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Here is a little video Maya made while we were away at CHA. She uses a monster plushie she made, as well as a stop-motion filming technique. Que fancy!
I love that even though Patrick and I are artists, she has found her own way to be creative that is different from what we do. Her own little niche!
CLICK HERE IF YOU CANNOT SEE VIDEO ABOVE
Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)
P.S. Check out my new book and product line!
(Photo: Margot Potter, Marisa Pawelko and moi, hamming it up!)
I can't believe the show has come and gone already. This one was my favorite crafty event for two reasons:
1. We debuted Round Two of Crafty Chica products, which means everything is going GREAT with the line!
2. CHA made indie crafters the theme of the show, which meant there were lots of my friends there learning all about the industry.
I think it was a brilliant move on CHA's part to invite so many indie crafters to the event. After all, these are the emerging designers and they are very innovative, edgy and talented. Just the kind of people the crafts industry needs to keep the spirit alive for years to come. And I was happy to see so many indie crafters show up and take notes.
If you are serious about making art for a living, you have to work all different angles. Not just production to sell online or at festivals. You also have to build your brand, set up workshops to teach, work with manufacturers on product development, design for magazines, learn to demo, pitch TV segments, write, pitch and author books, educate yourself on all the aspects of the industry to become an expert in your field. CHA has all of those under one roof. All of that combined with making your own art and selling it improves the odds of crafting for a living.
The first show I attended was in Atlanta in 2005. Talk about being overwhelmed! I walked the aisles, and honestly there were many exhibitors and products that didn't speak to me. I had been making my Chicano Pop Art and selling it for 15 years. I was very much into making my own cardstock templates instead of fancy paper punches. I made my own scrapbook paper and stamps, I couldn't afford fancy tools. CraftyChica.com was only five years old at the time and I didn't exactly know what my mission was with it, other than inspire people to get crafty.
After attending that show - I knew. I watched artists demo products I knew and loved. I wondered how they got that gig because I knew I could do it too, if given the chance. I walked around and asked for "Latinocentric" products. I had never seen any in the store, so thought there would be some here of all places. One guy said "Sure!" and pointed out some chili pepper scrapbook paper. Another booth had Margarita glass stickers. Hmmm, that didn't exactly make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I saw so much potential and opportunity at the show and recognized a niche that needed to be filled. I decided to theme my next book, Art de la Soul, all on hip Latin-theme DIY projects using everyday objects and Mexican ephemera.
The next year, I brought that book to CHA with me and showed it to manufacturers, including Alyson Udell at Duncan. I had a few of them give me "the nod" - as in, "We will be calling you". and they called! The next year I spoke on a panel about Hispanics and crafting. By the end of the presentation, I had a line of manufacturers waiting for me with their cards to talk about endorsements. Valerie Marderosian, VP of Sales and Marketing at Duncan, did one better. She took me out to dinner and asked about my plans for Crafty Chica. She helped me "craft" a vision for it. A few months later, she flew out to Phoenix and offered me a job! I turned in my notice at the newspaper (something I never thought I'd do because I loved that job so much) and began designing the Crafty Chica line.
My message is that CHA, like anything in life, is what you make it. You have to go in and find your niche and work it. Make it your own, see where you can serve and what can serve you. give and take. Meet people, pass out samples of your work, ask questions. Up on top there, is a picture of Marisa, the Modern Surrealist, who attended the show for the first time. This chica made it a point to introduce herself to all the important folks and leave a fun, lasting impression. She is happy and bright and had a suitcase full of samples, a press kit, the whole deal.
That is my crafty advice to those of you who have wondered about this trade show and how it applies to what you do. Look into it!
About the show - Here is a picture of the Crafty Chica booth, the designers at Duncan did such a far out job putting it all together. I'll admit when I first heard that old garbage can lids were part of the set, I was like, "OK...hmmm" BUT they have done such a great job in the past, I knew it would all make sense and it did! Above and beyond what I imagined! We wrote oodles of orders and recieved an abundance of positive feedback.
One of my favorite quotes overheard by a passerby: "Chihuahuas and cupcakes and crafts! That's why I love the Crafty Chica!"
Love it!!!
P.S. Here is info on the summer show!
