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NAME: Kathy Cano-Murillo

WHERE ARE YOU: Phoenix, AZ

COMPANY NAME: Crafty Chica

WEBSITE: http://www.CraftyChica.com

BLOG: http://www.thecraftychica.blogspot.com

CRAFT TOOL YOU CAN NOT LIVE WITHOUT: Tool…hmmm…OK, my pinking shears

Every crafter would LOVE to get their own product line how did this turn of events happen for the Crafty Chica. Besides the fact that you are an amazing crafter, one of the sweetest people I have ever known, a host on LifetimeTV.com – how did you get teamed up with Duncan and how was the concept for a Crafty Chica product line born?

I had been chugging along with my websites for years, I love making stuff. One site is ChicanoPopArt.com, and that is art I make and sell, but the other, CraftyChica.com, is all about motivating others to get crafty. There is a strong multi-culti and edgy vibe to it because I’m Mexican-American, I love Bollywood movies, reggae music, the Caribbean, and yet my favorite city in the whole world is London. So all of those flavors are added in everythign I do. I didn’t get paid for it, so I felt free to just have fun. I built a strong following and had no idea that the crafty industry folks were tuning in.

I went to the CHA show a few times to report for my day job as a newspaper craft columnist and met different people in the industry. I kinda knew something might happen because each year I went, different manufacturers would come up to me and ask me about trying their product and if I’d ever consider doing a line. But it was Duncan Enterprises that actually flew me to their head offices, met with me and talked about the idea. A year later they put together a job offer for me to join them create the line! i left my newspaper job, which I loved, to become a senior product designer. I love this job even more!!!

I have seen the product line in person at CHA and was blown away by the breath of the product line and range of the products. There is something for jewelry designers, collage artists, painters and more. Let everyone know what they can expect to find with the Crafty Chica line.

I based it all on crafters like me. I call them “cross-crafters”. We don’t just stick to one genre, we mix and match. So within the display is a bit of everything, kind of like a one-stop-crafty shop. There are 41 items in the line. THHere are the basics like paints in all my faovrite colors that can be mixed and matched together, hologrpahic glitter with shades that I custome mixed myself, a Day of the Dead flocked iron-on, a Sacred Heart iron-on, screen print totes that can be painted or embroidered, and Workshops In A Box – these are kits based on workshops I teach all over the country.

And most everything has a story – the patches for example – the Chihuahua is drawn in the likeness of our dog, Ozzy. The cupcake is a homage to my parents and the time we had a wild, funny, cupcake fight at the dinner table when I was in second grade!

Where can we find the Crafty Chica line? Can I walk into my local Michaels on August 1st and demand some Crafty Chica glitter?

It is supposed to be August 1st, but some stores are still stocking! I know because my crafty spies are informing me! But you can also buy online, just visit my site and there are links that will take you there!

What is your favorite item from the Crafty Chica line? If you had to guess what do you think will sell out first and be the most popular item from the line?

I love the empowerment type of pieces – like the Empowerment Guardian statues. You decorate them for wherever you need a muse to watch over and inspire you. I also love the Love Shrine kit so people can be reminded of what makes them happy. I think the Crafty Chica mojito papers will sell out fast. These are papers that my husband (with the help of the Duncan designers). You get 10 sheets in a pack and they are so vibrant, you can cut them up or use them to line a table – all kinds of things!

Oh! I also love the Crafty Chica Loteria game. It is our version of the traditional Mexican bingo game.

We all know the Crafty Chica line is going to be a smashing success and sell out immediately. That being the case what do you have cooking in the back of your mind as far as products for the second round of Crafty Chica. You are probably the most prolific crafter I know so you could come out with new fun products every year!

I hope you are right!!! The next batch will definately be better, because now I know the process of how it works! I have gobs of new ideas, which I’ve already started to sketch! i would love to branch out into fabric crafts, food crafts, more home accessories.

Visit our sister site Craftbits.com for your chance to win a Craft Chica Hamper