7. When finished, remove cardboard. Gentle wash, inside out, hang dry.


Tips and Variations: If you don’t want to fill the entire areas with crystals, just use them on the outline of the image. You can choose to apply the crystals very close together, or spread out a bit. The closer they are, the more you will need and the longer it will take. If you do not have a heat tool, you can apply them with a mini-iron, standard iron, or permanent fabric glue.





***
CLICK HERE to see my crafty videos at LifetimeTV.com!

Other links:
STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR

* All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2008. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * for awesome crafty resources check out DuncanCrafts.com

CHA show wrap up!

(Me on stage next to Carol Duvall at Art Unscripted Live. Yay to Suzanne Lamar and Sarah Hodsdon for setting this up!!!)

So much can happen in a week. This time last Friday, I was frantically spinning my wheels, panting heavy, trying to get everything ready for the show. And what a show it was!

Since April I've been working with Duncan Enterprises on creating this new, amazing, product line inspired by my web site and workshops. When the show finally opened, I held back a mini-panic attack. Would people *get* it? Multi-culti designs, bright colors, high intensity glitter, hi gloss varnish?


(Crafty Chica Loteria Game)

YES!

By lunchtime the first day, we knew it was a smashing success with both "orders and press" (direct quote from the VP of Duncan!). The make-and-take tables were full all the way from the beginning of the show Sunday to the very end Wednesday at 2 p.m. Many people came back all three days to make a tote. The first day we glittered them, the second day we used paints and transparent liquid glitter, and the third we used fabric markers. The last day anything and everything!

What was so cool was that there were folks of all ages, some had tattoos, some had red hats. Some had purple hair, others had styled bobs. People of all kinds of ethnic backgrounds - and crafty genres too. At one point an editor from a popular country style magazine sat down at the table, and I thought, "Oh no, she will not like this..." and she picked out a bird with roses tote and stayed until she finished decorating it. It came out beautiful! At the end, she reached out and shook my hand and congratulated me on the line!

Another cool thing - at my saint workshop, everyone had to use the Crafty Chica paints to mix their own skin color for their sttue. I showed them the basic formula - yellow with a drop of red, and a dot of black. You should have seen all the various skin tones they came up with, most almost exactly reflected their own skin. Who knew yellow, red and black could go so many ways?

By Wednesday, I had went through two book signings, and gave out almost 400 bobbleheads. There was glitter everywhere! Everyone who came into the booth smiled at the products and the stories behind them. They loved that there *was* a story, instead of just "this is a new colorful line".



My favorite aspect? All my crafty friends in the industry who made an effort to come by and give me a big bear hug. It's very hard to maintain a living living a crafty, artful life and paying the bills too. We are all striving for that. So when one of us scores, all of us do. I am so proud to say many of my friends were there promoting their deals as well - Vickie Howeel and her new book, Cathie Filian and Steve from Creative Juice, Traci Bautista has a new "Collage Pauge" line of products through Duncan. Margot Potter and her books! I could go on and on!

Life is nothing unless you have family and friends to celebrate it with. The Duncan team has become my extended family, and it was wonderful to have Patrick to finally meet them. My sister came out too, as well as Harriet and Mary from Lifetime TV!

I posted a whole gob of photos on my Flickr account here.

As far as when items will be available in stores - this summer, hopefully by July. And by all means, if you want your local craft store (big or small) to carry the line, refer them over here and I will direct them to the right people!


***
CLICK HERE to see my crafty videos at LifetimeTV.com!

Other links:
STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR

* All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2008. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * for awesome crafty resources check out DuncanCrafts.com

Pic of crafty chica display

With natalie zee & susan beal

My apron!

Leftover glitter

Johnathan's handmade pants

Demo table

With sonja nimri & Jonathan fong!

Me with Steve & Cathie from Creative Juice!

Bobblehead giveaway!

Photo from my CHA worksop!

We made saints, angels, and queens!

PROJECT: Valentine's Light Box

I leave for Cali in a few hours for CHA!! But before I lay my head on my fluffy pillow, I wanted to share this idea. I don't come back until the day before Valentine's, and that wouldn't give enough of a lead to make this.

And keep checking back here because I'm going to be photo blogging from Anaheim!!

OK, on with the show!



Valentine's Day Light Box

Use your favorite Valentine's Day card, or a personal photo, to make a dimensional lighted shadow box. Actually this concept can be used for any theme you want. I am so excited for when I have a break so I can make a whole bunch of these!