(Photo model: Chloe Tatro)
Super easy goal: Make your own Cards shirt
By Kathy Cano-Murillo
Special for the Arizona Republic
I swore I would never marry a sports fanatic and thought I had struck gold with my artist-musician husband Patrick. No sports talk at the table, no Monday night football on our big-screen TV. Perfect!
That is, until a few weeks ago, when he noticed how well the Arizona Cardinals were doing. He sat in front of the TV riveted as the Cardinals beat the Philadelphia Eagles, earning a trip to the Super Bowl. During commercial breaks, Patrick explained the team's history and how awful they had been. Until now.
I'm a sucker for an underdog story so I watched the game too, shocked that I was cheering as well.
And here I am sharing a Cardinals craft, one with plenty of glitter (though if making it for a guy, skip the sparkle part). If you want double the twinkle, add crystals.
Go CARDS!!
NOTE: The logo is licensed and this project is only intended for you to make for personal use, not to sell!
Supplies
1 shirt Printout of Cardinals logo Clear contact paper (shelf liner)
Tulip Sticky Fabric Collegiate Letter Stencils (or foam stamps)
Tulip Soft Fabric Paints: red, black, yellow, white
Crafty Chica Glitter: black, red, gold, white
Tulip Glitter Bond
Makeup sponges or stencil brush
Craft knife
Mat or cardboard Masking tape
Directions
Leave the backing on the contact paper and cut a piece 1 inch larger than the logo image. Use the masking tape to tack it down to the mat.
Apply small pieces of tape to the back of the logo and place it on the contact paper. Using the craft knife, cut along all of outside, as well as the inside pieces.
Remove the contact paper. Remove the inside of the logo. On the outside piece of contact paper, remove the backing and place it in the center of the shirt. Use the makeup sponge to apply the black paint evenly inside the area (Photo A). Let dry.
Now take the inside of the logo and remove the red, white and yellow pieces, so you have a "stencil." Peel off the backing, line it up with the design on the shirt and press in place (B).
Use the makeup sponge to add red, yellow and white paint (C). Let dry.
Go over the same areas with the glue, and then the glitter (D). Tap away excess.
Use letter stencils to add a phrase.
Let dry before wearing. To wash, turn the shirt inside out.
Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)
P.S. Check out my new book and product line!
for more info about the convention, visit hobby.org
Next week's show marks the one-year anniversary of the new Crafty Chica product line!
This show will be just as exciting because I'm not only there to unveil second rounds of goodies, but I'll also be showing off my new sewing book, and demoing for CHA's special "indie-craft" booth.
If you are a buyer or store owner interested in carrying some of the coolest DIY designs in the world (!!!), come check out the Duncan Enterprises booth
(3701) and ask for me, Lauren or Toni and we'll walk you through the program. gosh, I sound so official...
OK, demos and free make-and-takes!
SATURDAY
Indie-Craft Welcome Event
Special Event E503
Room 304A
Who Should Attend: All show attendees
Special Guests include:
Tina Barseghian, Editor in Chief, CRAFT Magazine
Kathy-Cano Murillo, the “Crafty Chica”
Jenny Hart, Sublime Stitching
Leah Kramer, Founder and Producer of Craftster.org
Faythe Levine, Producer, “Handmade Nation”
Are you an Indie crafter and a CHA member, but would like to meet and connect with other CHA members who share your craft aesthetic? OR…have you heard the buzz about Indie-crafting and want to learn more about it? Join us at CHA's welcome event for this "new wave" of crafting, with highlights including:
• Inspiring tales of ground-breaking success from the Crafty Chica
• See first-hand samples of the latest trends form Craftster.org's founder, Leah Kramer
• Preview clips from the Documentary film profiling the growth of Indie-crafting around the US, "Handmade Nation," and hear first-hand stories of this burgeoning movement from the film's Producer, Faythe Levine
CHA welcomes everyone interested or curious about Indie-crafting, the projects, the materials, and the movement’s leaders to join us in an evening of introductions and eye-opening inspiration!
If you can't see the video, click here.
NOTE: This part was trimmed from video - you plug the box into an extension cord!
