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Books by Kathy Cano-Murillo

The Crafty Chica Creates book

My new book is now available for order! Click here to order a signed copy from Changing Hands Bookstore!

I’ve authored ten books in my career! From craft books to novels – to my most recent, a book all about Frida! Check out my blog post to read how this book came about!

 

Frida Kahlo book by Kathy Cano-Murillo #fridakahlo #latinaauthor

Forever Frida: A Celebration of the Life, Art, Loves, Words, and Style of Frida Kahlo

Revel in the enduring legacy of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo—from the self-portraits to the flower crown, to her iconic eyebrows—with this fun and commemorative book!

With her colorful style, dramatic self-portraits, hardscrabble backstory, and verve for life, Frida Kahlo remains a modern icon, captivating and inspiring artists, feminists, and art lovers more than sixty years after her death.

Forever Frida celebrates all things Frida, so you can enjoy her art, her words, her style, and her badass attitude every day. Viva Frida!


Buy Rubina Chinchada and the Enchanted Dresser here.


Buy Waking Up in the Land of Glitter here.


Latina Latinx Chicana fiction by Kathy Cano-Murillo.
With glue guns, glitter, twigs, or yarn, the ordinary can become extraordinary . . . especially at La Pachanga. Owned by Estrella “Star” Esteban’s family, the restaurant has a rep for two things: good food and great art. La Pachanga brings people together-even when it looks like they couldn’t be further apart. One ill-fated evening, Star jeopardizes her family’s business, her relationship with her boyfriend, and her future career. To redeem herself, she agrees to participate in a national craft competition, teaming up with her best friend, Ofelia-a secretly troubled mother whose love for crafting borders on obsession-and local celebrity Chloe Chavez-a determined television personality with more than one skeleton in her professional closet. If these unlikely allies can set aside their differences, they’ll find strength they never knew they had, and learn that friendship, like crafting, is truly an art form. Buy Miss Scarlet’s School of Patternless Sewing here. Scarlet Santana is never happier than when creating fabulous fashions for women of all shapes and sizes. Now, after years of hard work, she finally has the chance to live her dream and study under the hottest designer in New York. To raise money for her move, Scarlet opens an after-hours sewing school in a local record shop, teaching a type-A working mom whose rigid parenting style is causing her family to unravel and an enigmatic seamstress with a mysterious past. But as stitches give way to secrets and classmates become friends, the women realize an important truth: There is no single pattern for a good life. Happiness is always a custom fit.

Buy Miss Scarlet’s School of Patternless Sewing here.

 


Latina Latinx Chicana fiction by Kathy Cano-Murillo.
Scarlet Santana is never happier than when creating fabulous fashions for women of all shapes and sizes. Now, after years of hard work, she finally has the chance to live her dream and study under the hottest designer in New York. To raise money for her move, Scarlet opens an after-hours sewing school in a local record shop, teaching a type-A working mom whose rigid parenting style is causing her family to unravel and an enigmatic seamstress with a mysterious past.
But as stitches give way to secrets and classmates become friends, the women realize an important truth: There is no single pattern for a good life. Happiness is always a custom fit.

Buy Crafty Chica’s Art de La Soul here.

Crafty Chica's Art de la Soul book
Crafters everywhere can tap
into their creative spirits with
this idea-packed, beautifully
illustrated book
No one knows better than crafty chica extraordinaire Kathy Cano Murillo the satisfaction that comes with creating one-of-a-kind items. In Crafty Chica’s Art de la Soul, she offers thirty original projects ranging from colorful jewelry and elegant candles to hip Mexican coffee coasters.
Along with full-color photographs, step-by-step instructions, and a handy resource guide are Murillo’s fun and inspiring tips for connecting with your culture, tapping into your creative spirit, and finding new ways to spice up your love life, glam up your garden, redecorate your kitchen, and much more.
With Kathy Cano Murillo’s guidance and glittery ideas, crafty chicas of every age and skill level will be well on their way to developing their own personal sense of style while living artful lives.

More Crafty Chica books

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Miss Scarlet’s School of Patternless Sewing: A Crafty Chica Novel
Waking Up in the Land of Glitter: A Crafty Chica Novel
Crafty Chica’s Guide to Artful Sewing: Fabu-Low-Sew Projects for the Everyday Crafter
Crafty Chica’s Art de la Soul: Glittery Ideas to Liven Up Your Life
Crafty Chica Collection
The Crafty Diva’s Lifestyle Makeover: Awesome Ideas to Spice Up Your Life!
The Crafty Diva’s D.I.Y. Stylebook: “A Grrrl’s Guide to Cool Creations You Can Make, Show Off, and Share”
La Casa Loca: Latino Style Comes Home: 45 Funky Craft Projects for Decorating and Entertaining
Making Shadow Boxes and Shrines
audiobooks!
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Links to audiobooks:
Miss Scarlet’s School of Patternless Sewing: A Crafty Chica Novel
Waking Up in the Land of Glitter: A Crafty Chica Novel

My writing “story.”

