We recently had the chance to connect with Crystal Logan and have shared our conversation below.
Crystal, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
I loose track of time often, whether it is reading a book or diving into the world of crafting. This includes anything from working on a design digitally or trying to figure out exactly what goes best with what. Could be beads, charms or vinyl but more often then not I get lost in whatever world that has been created by one of my favorite authors.
With a book, depending on the time of day I start reading it’s been known to happen that I do not come out of that world until the book is complete.
Frequently what brings me back to the real world is someone bringing to my attention just what time it is.
I’m like wait, what time is it and how did it get to be this late?
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Firstly my name is Crystal, my business is CbyCGraphicDesign. I am a Gemini, have a BA in Psychology from Southern Methodist University with a minor in English. My life is so far from what the younger me planned for my life it’s not funny.
My Primary Business is CbyCGraphicDesign with a side hobby of Northern DFW Happenings.
CbyCGraphicDesign is short for Creations by Crystal Graphic Design, infact Graphic Design was only added because Creations by Crystal was taken.
Last time I appeared my focus was on my events page Northern DFW Happenings, and for that it’s mainly about but today it’s all about my Craft Business.
My motto is if you can imagine it we can create it. I started out when I designed my Life Moments scrapbooks, then I added printing for other small businesses.
One item printed fine but I was having difficulty with one specific cut the finished product needed to have. It lead to getting a Cricut and that opened up a whole new avenue of things to make. Ones that are easier to sell at Markets. The Life Moments Memory Cards, but it has a very narrow audience for customers, my Personal Letters from Santa, Holiday focused. Totes and wine bags…those work year round and Creations evenually evolved into what it has become today.
The Memory Albums and Santa Letters where all originally created for family members. They focus on moments and memories. Bringing in some magic and the whimsical.
I do a lot of printing and designing for other small businesses in fact that is pretty much what my Etsy shop is full of.
Very few of my craft items are currently listed in my Etsy shop, instead I redesigned my personal website to list many of my products that are sold at the markets. Most of my sells are in person at markets.
I admit I am a craft-a-holic. Wanting to be able to bring a wider variety of items I teamed up with a neighbor and friend. She and I now have items that she does some of the work on and I do the rest. This is when I started doing jewelry. We have a line of wooden earrings. The most difficult part of these is keeping the best sellers in stock and not keep at least one of each pair for myself.
It evolved to me adding charm jewelry items. My wrist was not amused with the cutting chain and working with jewelry hoops all the time so we will see how my latest idea works this Fall and winter using what I have but adding a new twist.
Not everything I make is on my website but photos can be found on my social media. Www.cbycgraphicdesign.com
So much of what I do is customizable and that aspect I struggle to figure out how to add all the options to the site. It’s so much easier to do that at markets. Every Market I take the wooden jewelry but also the paint pens.
I bring out a large selection of charms as well. I don’t just sell it all as is, but give ample options to personalize something for my customers.
When it comes to the wooden earrings and jewelry, some of the designs that are made were unplanned. How? It was part of what was originally meant to be disgarded as a scrap. More than one design is is part of another earring. We also reuse designs. For example if so desired someone could get matching sets of earrings, magnets and miniatures for our miniature bookcases.
Creativity is not just about making something new but also about using what you have in different ways.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
My relationship with my mom is possibly the biggest in shapping me who I am today.
Growing up I had a lot of health problems, honestly I still do but my mom was my advocate when I was little and she is still it today.
I learned a lot from watching her. She was always busy with something but more importantly she was always there for me, my brother, and other family members both near and far.
She taught me how to connect with people. To listen and figure out just what they are asking for.
I get my love for reading from her, we actually have been known to fight over who gets to read a book first. Somwtimes my aunt is involved as well, she’s another one who helped shape me to who I am.
Crafty that would also be my mother’s Influence. Started with cross stiching, making collages, actually it runs on mom’s side of the family. Wait no crafting runs on both sides if you look around my house you will find many pieces on the wall that my dad’s mom embroidered.
I learned a lot from watching how she interacts with others. She has always encouraged me to follow my dreams. Be an advocate for myself and others.
To put the needs of others in front of myself being there for my family.
This last year health issues have been cropping up all over the place with family members. I was faced with an internal moral dilemma I could push to have mu schedule prioritize over others or step back and hope things were better by the fall or at least hope there was a way to work transportation out better.
I chose to step back from markets for the Spring and Summer and am limiting the Fall and Christmas ones. Instead this year has been more about celebrating my 90 year young grandmother.
She needed to be the priority and she has been. So much has happened this year alone but you be there and do your best to try making a difference and hopefully a little better for those who need it.
My father taught and encouraged me as well. He got me into designing and marketing young, at times having me look over catalogs and other things. He provided me and my brother some pretty unique summer employment opportunities as well.
Family is what’s important and that is what I have been focused on.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
We have a long road ahead of us girlie. It’s not always an easy one, but don’t gove up. Your medical conditions and health problems do not define you.
Try to convince dad when he takes us on the road trip to the Northeast to take an extra week and get the 3 states the furthest away. Cherish the memories that are being created on these trips and maybe put the book down more and enjoy the views we get to see.
No matter what do not give up or loose hope. You are a smart creative young lady, use your imagination. Cherish the time with loved ones because you never know how long you will have with someone.
Never, ever give up chasing your dreams.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Family and friends. Honestly my closest friends I see more like family no matter how far apart we are.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
How no matter what came my way I never fully gave up. For a while I think I did mostly give up. I was in a dark and depressed place. I was tired, and honestly I still am. But I didn’t give in and refuse to.
It took time but I found something I can do. And what I do matters.
I make things that hopefully make others happy.
My memory albums, I still look at my own childhood memory book, to see the milestones and look up important info from my childhood.
I hope others do the same with what I created. Because sometimes you have to look into the past to know what to watch for in the future and what is documented in these albums might be of use to future generations.
Some of what I do touches lives and is creating memories.
Every time I write one of my Santa letters I picture my nephew’s face and how excited he got when he found his. How his little sisters followed suit. It made a special moment and memory on Christmas, I write them to hopefully bring other families some magic on Christmas Morning. They may not have someone do the writing but I hope the kids who got the letters may carry the tradition on with their kids, neices, nephews, grandkids even.
I make things to sell yes, but often the first time I make something it’s as a gift, or someone has asked if I can or would be willing to do something.
Cake toppers, decorated a graduation cap, 1st time making things with charms all special requests. Whether it’s a big item or small the request for something custom it’s been done (several of my little magnets have been remade in different colors just because it makes the kids happy.)
Yes I make things that can be bought as is but so many of the items can be customized on site and or I have the supplies to make a completely custom creation. I try living up to my motto of if you can imagine it we can create it.
A little peice of me goes into everything I make. A lot of what I make is used as gifts for others or oneself, which spreads a little joy and happiness. What better legacy could there be then to spread some joy and happiness?
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.cbycgraphicdesign.com
- Instagram: @cbycgraphicdesign
- Facebook: @cbycgraphicdesign
- Other: Www.cbycgraphicdesign.etsy.com