Vickie Howell, Pattie Wack, the O'Neil sisters also have cool projects up too! Thank you, Lifetime TV, for bringing us crafty chicas together!
Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)
P.S. Check out my new book and product line!
CLICK HERE IF YOU CAN'T SEE VIDEO ABOVE
Low budget, cheesy, but still slightly entertaining!
This video is dedicated to "Britney" at Chase Bank at 43rd Avenue and Dunlap!
Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)
P.S. Check out my new book and product line!
I'm all about balance. That last post was a downer, so I'm coming back with something sparkly.
No matter how hard I try, I can never make things are that slick and uniform in design. I love the crazy combinations of textures, sizes and themes. Imagine my delight when, on a recent trip to New York City, I found all kinds of over-the-top beaded, paper, and fabric cocktail rings for sale. They weren’t only in the trendy accessory boutiques, but also at the street vendors booths. I came home inspired to whip up my own version. Embrace individuality! No two rings will ever be alike and you can work in a color story, or mix and match like I did here. Special thanks to beader Margot Potter for help with this project!
Beaded Cluster Cocktail Ring
Supplies:
1 ring base with eight loops
1 spool of 30-gauge wire
Needle nose pliers
Wire nippers
Small-to medium sized glass or crystal beads
Directions: Using the wire nippers, cut a 12” piece of wire. Thread it through the first hole on the end, leaving a 1” tail. Add a small bead on the other end of the wire and loop it through the loop on the ring, bring the wire up through the loop across from the last one and add another bead. You need to tug gently so the beads will be snug. Continue. Save the larger beads for the center. Once you reach the end, work your way back to where you started, adding more beads for “filler” where needed. You are finished when you reach the 1” tail you left when you began. Using the needle nose pliers, wrap the two wire ends together, nip the excess and tuck under one of the beads.
Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)
P.S. Check out my new book and product line!
Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)
P.S. Check out my new book and product line!
I've been buzzing about the house prepping to leave for Cali this week (CHA!!), so I haven't had much time to get down and crafty. My kids, however, spent the day home from school making a cute cooking show spoof video.
Happy Inauguration Day! Go get free make-up today, too!
Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)
P.S. Check out my new book and product line!
OK, I swiped this picture from my friend PattieWack's blog, I couldn't resist!
Look at her back in the day, doesn't she look so happy and proud? I want to be Aleene!!! Think of all the wonderful things Aleene's Original Tacky Glue has held together over the years. Read Pattie's blog entry today about Aleene, - here is a mini-excerpt:
"This is one courageous business woman who has stuck with her ambitions and pioneered the crafts industry as we know it today. Her determination and promotional skills led to regular local TV segments in the late 1940s, when TV was in its infancy. You probably have a bottle in your house right now, of the famous craft glue with her name on it. The inventor sold her the rights to the formula, and with her marketing savvy, the famous gold bottle became a big seller, and Aleene's Tacky Glue still sells all over the world."Leave a Happy Birthday comment here for Aleene and I'll make sure it gets passed on to her through my crafty connections. I'll draw one name to win a jar of Crafty Chica glitter AND a bottle of Aleene's Original Tacky Glue.
- Pattie Donham
"Rettilg! Rettilg!"
I received more than 100 entries! They were so funny! I liked this one, I thought it was really clever - playing off "redrum!" from The Shining. (Rettilg is glitter spelled backwards)
The winner is Nancy Gill! Thanks for all the great caption, everyone!!
Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)
P.S. Check out my new book and product line!
Writing essentials: glitter pen, notes, journal, back scratcher, coffee, lip balm, Aleve, mouse, screen and keyboard!
Ever since late Friday afternoon, I've been working non-stop on finishing my novel revisions. I've been saying that for months (years?). It's hard and I don't want to rush! Time is of the essence now, so I haven't even changed my clothes in three days. no make-up, not even lipstick! Gross! I swear I don't do this all the time, I'm just so involved with perfecting this project. I did have one break planned yesterday, and it fell through, and I did sneak off today to watch the Cardinals game, but aside from that, I've been doing nothing but sitting here. Patrick cooks and serves me my meals at my desk. The kids are doing their own laundry. I am blessed that they are so supportive of helping me accomplish this. Next it is my turn to help them with whatever they need!