I don’t care if it’s on stage, on pages or a doodle in my journal – I love to share stories.

And it all started by putting my pencil to paper.

I remember the day I knew I wanted to be a writer. 5th grade, Mrs. Mayhem’s class. We were to draw a picture and then write a companion story. Already a TV sitcom junkie at that age, I decided to use a recent family scenario as my plot.

Earlier that week, I helped my mom bake moist chocolate fudge cupcakes for the next day’s school bake sale. My mouth watered as I stirred the batter and when she wasn’t looking, I scooped up a fingerful to gobble. My brain practically exploded thinking about the frosting to come.

When we finished and the cupcakes cooled, I asked her if I could please have one as a sample – you know, as quality control before we served them to the masses.

“After dinner,” she promised as she set the table. “We’ll all taste one.”

I think I may have been a little too excited about the cupcakes because at the dinner table I couldn’t stop talking about how I couldn’t wait to eat them. From the dinner salad to toast, the pot roast, veggies, I went on and on while everyone chewed their food. My older brother rolled his eyes when I explained the grueling-yet-empowering frosting process of sifting confectioners sugar and cocoa, not to mention the butter, brown sugar and milk concoction.  I noted his unappreciation and considered banning him from the sampling fiesta to come.

Minutes later, I had finished my plate clean.

“You sure are excited about that cupcake!” my dad stated, his eyes gleaming with a mischievous twinkle.

I giggled as I squirmed in the vinyl dining chair.

My mom walked over and gracefully placed the magnificent confection in front of me. Deep dark, creamy goodness contained within a baby blue paper liner. I closed my eyes and lifted the edible jewel to my face, ready to sink my teeth into the creamy decadence of happiness.

But before the cupcake crossed my lips, my dad reached over like a ninja and PUSHED it in my face.

I couldn’t handle all the emotions that came at me in that moment. The shock of betrayal by my dad. The magnitude of sadness at the thought of all those wasted, rogue crumbs. The loss of tasting my cupcake that I worked so hard to create with all my heart.

I hit my hands on the side of the chair, squeezed my eyes shut and screamed as loud as my vocal chords would allow.

My mother, horrified, ran over to the counter, grabbed a cupcake from the tray, came back and planted in right in the center of my dad’s face. He tossed back his head and laughed heartily, then looked at me. He loved being a prankster, but I knew he felt my pain. My tears to turned to a pout and then a shaky smile when my dad invited me to smash a cupcake in his face.

I wiped my tears with the back of my hands and nodded. My mom handed over a cupcake as determined as if I were loading up a weapon. My dad leaned in, his face already covered in frosting, and I pushed it in his face. With all my might! I stood up and began to laugh so hard, I bent over from stomach cramps. My dad then smashed a cupcake in mom’s face. all three of us had our faces coated with handmade fudge frosting. Well except my brother. He pointed at us and slapped his hand on the table, thoroughly entertained.  as if she were loading They both stopped to watch my expression. My tears to turned to laughter and my dad invited me to smash a cupcake in his face. I sure did! Then when my wasn’t looking, he

Oh, it didn’t end there! My dad then smashed a cupcake in mom’s face. All three of us had our faces coated with handmade fudge frosting. Well except my brother. He pointed at us and slapped his hand on the table, thoroughly entertained.

I wish I could say we all pelted him, but we didn’t. My mom brought over a roll of paper towels and we cleaned up our mess. And of course, we sampled a cupcake!

I still remember that night as if it were yesterday. My parents were always playful, and man, my dad LOVED to prank his friends and familia.

Wouldn’t you use this as your English assignment? I sure did. I drew the picture of the cupcakes and then wrote out the entire scene, play-by-play. Mrs. Mayhem gathered not only our homeroom but all of the 5th grade homeroom classes. We sat on the floor, about 80 of us, wondering what she had in store. I gasped in shock when she announced my name and asked me to come up and read my story out loud. Being a chubby little girl, the last thing I wanted was attention, but in this case, I felt confident and excited.

I leaped up and read the story, complete with exaggerated facial expressions and arm theatrics.

My classmates howled in delight. They loved it and heartily applauded me when I finished. I felt a rush of pride from my tippy toes to my eyebrows. For once in my life, I felt like a cool kid. I made several new friends that day. And I never stopped writing stories.

