Two artists I just love are showing their Day of the Dead artwork, plus teaching great classes, this month, how cool! If you’re in Phoenix or Portland, mark your calendars — and in the meantime all of us in other places can get a glimpse online, never fear.

In Phoenix, the lovely Kathy Cano Murillo has unveiled an array of Day of the Dead goodies on her Chicano Pop Art site (created with her husband, artist Patrick Murillo). You can even buy a kit to make your own shrine, based on her “Colorful Casitas” project from Making Shadow Boxes and Shrines:

This Saturday (October 14) Kathy will be selling her work at a Day of the Dead craft fair at Suenos Latin American Imports from 10-6, and the following Friday (October 20) she has an art opening at the Vision Gallery at 6 pm. The very next day (October 21) at noon, she’s teaching a white chocolate sugar skulls class at Suenos.

I just had the chance to craft with Kathy on Craft Lab, and I can’t recommend her projects highly enough, she makes such fun, gorgeous stuff! You can see all of her upcoming events here, so if you miss this round, keep an eye on where she’s headed next (I hear New York is one of her next stops…).

In Portland, Cathy Pitters is showing her remarkable found-object crosses and shrines at Alma Chocolate, and the opening is from 7-9 on this Friday the 13th (spooky!). Cathy makes amazing shrines using vintage and found photographs, charms, textiles, and findings — all kinds of bits and pieces — like her “Forget-Me-Not Shrine” from Super Crafty:

Cathy’s also teaching a sugar skulls decorating class at DIY Lounge on October 28 — find more info or register at the site. If you can’t make it to either event this month, she sells her work at the monthly Crafty Wonderland sale that she co-organizes.

As for me, I’ll be making my own little set of Day of the Dead shrines this November 1, as I have for the last three years. I’m so inspired by all the creative people I know and all the beautiful work I see. I hope you are too!