“When my husband and I married in 1990, we vowed to earn a living from our creations. With $20 in our pockets, we went to the craft store and bought 
a canvas and materials to make earrings. We hoped to talk a boutique owner into buying the earring-filled canvas. That launched our 18-years-strong craft business.”
Kathy Cano-Murillo, The Arizona Republic, July 19, 2008
a canvas and materials to make earrings. We hoped to talk a boutique owner into buying the earring-filled canvas. That launched our 18-years-strong craft business.”Kathy Cano-Murillo, The Arizona Republic, July 19, 2008
In the 18 years since Kathy and Patrick Murillo began their craft businesses, their passion for creating “happy art” has gained national recognition and today encompasses numerous product lines. Better known as the “Crafty Chica,” Kathy has developed a devoted following through her nationally syndicated arts and crafts column that runs every week in 50 papers on the Gannett News Service Wire and in The Arizona Republic. She also has published six craft books, with a seventh due on shelves in 2009.
The couple has developed an award-winning
Crafty Chica product line, a Web series on LifetimeTV.com called “Crafting with the Chica” and an annual Crafty Chica cruise to Mexico. The Murillos run two Web sites, ChicanoPopArt.com and CraftyChica.com, where they sell the more than 100 pieces they create each month in their home studio.
Through her articles, books and Web sites, Kathy shares inspirations, ideas and even juicy secrets about their journey as working artists. She notes, “I’ve had many crafty mishaps. Once I went to bed with resin in my hair and woke up the next morning with my head stuck to the pillow.”
Their most popular works are custom-made shadow boxes filled with bright-colored art, glitter and high-gloss finishes that depict room interiors.
Although they help others incorporate crafty chic into their lives, the two artists haven’t had the time to decorate their own home in their trademark style.
The Heard Museum exhibition La Casa Murillo: A Life-Size Shadow Box reflects their fantasy home.
The couple has developed an award-winning
Crafty Chica product line, a Web series on LifetimeTV.com called “Crafting with the Chica” and an annual Crafty Chica cruise to Mexico. The Murillos run two Web sites, ChicanoPopArt.com and CraftyChica.com, where they sell the more than 100 pieces they create each month in their home studio.Through her articles, books and Web sites, Kathy shares inspirations, ideas and even juicy secrets about their journey as working artists. She notes, “I’ve had many crafty mishaps. Once I went to bed with resin in my hair and woke up the next morning with my head stuck to the pillow.”
Their most popular works are custom-made shadow boxes filled with bright-colored art, glitter and high-gloss finishes that depict room interiors.
Although they help others incorporate crafty chic into their lives, the two artists haven’t had the time to decorate their own home in their trademark style. The Heard Museum exhibition La Casa Murillo: A Life-Size Shadow Box reflects their fantasy home.
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