CLICK HERE to see the "Crafting With the Chica" video in all it's sparkling glory!
******
Fiction writing, reading chick lit, chica lit and teen lit, women's fiction. Making stuff. Painting, drawing, sewing, gluing, sprinkling glitter wherever I can. I would seriously make everything I need to use if I had the time. OK, so the detailed list:
Arts and crafts: I'm currently in high glitter mode. I just covered a ceramic chihuahua with it! Fabric journals, book making, collage art, glitter portraits, polymer clay, lots of sewing. I like to take cool t-shirts that are way to small for me and alter them so they are bigger so I can wear them.
Writing: I wrote a novel and got a two-book deal from Grand Central Publishing (formerly Warner Books)!! By day I'm designing my own craft product line for Duncan Enterprises, and I'm a freelance newspaper columnist (crafts) for The Arizona Republic and Gannett News Service. I also author creativity and craft books, I like to inspire people to flex their artistic muscles! I'm currently working on my seventh book, a sewing title for Potter Craft/Random House (pub date Spring 2009).
Latino art: I just made swag for a top notch movie star!!!
And the rest: pop culture, juicy novels, celebrity gossip (hey, I need to know for my day job!), anything with chocolate. The newest thing is podcasting. I just started the Crafty Chica Podcast a couple months ago and have had so much fun with it. You can find me on iTunes.
Spanish language film (any foreign language actualy), Bollywood, almost anything by Tim Burton, melodrama, sisterfriend flicks, crafty movies, surrealist films (magical realism - Big Fish, Amelie, you get it...). As far as my FAVORITE films? Edward Scissorhands, Big Fish, Selena, White Oleander, Titanic, the original Poseidon Adventure, Splendor in the Grass, A Place in the Sun, Days of Wine and Roses, Amelie, The Others, Like Water for Chocolate, Amores Perros, Y Tu Mama Tambien, The Motorcycle Diaries, Mommie Dearest, Moulin Rouge, Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Birds. Gobs more. I watch movies while I make my art and I also make crafts based off of movies!
Television
I recently cut back on my TV viewing because I'm knee deep in wrapping up my novel. But I still have to paint and produce orders, ya know. So when I'm in my art studio, I run my DVR, which currently includes Ugly Betty, Lost, Heroes, ANTM, Knitty Gritty, Craft Lab, Creative Juice, B Creative, Musical Pssport, Oprah and Tyra. Dang. That's cutting back?
Books
I read a lot! I love chica lit. Alisa Valdes-Rogriguez, Patrick Sanchez, Mary Castillo, Lynda Sandoval, sonia Singh and I simply love to get lost in anything by Maria Amparo Escandon. I hope to join them on the bookshelves some day. Plus other authors like Jennifer Weiner, Ann Brashares, Erika Kennedy and Janet Fitch.
Anyone who pursues their dream, strives to inspire others to better themselves and is on a positive mission to make the world a better, safer, livlier, lovlier place. Is that too much to ask?
All images below, copyright Patrick and Kathy Murillo, 2006
Crafty Chica's Art de la Soul: Glittery Ideas to Liven Up Your Life (HarperCollins)
ON SALE!
I'm a hard workin' mamacita. I juggle my family life and a crazy, crafty career. By day, I'm designing my own Crafty Chica product line for Duncan Crafts. I also write a weekly craft column for The Arizona Republic. After my day gig, I'm a mom until everyone goes to sleep, and then I become a writer and artist until about 2 a.m. or until my coffee buzz wears off.
I've been married to my best friend, Patrick, for 17+ years. He *gets* me, know what I mean? Ever since I've known him, whenever I've been dissed or hurt by someone, he backs me up. Sometimes that is emotionally, other times it is homeboy style :-) One time I was standing up on this ledge at our old apartment complex and this drunk man below yelled up to me that that he could see my underwear - and then he ran in his apartment and shut the door. Patrick leapt down the stairs and banged on his door. He made the dude come over to me, remove his hat and apologize. And he did - he even put his hand over his heart!! Yah, Patrick rocks. It was love at first sight and I still get girly girl jitters. Silly, no?
We have two super sweet, talented and creative kids. They don't realize it now, but I know they are destined for things much greater than my hubby and I have - or ever will achieve! Both Patrick and I come from successful, happy, healthy, supportive families, so we are very blessed. We've been doing our little art business ever since we were married and plan to carry on as long as we can. We may not have loads of cash, but we are very rich when it comes to living our dreams. Patrick is a musician and an artist, I'm a writer and a wannabe artist. Our son, DeAngelo, 17, is a whiz with taking pictures, video, and editing. He even started his first movie! Our daughter, Maya, 14, rocks the house. Literally! She jams on the piano, viola and guitar and is addicted to Photoshop. Sometimes when they think we are not looking, they sing songs together, heh heh...Oh! We have four chihuahuas who yap excessively!
