Kathy Cano-Murillo's Bio

1990-95: I marry my best friend Patrick (also an artist, as well as a musician) and we vow to live a life of arts and culture. We start a business making Mexican pop art. We get a sales rep that brings us more than 300 orders to fill. We have two kids, DeAngelo and Maya, and we all live in an 800 square foot house. Every room is used to produce our art, from storing to producing to shipping. Stores like Bloomingdales, Serendipity 3 and hundreds of other shops and galleries place orders on a regular basis. We can’t keep up. We get an order for 10,000 hand painted pieces from Santa Fe perfume. We are broke and decide we don’t like painting anymore. We drop the sales rep (or rather they dropped us!)

1995-2000: I crave a cubicle and people. Armed with an AA degree in marketing, a knack for feature writing and an excessive knowledge of pop culture, I work my way part-time into the Arizona Republic newspaper, first in the tear-sheet room, and then in the Features department as a news clerk. After a couple years of filing and answering phones, I am promoted to full-time clerking and entertainment writing is incorporated into my job. I’m still running an art business at home with Patrick, who handles most of the orders on his own. In December of 1999, I’m asked by the Home editor to write an arts and crafts column. At first, I balk. “I don’t do crafts, I do art!” I proclaim. Patrick convinces me to take the column and use it to show cool crafts. I Google “cool crafts” and discover GetCrafty.com – a site for hip women who like to make things. I go back to work and excitedly agree to write the column.

2001-2003: By springtime of 2000, I’m hooked on crafting. I launch CraftyChica.com to preach the gospel of cool crafts to the masses. Gannett News Service picks up the column, where 40 papers run it each week. My editor advises me to go to night school to finish my BA degree so I can become a full-time reporter. At the same time, I’m approached by a book editor and sign on to write my first two books. I’m hired to paint pieces for the cast and media gifts for the film, Frida, starring Salma Hayek. During the day I work at the paper, at night I go to school, in the middle of the night I write my books. Patrick cooks and does laundry and keeps our art business running. I paint on Sundays. Summer of 2003, I graduate, am promoted to a reporter and my first book is released. My parents throw me a party!

2004-2006: I sign on for three more books. Two for tween girls, as away to honor my daughter, and one based on this web site. I getrepresentation from the William Morris Agency. Together with Patrick, Idesign a line of Hispanic home décor products for Lowe’s HomeImprovement Stores. I do weekly local TV appearances, as well asnational. USA Today writes: “Kathy Cano-Murillo strikes us as one ofthose people who, stranded on a desert island with nothing but avolleyball, a deck of playing cards and some coconuts, would not onlycraft a rescue vehicle and distress signal but whip up a spiffycastaway-themed wardrobe to wear as she did so. And she would be havinga great time.” I write my first novel.

2007-present: I am featured on NPR Weekend Edition. I watch “TheSecret” video, and read the book. I change the way I think aboutthings. I tell the universe I am ready to take Crafty Chica all theway. It works. I get a job offer from <ahref=”http://www.duncancrafts.com”>Duncan Enterprises</a> to design andlaunch my own product line. I leave my beloved newspaper job, but stayon freelance to continue writing my syndicated craft column. I sign onfor my next book (sewing!) with Potter Craft. My debut novel, “LoveShine” sells in a two-book deal to Grand Central Publishing. Targethires me to sell my jewelry through their Red Hot Shop, and Borderscalls as well, asking for my my purses. Alas, I do not have the manpower to make hundreds of purses, but I take the offer from Target.LifetimeTV hires me to host my own webisode series, “Crafting With theChica”! All the while, I’m loving my new job and crafty career becauseit enables me to fulfill my dream of inspiring other to create! Thankyou Duncan!!

As of now, I’m loving the crafty lifestyle!!

Crafty Chica trivia:

- I'm left-handed, except I cut with my right hand because my first-grade art class teacher wouldn't let me cut "the wrong way".

- I've had many crafty mishaps. Once I went to bed with resin in my hair and woke up the next morning with my head stuck to the pillow.

- Patrick and I create more than 100 pieces of art each month in our studio.

- I love my day job as an entertainment reporter as much as I love chocolate. I've had the honor of interviewing dozens of fascinating people like Halle Berry, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Lopez, Guy Ritchie, Diego Luna and Joan Cusack.

- I truly am addicted to glitter. I recently counted more than 50 different containers and variations of it in my work area.

- Pastels make me gag. And I'm not good with minimalistic designs. No matter how hard I try, I can't use either.

Kathy's workload:

Designs the Crafty Chica product line which will be in select Michaels stores August-October 2008.

Writes a nationally syndicated craft column for Gannett News Service Wire and The Arizona Republic.

Runs her web site, which receives 50,000 unique visitors a month.

Has six published crafts books. The seventh is "Crafty Chica's Guide to Artful Sewing" by Potter Craft and releases February 17, 2009.

Is currently working on an exhibit for the Heard Museum: "La Casa Murillo" (October 2008-January 2009).

Films a web series for LifetimeTV.com, "Crafting with the Chica".

Has a debut novel releasing summer 2009 by Grand Central Publishing.

Is an expert in branding, PR, online social networking - and crafting of course!

Demonstrates original craft projects on Arizona Midday, KPNX-TV, Good Morning Arizona 3TV and Sonoran Living KNXV-TV.

Appears on HGTV and the DIY Network.

AWARDS:
- The New York Public Library for "The Crafty Diva's DIY Style Book". It was chosen as "One of the best books for teens of 2004".
- Valle del Sol's Profile of Success: Arts & Literature, 2008.
- CHA Innovations Best in Show: General Crafts.

She is a member of the Craft and Hobby Association Designer Trend Team, and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.

Teaches creativity workshops around the country.

Has designed and manufactured custom merchandise for companies such as Microsoft, MTV, Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Hispanic Leadership Institute, McDonald's Corporation, Michaels Arts and Crafts, Museo Chicano, National Council of La Raza, Salt River Project, US Dept of Energy, Valle Del Sol, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and Arvizu Advertising & Promotions.

Gives speeches and presentations on the arts and crafts industry, creativity, being a working parent, running a small business...

Her handmade jewelry was recently sold at Target's Red Hot Shop.

Was formerly an arts and entertainment reporter for The Arizona Republic, specializing in film, pop culture and local events.