Supplies:
Small glass jewelry box (I bought mine at Michaels Arts & Crafts, locations Valley-wide at www.michaels.com)
Paint
Hand-held rotary tool
Hot glue
Decorative paper, pencil
Valentine image (I got mine from CandyCoated.org)
Foam core
Scissors
Glitter
Battery-operated strand of 10 mini lights
Sequin trim
Wood beads for feet

Directions:

Paint the box and let it dry. Turn the box over and using the hand-held rotary tool, create 10 holes in the back of the box. Blow off dust.

Open the box and hot glue decorative paper to the back of the box. Use a pencil to poke through the paper where the drilled holes are. Glue the valentine image to a piece of foam core and cut around the edges.

Coat the edges with paint and sprinkle glitter over it. Let dry. Cut a small piece of foam core and then hot glue the image to it. With the box upright and the lid open like a door, hot glue the foam core to the inside base of the box, and then glue the image on top of it. Insert the mini lights (one light in each hole).

Hot glue the battery pack behind the box. Hot glue the door closed. Add sequin trim around the front of the box, and any other decorations you want. Hot glue wood beads as the feet for the box.

***
CLICK HERE to see my crafty videos at LifetimeTV.com!

Other links:
STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR

* All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2008. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * for awesome crafty resources check out DuncanCrafts.com

Deep breath. Crafty Chica's CHA Schedule

Yes, that is supposed to me as a ceramic bobblehead! There's even glitter on it! The marketing team at Duncan Enterprises had these created so we could hand them out at CHA. It kinda looks like me, but then it kinda doesn't. Regardless, it's cute! And to think that the original model was hand carved from a photo!

I should be in the art room right now, but I needed a BREAK. It was either a bowl of Fruit Loops or blogging. I can't afford any calories, so blogging it is!

We leave for CHA *early* Saturday morning and I still have a list of huge tasks to complete in ONE day (um, that would be tomorrow):

- Finish my art apron (current project-in-progress).
- Make two model shrines for the booth.
- Make and print a batch of flyers.
- Blog about my schedule.
- Buy clothes for both me and Patrick.
- Get my hair did.
- Clean the house for our relatives who are house sitting.

Oh! And get the last of the photo shoot items over to my book photog's house.

And tomorrow is my dad's birthday.

Oh! And make a glittered Mickey Mouse shirt!

Tonight's dilemma - skip a night of sleep to keep working and risk having puffy eyes, and being cranky for the show OR go to bed and wake up early and start again, refreshed? If I do the latter, I'll miss out on precious hours. But if I stay up all night, my chances of having a public meltdown at the show increases dramatically.

So, about this apron. All I needed was "an apron". That's all, just an apron. This is for me to wear at the Crafty Chica Make It Take It craft sessions, a workshop I'm teaching, and the big public "craft off".

No biggie, just a simple apron. They are sold for $5.99 at Target. I could have bought one and easily embellished it, but NO. I just had to make one from flippin' scratch. Printed off my CC papers onto fabric and stitched the whole thing. I added fringe and a waistband, and pockets galore. I wanted to make the top part like two criss-crossy straps, like a bandida crafter, but it didn't quite come out right. Maybe that is a good thing. Would that be too contrived? Crafty Chica with a bandida crafty apron? Why do I worry about what others will think? I should just make it the way I want it! If I did decide to follow through with the straps, it has to be done NOW. And I'm horrible at engineering. Patrick (who is awesome at engineering) is at the recording studio so I'm on my own. My goal is to somehow get this dang apron done before midnight. EEEk. It's getting late, I better hurry!

Honestly, it's not the above list of duties that has me biting my nails. It's the whole debut, launch, etc. Wondering what people will say to each other when they leave the booth. Will they understand the love and thought I put into it all? We're talking 108 products with my name on them. Each one is like a little baby we (me, Patrick, and Duncan) created.

I still can't believe a year ago I was crying every day on my way into work because I was exhausted from being sad and stressed. My poor family put up with my drama and did their best to cheer me up. Them, blogging, making art, and writing are the things that kept me hanging on. This sounds so cheesy, but this time last year, I went to CHA and heard all about "The Secret" and the law of attraction. I totally, 100%, bought into it, changed the way I thought about everything - and look where it led!

I believe in visual manifestation. Did you know that I used to cover my paint bottles in my own Crafty Chica collage papers? And my glue sticks too? Little did I know that someday those would really become actual products! This week on Oprah, she had a follow up on The Secret and they talked about making a visual board to hang in your house. It is supposed to include pictures of all your hopes and dreams so you see it everyday and those things will manifest in your life.

I got goosebumps watching it. Why? Because, believe it or not - three of my kits in the product line are exactly about that! And I've always been about making and teaching shrine workshops on that very topic. I had an Oprah "Ah-ha!" moment while watching the show. I feel like my mission with Crafty Chica with the product line, the books, TV stuff - is to motivate other people to make art with meaning, to better their lives. Yikes. Lordy, it is too late, I'm rambling on goofy stuff!

