Kathy Cano-MurilloBesprekingen

I picked this up because I loved the title. This was a really fun read. I liked all the characters, and really liked how they all showed personal growth through the story by embracing their inner crafter.

The author certainly has quite a bright personality, and it shows in the book's finished projects. She had some interesting ideas for reusing or embellishing store-bought items.

There were only three project chapters (bags, clothes, and household items), and the projects seemed to be just very slight modifications on the exact same instructions so there wasn't much variety. The frequent quote blocks from random people didn't fit, especially since several were negative about sewing.

I think this book would be fine for an absolute beginner with a sewing machine.

I love this book! If books could be desserts, this book would be a yummy fried ice cream with a cherry on top.

I love this book so much that I often check it out from the library just so i can flip through the book and look at the pictures.

The project ideas are wonderful as well. A little South West/Mexican flavor, lots of beauty. And the projects don't look Martha Stewart hard, but something that anyone could do.

The book flows, has lovely pictures accompanying every projects, gives great directions on how to make things.

I have to actually buy this book for myself someday.

Good on making boxes and has some clever advanced techniques. Not helpful on glues.

Charming and breezy read. Some of the characters could have used more depth, but I was easily sucked into the story enough so I just had to find out what happened! Very useful tutorial on duct-tape dress forms included.½

This story is about Scarlet Santana. She is never as happy as when she is creating fabulous fashions and posting on her daisyforever.com blog. In fact, she walked away from a profitable job in engineering to pursue her passion for sewing and crafty designs. Now Scarlet finally has a chance to prove to her skeptical family that she can make it in the world of fashion when she is accepted into the Johnny Scissors design program in NYC. The only hitch is coming up with the expensive tuition money.

This is where the story really begins. Scarlet opens an after-hours sewing school in a local record shop to raise her funds. Here we are introduced to Maria Theresa, a extremely uptight, rigid, "follow the rules" mother of twins who signs up for the class as a suggestion from her marriage counselor. Then there is Rosa, an older women who seems to have a mysterious past. Mixed in with this group is Marco, the record store owner and several other class participants. Scarlet must ultimately decide whether she must pursue her dream and possibly lose herself in the process

I LOVED this book. There was a bit of romance, even some humor. Mostly thought it was about honoring friendships and family and finding ones inner strength and power. The writing was flawless in my opinion. I loved Scarlet's quirky character. She bubbled with enthusiasm, but was shown to have her limits just like everyone. I found myself enjoying all the female characters in this book. An uplifting story with strong female characters. You don't have to be into crafts to enjoy this story either.

This book even comes with 3 original project ideas and crafting tips at the end. I only wish their was a sketch include in that section showing up an idea of what Scarlet's famous Mexibilly frock looks like!

I am going to add this author's first book, Waking Up in the Land of Glitter to my to read list right now. One of the better books I have read this year!

A fun chic lit about sewing, friendship, love, and life

You know what I hate about really good characters in novels? I hate I can’t go hang out with them and be their best buddies. It’s true for Neighbor Dorothy from Standing in the Rainbow by Fannie Flagg, it’s true for Maisie Dobss, it’s true of the Waverly sisters from Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen, and it’s true of Miss Scarlet Santana. I want to go out for drinks and dancing then go home and make something shiny and sparkly and I’m not a shiny, sparkly kind of girl. There’s just something about Miss Scarlet that makes you think glitter is a good idea.

Miss Scarlet (named after the character from the game Clue not, surprisingly Scarlet O’Hara) is a charming, vivacious woman who knows what she wants out of life. She willing gives up a high paying engineering career for a life of happiness in fashion.

The story is just delightful. I wasn’t sure about using that word but really there is no other word that suits as well.It’s just delightful. It has so much of what I love in a novel. There’s old Hollywood mystique, fashion, friendship, romance, and even a little mystery. This is a perfect novel to read if you just want to be happy and maybe be inspired to be a little crafty.

It may take you a little bit to get used to the writing style. Kathy (I”m going to call her Kathy because it seems to be she’s just that kind of gal) has a quirky, funky voice that just captures the feeling of this book. Santana’s Blog entry as such fun and are actually inspiring with her idea’s little ways to make your life sparkly, glittery, and generally happy.

