We recently connected with Chester Baxter and have shared our conversation below.

Chester, appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I have been suffering from severe Glaucoma and Macular Degeneration for many years. I had been a professional heavy transport driver for decades, since I was 15yrs old. My eyesight has continued to deteriorate and then in December of 2022 my eye specialist said “for my safety and the safety of others” I need to get out of the truck. The career that I spent the majority of my life dedicated to had come to an end. After the emotional ups and downs, sleepless nights and depression from losing a career that I truly loved, I regained my footing and started building small projects in the garage. One of these projects was a birdhouse. While exploring the internet on how to personalize birdhouses I stumbled upon laser engraving. I dove headfirst into laser engraving, woodworking and crafts built with lasers. I researched all the brands and finally settled on the Longer Global brand of lasers. They were priced right and could do what I needed them to do. I purchased a small 5watt laser and started creating. The first year I sold a few items at our local stores, I was gifted a 10watt laser for Christmas that year and spent the majority of my time coming up with great designs on numerous products that could sell in our small Texas community. I did my first craft fair in spring of 2024, made enough to by a Longer 20watt laser and just kept creating and marketing my brand. I am currently 100% disabled; I have 3 lasers that I run and purchased my first CNC machine. I push myself to create some beautiful pieces that everyday people can afford to buy. I call it functional art. I don’t know when I’ll wake up to total vision loss, until then I will continue to strive to put out quality products with awesome artwork that everyday people can afford, take care of the small businesses that rely on me for their engraving needs and produce custom orders that keep customers coming back.

Chester, 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?

My wife and I were raised in the southwest in a western, cowboy kind of culture. We raised our children with values that we ourselves were raised on. Respect, faith and hard work. After the kids were grown, we moved to Cental Texas where we bought a small farm close to my uncle’s farm.
The products that I really enjoy producing depict that rustic western kind of Americana heritage. Whether it be a simple windmill engraved into a piece of Acacia or a highland cow welcome sign. I’ve had to learn to adapt to other kinds of interests too. We do a lot of wine themed products and recently added golf and new laser engraved products such as flasks and leather wrapped merchandise. With so many laser engravers emerging in the market you need to stay ahead of the competition.
Marketing, marketing and more marketing! In this day and age, a small business needs to utilize all forms of social media.
This has been the biggest problem I’ve encountered. With flailing vision, working on the computer is the biggest problem that I’ve been up against. But we cowboy up and persevere.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect for me as a craftsman or maker is seeing the joy my projects bring to others. I’m in a unique position to offer my creations to my community through 5013c, local clubs and charities, social media and various craft shows I attend.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My goal is to keep being as creative as I can while my vision allows me. With this eye disease I don’t know when or if I’ll lose my vision, so I push myself to create as much detailed work as possible. The software and lasers allow me to create the finest details that I would not be able to do otherwise.
Building my brand and showing other people with disabilities, retirees or even the novice beginner what can be accomplished with lasers, and some creativeness has been a mission since I started. I hope through my social media accounts I can unlock someone’s creative potential the way that other creators have unlocked mine.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Broken Spur Creations (@brokenspurcreations) – Instagram
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557464846822
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@BrokenSpurCreationsTexas
• Other: Etsy; https://brokenspurcreations.etsy.com