Bottom line? If you are in a super sucky place right now, they IS a way out. But you have to do some work on it. The best place to start is by making a proclamation of what you want to do or where you want to see yourself. Then look into taking the steps to doing that. Look for signs, don't take anything for granted. Keep on with what you are doing, but convince yourself that it is only temporary. Instead of saying "Hopefully something else will come along" say instead "I'm going to be working at...." or "I'm going to be selling my art at..." Be specific! Life is too short to be wishy washy or waiting for things to fall in your lap. Just go after it already!

OK, back to business -

While I'm here - here is my schedule for CHA if you happen to be going!

SUNDAY, Feb 10:

7-9 a.m. Create-A-Saint workshop

9-10 a.m. FREE Crafty Chica bobbleheads to the first 100 people at booth 4001!

9 a.m. - 5 p.m. FREE Make It Take It Crafty Chica Market Totes (These are canvas messenger bags silk screened with Patrick's art that we will then trick out in fabric markers, paint, glitter, all kinds of cool stuff from the Crafty Chica product line!) Booth 4001.



MONDAY, Feb 11 (Please bring me a mocha if you are there, I have zero breaks this day!)

9-10 a.m. FREE Crafty Chica bobbleheads to the first 100 people!

9 a.m.- noon: More totes!

Noon - 2:30: More tote bags AND a special appearance by Patrick Murillo, my hubby and illustrator of the line.

Noon- 1:30: I will be one of the contestants in Art Unscripted LIVE With Carol Duvall. CHA Theater booth 5317.
NOTE: THIS is so surreal because in my upcoming novel there is a craft off just like this one!!

2 - 2:30 p.m.: "Crafty Chica Interview" by Renee Sparks. CHA Main Theater booth.

2:30-5 p.m.: More totes!

TUESDAY, Feb. 12

9-10 a.m. FREE Crafty Chica Bobbleheads to the first 100 people to booth 4001.

9-4: More tote bags (if we haven't run out by then!)

4-5: Book signing - FREE copies (one per person).

WEDNESDAY, Feb 13

9-10 a.m.: FREE Crafty Chica bobbleheads to the first 100 people at booth 4001.

9-2: Last of the totes!

OK, I'm off to finish that apron, and then go to bed!




***
CLICK HERE to see my crafty videos at LifetimeTV.com!

Other links:
STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR

* All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2008. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * for awesome crafty resources check out DuncanCrafts.com

PROJECT: Heart shaped sugar cubes!

Heart-shaped Sugar Cubes

These are great for serving up breakfast in bed in style!

Supplies:
1 tray of silicone mini-heart molds (I bought mine at Target’s Dollar Spot)
1 cup of granulated sugar
A few drops of water
Bowl and spoon
Index card
Plate
Icing
Edible decoration (M&M, heart candy, etc)

Directions: Pour the sugar in the bowl and add a few drops of water. Mix with spoon until sugar has the consistency of wet sand. Pack the sugar very tight into the molds (no more than two at a time). Place the index card over the mold and carefully turn it over so sugar hearts slip out onto the index card. Let harden for one hour. Decorate with icing and edible decorations.





***
CLICK HERE to see my crafty videos at LifetimeTV.com!

Other links:
STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR

* All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2008. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * for awesome crafty resources check out DuncanCrafts.com

Tinkerbell RIP: A Pinata Tragedy

Saturday was our adorable little niece's 3rd birthday. For weeks we recieved pretty Tinkerbell-theme e-vites reminding us about Bella's big day and the "Think Tink" theme. Her parents went all-out to ensure her day would be special and enchanting!

We arrived at the party to find everything pink, frilly, and totally Tinkerbell. (Dora is so last year!) I'm talking the cake, the tablecloths, a bouncy castle and even Tinkerbell wrapping paper on the gifts. It was all too pretty to touch. Bella's face beamed with a glowing smile that would warm Tinkerbell's heart.

"Look!" Bella proudly yelled to her guests. "Tinkerbell! That's my Tinkerbell!"

My eyes followed where Bella's finger pointed.

I gasped.

A Tinkerbell pinata! Beautiful and glorious. Bright and cheery. A lump formed in my throat.

I've always repsected pinata-making as an art form. It takes so much skill and talent, and even some hardcore engineering. I've tried and tried and have never been able to make a pinata that I'd be proud of. So when I saw this lovely Tinkerbell, hanging by a wire above the party scene, I knew her moments were numbered. But did she know? Did Bella know? I think not! I nervously picked at the hem of my blouse, knowing that in minutes, the lives of these two lovely little ladies would forever change.

