Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Catherine Maita. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Catherine, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Cristalli di Cat (Crystals by Catherine) is a small business with thoughtfully crafted crystal and floral designs. In every creation, I aim to infuse creative spirit and calming energy into arranged scapes. This business was started as a creative outlet for drawing healing vibes through design. Designing these pieces brought a sense of calmness and escape in a time of turmoil, in experiencing a very loved family member battling an incurable disease. My hope is that these arrangements can inspire, bring unique elements into someone’s life/home, and instill peace for others too.

Catherine, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I launched Cristalli di Cat in 2022. I had envisioned having my own company with designs to share one day with others, conceptualizing it in my mind for years before physically building my creations and bringing them to market. I have 20 years of experience in event planning, marketing and creative communications. I’ve planned and hosted over a hundred both corporate and personal events throughout the years, with almost all having my hand in the decor and design of the event. Many times personally creating the centerpieces at tables, backdrops and guest favors. I’ve always leaned into any opportunity to design.

Prior to launching my company, I spent an entire year visiting weekend open markets to learn about the culture of small business. I also invested countless hours researching how to build and launch a business. A table of crystals set up at one market caught my eye and I was immediately drawn into that space. I literally started arranging the crystals into set looks on the table. Shortly after, I attended a local Gem Faire and had a similar experience of designing in the moment. Even now, after visiting so many gem faires, when inspiration hits I will literally zone out and design among the crowds.

The wonder in working with crystals inspired me to further explore these elements in design scapes. I found crystals to be very therapeutic elements to work with in seeking calming energy to cope with my father’s terminal illness. I felt compelled to share this energy with others who might also need soothing peace.

My business name pays homage to my Sicilian roots and time living in Rome during a semester abroad in college. My time living and traveling throughout Europe exposed me to a more creative mindset. The bold statement looks in my work are drawn from cultural immersion in the European lifestyle.

When I started working with crystals, I wanted to set myself apart by combining them with other elements. I grew up watching my great aunt, who owned a floral design company, work and teach me her craft during our visits to her home. Having her introduce me to her creative talent at a young age stuck with me and I’ve frequently done floral design as a side hobby to decorate my home and bring designs into event spaces. In my first design for my business, I combined crystals and florals and collected them into a singular space on a wooden carved plate. These ‘crystal garden’ arrangements became an easy design solution for customers, as they can simply be set on a side table in a room or atop an office desk.

I expanded my designs to include both small and large-scale custom design scapes and jewelry – crystal designed necklaces and rings. I personally express myself with bold or unique accessories, and I wanted to bring colorful accent pieces into my collection of work. I am continuing to explore and expand in this space.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

About a year into launching my business, my family was told that my father had entered the final stage of his terminal disease, with an undetermined amount of time left to live. I also at that time had my own health obstacles and had to undergo a complex surgery. It was a most challenging time on all fronts and I had to search for inspiration in a sea of uncertainty. So many amazing friends and family supported me through all the twists and turns. During my recovery, we lost my father to his disease.

In the time that followed, I had to try to find calmness in the most tumultuous storm of emotions. Through meditation, hiking, photography, and visiting artistic spaces, I was able to realign to my design work. I found so much inspiration from my custom designs, leaning into the passion to create for amazing clients and visitors to my market spaces. I have learned to capitalize on the times I feel inspired to create, often working several hours to produce collections when that inspiration hits.

Have you ever had to pivot?

At the launch of my business, I was frequently producing new designs and showing at 1-2 weekend markets every month in my first year. It was a sprint into my new venture and I was full of energy to keep up with the pace. I had my daughter join me at markets to shadow and she started creating her own designs for a kids corner at my table. It’s been so rewarding watching her learn about business and grow in her own creative ways.

About a year into my business, while experiencing personal challenges, I started expanding into virtual spaces.

During this time, I ventured into online exposure for Cristalli di Cat. I built up my website and launched an Etsy store, brought my designs to in-store collectives, and became more active in social media engagement. I found new avenues for interacting with clients in more virtual spaces and leaned into the value of having alternate platforms to stay connected. Being a hybrid of in-person and virtual exchanges has now led me to expand my customer reach, having my first international order just a few weeks ago. I am so thankful for virtual channels to stay connected to other small business owners, who provide endless inspiration and encouragement.

I have exciting upcoming engagements that I’ve been invited to for sharing my work in person. I look forward to showcasing my designs and connecting with local artists and communities. If I look far enough ahead, I can see there’s so much more on this amazing journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cristallidicat.com
• Instagram: cristalli_di_cat
• Facebook: Cristalli di Cat