There’s also a great group of women who are Santana’s friends. From the uptight Mary Theresa and her need to loosen up to save her marriage to the wonderful Olivia, or should I say Oh-Live-Yah! who is reclaiming her life after her marriage fell apart, and then there’s the mysterious, wise Rosa who will show Scarlet what is really important.

The other star of this story is the fictional Hollywood designer Daisy de la Flora. Inspired by Carmen Miranda, Daisy goes to New York to become the designer she knows she can be. After years of worship Santana will find out the real story of Daisy and learn more about herself.

The ending ties everything up in a nice pretty frock, which is just what I was looking for. As far as happy endings go, this was a good one and one of the reasons I found the book so delightful.

This was such a fun book to read and I devoured it in one evening! Scarlet's enthusiasm is contagious and her blog posts are very inspiring. I even went online to see what would happen when I went to http://www.daisyforever.com/. I wasn't surprised that it lead me to the author's website - Diary of a Crafty Chica. (Go check it out and enter the great contest going on there!)

Scarlet is 30 years old, and even with two degrees in engineering, she has decided to forego that career and pursue one in fashion. Her Nana Eleanor taught her to sew at a very young age and she makes all of her own clothes. I know I would love to have that kind of skill!

Daisy Forever is a tribute to her favorite designer - Daisy de la Flora from the 50's. Daisy was obsessed with Carmen Miranda and patterned many of her wild designs after Carmen's love of bright colors and sequins. She was also a recluse and her current designs at Casa de la Flora are handled by her newphew Johnny Scissors. He is known as the hottest designer in New York and is the one that Scarlet has won the opportunity to study under. Unfortunately, he is mediocre as a designer and is just in it for the money and fame.

Scarlet starts her Patternless Sewing class to raise money for the tuition for Johnny's class. Only five students are chosen every year and she feels very lucky to be one of them. Especially since it is the 50th anniversary of Casa de la Flora. She currently works for a designer in Phoenix, Arizona who seems to have a talent for leading her employees on and never following through. She promised Carly the use of the studio for her class and cancels on her a week before, telling her the liability insurance would be outrageous. Scarlet just knows that she has to come up with the down payment for Johnny's tuition and find a new location for her class, so she takes about 50 LP's from her eclectic collection and goes to her favorite record store - Vega's Vicious Vinyl. She thinks she might have a crush on the owner, Marco, but where she never stops talking, he hardly talks at all. (He secretly has a crush on her too though!) A disastrous incident smashes most of her records as she goes into Marco's store, but it opens the door for a "working" relationship between Marco and Scarlet. He shows her an usused back room that would be perfect for her sewing class!

After letting her students know about the class location switch - only five students remain - Mary Theresa, Olivia, Rosa, Stephanie and Jennifer. Mary Theresa is the type-A mom, and to tell you a little about her - she goes by Mary Theresa - not Mary or any alternative form whatsoever! She is also a workaholic and her husband is the one that stays home and takes care of their twins. She enrolls in the class as their therapist has recommend she take some sort of free-form art class to try to "lighten up" her outlook on life. Stephanie and Jennifer are sisters in high school. One is an athlete and is taking the class because her mother thinks she needs to diversify and the other is a fan of DaisyForever.com. Rosa is an elderly woman who came to Phoenix just to take Scarlet's class. She is terminally ill and is keeping that secret from the class as well as the real reason she is taking Scarlet's class. Olivia rounds out the class as a divorced, single mom of one.

In Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing you mainly learn about Scarlet, Rosa and Mary Theresa and how these women overcome their fears and bond to each other as close as family. They encourage each other and lean on one another. Scarlet, as she deals with a blooming relationship with Marco and a disintegrating relationship with her family - whom she doesn't feel supports her. Mary Theresa as she deals with her husband leaving her to go back to work in another town and a demotion at work cutting her hours and relocating her to work from home. And Rosa, who keeps her secrets close to her heart in order to make her dreams live on.

So I will say it again - Fun book! Great Read! Made me want to unbury my sewing machine from my own craft room and get creative!