See for yourself.


"Hello, fair people! For I am Tinkerbell, and I'm here to grace Bella's birthday party with magic, joy, and lots of love! Gather round, children, gather round!"


"OK little boy, you can see the back of my dress. Hey, what's with the stick? Be careful with that thing, you could hurt someone!"


"THEY BEAT ME! AND THEY TOOK TURNS! Hey... MY LEGS!!! WHERE ARE MY LEGS?"



Yup. As you can see, the kids had a blast beating the crap out of Tink. See them clawing at the grass for the candy? Aw, I know it is all innocent fun for everyone. Except little Bella. She saw the legs go flying off and began to cry out: "They killed my Tinkerbell!"

One of her cousin's tried to calm her down. He took off the top half of Tink and raised it over Bella's head. "Here sweetie, you can wear her as a hat!" Bella stopped sniffling for an instant, and then screamed even louder.

Luckily her mom came to the rescue. She swiftly broke out with the goody bags that Bella had decorated before the party. Despite her watery eyes, Bella's face lit up again as she passed out the bags to her guests. That was the end of the Tinkerbell trauma. At least for Bella.

As for Tinkerbell? I spotted her later in the night. All alone. Face down. Eating concrete.


"So I guess this is what they call Never-Never land."

Thank you to Stacey and Ray for having us over to celebrate Bella's big day. It was truly a fantastic party!! When we got home, Patrick and I cracked up looking at these pictures. They reminded us of that skit John Leguizamo did on his House of Buggin' show a long time ago. And what do you know? It's on You Tube! (click there if you can't see the video below)



P.S. Yes, I know there is a tildy over the "n" in pinata, but I can't figure out how to do it on Blogger...


***
CLICK HERE to see my crafty videos at LifetimeTV.com!

Other links:
STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR

* All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2008. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * for awesome crafty resources check out DuncanCrafts.com

Yes We Can video

Like so many other people these days, I've been soaking up as much info as I can for the upcoming election. I have to admit, this video moved me. And the speech that inspired it (by Senator Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign and especially the speech Obama gave following the New Hampshire primary).



"It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation.

Yes we can.

It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail toward freedom.

Yes we can.

It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness.

Yes we can.

It was the call of workers who organized; women who reached for the ballots; a President who chose the moon as our new frontier; and a King who took us to the mountaintop and pointed the way to the Promised Land.

Yes we can to justice and equality.

Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity.

Yes we can heal this nation.

Yes we can repair this world.

Yes we can.

We know the battle ahead will be long, but always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change.

We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics...they will only grow louder and more dissonant ........... We've been asked to pause for a reality check. We've been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope.

But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.

Now the hopes of the little girl who goes to a crumbling school in Dillon are the same as the dreams of the boy who learns on the streets of LA; we will remember that there is something happening in America; that we are not as divided as our politics suggests; that we are one people; we are one nation; and together, we will begin the next great chapter in the American story with three words that will ring from coast to coast; from sea to shining sea --

Yes. We. Can."



***
CLICK HERE to see my crafty videos at LifetimeTV.com!

Other links:
STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR

* All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2008. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * for awesome crafty resources check out DuncanCrafts.com

A morning at the Farmers Market

CHA Workshop: Create A Saint, Queen or Angel!

(before)


(after)

CHA is next week, and my Create-A-Saint workshop still has spaces. If you happen to be attending the show, sign up for the class!

I designed this saint, queen and angel statue - literally sculpted the prototype and then they had models made of them. They are so you can decorate them and use them to empower yourself...Well, just read on -

Crafty Chica: Create-A-Saint
Workshop W047
Room 213C
Sponsored By: Duncan Enterprises
Instructor Name(s): Kathy Cano-Murillo
Empower yourself with the Crafty Chica Create-A-Saint workshop! Bring out your inner guardian using glitter and glue! Participants will receive their choice of a saint, angel or queen to embellish in their own personal style: keep it as a vibrant, happy reminder of your hopes and dreams, or give it as a gift to brighten the life of someone else!

We will have all kinds of Crafty Chica products there to help you decorate your own to take home. This is your chance to score one (and personal instruction!) months before they hit store shelves!

Class level: beginner
Items to bring: None

To register, sign up under workshops at the CHA site. You have to be attending the show in order to sign up. There is info on that too at the CHA site. If you want to have a crafty career, I highly suggest you try to attend. You will learn and see so much about the industry!

***
CLICK HERE to see my crafty videos at LifetimeTV.com!

Other links:
STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR

* All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2008. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * for awesome crafty resources check out DuncanCrafts.com