Crafty Chica's Guide to Artful Sewing


Book Description

Kathy Cano-Murillo, the Crafty Chica, is not a seamstress. She is a thread artist. In Crafty Chica's Guide to Artful Sewing, she'll show how to harness the power of her fearless kamikaze sewing style - just dive in and give it 100 percent. Here, readers - even those who can hardly sew on a button - will find the nuts and bolts of sewing and the confidence to develop their own style and flair. Thirty fun fabu-low-sew projects, from placemats and totes to embellished skirts, help readers take charge of their sewing machines and discover their own Crafty Chica side.




The Crafty Chica Creates!


Book Description

Join the Queen of Latina Style to make joyous, vibrant, sparkly Latin-inspired crafts that are stunning to look at yet surprisingly easy to make. The Crafty Chica is back! In The Crafty Chica Creates!, a revised and expanded edition of The Crafty Chica Collection, Kathy Cano Murillo enthusiastically welcomes you into her world of making and affirmational thinking with colorful, Latin-style craft projects inspired by her Mexican heritage. With 45 projects—26 completely new joining 19 previous favorites—get fun techniques for painting, sewing, mixed media, clay, and paper crafts using affordable and recycled materials. While some are more in-depth than others, the projects are ideal for all skill levels. The Crafty Chica welcomes you to infuse the projects with elements of your own cultural heritage to make them personal and unique. Each project is presented with a materials list, clear step-by-step instructions, a large photo of the finished project, and the personal and cultural history behind it. Organized by category—Clothing, Artful Affirmations, Home Accessories, Jewelry and Accessories, Garden Decorations, and Fiesta—the projects include: Milagros (miracle charms) layered resin phone grip Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) papier-mache dog sculpture Stamped clay folk-art boxes and ring dish A stunning poncho made from Mexican scarves A picture frame upcycled with an embroidered blouse As you embrace the Latino culture or let your cultural heritage shine with creative crafts, you’ll discover: Innovative ways to work with a wide range of materials, including air-dry clay, resin, and fabric How to fully embrace vivid color palettes Ways of repurposing everyday supplies into gorgeous art pieces that make great gifts Great techniques for sculpting, sewing, painting, and embellishing that will boost skills and confidence Whether you are looking for dazzling things to make for group crafting, to decorate your casa or workplace, to release stress and lift your mood, or for gift giving, The Crafty Chica Creates! is your friendly, inspiring guide.




Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing


Book Description

When she is offered a position with Johnny "Scissors" Tijeras, a hot young designer in New York, Scarlet opens an after-hours freeform-sewing school, attracting a surprising mix of students, including a woman office manager with marriage problems and an elderly woman with a secret past.




Waking Up in the Land of Glitter


Book Description

The first novel in the Crafty Chica series, Waking Up in the Land of Glitter is a charming summer beach read about creativity, redemption, and friendship. 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.




Waking Up in the Land of Glitter


Book Description

Enlisting the help of an artistic friend to bolster her own chances at a craft competition, Ofelia raises her friend's skepticism by idolizing a craft-show television personality who hides an ugly secret.




Crafty Chica's Art de la Soul


Book Description

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.







The Artful Parent


Book Description

Bring out your child’s creativity and imagination with more than 60 artful activities in this completely revised and updated edition Art making is a wonderful way for young children to tap into their imagination, deepen their creativity, and explore new materials, all while strengthening their fine motor skills and developing self-confidence. The Artful Parent has all the tools and information you need to encourage creative activities for ages one to eight. From setting up a studio space in your home to finding the best art materials for children, this book gives you all the information you need to get started. You’ll learn how to: * Pick the best materials for your child’s age and learn to make your very own * Prepare art activities to ease children through transitions, engage the most energetic of kids, entertain small groups, and more * Encourage artful living through everyday activities * Foster a love of creativity in your family




Invitation to Draw


Book Description

Help children draw and think more creatively by inspiring them with interesting and challenging art prompts and questions. Invitation to Draw offers 99 open-ended drawing prompts, each one proposing a question to investigate that encourages children to free associate and problem solve. The perforated pages make it easy to tear out prompts for on-the-go activities or allowing multiple kids to draw at the same time. A blank cake provides the chance to decorate a dream confection, an empty house inspires stories about who lives there, and a grid of triangles supplies the chance to explore abstract art. What might be hiding in that tree? What sort of robot can you design? The possibilities are endless! Drawing prompts inspire and encourage kids to think and draw differently, and sometimes more creatively, than they might when faced with a blank page. By offering constraints such as a pair of eyes or an empty car and asking a question, children begin thinking about the possibilities and answering the question in their heads even before they put pen (or marker or crayon!) to paper. And through the act of drawing and observing the drawing unfold, the brain continues to think and problem solve, opening up all kinds of creative possibilities around that specific idea.




The Thankful Book


Book Description

Todd Parr's beloved Thanksgiving classic celebrating all of the things there are to be grateful for in a kid's life is now a board book! I am thankful for music because it makes me want to dance.I am thankful for my feet because they help me run and play. I am thankful for kisses because they make me feel loved. The perfect book to treasure and share around the holidays and throughout the year is now available as a board book! Todd Parr's bestselling books have celebrated Valentine's Day, Earth Day, and Halloween, teaching kids about unconditional love, respecting the earth, and facing fears, all with his signature blend of playfulness and sensitivity. The Thankful Book celebrates all the little things children can give thanks for. From everyday activities like reading and bathtime to big family meals together and special alone time between parent and child, Todd inspires readers to remember all of life's special moments.