shellimakes

I'm Shelli Quinn, the maker at Shelli Makes Studio. Mom to four grown sons, I live with my MFT husband Tim plus Rascal the cat, Tilly the wonder dog, and a society finch named "Bird." We reside in beautiful northern California, where I've made whimsical works of paper, fabric, and fluff in my cozy home studio since 2004.

Paper crafting has become a true passion, and is my biggest creative focus the last few years. I love vintage ephemera and collage, as well as textured, chubby, junk journals stuffed full with tuck spots, foldouts, journal cards, and tags.

ART TRADING
In addition to trading paper "makes" on SwapBot, I'm a member of several FB swap groups. I recently joined Margarite Miller's wonderful "Collage Art Collective" on Mighty Networks, and look forward to trading vintage collage art with the talented members there. In years past I traded ATCs, and was co-moderator, at the juried site IllustratedATCs. A contributor to their "Art Trader" ezine, I even published a book of member work, "Color: A Collaborative Perspective," that you can still buy online. I also belonged to IATC's non-juried sister site, ATCsforAll.

MINIATURES
Currently, I'm building my first-ever dollhouse: the DuraCraft "San Franciscan." It's a vintage (late 80's) Victorian style kit I bought on Facebook Marketplace, and I'm crossing fingers all the pieces are inside! I've never had a dollhouse despite a long fascination with miniatures, so it's an exciting new creative path for me. My interest is the build and design, as opposed to the "doll" part of having a dollhouse -- although I have been pondering the creation of one or two quirky, original figures, once the house is complete, with all aesthetics in place.

ARTIST BEARS
Since 2004, I’ve made original, one of a kind, mohair artisan teddy bears for adult collectors, first doing business as Potbelly Bears, then later as Shelli Makes. I've been on unofficial hiatus from bear making for a few years now, but don't think I'm through with them just yet.

SOAPMAKING
A few years back I got into natural soapmaking, pouring bars for family and friends. I especially liked coming up with original scent "recipes" using essential oils. I also enjoyed experimenting with natural dyes like turmeric, spirulina, alkanet, or clay, to color my soaps organically. I'd like to get back into the hobby, but sourcing lye and other resources at reasonable prices, and without long shipping waits, can be a challenge.

DISNEY
I've made a few mouse ear headbands for myself, and for other Disney fans like me. I'm a former adult Disneyland Annual Pass holder. I'm also a pin collector. My favorite and largest collections include: Nightmare Before Christmas, Snow White, Merida/Brave, Tinkerbell, and pie-eyed (old style) Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

moons & stars • "Amelie" • birds • dollhouses & miniatures • Jane Austen / the Regency era • woodland themes • illustrated children’s books • nature • the paintings of Becca Stadtlander • vintage Halloween • upcycling, thrifting, & flea markets • travel • the fantasy art of Brian Froud • gentle hygge living • the roaring 20's (flappers) • forests • preppy East Coast aesthetic • bob haircuts • Mori Girl aesthetic • period costume dramas • photography • SoulCollage™ • shades of warm green • "Durrells in Corfu" • English Breakfast tea • farmer's markets • ravens & crows • bright poppies • rusty metal • Laika animation • Edith Holden botanical book pages • Mary Blair's Disney • essential oils • Li Ziqi's farm-to-table mountain life • foxes • Marbushka games (illustrator: Beatrix Bohony) • books • Phoebe Wahl, artist • "Moulin Rouge" • thick wool felt • bees • Liberty of London ditsy florals • folk art • houseplants • San Francisco • Hug Snug seam binding • Sarah Horgen's botanical black & gray tattoos • fiddle leaf figs • Nightmare Before Christmas • oracle decks • chunky shoes • Disneyland • mermaids & undines (not Ariel) • pottery • "goth/cute" Tim Burton-esque themes • deep mustard yellow • Ginny Sheller's gentle homestead life • daisies • traveler's notebooks in Chic Sparrow covers • great design • moths (more than butterflies) • intelligent horror films • mushrooms • "French Kiss" • gold (not silver) • female empowerment • scrub jays • Cirque du Soleil • Mexican food • hand made natural soaps • "Friends" • warm cream (vs. bright white) • Dia de Los Muertos • cozy blankets • dried flowers • naturally dyed paper & textiles • green witch aesthetic • hand lettering • Sara Mearns, NYC Ballet • frogs & toads • linocut prints • "Out of Africa" • scarves • mochas • pretty handwriting • fountain pens • learning • all beautiful, artful things

I use PirateShip, an online mail service, for outgoing swaps. They send tracking information to the email you provided, so you can follow your parcel on its journey to you. I mark swaps "sent" the day mail leaves my hands, so on weekends and holidays, tracking updates may be delayed.

If tracking confirms that my parcel didn't arrive, I'll either (1) remake and resend the missing swap item, or (2) send an equivalent replacement, if what's missing can't be remade. Please be in touch, and we will find a solution that works for you.

I rate same day as receipt, and am generous with ♥s when care and effort show. Extras don't effect how I rate and aren't expected, but are welcomed and appreciated if you would like to include them.

If you're sending late, please message me. It's easy to be understanding and patient when I'm told in advance that you're running behind.

YOU RATING ME
Please rate what you receive from me, preferably right away. Your rating is the only feedback about me that others are able to see. I also like to keep a tidy dashboard by archiving swaps as soon as they're complete (including ratings.)

PROBLEMS
If you're waiting on a swap return from me and are concerned because it hasn't arrived, please message me and I will check your parcel's tracking. In over a decade of art trading, I've never flaked on a swap -- and I never will. Whatever the problem, I'll be grateful for the chance to make things right if I can. Please be in touch, and we will find a solution that works for you.

stuff you'll never use and are glad to "get rid of" • super cutesy cartoony clip-art-y things • artificial scents • clowns (except Cirque du Soleil) • kiddie/reward/planner stickers • foam stuff • anything intolerant, political, or religious -- but non-religious "spiritual" stuff (uplifting, inclusive, yoga, meditative) is very welcome!

• Dollhouses & minatures
• Jane Austen / Regency England / Georgian era
• Becca Stadtlander, artist & illustrator
• Nature / woodland / forest / Mori Girl aesthetic, like what's shown HERE
• Gentle hygge living, like what's shown HERE