…at the end you are wearing something more than a purse for example, is someone’s piece of art. And I love that feeling.
Berta Devant
I love to eat and cook.
I see the world as images, frames and lights.
I'm in love with New York and missing Barcelona every day.
I spend more time in front of the computer than anything else.
I admire creative intelligent people, those you look at what they have done and you feel jealous.
What got you started crafting?
I’m student and a photographer that decided to move to New York to expand her world and live as I wanted.
Once I got there I started thinking of ways to make money in my own way, I wanted to be creative to create something new, and something I could touch and see.
This idea got me thinking about selling my artwork, my photographs or graphic design as art. But one day in an open gallery I figure out something: There’s so much good artwork and so little space on the wall. And I thought what if I use my designs to create something useful? Something that everyone use or have in their home but with a nice, fun and a good looking design. That’s how I get into magnetiKmania, because I believe that even the smallest thing you use could be improve with design.
And why created myself instead of sending them out to someone?I guess because I love handmade things, they have a special feeling, a beauty that you don’t get from other places. And as I already was a loyal follower to Etsy, my adventure began there.
What is your source of inspiration?
Inspiration… this is always a difficult question.
Mostly of them thinking what I could create next, what would fit in my niche, what design, images, etc would look amazing as one of my magnets sets.
Others, sometimes the best ones, came while I’m browsing a photographer website, other crafters or simply walking on the street. You see a label, sign, photo that wake ups something and you have an idea.
Today it was playing with a necklace I recently bought of a small robot, I've looked and though isn't he cute? That's how I got the idea of creating a family of little robots.
Is not a 100% that idea will become a good product, but off a list of ten, 7 does.
What have you made recently?
When I get one of these ideas, for example the Robots one, the first thing I think is: what is gonna look like finished.
Before starting anything I have to think how I’m gonna ship, how many Robots I’m gonna draw, all of them, one of each one, is it possible to recreate the game? I sketch them in a notebook and ask myself all the questions possible.
Once I’ve decided that the Robots should be at least six or seven and with different colors and “personalities” I look over the internet for some guidelines. I don’t want to create little robots that looks exactly like others, but at the same time they should have something similar because after all they are robots.
So with a couple of sketches and a list of do’s and don’ts in a notebook I open Illustrator and start drawing them. I think is a waste of time to start creating something without having thought before all the process. I even choose the colors and the personality of the robots before I start drawing.
Sometimes I change the initial idea during the process but the important thing is to have something in mind of what you are doing.
Once the seven robots are drawn, I printed each one in a normal paper. Having them printed is the only way I can really appreciate the size, the colors, details, etc
If everything looks good I print them on a magnetic sheet, my partner or I laminates and cuts them and we wrap them up.
Once they are ready to ship, we calculate the price of the set. Each magnet set has a different price depending on the amount of sheet, ink, cardboard, etc
Also each magnet set has their unique description and their unique images to display them.
Everything must be ready before the products goes “live” in our webpage and Etsy Shop.
I would say that our personal touch is the process we follow. We think each magnet set through, we think if it would look great in our costumer’s kitchen, if it would be useful, etc
For example if the Social Media Icons could be cheaper if they were smaller, but then they wouldn’t support a piece of paper on their own.
Where do you sell your crafts presently?
I sell my Crafts in Etsy and via my own Shop.
I love Etsy, their community and the easy access to a shop, etc but as my craft project is long term commitment I thought that my brand, magnetiKmania, should have their own website where you can sign up, have an account, write reviews and buy all our products.
Why are handmade crafts important to you?
Why handmade? I really don’t have an answer for that.
I guess that my love for handmade and vintage came the day that my two best friends came to school with the same sweater as me.
I still buy sometimes from big shops but since I discovered Etsy two years ago is always my first choice.
Not only because you have thousands of unique shops with a click but also because there are really good things out there.
That was my first impression onto handmade: I was amazed that someone could create something that beautiful with their own hands and sell it for a good price. I’m still amazed and now getting in love with the fact of wearing, using or having something that someone created. They took their time to do it, they designed it and they put all their enthusiasm inside.
So at the end you are wearing something more than a purse for example, is someone’s piece of art. And I love that feeling.
Find Me
LocationUnited States
Email Address
Berta Devant
Personal Website
http://magnetikmania.com/
Store Website
http://magnetikmania.etsy.com
CRAFTER9
@magnetiKmania
http://facebook.com/magnetikmania