shellimakes

I'm Shel. Mom to four grown sons, I live with my MFT husband Tim and Miss Tilly the wonder dog in gloriously green Portland, OR. I've made whimsical works of paper, fabric, and fluff since 2004, and love to create and collect cheerful, vintage-inspired things.

➖My Swap-Bot group
In March 2022, I founded a group entirely focused on ink box cards and named it: Exclusively { INK BOX }. I just adore these tiny, palm-sized works of collaged mini art, and I hope to swap them with you there really soon.

➖Wanna Swap Art?
I welcome private 1:1 trades with established, highly rated swappers whenever time permits. If you’re interested, please message me! We'll arrange our private swap through Swap-Bot, keeping things scheduled, accountable, and safe -- and as a bonus, we'll both build our ratings! Please see the “Things I love” section below if you'd like to view my favorites, to see if we're a good match.

Paper craft is my favorite creative focus in recent years. I especially love thick and weighty ink box cards; ATCs; vintage collage; quirky ephemera; and textural, chunky, junk journals.

➖Art Trading
I've traded all kinds of art here on SwapBot; at Margarete Miller's "Collage Art Collective" on Mighty Networks; in Facebook groups; and on Instagram, from time to time.

I traded ATCs (and was a co-moderator) at the juried site, IllustratedATCs; contributed to their "Art Trader" ezine; and self-published a book of member work, "Color: A Collaborative Perspective," while active there; it's still available online. I belonged to IATC's (non-juried) sister site ATCsforAll, too.

➖Surface Pattern Design & Spoonflower
In 2010, I dipped a toe into surface pattern design and even placed 1st in a Spoonflower x Etsy Craft Party collab design challenge. That was such a validating, fun honor and a wonderful surprise!

A decade later, when Swap-Bot slowed due to Covid, I played with surface design again. You can view and buy my surface design patterns, old and new, under my Spoonflower username: shelliquinn

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

➖Soapmaking
I've also enjoyed natural soapmaking, pouring bars for family and friends. I especially loved inventing original soap and scent recipes using essential oils; spices; and plants like turmeric, spirulina, alkanet, or clay, to color soaps naturally.

chunky, textural junk journals • thick ink box cards • ATCs • early American folk art • moons & stars • "Amelie" • birds • woodland themes • patio dining • children’s books • nature • Edward Gorey • vintage Halloween • upcycling, thrifting, & flea markets • warm, glowy wood • travel • Portland, Oregon • hand hooked primitive wool rugs • outdoor bistro lights • the fantasy art of Brian Froud • gentle hygge living • the roaring 20's (flappers) • mossy forests • preppy East Coast aesthetic • bob haircuts • Mori Girl aesthetic • period costume dramas • photography • SoulCollage™ • a dark teal-y blue + sage green + deep mustard + creamy white palette • "Durrells in Corfu" • English Breakfast tea • the innocence of early Käthe Kruse dolls • outdoor markets • ravens & crows • bright orange poppies • rusty metal • Laika animation • Edith Holden botanical book pages • wildflower bouquets • essential oils • Li Ziqi's farm-to-table mountain life • foxes • architectural salvage • books • Phoebe Wahl, artist • "Moulin Rouge" • thick wool felt • honeybees • plants • linen pillowcases • slouchy, comfy boyfriend jeans • San Francisco • hand dyed Hug Snug seam binding • Sarah Horgen's botanical black & gray tattoos • fiddle leaf figs • ”Nightmare Before Christmas” • oracle decks • chunky shoes • earthy speckled 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 • intelligent horror films • mushrooms • "French Kiss" • unlacquered brass • vintage photos of children, especially 1920-1940 • female empowerment • scrub jays • Cirque du Soleil • Mexican food • hand made natural soaps • RENT the musical • "Friends"* • warm creamy (vs. bright) white • Dia de Los Muertos • cozy blankets • hummus & pita • natural dyes • green witch aesthetic • hand lettering • Sara Mearns, NYC Ballet • frogs & toads • linocut prints • "Out of Africa" • scarves • mochas • pretty penmanship • fountain pens • learning • all beautiful, artful things

I use USPS First Class or PirateShip to mail smaller items like ATCs, and Pirate Ship exclusively for larger, weighty, and/or especially involved work that took lots of time to create and would be challenging to remake. Pirate Ship will send tracking info to your email address here on SwapBot (if provided); once you receive that email, you can follow your happy mail on its journey to you.

Swaps are marked "sent" the day mail leaves my hands, so for mail dropped off on weekends and holidays, tracking updates may be delayed.

➖Me Rating You
I strive to rate day of receipt, and am generous with ♥s when care and effort show. Decorated envelopes and bonus extras don't affect how I rate, but if you want to include extras or decorate your mailing envelope, your gestures will be authentically appreciated and welcomed with gratitude — thank you!

If you'll be sending late, I’d be grateful to know that before the swap due date has passed. It's easy to be patient and full of good will when I've been informed in advance that you're running behind, but will be sending soon.

➖You Rating Me
Your rating is the only feedback about me that others are able to see, so please rate what you receive from me just as soon as is convenient. Your rating allows me to archive my swaps timely, too, which keeps my SwapBot dashboard -- and my head! -- organized.

➖Problems?
If you're waiting on something from me and are concerned because it hasn't arrived or if I accidentally got some part of your swap return wrong (forgot an element, misunderstood the assignment, etc.), please message me before rating. I always strive to do my very best, and I would never slack or flake on a swap. Whatever concerns you, I'd be grateful for the opportunity to make things right for you.