Guest blogger Lydia Regalado is an arts educator, crafter and blogger who writes about people who gather to make things.

Kathy Cano-Murillo, also known as Crafty Chica at her product booth at Maker Faire.

It’s been two weeks since Maker Faire and I’m still going through all of my goodies and information that I picked up. There is one interview that I wanted to blog about, because she is such an inspiration to me, and that was with artist, author and syndicated newspaper columnist, Kathy Cano-Murillo, also known as Crafty Chica. I was able to ask Crafty Chica a couple of questions.

What do you think is the difference between art and craft?
You know there was a time when I used to think long and hard about that, but at the point that I’m at now I don’t pay attention to labels at all. I just focus on making things that I love, making things to inspire other people. When it comes down to it that’s the most important thing, and that goes for other kinds of labels too: from Latino, to Hispanic, to Chicana, art, craft, I just argh [scream]! I would rather focus on the things that I love to do. So to me, it’s all art in a way. If you love it and it’s your original work that you did, then that’s art, you know? That’s something you created. When it comes to a kit that you make from a one, two, three step; maybe that could be considered a craft? But then again, if you make it yourself and you add something extra to it, then it becomes art. So it’s just kind of like what came first: the chicken or the egg. To me, I just don’t really pay a lot of attention to the label aspect of it.

Can you tell me about your exhibition?
It’s called La Casa Murillo: A Life Size Shadow Box; it’s at the Heard Museum. When the Heard Museum approached my husband and I, that we would have a 1,000 square foot gallery to show our work, the first thing I asked was, “do we have to stick to the walls?” We decided to create our fantasy house, the house that people think we live in. Because they see all of our art work and think that our house is really cool, when really it’s like a workshop. So we created this house that has five separate rooms. They’re all boxed in like a shadow box, and everything is handmade. From a painted upholstered couch to a Styrofoam kitchen sink, all of it is painted to look real, and there’s over 500 handmade projects that my husband and I made all by ourselves over the past six months to put in there. We wanted to inspire people to add handmade touches to their house, recycle, transform ordinary objects into fabulous objects. So, there’s all different types of skill levels, over the top things, to little touches. And that what it’s all about!

The Murillo’s exhibition runs through August 2, 2009 at the Heard Museum in Scottsdale, Arizona. Besides the Crafty Chica product line, writing, and her webisodes on MyLifetime.com, what’s next for Crafty Chica? Her new book, Crafty Chica’s Guide to Artful Sewing, which will be out in February, 2009. If you can’t wait that long, I recommend Crafty Chica’s Art de la Soul: Glittery Ideas to Liven Up Your Life. It’s full of great ideas and inspiring words.

Next up: Cake Decorating Classes at Cake Carousel
I am so excited! I’ve been signed up for these classes since early September. Cake Carousel offers North Texas a wide variety of baking supplies and classes. Located in Richardson, off of Central Expressway, Cake Carousel has classes for all levels and offers classes through out the year, and the price is so reasonable! The Basic Cake Decorating class is $45 for 5 sessions. Sweet!

Happy Halloween!