Tonight I looked at my work area and it looks like a college dorm room! That's why I snapped a picture. You should see my hair! It started in a ponytail, yesterday I woke up and I had a Marie Antoinette do. This morning, my chongo had shape-shifted into highly-teased 80s rocker hair. And I'm still typing away and loving every second. I read all my chapters to Patrick and the kids and they give me little tidbits to add or change. I hate that I get sleepy and have to go to bed, I'd rather stay up and keep working. I do have bouts of writer's block and burn-out here and there, but I push through because there is no other cure but to just do it.
Someone posted on Twitter today and it is my new mantra:
"Every worthwhile accomplishment, big or little, has its stages of drudgery and triumph; a beginning, a struggle and a victory."Thursday I leave for CHA and I'll still be working on this book every free second I have in the hotel room. The fact that CHA is going on while I'm finishing it is full-circle for me. When I began the book, it was called The Crafty Chica Chronicles and was around the time of the Atlanta CHA convention. It was my first convention and I wore HEELS. I couldn't walk, my feet hurt so bad. So I sat down and watched dozens of crafters audition for the hosting spot for Craft Lab (which eventually went to the lovely Jennifer Perkins!), and I wrote passages and pages of character notes. Now the book is called Waking Up in the Land of Glitter - and I'll be fine-tuning the last pages at the convention.
- Gandhi
Captain Kirk at the helm!
Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)
P.S. Check out my new book and product line!
These are some bottles Patrick painted recently. We finally had time to post them for sale on eBay for a three-day sale. LINK TO BID
These "upcycled" art pieces were created by award-winning artist Patrick Murillo. He used acrylics, accented them with glitter and sealed them under a thick coat of varnish.
Patrick, of Phoenix, AZ, has been painting since childhood, and professionally for 20 years. His work has been purchased by collectors all over the world, and his illustrations have been seen in magazines, newspapers, books, and television. His handpainted pieces have been sold in more than 300 retail boutiques and galleries around the country. He is the main illustrator for the popular Crafty Chica line of craft products.
These are a one-of-a-kind art pieces!
"Dad, you're making beans!"
He watches as Patrick pours the bag of pintos into the crock pot.
"You don't have to peel them?" DeAngelo asks.
Silence. Patrick and I exchange glances. Our son is 18, and has eaten beans all his life.
"I thought they were like pistachios..."
Silence. Patrick and I exchange worried glances.
"Wait. Are pistachios beans?"
Patrick and I break out in giggles. How will DeAngelo wrap this up, we wonder.
"Nevermind!" DeAngelo says, waving his hands in the air...
He is so cute!! And this will be a great memory to bring up years from now! Heh-heh!
Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)
P.S. Check out my new book and product line!
I am a sucker for these dollar store bottles. I never have anything to put in them, but they just look so cute on a book shelf or in a bathroom, etc. Maybe you could put little love notes inside, or a wish list of what kind of partner you want to come into your life!
Supplies:
1 glass heart-shaped bottle
Crafty Chica Mojito Papers (newsprint design)
Crafty Chica Loteria (milagro heart image)
Crafty Chica Glossy Gloss Varnish (doubles as a light adhesive)
Crafty Chica Pink Glitter
A small chunk of cardboard (to make heart stand out)
A bead for the top of the bottle
hot glue
Directions: Cut a heart shape from the paper, glue it on the front, add the cardboard to the center. Cut out the heart from the game, hot glue it to the bottle to cover the cardboard. Add dots of glue, sprinkle on the glitter. Add the bead to the top of the bottle.
Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)
P.S. Check out my new book and product line!
I saw a clip of the recent Japanese car show and they had a Mercedes that was 100% covered in crystals. Of course I had to drop what I was working on to make something just like it. Problem - I didn't have enough crystals in my supplies. The horror! Well, they say glitter is the poor man's bling, so glitter it is!
The cars are Patrick's and DeAngelo's. The green car is the exact model Patrick owned when I met him. It was charcoal grey and we used to drive around in it on our early dates. After we were married and had rent to pay, he sold it. He has been heart-broken ever since. We always say someday we'll get another one, so until then, I got him this micro version. He keeps it on his art table for visual manifestation purposes... eee gads, and then I go and glitter it up! At first I worried he would be mad, but he told me loves it even more now!