When reading this book, just imagine that the three main female characters are fifteen, not in the their mid-twenties as the author states. If you do this, then their completely shallow, selfish, self-centered, egotistical, clueless, and contradictory behavior might be acceptable. I found these characters unlikable and unsympathetic. The "love" story, such as it was, was herky-jerky and uninspiring. Much of the story is told not shown and there are several segues that make no sense.½

I really enjoyed this book. I laughed and I cried (thanks to Star and Theo) which doesn't happen to often. Their relationship just got to me.
Ofie is my favorite character. I haven't been through anything that she has, yet I understand everything she was feeling.
As for Chloe, I went from wanting to smack her, to wanting to be her friend.
This book had my emotions all over the place which has made this review very hard for me to write. In the end, I would have to say that this is yet another book that I would recommed.

I really enjoyed this book. I laughed and I cried (thanks to Star and Theo) which doesn't happen to often. Their relationship just got to me.
Ofie is my favorite character. I haven't been through anything that she has, yet I understand everything she was feeling.
As for Chloe, I went from wanting to smack her, to wanting to be her friend.
This book had my emotions all over the place which has made this review very hard for me to write. In the end, I would have to say that this is yet another book that I would recommed.

I was pleasantly surprised by this light offering, which started out a little to frothy for my taste, but then developed into a truly interesting story. I was initially interested because I love crafts, and found the idea of a craft-related novel appealing. The characters as initially introduced are typical quirky chick-lit characters whose problems are entirely of their own making. Fortunately, as the novel progresses, these women become more like characters and less like caricatures, and I found myself truly invested in their adventures. They each achieve some believeable personal growth, and I was definitely rooting for them as the big craft competition approached. This would be a great book club offering, or a wonderful spring break beach read.

This is a 3.5 star book for me. It's a book that I have a hard time being objective about-- both my positives and negatives are largely personal.This is a relatively light book, the story of a woman figuring out who she is. What I liked: The characters. This is a big one for me. While i was entertained by Star, I identified with Ofie-- her escape into crafts, her lack of skill at them, her inadequacy with the housework, her plus sized figure. I enjoyed the full cast of quirky but loving family members. The craft aspect. I like crafts, and this gave me a hook into the story. I think the only other fiction I've read featuring crafts were cozy mysteries, and I haven't encountered many of those, so that was unusual. I also liked the tension of arts vs. crafts, something I haven't seen explored in fiction before. The arc of the story. I liked that path that Star took through the book. She had a journey of self-discovery to make, and she brought a definate flair to it. The setting. I have spent my middle and high school years in Phoenix, but it was all spent in the suburbs, which are briefly described in the book. I never really saw the areas that had more personality, like those where this book happens. I think I missed out, although I doubt I would have appreciated that as a teen! The humor. I frequently found myself smiling (and occasionally giggling) at the characters and the situations they found themselves in. There were also sad and touching moments, but the humor stuck with me more.What I didn't like: At first I thought I didn't like the writing. Then I changed my mind. It isn't that I didn't like the writing, but that the writing had an unusual flow to it for me-- almost like reading a translation. I think this might have been deliberate-- the flavor of a culture subtly different than mine. Even if so, I found it distracting. The characters. I know, I'm listing them as both a plus and a minus. I really liked the outlines, but I wish they'd been filled in a little better. At moments they seemed like caricatures. They did learn and change as the book progressed, but it seemed a little too pat, too simple. The decisions the characters made. Particularly before the story started, all of the characters made some boneheaded choices. I know, people make those kinds of mistakes, and they were necessary to set up the story. I still didn't like it! How easy everything was. Once the characters figured out what their problems were, solving them was simple. I never find it quite that easy.In the end, I enjoyed the book. I'll look for the author's craft books at the bookstore-- they sound like fun to flip through, and I could imagine taking one home with me. I hope she writes another novel-- I'd certainly pick it up, whether it has the same characters or a whole new set.

Estrella "Star" Esteban, Chloe "Crafty Chloe" Chavez, Ofie Fuentes, and Benecio Javier Valencia II, four very unique individuals, form a craft group to make 200 centerpieces for the upcoming National Craft Olympics, which are being held this year in their hometown. As their individual sories unfold, the reader watches each of them "wake up in the land of glitter," and along the way they realize that friends can come in all sorts of packages, and that no matter how much you want life to turn out one way, sometimes you wind up with a completely different outcome. With a solid but quirky cast of supporting characters and highly witty prose, Kathy Cano-Murillo created a delightfully fun read!

