Crafty Chica and L.A. Craft Mafia to show Ellen glitter love!

From Kathy Cano Murillo:

Hola, my crafty friends!!

I'm writing to you to see if you or any of your posse would be
interested in joining me and other glitter lovers across the land in
standing up in the name of sparkle in front of Ellen DeGeneres'
Burbank studio!

Attached is the press release that went to Ellen's producers today,
along with some ideas for safe-sparkle alternatives. I'll have samples
of these at the rally, bring yours too!!!!

WHAT: Safe Sparkle Glitter Rally
WHEN: Tuesday, April 8, 2008.
TIME: Noon to ???
WHERE: NBC Studios, 3000 West Alameda Avenue in Burbank, Calif.
WHO: Lead by Kathy Cano-Murillo, the Crafty Chica. Also attending are:
- Mark Montano (TLC Network star, author of The Big Ass Book of Crafts and L.A. Craft Mafia member)
- Jenny Ryan (Community Marketing Manager for Craft: magazine)
- Cathy of California (LA-based window dresser and craft designer)
- Cathie Filian (co-host of Creative Juice on the DIY Network)
- Members of the various Craft Mafias, including Los Angeles Craft
Mafia, San Diego North Park Craft Mafia)
- Many more! And anyone else who wants to join us!


Background info:

Ellen wants all glitter banned!

I LOVE Ellen and was heartbroken when she started dissing glitter on
her show because it is messy and gets everywhere. She even went on a
jumbotron on Hillary Clinton's press rally and asked if she would ban
glitter if Hills became our next Prez. I've blogged about it and sent
letters to her explaining all the different kinds of glitters.

I want us crafters to educate Ellen and let her know about the many
"safe sparkle" alternatives out there. We could help her choose the
right glitter for her, so she will stop judging all glitter the same.
It is LOOSE glitter she hates, so her fans need to know to send her
other kinds of sparkle. Ellen is a sparkling chica, she deserves
glitter that suits her!

OK...I know glitter won't be banned, but I thought it would be fun if
all of us crafters stepped up with "safe sparkle" alternatives. I
think Ellen would get a kick out of it and maybe even come outside to
meet us!

Mucha gracias (holds scissors over heart in respect)!

Kathy :-)

PEACE, LOVE, & GLITTER!!

--
For more information, contact:
Alyson Udell
559-294-3335
audell@duncanmail.com
OR

Kathy Cano-Murillo
http://www.CraftyChica.com

Colored Egg Ornaments by Morgan

I used to make these when I was in High School. They were fun because it was easy but also ended up looking kind of refined.

Unfortunately I have no photos left, but the directions should explain it all.

You need:

Egg dyeing kits
White eggs
Long sewing needle
Thread
Beads
Decorations (glitter, shiny things, etc)
Ornament hangers or wire or jump rings

*First, dye your eggs according to the instructions on the package and give them a chance to dry.

*Once the eggs are totally dry, very gently poke a hole into each end of the egg. You're going to blow into one hole so that the yolk comes out on the other side. It takes a few eggs to get this right and you can experiment with hole size.

Before you try this on your colored eggs, practice on some of the eggs that didn't turn out so well.

*most of the yolk is out of your egg now. Try running some water through the hole to clean out the rest of it. Hopefully your dye won't run.

*You can reverse the steps so that you empty the egg out first, but it is really difficult to dye an empty egg because it will rise to the top of the liquid dye and make it hard to get a consistent color.

*let the egg dry again and add your glitter, sparkles, or whatever else you have that you think would look AMAZING on an egg.

*Now you have an empty, decorated egg. Now what? Take your thread and your long needle and pull the thread from one hole in the egg to the other. You'll need to thread a thick bead at the bottom of the egg and knot it. It needs to be thicker than the hole that you made, otherwise your egg will slide off the thread. You can also cover the top of the string with beads.

*decide how long you want the thread to be. Vary the hanging lengths of your eggs to make it visually interesting.

*To keep the craft cheap, find any sort of metal wire, ornament hanger, metal loops, etc that you can use to hang these beautiful eggs. Tie the thread to the wire and you should be finished!

Ta da!

And ornaments aren't just for trees! You can hang them from windows, fireplaces, backyard plants! Keep the spring spirit going for months!

Feria Arbol de Vida April 19th!