And that leads me to this page. I’ve had the privilege to author nine traditionally published books and contribute pieces to a multitude of others. If there is anything in my life that I want to be remembered for, it’s sharing stories. Thanks for reading about my cupcake memory!

I hope you take an interest in these books. and yes, I’m working on more!

Whether you are into metaphorical glitter or the tangible kind – I have a book for you! By the way, the novels are available on audiobook!

My books on Goodreads

My books on Amazon

My books on BN.com

My books on audible

 

Reviews:

“…With wit and sass reminiscent of Fannie Flagg, Cano-Murillo manages to extract much mirth from her cast of craftsters, each striving to transcend restrictive patterns in life (as well as dressmaking) and to defeat family expectations that are squelching self-expression.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“A fun read about stumbling into love, honoring friendship, and celebrating the power of craft. Full of good cheer!” (Kate Jacobs, New York Times bestselling author of The Friday Night Knitting Club )

“Every word in this hilarious, fun read sparkles. Kathy Cano-Murillo is certainly an author to watch. I woke up in the land of happy reading!” (Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author)

“Waking Up in the Land of Glitter is wildly addictive! Funny, sweet, and slyly wicked, it draws you in so deeply that you’re not even remotely mad you’ve spent the night on the couch, reading, and missed all of your shows on Bravo.” (Laurie Notaro, New York Times bestselling author)

“Clever character building and a fun storyline will leave readers with a case of the warm fuzzies. Just the thing to curl up with on a cold stormy day or take to the beach.” (MonstersandCritics.com )

“Cano-Murillo celebrates friendship and crafting in her fun, fabulous Crafty Chica novel. You’ll want to get out your glue gun and invite your best friends over after reading this one.” (RT Book Reviews )

“Cano-Murillo, known as the ‘Crafty Chica’ and for her line of craft products, has delved into the writing world to create one of the most lively, imaginative novels I’ve run across lately. Full of humor, love, friendship and some pretty cool art projects, Waking Up in the Land of Glitter will have readers howling one minute, sobbing the next, and reaching for their trusty glue guns to create their very own ‘love shrines’ before the end of the book. This novel was just a delightful glittery, shiny, light-hearted treat.” (Las Vegas Review-Journal )

Crafty Chica’s Guide to Artful Sewing: Fabu-Low-Sew Projects for the Everyday Crafter:

“Crafty Chica’s Guide to Artful Sewing is perfect for someone like me. I’m not a rule breaker on purpose–I just can’t follow them. With Kathy’s new book I found that what really makes every project shine is the passion that you glue behind it–that plus the glitter. This beaver says, this book is a crafty must!!!”

—Amy Sedaris, actress, comedian, and author of I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence

“Not only is Kathy an inspiration, her take on craft techniques is unique and accessible to everyone. Her style recipe is three parts happiness, two parts color, and plenty of glitter–and it works every time!”

—Mark Montano, television host, designer, and author of The Big-Ass Book of Crafts

“How to resist a six-times-plus author, columnist, and all-around thread artist who exudes ‘you can do it’ in every sentence of this sewing 101 tome? Don’t. Because not only does Cano-Murillo, the self-styled ‘crafty chica,’ fill her latest book with 30 projects for home and self but she also touts the benefits of recycling, repurposing, and bargain shopping—three activities hard to ignore in these thrift-minded times. Plus, her prose and directions are easy reads. Why not, for instance, use a ready-made tote as one of the bodies for her Power Purses? Or employ vintage scarves for the oh-so-alluring lounge pillows? Upfront, she includes the basics about sewing, from fabric to machine types, as well as encouraging sidebars from fans, a list of movies featuring crafts and sewing, and a very personal and humorous “Diary of a Crafty Chica,” tales from her own career. Generous tips are embedded on almost every page, all practical and focused on saving time and money while creating a one-of-a-kind item.” —Barbara Jacobs, Booklist

“If you’re a sucker for homemade-looking fashions and home decor, pick up the book “Crafty Chica’s Guide to Artful Sewing” by Kathy Cano-Murillo…The book is full of adorable fashions, quirky and funky things for your home or dorm room.” —Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Book contributions:
Signature Styles: 20 Stitchers Craft Their Look by Jenny Doh
Chicken Soup for the Latino Soul: by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Susan Sanchez-Casal
Collage for the Soul: Expressing Hopes and Dreams Through Art by Holly Harrison, Paula Grasdal
Angel Crafts: Making Angels, Ornaments, Dolls by Hand: Step-by-Step Instructions for 47 Projects
Gifts from the Southwest Kitchen by Judy Walker
Bead Simple by Susan Beal
DecoDen Bling: Mini decorations for phones & favorite things by Alice Fisher

How to Make Wine Spritzers

DIY Tie Dye Heart Pattern on a Shirt

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