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Stumped on a project, application or product? Send me a note with your crafty crisis. I'll do my best to come to the rescue! AND - if you are a clever crafter and can offer a suggestion, please post a comment :-) Sunday, July 18, 2004How to climb out of a creative rut.
Hello Kathy, I've enjoyed visiting you site for a couple of years. Keep up the great work....now here's my problem. Basically, I am stuck creatively.....I have an abundance of talent and skills....but lack space and finances. I live in a two bedroom apartment with two teenagers, 1 dog, and 1 cat. With such tight quarters....there's no room to be creative. Kid's occupy the bedrooms (1 each)...kitchen is small and the kitchen table is my home office (we eat on the couch). If I start a project on the counter...it must be cleaned up to prepare dinner. Very small living room and the bathroom's as big as a closet. I find working on projects very challenging and can not afford a studio. So now my creativity is getting stuck. Other times I worry about soiling the landlord carpets....I am a painter, ceramic artist...amoung other talents. Any ideas to help stimulate my creativity....other than moving...I'm melting away....thanks alot....Cola
Cola, I can relate! I went through a major transitional stage in my life once where I was living between two homes (my parents and my Nana's). I literally had NO space to call my own, except for my car, but there was no flat surface to work on in there (seriously!). What I did have was my craft box - one of those plastic boxes with a handle - where I stored portable type of projects. I even had a smaller box that I could fit in my totebag. At the time it was beading (using plastic sectioned boxes) and crochet. I also worked with paper projects (watercolor paper earrings) and those fit nice and neat in there too. I kept a folding TV tray at both houses and whenever I had time to craft, I would pull out my box and the TV tray. I was the Queen of Compact Crafts! That's what I would suggest. Maybe if you have room in your own bedroom or living room to put up a TV tray that you can leave there, then you could sit at the couch and use the tray to make your things. To clean up, you would just have to pick it up and scoot it over to a corner. I used to do the kitchen table thing too, and it drove me crazy! I always felt so rushed and my projects came out looking that way. Please don't give up! Make the most of the space that you do have. I know you can do it! Here are some tips: - Keep your supplies minimal. A few brushes, a few bottles of paint. Usea Dixie cup and a paper towel for easy clean up. - Again, invest in a TV tray that you can work on. - When working, leave your supplies in the box in stead of putting them on the TV tray, that way you will have more space. - Tell you family members to please respect your space for this. If mom is happy, everyone is happy! - After you make something, display it for the world to see. It will motivate you keep creating. - Check with local paper art stores - many of them have open labs where you can go and use their workspace for a small fee. Some even let you use their supplies! Yours in glitter, CC ********** http://www.CraftyChica.com Where to find "bottle charms"
Wow. I just discovered your website. You are so incredibly talented. My daughter bought you book DIY stylebook and we both thought it was soooooo cool. Thanks for being such an inspiration. Anyway, please tell me where to find the Message in a Bottle necklace bottles. I've tried the listed sources and search the internet. I really want to get some.
Thanks, Laura D 
Bottle charms Hi Laura! I bought mine in Phoenix at Diane Ribbon and Notions. I just called them and if you contact them, they can ship out the bottle charms to you. Diane Ribbon and Notions, 2319 W. Holly St., Phoenix. (602) 271-9273. Thanks for buying the book! - CC ********** http://www.CraftyChica.com Selling my ideas
Dear Crafty Chica,
I like your work alot and I wish I could meet you one day... I live quite far from you .... Indonesia. I like your pop art and funky art alot .. and make them A lot of friends like the way I make it and ask if they could buy it from me. I do not feel right to sell them since it is not my original design. Could I sell it to them..... or what should I do if they like and want the craft I made based on ur instructions? Do you give classes ???? Looking forward to hearing from you soon. karen *** I am a big fan... you have such wonderful ideas. I have a little space at a local shop in the art district for San Antonio. All of the merchants make their own items from ceramics, mosiacs, jewelry and paintings. My hobby is beaded jewelry (sterling silver wire, chains,gems,& crystals)and I use your idea for the earring holder to display my work. I hope to complete some of your other projects soon. I was recently asked to offer some classes and looking thru your website today i wondered if I could use some of your ideas? Please let me know if that would be okay or not. I especially like your guitar pic idea. Hope to hear from you. Sincerely, Lillian, aka Lilly's Designs. P.S. Thank you for being a great "Latina" influence. Hi Karen and Lillian! Thanks for all the kind words. I'm truly flattered that you like my ideas so much. The truth is, I can't take full credit - like many designers out there, I'm inspired by all kinds of things - trends, movies, fashion magazines, web sites, even my junk drawer in my art studio! What I do is tinker with ideas until I can come up with my own version that, hopefully, hasn't been done before. If you would like to sell or make money teaching classes from my ideas, I would ask that you do the same, por favor with sugar on top. you'll feel so good that you did! Take some time to add your own "signature" to the concept either with the materials, the application, etc. That way you are being an original designer and I won't feel funny that you are using the same exact version of what I made. OR, as a last resort, please credit my web site for use of the project either in your printed materials or a link. Thank you again for writing and asking. Much respect and a big crafty hug, CC ********** http://www.CraftyChica.com Sunday, July 04, 2004Mannequin heads!
