What does it really take to turn your handmade passion into a steady income? In our very first Artisan Mentoring Session, we sat down with the incredible Marcelena from Illustrations by Herman to unpack the truth behind building a handmade business—and it’s a conversation you won’t want to miss.
🎥 [Watch the full video below]
As the OG Winner of our inaugural Madeit Awards, Marcelena has already captured hearts through her custom portraits, known for their emotional depth and fine detail. But like many artisans, she’s navigating the ongoing challenges of pricing, time management, social media, and finding ways to make her work both meaningful and sustainable.
In this live mentoring session, we dive into:
- ✏️ The emotional and energetic toll of custom work
- 💸 Pricing strategies that reflect value and time
- 📱 Building trust and connection through social media
- 🧠 The spaghetti-brain reality of creative business
- ❤️ Why showing yourself matters as much as showing your art
One of the most powerful themes that emerged was the importance of connection—to your audience, your customers, and to yourself as a creator. Marcelena shares openly about the vulnerability of showing up online and the emotional weight of creating commemorative pieces, especially in times of grief.
We laughed, we got teary (truly), and we unpacked what it means to build a business with heart.
If you’re a handmade artist wrestling with the same questions—how do I price my work? how do I get regular sales? how do I show up more confidently online?—you’ll find so many gems in this conversation.
👉🏼 This session is for you if you’ve ever felt stuck, invisible, or unsure of how to grow.
💬 Your Turn:
What part of Marcelena’s story resonated most with you? Share your thoughts below or come join the conversation in the Madeit private seller group.
And if you're not already part of our community, now's the time to join Madeit — a place for Australian handmade artists to sell, connect, and thrive.
