Meet Kathy
I’m Kathy Cano-Murillo and I’ve been a very creative person all my life and have always found a way to make it my job. No matter what situation, I’ve always put my passion and skills first and it’s led to an incredible body of work! From writing novels and being a national newspaper columnist — to creating handmade art for hundreds of boutiques, then going on to design items for mass retail and store shelves. The foundation has been my website, CraftyChica.com. It’s the anchor of all I do and share. I love to share DIY ideas to help people celebrate their creativity.
What would you say has been the biggest shift in your life since turning 40 (or 50)?
The biggest shift has been my kids being old enough to move out of the house. When they left it opened up extra space in my life that has inspired my husband and me to pick up where we left off before we had kids. We opened a gallery and shop here in Phoenix, we travel a lot, and hired a housekeeper. These are little luxuries that help ease the pain of seeing our kids move on and up without us.
When do you feel you are most powerful?
I feel most powerful when I sit down and write out my goals and then action lists for each one. Then I take action and it feels so empowering to see the results come through! I put limits on how much I allow myself to complain, whine, or blame others. I strive to be self-reliant, confident, and to use my brain power and creativity to move forward in a positive and productive way.
What are the top three most important things to you right now?
- My husband and kids and keeping our bond intact.
- Our business profits so we can ensure a cushy retirement.
- Living my best life through good mental and physical health.
How do you make sure your actions are aligned with what’s most important to you?
I make sure to always know my end goals which help me drive all my actions in that direction.
What seeds are you planting today for the future?
Authoring new books and designing new product lines.
What advice would you give someone who is interested in redesigning midlife?
Start with a vision board — really knowing the WHY behind the items you post. Then create 3-4 goals for the year and create a timeline and action list for them. Start now!
How can people connect with you and your work?
You can find me on social media @craftychica or at craftychica.com.
