My journey (short version)
I trained as a Designer. I worked in "Interior Design" and "Color" Trends, then in a design agency—with L'Oréal as a client. Because I'm worth it. (Sorry. I had to.)
And then as an Art Director at Publicis in Beijing. In event management. The most intense and stressful job of my life. Not really compatible with being a mom. But I loved it. Really. 🤍
Numbers. Negotiation. I don't like it. It's a bit awkward when you're a business owner and you do everything yourself, 360 degrees. But oh well...
A friend once told me: "There are two types of salespeople. Those who sell a product. And those who sell through emotion." He paused. "You're the second type." I nodded. As if I knew what that meant. I think it's a compliment. I hope so. 😄
Why magnetic games?
It all started with my daughter Rose. A pack of stickers in her hands. Two minutes flat.
Result: stickers on the fridge, on the sofa, on the table legs. And on her. Especially on her. 😂
It's fun. It's cute. But it's a huge waste.
I looked at the bin. The bin looked at me. We understood each other. And I thought of the trees.
That scene put an idea in my head.
I looked for what was available on the market. Magnets stuck on wood. Plastic. Cardboard. Pretty sometimes. Not always to my taste. (That's the creative in me talking. You can't change who you are.) 😄
But most importantly. The game ends quickly. Impossible to layer. To overlap. To really create.
My brain clicked. (Yes. It happens sometimes.) 😂
What if we just kept the magnetic material? Flexible. Lightweight. That sticks and unpeels infinitely. So the child can LAYER, OVERLAP, INVENT. Without any limits.
I think that's where it all started. Really. 💛
The testing phase
So I made the first prototypes. And I tested them with my beloved Rosie. 💛
The first magnets were too thick. On a metallic surface, little fingers had trouble peeling them off. A failure.
I also noticed something. A 2 or 3-year-old child? They start by sticking the magnets next to each other. That's all. Layering… they couldn't care less about my magical idea. And I thought it was really cool.
At first, I was a little disappointed.
And then.
The moment the child discovers by themselves that they can layer, overlap the shapes. Without being told. Without instructions. Just like that.
A world opens up to them. (And to me too, that day.) 💛
The Ma Cabane à Rêves adventure
The adventure began in 2015, in Seoul. In the effervescence of this city, the first prototypes emerged, and I registered the brand, driven by a clear vision. But life pushed me onto other paths… Already involved in two professional projects, I had to put my dream on hold when I returned to France in 2016.
Yet, the idea never left me. Two years later, in 2018, it clicked: it was time to relaunch Ma Cabane à Rêves and dedicate myself to it 200%.
I immersed myself in the search for French manufacturers, I refined the designs, I honed every detail. Each prototype was a step, each test a breakthrough. Toy CE safety certifications became a priority.
Today, all our magnetic games and our magnetic boards are made in France. I am proud of it. 😊
— Amandine 💛
→ All magnetic games for children
→ All wooden magnetic boards