I loved it! I'll do this in a list form because I think all crafty chics should pick up this book! I'm a scrapbooker myself so this one was right up my alley!

1. Loved the cover first of all! (I am a self proclaimed glitter lover LOL)

2. Loved the storyline! (who can beat a book about crafting!)

3. Loved the characters! (all so different but tied together by a common thread...yes, pun intended!)

4. Loved the fact that I could tell that the author was passionate about what she was writing! (and you can find out more about why in her bio)

It was a great book that touched on alot more than just arts and crafts. Love Friendship, and a loyalty to the ones you care about were all prevalent in this one!

Waking Up in the Land of Glitter: A Crafty Chica Novel by Kathy Cano-Murillo tells the story of Estrella (Star) Esteban's antics as she tries to redeem herself in the eyes of her parents, her boyfriend and her friends. Star, the daughter of new age parents Dori and Al, moves relatively aimlessly through life starting projects she never finishes and shirking her responsibilities as she lives rent-free at age 28 in her parents' home. Her father finally gives her an ultimatum requiring Star to plan and execute an event to benefit the family business - this ultimatum sets Star on a path to discover what she really wants from life.

Star and her crafting friends - Ofie, Crafty Chloe and Benecio - are very likeable characters. Star is the "Lucy"of the group and she is caught in crazy scenarios that she brings on herself but you root for her anyway. Ofie is desperate for others approval and the mother figure for the group while Crafty Chloe is an ambitious career woman who looks around and realizes her career is all she has in her life. Benecio, the talented teenager who hides his artistic interests from his absent parents, is actually wise beyond his years and provides steady support for the women in the group. The four embark on a crafting project extraordinaire in order to meet Star's father's ultimatum. Along the way they develop a friendship - this friendship and how it supports them through a variety of challenges is endearing.

With these characters and snappy dialogue with frequent pop culture references, the book has a lot going for it. However, when I reflect on the novel in its entirety, it seems to just miss the mark. Some of the scenes are difficult to believe and not just difficult to imagine happening in real life but difficult to imagine with what we are given with these characters. For example, Star and Crafty Chloe move from being arch enemies to the closest of friends with little to explain the transition. I had difficulty believing how easily everything started to fit together within the storyline. There were many storylines going on at once in the novel - perhaps with a few less characters and by cutting a story line or two, the book would have rung more true for me and seemed less trite.

Bottom line - the is a fun, frothy novel but it is terribly predictable. The book does a good job of honoring friendships and the power that an artistic release can have in a person's life.

While great for people fond of latino style, this is not a book for me.

I love crafting and Kathy Cano Murillo makes it easy. She has different projects, most of them involving glitter, yea! Instructions are great, projects are easy and fun, so whether you are a craft beginner, or a craft expert, you will find something to do!

Kathy Cano Murillo does it again! I sew a great deal and purchased this book to add a dose of creativity to my sewing and it has! The projects are quick and easy so you can make something different and very creative almost every day if you want to even if you are a beginner.

I love this book! It has great and easy ideas to brighten up the darkest corner of your house. She adds personal touches that bring a lively feel to the book. Her books are inspirational, while you can try and copy them exactly, I believe she means for you to find a way for them to mean something to you. Your own experience will help you create something that reflects you and your family life.

Anyone who has been to Los Angeles' famed Olvera Street will undoubtedly recognize where many of Murillo's inspiration comes from. I originally checked this book out as a way to make my small house thump with the vibrancy of my Angeleno heritage and while there are a great many ideas in it that I feel I could reasonably accomplish, some of the crafts are not accessible to those who live outside of a good Latin area. I think if I lived in the Midwest I would have a much harder time being able to spontaneously do these crafts (you know, without buying little Lucha Libre figurines from eBay and the like!) While I do stock up when I head back home, sometimes my homesickness for a good Latin craft strikes me on the fly and I am missing that all-too-critical ingredient.½