Art De La Soul: Kathy Cano Murillo

By: Sister Diane

Kathy Cano Murillo, everyone's favorite Crafty Chica, has just released her fifth craft book, Crafty Chica's Art De La Soul: Glittery Ideas to Liven Up Your Life. In it, she shares a gorgeous collection of craft projects you can wear, brighten a room with, plant, eat, and share with loved ones. Just a taste for you: Corazon Candles, a Tin Flower Mirror, and some Fantastico Fantasy Paper Lights.

But Art de la Soul goes beyond the projects, to offer Kathy's thoughts on life, love and spirit, and how creativity runs through them all like a bright red ribbon edged in glitter. You'll find musings on creating family bonding time, building a backyard sanctuary, and using good karma to light up your life. You'll find funny and moving stories from Kathy's own crafty life, as well as lessons she's learned along the way. And you'll find a warm, generous spirit that makes you want to craft up every corner of your life.

If by some chance you haven't fallen under the Crafty Chica spell yet, here are some things to know about Kathy. She's a nationally-syndicated craft columnist, and author of craft books including Making Shadow Boxes and Shrines, and La Casa Loca: Latina Style Comes Home. She makes weekly television appearances, sharing craft with the people of her hometown, Phoenix. She maintains one very crafty website, blog, and podcast at www.craftychica.com. She's recently finished her first novel. And somehow, she manages to find time to be an entertainment and crafts reporter for the Arizona Republic, and a mother of two. I might go so far as to call her the patron saint of multi-tasking.

I talked to Kathy recently about her newest release....

Can you tell us more about the "Soul" aspect of this book?

My motivation came from witnessing so many women (and men too) juggle a bundle of responsibilities - motherhood, jobs, finances, chores, etc. and accidentally lose sight of who they are as a person. It's so easy to fall into a cycle of producing and churning out task after task for everyone else but you. "Hello??? What about you?", I say! This book is a way of chillaxin so people can have fun and goof around for a bit. I want it to nudge them to celebrate their quirks and dwell on the things that make them happy. It's like nourishment for the spirit, or soul. Make a statement by using art to express themselves and leave a mark on the world that they were here. It feels so good inside and out to accomplish something creative - something that doesn't have a paycheck or deadline, or any real purpose except to make you smile. Some people, many people, even me! - need a reminder of that.

Why did you want to write a craft book with life lessons and advice?

To me, life is one big craft project. It's not cut and dry. There are lots of ingredients to choose from, and the outcome can either be crisp and cool - or as sticky and unsatisfying as uncured resin. But next time, you know better! People who craft are of a certain breed. We can practically smell each other out from a large crowd, or a MySpace friends page. Being crafty is a lifestyle, we all have stories and advice to share. This is how I wanted to share mine. Plus, I wanted it to be more than just a craft book. I wanted it to be timeless in spirit, even if the projects eventually become outdated. And most of all I wanted the readers to feel me, to know that I'm right there with them when it comes to being passionate about all things handmade!

Your work has always drawn on your Latino heritage. What do these cultural influences bring to your art?

Two things: the first - I used to deny the Mexican side of me because I grew up in Anglo schools and neighborhoods. I hadn't even tasted Mexican food, even though my parents made it several times a week! It wasn't until I met Patrick (my now husband) that I was converted. He was a pachuco zoot-suiter back then and on our first date he made me try a chimichanga. I haven't been the same since! I dived into all things Mexicana as a way to make up for my ignorance and snobbishness. The other reason is that I got tired of not finding any cool books or products with hip Latino influence. Yes, I have my fair share of Frida Kahlo stamps, but there is so much more to the culture than that. Many of us who want to decorate our houses with Latino flair, we often have the SAME accessories because there isn't much out there. So to make my own home stand out, I started making my own line of accessories and it caught on. My book allows me to share those ideas so other people can do the same.

I love that you've shared your crafty disaster stories in this book! They're so funny, and they helped me see that these things happen to everyone. What role do disasters play in creativity?

They are your battle scars that you wear with pride. They are the dues you pay. They are symbols of humbleness to remind you that you aren't all that, and still have a way to grow. They are the ways we find out what works and what doesn't. They are signals from the universe that it's time to put down the glue gun and take a break. Most of all, they are great topics for craft group conversation!

I think this book embodies something many people love about you; you're all about generosity and building connections. How do you maintain this outlook?

I wouldn't even know how to answer! It's just how I am. I think it might come from being a middle child and having a super-smart older brother and a super-cute little sister. I always felt like I had to work hard to get noticed and be loved. Of course, I always was noticed and loved, but it's just classic Jan Brady Syndrome. Instead of wearing a big afro wig and strutting down the street, I like to make things for people.

Your husband, Patrick Murillo, illustrated this book. Tell us a little about his creative life.

We've been married 15 years and my stomach still does the flip-floppy thing! He is so talented. He writes music and sings and plays keyboards in his band. He is a rastachicano, a Mexican-American guy with long dreads. I crochet his tams! He is a painter and I knew when I got this book deal that I wanted him to do my illos to bring the book to life. I'm so proud of him! We are truly living an artful life, which is what we vowed to do on our wedding night!

I have to ask about my favorite project in the book: your Loca Ropa Quilt, which makes use of all your family's cast-off T-shirts. How in the world did you come up with that?

OK, here is how I show my affection for Patrick. One night when he was performing at a gig, I got this grand idea to make a fabric collage quilt. Smoke came out of my sewing machine as I whipped up 20 panels. I wanted to make it bigger but ran out of fabric. Instead of waiting until the next day to go to the fabric store, I insisted on finishing the facing of the quilt THAT NIGHT. So, um...I went into his closet and got all his Latin themed t-shirts and cut them up to use them for the quilt. When he came home, it was about 2:30 am and I was all bright-eyed and buzzed on coffee and I made him close his eyes and then I surprised him. At first he was impressed but then he took a closer look and said, "Those are all my favorite t-shirts!" It was like closure that I included it in the book. It hangs as a headboard above our bed. The idea to use cast off shirts, that was just my Crafty Chica twist to have it go in the family chapter.

What's next on your horizon?

Whew! A lot. I have a line of rubber stamps coming out, a line of glitters, and I'm signing a 12 month contract with a television production company to develop a Crafty Chica TV show. I'm still tinkering with my novel before I submit it to my agent for submission. I have more crafty books coming up. The biggest thing? I have the Crafty Chica Creativity Cruise coming up on Carnival Cruise lines! It's the last week of September. It's all about Latino crafting. We visit the Museum of Latin American Art, see a movie, go to Ensenada, Mexico and craft, craft, craft via workshops.

How the heck do you keep all these projects up?

It's hard sometimes. But I just get so excited at all the opportunities and feel blessed by the crafty gods that they come my way!

See Also

Seeds of Inspiration
Review: Knitting for Good!
Read-it-yourself (in chronological order)