FERIA ARBOL DE LA VIDA - APRIL 19TH, 2008

Celebrate life at the First Annual Self Help Graphics & Art Feria Árbol de la Vida. Saturday April 19th, 2008
12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Taking place in the spring, when seeds are sown, when new beginnings are celebrated and when the earth beckons us each to look inward. Feria Árbol de la Vida will create the natural balance to our annual autumn journey to Mictlan when we honor loved ones at El Dia de los Muertos.

The overall mission of Feria Árbol de la Vida will be to emphasize that Todos somos de la misma raiz, (We are all from the same root). Through themes of regeneration, rebirth and renewal, this new celebration will focus on the growth of life and the planting of new seeds, within ourselves and the community. An event for the entire family, Feria Árbol de la Vida will feature afternoon children’s workshops and entertainment, a variety of new organic foods and refreshments, live art and top local performers.
EVENT HOSTED BY
Fidel Rodriguez - Divine Forces Radio
Pocho Hour of Power

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT BY
La Banda Skalavera
Miktlan
Cava
PACHAMAMA
El-Haru Kuroi
Son del Centro de Santa Ana
The Leaf Blowers
Los Poets Del Norte
Teatro East of the River
Michael Heralda (Aztec Stories)

COMMEMORATIVE PRINT, by artist Leo Limon.
Only 79 available, purchase it at the event!

BE A VENDOR - Space still available!
If you are interested in being a vendor for this event, Click here for a VENDOR application. Vendor questions & application submissions should be directed to arboldevida@selfhelpgraphics.com.
BE A VOLUNTEER - It's fun!
If you are interested in Volunteering for this event, please contact volunteer@selfhelpgraphics.com.





YOUTH WORKSHOPS- Day of event
April 19th 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.


Arbol de la Vida Clay Sculptures with Marianne Sadowski

Drawing on symbols from their own lives, the children will learn to construct their own personal tree of life out of clay. There will be paints, sequins, and beads to further personalize El Arbolito de la Vida. Marianne Sadowski is an artist and art teacher who was born in Mexico City and now lives in Los Angeles, with her husband and two sons. She completed her Masters in Painting in Mexico City and has exhibited her art throughout Mexico and the US. She has been teaching art for over 15 years in schools, museums and cultural centers. Currently she works for the LA County Museum of Art (LACMA) and City Arts Resources (CARS).



Broken Pottery Mosaic with Dewey Tafoya

Have you noticed the beautiful colors and types of broken pottery on the Self Help Graphics’ Virgen grotto? We have much more broken pottery to use in creating your own outdoor vase. Learn to adhere broken dishes and tiles to a clay pot, than seal the pieces to create a beautiful home for a plant. Dewey Tafoya a native of Boyle Heights and graduate of UCLA, has been coming to Self Help Graphics since he was a kid. In the last 5 or more years, Dewey has been a dedicated volunteer for Dia de los Muertos, teaching Paper Mache and mask decorating. Bring a plant pot to this worksohp.



Zine Making with Becky Cortez

A "Zine" is an abbreviation of the word "Magazine" and is usually created in a small circulation for self-publishing purposes. Using the collage style of cutting images and words from magazines, the children will create pages incorporating nature themes. The children's zines will be photocopied for exchanging and collecting. Becky Cortez, a native of Texas is an elementary school teacher in a progressive Los Angeles charter school. She is currently in a Master's Degree program, yet has always made time to lead children's art workshops at Self Help Graphics for the last 4 years. Bring magazines to share and cut, also bring your favorite scissors.



Create a Bark Cloth Painting with Ofelia Esparza

By using items found around the house–learn how to create a bark-like cloth painting. This technique is meant to replicate the Amatle bark paintings of the Mayans. The Amatle tree's snake-like massive roots grow downward from the limbs, powerfully latching onto other trees, cliffs and buildings with a strangulation hold. The impressive and beautiful bark of the Amatle, according to legend was used to dress the Goddesses. Ofelia Esparza is a Master Altar Maker and visual artist from East Los Angeles. Her family's intergenerational knowledge of traditional Mexican art making and the preservation of those skills in the United States, have made them the subject of studies, books, lectures and documentaries.



Nature Painting with Antonio Rael

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Antonio Rael's paintings with a bold style of bright colors and black outlines, have been featured on concert posters, magazine covers and the merchandising of Latino Pop. His charming designs and themes capture his Latino heritage through its symbolism, spirituality and mysticism. Antonio has led children's art workshops for over 13 years and loves the creativity and energy that kids bring. Join Antonio for a unique afternoon of inspiration, imagination and sharing. To see Antonio's work go to www.latinopopshop.com

Thanks...

for coming out on Tuesday night. It was fun:) You can view more pics on our myspace page.

