Kathy Cano-Murillo Kathy Cano-Murillo

How I thrive as a full-time artist: 14 income streams

I’m exactly where I wanted to be. Thriving, not just surviving, as a working creative.

I’m celebrating 25 years of Crafty Chica and am going to share helpful lessons I learned along the way.

“Creative” is the operative word because it’s not just about using my hands to make a product.

kathy cano-murillo, 1996ish.

This is me around 1996, working as a newsroom clerk for The Arizona Republic. Office by day, craft studio by night, making items to sell at Phoenix events.


I’m exactly where I wanted to be. Thriving, not just surviving, as a working creative.

I’m celebrating 25 years of Crafty Chica and am going to share helpful lessons I learned along the way.

“Creative” is the operative word because it’s not just about using my hands to make a product. It started that way - in the early 90s, I made and sold my handmade wares to local boutiques, then decided I wanted to conquer the world and signed on to sales reps who took our pieces to trade shows. I visualized STACKS of orders!

And that came true - but it became a nightmare!

Read the rest of this article on my Substack.

affirmation poster

One of my illustrations. This design didn’t sell - but the Spanish version did, it was made into a planner for Barnes & Noble!

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