These are covered in my Crafty Chica glitters - Glamour Queen Green and Rockabilly Ruby and I added some Be Bop Black to dirty them up for a vintagey kind of look. I bet you are tired of reading me "talk" about my love of glitter - but I am so proud of these glitters, they are truly premium and every time I use them I am amazed at their dazzle. You can't tell by the picture, or even by the bottle, but once you actually use them, you can see the sly holographic effects in them. I have to give props to Lauren at Duncan for sourcing them and then allowing me to mix them for retail! I am hoping and praying that someday soon we'll be able to add more colors to the line.
And yes, I am hoping and praying for other things too, like world peace and food for starving children. After all those problems are solved maybe there will be some time for a little extra chica glitter action :-)
Here is the Japanese car show video - fast forward to the 1:21 mark to see the eye-popping crystal car.
Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)
P.S. Check out my new book and product line!
Repost from 2006 - This is a nifty project for kids or teens to do - or you, if you want something ultra fast to make. These little suckers are just made out of sheets of regular .20 craft felt! The fun part is that you can whip up several to match whatever outfit or purse you want to wear. You can also make them to use as coin purses, cell phones, iPhones, Flip Video cameras, or to hold small art supplies in your craft room or craft case. It's sweet because it's all nice and cushiony soft. By the way, this project is super easy, but lots more detail can be added if you want, such as embroidery, bead, trim, fringe, buttons, etc...
Supplies:
2 sheets of craft felt
Scissors, ruler
Needle and thread or sewing machine
Applique if desired
Button and ribbon (or other closure device such as velcro or a snap)
How to do it: Measure an extra inch beyond the size of what you are making the sleeve for. I made two cases for my iPod Mini. I simply stacked the two pieces of felt and sliced it up the center lengthwise. Keep one set and sew them together all around the seams, as close to the edge as possible. Fold up where you want, so your iPod will fit nice and then sew up the sides. If you want to add an applique, do it before you sew up the sides. If you don't have a serger to seal down the edges of the applique, then just use the zig zag stitch on your sewing machine. TIP: You don't really need a ruler, you can pretty much eyeball the size. For the regular sized iPod, you will need to cut and then sew the flap on separate. Sew the button on the bottom portion and then tack on the ribbon on the top of the flap so you can wrap it around the button to close the case.
Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)
P.S. Check out my new book and product line!
Too many complaints with the formerly dark background, so we're back to tried and true and simple.
Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)
P.S. Check out my new book and product line!
Howdy!
I'm here, but barely! I haven't had alot of time to post new projects or posts lately, I'm on majorly tight deadlines. I have some very important meetings to prep for, plus making show samples for CHA in a couple of weeks, my craft column, workshops, and my novel revisions are due asap. I have to cut a few thigns out to make time to get everything done to the best of my ability! I'll be back in full force soon!
Until then, stay gold!!!!
Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)
P.S. My dad came home last night and is doing GREAT! My mom did a surprise home makeover and he was so happy! On the bummer side, my new car I bought is giving us problems. Off to the car rental place :-(
P.S. Check out my new book and product line!
Pienso en ti by Emily Costello.
40-something Emily Costello is a member of my craft group, The Phoenix Fridas. By looking at her work, you'd think she paints 24/7 and has taken years and years of art classes. Nope. This self-taught artist works a full-time job as a Human Resources director by day, and then comes home to her husband and son. She is a busy mom and manages to squeeze out time to create this incredible art. Check out her MySpace page to see more of her work, buy it or see where she will be showing next.
Peace, love, and glitter!Who knew she was a crafty girl?
Just got this press release from the CHA folks:Paris Hilton, internationally recognized model, singer, author, and entrepreneur will be available on Sunday, January 25, 2009 from 2:30 - 3:30 pm in the Wooky Entertainment booth #2500, to unveil Paris Hilton, the Creative Collection™ a multi-faceted line of fashion crafting kits from some of the most popular craft segments including scrapbooking, jewelry making and fabric embellishment. Paris will be on hand for photos and signing autographs.
