Do you love cats? Would you like to have cats as your fashion accessories?
Catmade is a colorful, fun and cute cat earrings created by Margarita Ivanova. She really turned her hobby into good business!
In this post, I’d like to share our talk with Margarita Ivanova. You’ll want Catmade after reading this!
Hi Margarita! Could you introduce a bit about yourself?
Hello, my name is Rita, I’m the founder the brand Catmade, a handmade cat earring products. At the moment, I live in Russia, the city of Novosibirsk.
Image credit: Margarita Ivanova – Catmade
How’s your daily life?
I work on my project Catmade, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Within the process, I usually eat and sleep a little. I really need to focus with all my mind and strength.
Image credit: Margarita Ivanova – Catmade
Do you have any inspiring artist?
I don’t really have specific idol, but there are some people whose work inspire me, for example Tim Burton. Also, I’d like to spend an hour or two on Instagram before going to bed, looking for artists and creators of something new. They often inspire me with their works and dreams.
Image credit: Margarita Ivanova – Catmade
How did you get into creating Catmade?
It was around 2011 when I bought a dress for the new year. The dress was printed with pattern of zombie cats, which made me decide that I needed an earring to match the dress.
I had been working with polymer clay before, making miniature candies, cakes, berries and the like. I began to sat down in my workplace, took the clay and started to put my thoughts on making something out of it.
I remember that I have some old photos of my first cat earrings, but they were actually awful, too big, rough and not beautiful. However, that was the time that initiated me to make cat earrings, which has to look cute and nice.
And it turned out good. All of my friends love the earrings.
Image credit: Margarita Ivanova – Catmade
How long does it take to finish each of the cat earring?
To create a pair of earrings, It will take about 2 hours and 2 to 3 more days for the lacquer and paint to dry out.
But when I receive a lot of orders, I’ll plan a schedule to make the process goes faster. I usually break down the production process into several stages and do everything in turn.
Image credit: Margarita Ivanova – Catmade
Where did you learn handcrafting?
I did not have any formal education in creative art. I didn’t have teacher as well. Everything that I do now is based on self-learning, a lot of trials and errors and experiences in making different arts. Of course, I searched the Internet, read articles and looked into other artists’ artworks.
Image credit: Margarita Ivanova – Catmade
What is the right time to get your creative mode on?
I like to get up early so that I have a full day time. But the reality is, I often go to bed at 3 to 5 am and wake up at 10 or 11 in the morning. It’s hard for me to say which time is most comfortable for me. I’ll just get myself in making the products and doing the business as long as I have the strength.
Image credit: Margarita Ivanova – Catmade
Do you have plan to create other designs such as dog or rabbit for example?
Yes, I do have such plan in the future. But at the moment, I still have many unrealized ideas with the cat.
Image credit: Margarita Ivanova – Catmade
Do you accept custom design?
Yes, I often receive quite numbers of request from customers who asked to create their pieces based on their cats, as shown in the photo. It takes more time to complete and it is much more expensive, but yes, I accept custom-made design.
Image credit: Margarita Ivanova – Catmade
Any music that you like to listen during work?
I listen to pop music, German rock, Russian rap. I think I’m a music lover, I don’t really care about genre or language. Any music style are fine to me. The emotion that I get is more important. And the main thing is to rock!
Image credit: Margarita Ivanova – Catmade
Any foods or drinks that can boost up your creativity?
Ice cream, lots of ice cream, coffee, vegetables and fruits. Also, I like to have tea in winter, since it could warm me up in the very cold season.
Looking at the colorful Catmade, what are your top three favorite colors?
Pink, mint and black.
Image credit: Margarita Ivanova – Catmade
Do you ship worldwide?
Yes, of course! I ship worldwide. I also received many orders from Asian countries such as Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, China, Hong-Kong, Taiwan, Thailand and so on.
Image credit: Margarita Ivanova – Catmade
Beside Etsy, where did you sell your artworks online?
I have an Etsy shop and two shops on TAOBAO.
Image credit: Margarita Ivanova – Catmade
That’s all for now. It’s a pleasure to have this interview session with you. Thank you so much Rita! I wish you and Catmade all the best!
It’s a pleasure to answer your questions too. It is really an interesting session! Thank you very much! I wish you success and many readers!
And that’s our up close and personal session with Margarita Ivanova, a talented artist from Russia.
For more information, visit Catmade’s Facebook and Instagram.
If you love Catmade and would like to purchase, you can visit Catmade’s Etsy Shop.
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Wasabee is a content editor, digital marketer and art enthusiast. He is also a jazz and bossa lover.