We recently had the chance to connect with Madeleine Karako and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Madeleine, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
Recently I felt called to start two new Youtube channels: one for adults and one for children. The channel for adults. @zeliecraftsshop, is where I conduct interviews with Catholic guests, and we discuss how certain saints have had an impact on their lives. These discussions I’ve had with Catholic authors, artists, a monk, bloggers, moms, etc., have truly changed my life and made me more aware of how much I need to grow as a person and in my faith. I look forward to every interview.
The channel for children, @saintsasfriends, is a little show I’ve created using my saint dolls as puppets and other interactive computer designs to engage children in the lives of the saints. My three kids love it and keep asking me to make more episodes. We launch a new episode weekly. It’s been a lot of fun!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a mom of 2 souls in heaven and 3 kids on earth, and I started my business 5 years ago in an attempt to share my love of God with the world by creating items that enrich family life and turn one’s attention toward the divine. I create charcoal art, ornaments, saint dolls, other religious gifts, and I’ve published several books that I have authored and illustrated. I try to provide comfort for those in need and a reminder that we are all cherished and loved by God.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
I would say my relationship with my parents shaped how I see myself. My parents have always been incredibly loving and supportive people. They also have mastered the art of allowing a child to figure things out on their own while also guiding them and keeping them out of real trouble. I never wanted to get into trouble because I loved and admired my parents and wanted them to admire and respect me. They have always been upfront and honest with me and treated me with dignity. Without that foundation I don’t know where I would be.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There have been many times where I have questioned whether or not I should keep going with my business, and I always take the question to prayer and ask God what His will is. So far, the answer is yes, keep going. As long as God wills it, I will keep going. But I continuously reevaluate and ask God what he wants me to do. God comes first, then my family and everything else comes after that, including this business.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would hopefully say what really matters to me is my faith and my family. That’s what I try to prioritize above all else. On a less serious note, they also might say food really matters to me. I have a lot of food allergies, so I get very excited about good-tasting food that I can eat. Chocolate of any kind is my favorite.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I would probably watch a lot less TV and read more books. I also would probably write more books and try and get as many published as possible in those 10 years. And I would give my husband a compliment every day and not critique him. It’s funny how all those things I should just do regardless of how much time I have left.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.zeliecraftsshop.com
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@zeliecraftsshop