I love to see Hollywood types craft, and she is the last person I expected to be there - but I think it rocks that someone like her is shining the spotlight on our industry so it will reach more people, inspire more to get creative and keep it thriving in this recent state of the economy!
Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)
P.S. Check out my new book and product line!
I scored some gorgeous coasters online, and they were direct from Spain. I love the retro flamenco dancers on them! I picked up on the style to embellish this jewelry box. This lovely project is from my book: The Crafty Chica Collection!
Supplies:
1 large wood jewelry box
1 large wood plaque
1 flamenco girl coaster (eBay!)
Paint, mini mirrors, black lace
Hot glue gun
Paint the whole thing, let dry. Glue the coaster to the plaque, and then glue it in the center of the box. Glue the mini-mirrors in the corners. Paint accents all over, and then glue on the lace. Add wood balls for the feet.
Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)
P.S. Check out my new book and product line!
Does it take a long time to load?
I got tired of boring white, is this too flashy, distracting, or hard to read?
Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)
P.S. Check out my new book and product line!
Story about this photo: My dad is coming home from the hospital on Wednesday and my mom is having construction done on the house to widen the doorways since he will be in a wheelchair for the first month or so. She also decided to take down a wall between the kitchen and the dining room. We all took turns making the first hole with the hammer. Being the dramatic/movie-loving chica I am, I couldn't help but pose for a Jack Nicholson ala The Shining shot...you like?
Come up with caption and I'll choose one as the winner. You'll get a "shining" gift pack:
- A bottle of Crafty Chica varnish
- 3 jars of Crafty Chica glitter
Contest ends Monday evening and I'm running it on Facebook, MySpace and Flickr too.
The winner of last week's Warp Speed Resolution drawing is Craft Hippie! Congrats!
MY NEW BOOK: "Crafty Chica's Guide to Artful Sewing: Fabu-Low-Sew Ideas for the Everyday Crafter".
See the new line of Crafty Chica products at HERE Amazon.com!! All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2009.
Lanterns are like sugar cookies. It should be a crime if they are left undecorated! I used my Crafty Chica glitters, tissue paper, yarn (you need white craft glue for that) and even paint drippings, which I covered with glitter. you can add crystals, foreign newsprint, stickers, etc...
Here is a break down:
Yarn-covered: Foam brush, Aleene's Original Tacky Glue and interesting multi-strand yarn. Work in three sections - top, middle and bottom. Coat the first section with the glue and wrap the yarn around. Kepp moving down. Because there will still be areas of wet glue, you can wrap the yarn diagonal too. To end it, simply hold your finger over the cut end in an area of wet glue (preferably on the bottom).
Glitter-covered: Foam brush, Collage Pauge Instant Decoupage, Crafty Chica glitters: Same thing, work section by section with the decoupge medium and glitter. Make sure to work over large paper so you can catch the overflow!
Tissue-paper: Foam brush, gift tissue, Collage Pauge Instant Decoupage Sparkles: Coat with medium, apply tissue paper where desired. I used the sparkles medium for extra twinkle power!
Paint/glitter-drip: Crafty Chica paints, Crafty Chica glitters: Pour th epaint over the lantern and roll it around so it drips. While it is still wet, pour loose glitter over it. Hang to dry.
MY NEW BOOK: "Crafty Chica's Guide to Artful Sewing: Fabu-Low-Sew Ideas for the Everyday Crafter". See the new line of Crafty Chica products at HERE Amazon.com!! All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2009.
Snippets: Mostly True Tales from the Lighter Side of Scrapbooking by Lain Ehmann
My review
rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is such an adorable book that any artist will relate to. While Lain shares her passion (obsession) for scrapbooking, I could relate as a craftaholic, and I'm sure others who love knitting, beading, etc will agree that her situations are universal. The essays are swift and sharp, so comical and TRUE! We've all been there! I love this book, great job Lain!
View all my reviews.
MY NEW BOOK: "Crafty Chica's Guide to Artful Sewing: Fabu-Low-Sew Ideas for the Everyday Crafter".
See the new line of Crafty Chica products at HERE Amazon.com!! All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2009.