Dear Kathy,
I read your blog every day and was blown away by the picture you put up of the mannequin head. I won't be so rude as to ask how you made it, but I am very interested in buying it, or another like it from you. I know you wrote that you made it after a stressful day, but is there any chance you may be making more to put for sale on your web site? I already know the exact place where I would like to place it in my office. Sincerely, Maricela M. Oh Maricela, you are too kind! It was made after a stressful day, I wonder if I could even repeat that creative process (I only had one pair of false eyelashes on hand!)?? HOWEVER, since posting that picture only yesterday, I've recieved four emails from people wanting to buy it. Since it is my first one, I really can't part with it!! But some how, some way, I will be making more of them. Soon. Very soon. And I've already thought of a great marketing/inspiring idea for them! If only I had more time to spare i would do it tonight. Keep a lookout over here, OK? 
- CC ********** http://www.CraftyChica.com Another resin dilemma
Hi Kathy!!!!
I'm having some resin problems and know you work with it, so I thought I'd ask the expert! I've been working with Envirotex lite, making little charms-Like you I was inspired by those great glitter filled Muertos folk art, and all the collage sites showing them these days. My problem is-my resin is always full of air bubbles and they are nearly impossible to "blow" out of the caps...When I mix it, it looks like whipped egg whites its so frothy...Am I doing something wrong???? Also-at least 75% of my caps are un-sellable. The resin seems to penetrate or seep under the image and makes it dark..... I've been spraying fixative, varnish and diamond glaze on the image first to try and stop this-but it still happens...VERY frustrating as you know! I glue the image down first-should I stop??? These take SO much time to compose, spray with fixative or put on a coat of diamond glaze, then wait for it to dry, glue it down-then wait for it to dry.-then mix up the resin and pray its not frothy....very time consuming, but I am SO addicted!!!! Any tips or help you can give me is SO appreciated!!!! Thanks! Barbe Howdy Barbe! Resin is such a complicated material to work with. Avril Lavigne even wrote a song dedicated to it! OK, maybe not.I swear it took me months to get my own process down pat. I'm sure every resin artist has their own recipe for success but here are some tips from what I've learned. Yes, it is supposed to look like egg whites or something yuckier. That's a good sign because it means you've mixed it well. If you don't mix it well it won't cure properly. As soon as you pour the resin in the bottlecap, gently blow out the bubbles with a straw. I like to use the skinny cocktail straws, they seem to work better for me. If you let the resin sit too long, it will begin to cure and the blowing technique won't work anymore, so do it fast. As far as sealing the image, my suggestion is to cover it with white glue, making sure there are absolutely NO openings/creases anywhere in sight. If there is one, you can bet your favorite glue gun that the resin will seep under the picture and ruin your whole dang project. It still happens to me every so often... Best of luck! - CC ********** http://www.CraftyChica.com Leftover jean leg
Hi! I just finished making a jean skirt from a long pair of jeans, but now that I'm finished with the skirt itself, I'm not too sure on what
to do with the bottom of the pants. I used one bottom to help out with the skirt, so yeah my question is how do you make use of one jean bottom... Thanks, Gwyneth Hi Gwyneth! You didn't just have a baby named Apple, did you? Anyway - don't let that jean leg go to waste little Missy! You can make a keen pant leg purse out of it. I have the complete instructions in my Crafty Diva book, but I can give you the simple run down here. What you do is cut off the bottom half of the pant leg. Then cut out a rectangle-like notch from the front side at the top. The extended fabric on the back will flip over to become the flap of the front of the purse so you can close it. Because the pant leg is already sewn on both sides, you just need to close up the bottom and hem the raw edges around the top so they look nice and finished. Then add the strap of your liking and a clasp of some sort so your change won't go flying all over the place. Hope this was clear enough! - CC ********** http://www.CraftyChica.com About Me
In a (hefty) nutshell: I'm a mom, wife, artist, author & left-handed middle-child binge crafter Sagittarian. We have 4 Chihuahuas. I designed a product line with Duncan Enterprises - it launches this summer nationwide! I write a weekly nationally syndicated craft column for The Arizona Republic. I've authored six books. My 7th is a sewing book for Potter Craft and it comes out Feb. 17, 2009. I wrote and sold my first novel, "Love Shine". It comes out in summer 2009 (Grand Central Publishing). I make and sell a line of "Chicano Pop Art" with my husband, Patrick Murillo. He does all my illos! We are currently prepping for a six-month art installation for the Heard Museum. It opens October 2008. I have a web series with LifetimeTV.com called "Crafting With the Chica". I love to read. I watch too much TV!   Note to visitors: Hola! This site is the archive of all my past projects for Gannett News Service and The Arizona Republic. These ideas are for personal use only. I make a living as a craft designer, so I will be using these ideas in my published works. If you are thinking of selling or using these ideas for profit, please give respect and "twist" them to make them your own - put your own stamp on them to make them different. It will work out for the best for both of us! Thank you and much respect from one creative person to another! — Kathy Have a burning crafty question? Visit my Ask Crafty Chica blog or drop me a line! Project CategoriesJewelryHoliday Food Valentine's Day Other Celebrations Day of the Dead Inside Lights Wearables Summer/4th of July Collage/Paper Wedding Beauty Recycled Shrines Favorite Crafty LinksPhoenix FridasGet Crafty Supernaturale The Switchboards Craftster Craft Revolution Craft Pop So Spiffy PattieWack.com Craft Trends Headlines Archive | |||||||||||||
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