Thursday, March 10, 2011

Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing Give-a-way!

2 things I love.....

1. reading
2. crafts

This book was a perfect match. I picked the book up on a Friday and by Saturday afternoon, my kids were running the show because Mommy had locked herself in her room.....to read. Totally kidding. I did what all Mom's do. I stayed up way too late reading in bed.


Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing is the second Fiction novel from the one and only Kathy Cano-Murillo better known as Crafty Chica. I was introduced to Kathy through my constant blog reading and my passion for Chicana art and literature. Her art work is fantastic and her writing is just as fantastical.(Yes I know that's not a real word.)

Here is just one reason I like Kathy Cano-Murillo so much. Her bio includes this...

"Kathy's mission is to promote, celebrate and share in the Chicano craft experience. As a professional crafter, she is impressed that Latinos make up a large part of the $31 billion craft industry. Her goal is to promote and motivate women of all backgrounds, ages and ethnicities to join in the art and craft movement." 

When the chance to review this new book came up I jumped at it. I am going to admit I have not read Kathy's first book, Waking Up in the Land of Glitter. The book came and I was super excited to start reading. Then I got nervous, what if I didn't like it? What if I had to write a bad review? I cracked open the book and dove in and my fears subsided as the book quickly became one of those "I can't put it down" kind of books.

The story revolves around Scarlet Santana, a young single woman who decided to put her college degree away and to follow her passion of sewing. As a way to raise money for a prestigious designer class Scarlet puts together a class on patternless sewing. The novel follows the stories of Scarlet and her students and how one little weekly class and a mystery changes everything. One part I really enjoyed was the way music was embedded into the story. It was like it came with its own soundtrack! And just when you think you have the mystery solved there is a twist. Very Mexican novella like!




 

 The characters were so well crafted. Most of the characters are Latina's and Kathy managed to keep the characters culture and ethnicity alive and an aspect of the story without turning them into stereotypes. She makes her Latino characters authentic so that other Latina's can relate. Scarlet and her students are lovable Latina's who's issues and victories everyone can relate to.

So the bottom line...... I loved it! A book filled with love, betrayal, secrets, fashion, family drama, and following your dreams. What's not to love!

And now the best part of this whole review. I am giving away a copy of this fabulous book AND a copy of Waking Up in the Land Of Glitter! That's right you can win 2 books!

Here is the dilio. In the book Scarlet Santana does what most of us can only dream of doing. She leaves the corporate, steady paycheck world behind to live her passion. For a chance to win both books leave me a comment and tell me if you could live your passion what would you be doing? Be sure to leave me your email address so I can get back to you if you're the big WIENER! 

A winner will be chosen at random and contest ends on Thursday March 24th.

Good Luck!

13 comments:

  1. I am doing what I love. I make new creations every day.
    http://www.etsy.com/shop/msformaldehyde
    I love Kathy!

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  2. I would unretire and go back to work as a ward clerk in a hospital,
    I loved it.

    cenya2 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Mercy Elaine2:32 PM

    Well, I might be able to do this one day, but I would be a doctor and go take care of kids whose parents can not afford medical care. -mercyelaine@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. i would work for lego and race cars on the side

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous3:08 PM

    I love what I do but I would open a university where my students would not have to pay to take classes and earn their degrees. :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. My passion is relatively boring - I'd just travel the world and try to see everything this crazy little planet of ours has to offer. :]

    Thanks for doing this giveaway! :) If I win, my email is grig at gmx dot com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'd have my own party planning business.
    jennhutson3128ATyahooDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
  8. Tia/Nina Ruth2:16 PM

    Cake decorating is something that I enjoyed so much. I would love to learn all the new techniques of cake decorating.

    ReplyDelete
  9. ErinM5:23 PM

    I would own a wedding chapel and be a wedding planner and have a night job as a children's book author!
    My email is j_evalenzuela@msn.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. I would make my fun crafts and create fun things all day long! Pink girl elena (at) yahoo .com

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  11. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  12. I would love to create professionally. I have the beginnings of an etsy store (www.etsy.com/shop/ThePaintedPisces) but love painting and drawing and sewing. I hope to be in a tattoo shop working my magic in the next 10 years.

    Thanks for the chance to win an awesome prize! :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Veronica3:32 PM

    I would pack up my family and move to another country, most likely somewhere in South America......and help people who just need a little extra hand. My kids would explore and learn a new way of life and become fully bilingual! We've been contemplating this for a while but it's scary to give up this life for something we've never done before!!

    veronicacarter102@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete

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