I have to also give props to my sister, Theresa, who also happens to be my best friend. She knows me even better than Patrick sometimes! She is like the extra strength adhesive that holds the Cano familia together!
Alrighty, here's my deal. I have this stupid complex where I feel like I have to prove my worthiness. So I aim high and multi-task more than I probably should. I'm far from perfect. I'm chubby, I cry easy, I work way too hard to please others and I allow my feelings to get crunched in an instant. I get very upset when I witness unneccesary hatred, whether it is on the news, in the media or in my daily adventures. I don't know how to deal with mean-spirited people. I believe every mean person just needs a little TLC and I want to be the one to change them. I have scars to prove it.
But hey - I have solid points too! My hubby and kiddos know they always come first. Money is not my motivation in life, but making people smile is. I have to be happy otherwise I'm a frump. Plus, people die in an instant, ya know? I want my life to be worth something more than the tangible things like a bank account, a job title or a fancy car. Although someday I'd like to be successful enough to buy a brand new car. Not to show off, just for peace of mind!!! And I'd like to someday have enough free time in my life to properly decorate my house andplant the roses, so I can stop and smell them. Seriously - I want to take up gardening!
Over all? I want to be remembered for positive actions. So I find ways to make a living doing the things I love: writing books, watching movies and making stuff! I get off on leading by example. I'm doing my best to blaze a smooth trail for my kids to follow in whatever capacity they choose. They've seen Patrick and I prove that you can have non-traditional "dreamer" goals and actually achieve them through hard work.
As far as my craft career, lots of folks say "I wish I could do that" or "What I really want to do is this..." Well I don't say things like that. I use a crafty state-of-mind to DO it. The things that make me happy and fulfilled.
My theory is life is too short to cheat yourself out of having fun and making the most of all the fabulous opportunities out there. Everyone is good at something, why not make the most of it? We have 24 FREE hours a day. If you want it bad enough you WILL find the time to make it happen. I do my best work in the middle of the night when the house is quiet. It works!
I spent years as a movie and entertainment newspaper reporter. I have six published books, write a nationally syndicated craft column and do local & national TV. It's a busy life, but I love every minute of it! My dream,however, is to become a published fiction writer.
I've spent the past two years working on my first novel called Love Shine. I wrote it from 10 p.m.-2 a.m. four nights a week. It's been through many revisions from my agent, but now it is almost ready to be shopped to editors at publishing houses. I think I want this more than I've wanted anything else. I have so many ideas for fun stories and pray I get the chance to share them with the world by way of a hardback on a bookshelf. I'm not holding my breath because I know many authors who wrote many manuscripts before finally getting one published. Here I have ONE, so I can't expect too much, but at least it feels good to say "Guess what? I wrote a novel!"
My point is, as human beings, we should always strive for that next challenge, the next scary step up. Even if we fall on our butts, at least we will of had the thrill of the experience.
OK, my sermon is over! Be nice to those around you, don't judge or be mean, hateful, cruel. Be a problem solver. Appreciate all that you have. Make time for the important things in life. Always end on a high note. Smile big at someone who is frowning. Do your part to make the world a more beautiful place and I will too. I promise!
Peace, love and glitter to you!!
******
I edited my profile with Thomas Myspace Editor V4.4 (www.strikefile.com/myspace)
I'm a binge crafter and artist who found a way to make a living out of it. Life is too short not to do whatcha love, right? My biggest challenge is that I'm addicted to bright colors, hi-gloss varnish and glitter. My designs often tend to lean that way. I break out in hives if I try to design with pastels, muted tones or monochromatic color schemes.
I allow graphics in my comments, but if you post a blatant ad (or a HUGE ad) without even saying "Hi" or "Have a nice day" I will delete it. I'm here to make friends and network and share good vibes. Again, ads are welcome in good taste and in good spirit. Be cool about it, that's all I ask!
After spending years writing about other people as a reporter for the Arizona Republic, I finally got to be the subject of a feature! It's for the product line debut!
Other indie-business owners, artists, crafty folks, writers, authors, people who appreciate la cultura! Also - artists who are *really* going for it, even though the odds are against them. I send you good vibes to help in your endeavors!
All images below, copyright Patrick and Kathy Murillo, 2006