Craft Tutorial: Spray Painted Lace Candle Holders

"Spray Painted Lace Candle Holders" by Mark Montano from The Big Ass Book Of Crafts.

See more sample projects at http://www.bigasscrafts.com/

If you buy the large prayer candles and want to decorate them a bit
more this is the perfect project for you. You can also take any small jar
or juice glass and use this technique to make it into a wonderful
candleholder.

Here's what you'll need:
Candle in glass or some glass containers
Black spray paint
Krylon spray adhesive
1/4 yard of lace in a pattern that you like
Newspaper for your workspace
Scissors

Here's How:
Cut a piece of lace that fits all the way around your glass container
or candle.
Trim the edges so it fits over the glass perfectly.
You can do this by measuring the circumference of the glass and the
height.
Cut your lace this size
Spray the Krylon spray adhesive to the lace. Be generous or else it it won't
stick to the glass. 2 coats of it should be enough.
Stick your lace to the glass
Lightly spray the glass with the black spray paint
Lightly spray it again until you've sprayed all of the glass in
between the lace.
Let dry for about 15 minutes
Remove the lace.

SUGGESTION:
If you want to take it to the next level, add some glitter glue or
rhinestones to your candleholder and make it shine.

More cool projects here: http://www.bigasscrafts.com/

L.A. Craft Mafia Meet and Greet Tues March 18th!

Hey everyone, the next meet and greet will be on Tues March 18th 7pm at Saints and Sinners Lounge in West L.A. If you have an indie craft business and you're interested in joining the L.A. Craft Mafia we will have applications for membership on hand, so come on out! If you're just interested in hanging with some crafty chicks and crafting along with our special guest Mark Montano, author of "Big Ass Book of Crafts" that's cool too. Just bring your crafty friends and meet us at:

L.A. Craft Mafia Meet and Greet!
Tues March 18th at 7:00pm
Saints and Sinners Lounge
10899 Venice Blvd
W. Los Angeles, Ca 90034
www.SaintsAndSinnersLounge.net

Big Ass Book of Crafts book signing Saturday 3/15!

Don't miss this book signing for BIG ASS BOOK of CRAFTS tomorrow at Skylight Books in Los Feliz!!

Time: Saturday, March 15, 2008 5:00 p.m.
Location: Skylight Books
Title of Event: MARK MONTANO
Big Ass Book of Crafts: More Than 150 Crafts to Fill Your Home, Give to Friends, Decorate The Yard, or Send to Mom (Simon & Schuster)

Montano, who is host of TLC’s 10 Years Younger, part of the design team for While You Were Out and cohost of the Style Network’s My Celebrity Home and She’s Moving In, has a crafty conversation about great things to make.

SURPRISE GIVE-AWAYS!!

He says, “Growing up, I never even thought that we should go out and buy something new—it was always more fun to see if we could make something from scratch or rework something we already had. For me, crafting isn’t about attaining some level of perfection, but about making something so funky and unique that it could never be mass-produced.”

"Finally!" VenusZine writes. "A how-to craft book for the practical, curious, and 'granny-chic' alike.

Renegade Craft Fair- San Francisco

Renegade Craft Fair - San Francisco is happening on July 12th. Starting today, vendor applications are being accepted for this crafty extravaganza! Go to www.renegadecraft.com/sanfran/index.html to apply. Here's more info about RCF-San Francisco straight from their website: "The Renegade Craft Fair is a unique DIY event held 4 times a year in Brooklyn, NY, Chicago, IL and San Francisco, CA. RCF has gained a reputation over the last five years as being the biggest, best and the most well-known of all the DIY craft fairs out there. Each individual fair draws hundreds of applicants and tens of thousands of shoppers from all over the country and abroad! At the RCF you'll find all sorts of cool handmade stuff ranging from comic books to craft kits, silkscreened posters to reconstructed clothing."

This Saturday in L.A.!