The Friday Night Knitting Club, a novel about a group of diverse women who come together for the sake of yarn and needles, scored a top spot on the New York Times Best Seller list when it was released in 2006. Soon after, the book spawned new knitting/book clubs around the country, and was even optioned for theatrical release starring Julia Roberts. After all that success, you’d think author Kate Jacobs would be nervous to write the sequel. Instead, she welcomed the challenge. Knit Two was released last month and has already hit best seller status.
How did the sequel come about?
KATE JACOBS: I always had a future for all the characters. After I finished writing the first book, there was a lot of emotion. I was drained, I needed a break. Different circumstances in my life led me to write Comfort Food, which is a very lighthearted book. It was comforting to readers, and to me too – I wrote it after my husband had become unexpectedly ill. Thankfully, he recovered. Once all that was done, I was finally ready. I knew it was time to sit down and finish telling the story of these characters. Knit Two is set five years later because, I wanted Dakota (the pre-teen daughter of the main character in the first book) to be a young adult.
Do you have to know how to knit in order to enjoy the books?
Not at all. You don’t have to be a knitter to join the club. I thought, 'How mean would it be to write about this great club, but you can’t be a part of it unless you knit?' I didn’t want it to be cliquey, I wanted it to be a celebration of friendship. Knitting exists in the book as the activity they share, but not all the characters knit. And some who do knit, knit very badly. Some are great knitters, so there is a whole spectrum. The core of the book is about their relationships and their busy lives. It is also about how these characters have to work to maintain their friendship, as well as their hobby, when they are busy dealing with all the changes in their lives.
What is your view on the relationship between crafting and reading?
The commonality is the interest in detail. People who read, love the details in a story. People who craft are interested in the details of creating. And reading is very creative, you bring yourself to a story and you have to imagine this story. Sure, the writer brings the words and story, but you have to visualize the rest. Just like with crafts and having the materials and directions. The outcomes are always different.
Have you noticed a lot of knitters crossing over to reading?
I've mostly seen the other way around. I‘ve had book clubs learning how to knit. I talk to about 40 book clubs a month, and very often, they will say "So-and-so knows how to knit. She brought yarn and needles for everyone, she is going to teach us". So these book club meetings have expanded into knitting lessons, which I think is fabulous. I also hear in email from people who say they haven’t picked up needles in years but the book has inspired them to do it again. I’m also hearing from a lot of knitters who are trying the pattern in the back of the book!
Does knitting help with your writing?
You can’t type continually. You have to take a little break here and there and knitting helps to keep your hands busy. So I always knit things that are easy. I don’t like to have to think too hard about what I’m knitting. I want to use that time to think about the story for my book and its characters. I often knit little pieces of what the characters happen to be making in the book to get in the zone and feel a connection with them. Honestly, I have a lot of half-finished pieces! I get excited about choosing the yarn and the pattern, I’m all into it and I see something else and get distracted. This is funny because with writing, I am completely focused.
Any updates on the movie?
It is progressing, it takes a long time to put a book into a movie. The last I heard it is going through rewrites. I learned for Hollywood folks it is all about schedules and stuff, I just keep doing my thing and don’t pay attention to it. It is surreal and exciting, I more excited about writing books. My focus is on storytelling. Movie stuff is a delightful extra.
If you would like to have Kate Jacobs call your book, group, visit her web site at http://www.katejacobs.com.
P.S. On a side note, here are some other book events happening right now:
- Gwendolyn Zepeda's new novel, Houston We Have A Problema is now on sale!
- Check out the Chica Lit New Year's Blog Tour! It starts right HERE!
- Feel like giggling while you scrap? You MUST check out a copy of Snippets: Mostly True Tales from the Lighter Side of Scrapbooking by Lain Ehmann.
MY NEW BOOK: "Crafty Chica's Guide to Artful Sewing: Fabu-Low-Sew Ideas for the Everyday Crafter". See the new line of Crafty Chica products at HERE Amazon.com!! All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2009.
| I Recommend | |
 | Crafty Chica™ Chunky Glitters™ $2.99 |
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Crafty Chica™ Loteria Game™
$8.99 |
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Crafty Chica™ Love Shrine™ Workshop-in-a-Box™ $12.99 |
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Crafty Chica™ Iron-On Design™ $3.99 |
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Crafty Chica™ Charms™ $3.99 |