This Saturday March 15th you can find us selling at the bout. This week it's Fight Crew VS. Sirens. "Banked track roller derby, beer, bands, vendor village shopping." Come check it out!
http://derbydolls.com/la/index.html

Laminated Jewelry by Mark Montano

You will need:
Jewelry photos from magazines or catalogs
Laminating machine (or take a trip to Staples)
Velcro
Earring wires
Jewelry pin backs
Small jump rings (these are little wire rings)
Scissors
Large safety pin
Goop all purpose glue
Needle nose pliers

Here is how to make the broach:
Copy your brooch
Laminate it
Cut it out with your scissors
Glue the pin back to it with the goop glue

Here is how to make the earrings:
Copy your jewels
Laminate them
Cut them out
Poke a hole in the top with the large safety pin
With your needle nose pliers, bend the earring wire to attach the earring
If you want a double dangler, you can attach two different laminated images together using the jump rings and the needle nose pliers

Here is how to make the bracelet:
Copy your bracelet
Measure around your wrist so that you know what size to make it
Laminate it
Cut it out
Add sticky Velcro dots on the edges so you can close it



to see some more crafts :http://www.bigasscrafts.com


And see Mark in person! He's got a book signing March 15th at 5pm at Skylight Books!! I picked up my copy and there are a LOT of fun projects in it!

CraftCon.org

How exciting, a conference for owners of indie craft businesses! Here's the scoop: "Craft Con is a business development conference for the craft community. People who make things of all types, of all backgrounds, will come together to talk about the business side of crafting, how they market themselves, and the philosophies behind it all. The conference will be held April 4-6 in San Francisco, California." Go to www.CraftCon.org to submit an application.

Mucha Muchacha is headed for the Rose Bowl

I've got a whole bunch of new jewelry ready for Rose Bowl this Sunday. I'll even have earrings available for sale! Rose Bowl is a HUGE flea market that is held on the second Sunday of each month in Pasadena. If you're looking for vintage clothes, modern furniture, funky jewelry or custom items then this is the place for you. It's this Sunday March 9th from 8am to 4pm. Go to http://www.rgcshows.com/RoseBowlFleaMarket/tabid/52/Default.aspx for more info.

How to sell your stuff in stores

I thought that it would be a good idea to share my experience of selling my comics. While it's not technically crafty, the ideas behind it can be applied to any sort of product. Also, this is information for very small scale wholesale/retail sales.

I knew that I wanted to get my zine/comic into stores, but it was scary and daunting. I already had an idea of the kind of stores that I wanted to sell at (comic stores and bookstores) so I started there.

I had NO IDEA what the etiquette was for this sort of thing. So, I just asked the employees. Here was the general consensus:

Since mine was a new item, most stores offered to buy 5 copies outright at 50% of the cover price. This meant that I needed to set the price of my comic at twice the production cost. Since it cost about $2 for me to make each comic, I set my price at $4. However, you should take a look at similar products and see what the going rate is. Mine was more expensive than the others because I tried to use higher end papers and I decorated each cover, but this might have hurt my sales. Like everything in the crafty/art world, you need to learn what works for you and your product.

I also learned that I needed to provide each store with a receipt. This was fairly easy because any office supply store carries sales receipt books for about $3. So I would hand write my receipts with my contact info at the top. Also, get some business cards made so they have your contact info on file. You can print them out at home, it doesn't have to get too fancy yet.

Some stores didn't want to buy it outright. Instead, I dropped off 5 copies of my comic with an invoice. And I would have to check in with them to see if any sold. The nice thing about selling them with commissions like that is that they pay 60% (instead of 50%). But it was such a pain to have to go back and collect my money that I decided it wasn't worth it.

I also ran into the dilemma of a store wanting to hold on to one copy to give it to their boss/manager to see if they would carry it. In this case, you typically won't see the money or the product ever again. But who's to say that the boss won't love it and want to carry 100+ of it? It's really a judgment call and it depends on the price of your product. If you have an expensive product, I would recommend a package with photos, a product description, and a business card. It really is about looking credible and reliable (and also BEING credible and reliable).

Once I had hit the bookstores and comic book shops, I realized that I could branch out and try to sell at "Handmade" shops. They were surprisingly welcoming of comic books... So, it really can't hurt to ask. You might feel ridiculous or annoying, but it's really not too big of an inconvenience for them to say yes or no.

It was an INCREDIBLY nerve wracking experience when I started. All of my comics are auto-biographical and close to my heart, so it was weird to hand it over to a stranger and ask "will you sell it?" And it was even more wrenching to stand there while someone looks over your work as you judge their silent reaction.

So why do it? I learned a lot about self-confidence and selling abilities. It made it a lot easier for me to go on job interviews and it really helped my people skills. It also gives you the opportunity to promote your own work and I found that the more I talked it up, the more excited I got about it.

And it was really an ego boost for someone to say, "hey, I saw your comic book in a store!"

There are a lot of opportunities for showing your work here in Los Angeles, but it's up to you to search them out :)