Meet Shelley Nelson | Fiber Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shelley Nelson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shelley, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Over the years, I’ve had friends and acquaintances ask if some of my creations were for sale, but I hadn’t really considered it since knitting and crocheting was something I did to relax in my downtime. I eventually decided that I had nothing to lose, and if my art brings people joy, why not let them purchase them? My expectations were quite low when I first made my website, but doing vending events and getting my name out there has opened up a whole new world and I’ve met so many incredible and creative people that I wouldn’t have met otherwise.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I like to create art that can be a bit shocking and funny at the same time. When most people think of knitters or crocheters, the first thing to come to mind is a little old lady knitting in a rocking chair — which is definitely not me. I’m relatively young at 35 years old, and I create whimsical plushies, cardigans, as well as penis plushies and vases. A lot of what I make is done on the fly; I don’t follow patterns if I don’t need to.

Being a mother of two young children, I sometimes felt that I was losing myself since all I did was take care of others. I made the decision to go back to school for my Bachelor’s Degree and it was one of the best things I ever did for myself. I learned so much and was inspired constantly by my peers. Despite being in school full time, being a mom 24/7, and a pandemic, I managed to maintain straight A’s and graduated from California State Dominguez Hills in 2022 with Honors. A feat that I will forever be proud of.

Over the years I’ve learned to create what I would want to keep for myself, and then share it with the world anyway. If it doesn’t bring me joy, I stop what I’m doing, take it apart, and start again. When I’m inspired to make something, I feel unstoppable. The process of physically creating what it is I see in my mind is very zen for me; I go into this place of bliss where there is zero stress. Making pieces with only yarn and a stick or two takes a lot of time, so when I finish a project, I feel the biggest rush of pride and accomplishment.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My dad is one of my best friends and he came to visit us from the Bay Area this past week. Disneyland is of course a go-to. I worked there in 2012 and it’s where I met my now husband, so it will forever hold a special place in my heart. The best breakfast/lunch spot is called Martha’s in Hermosa Beach. My husband and I go on breakfast dates there whenever possible and it has never disappointed. The beach is 20 steps away from Martha’s, so we also love to bring a blanket and pop a squat in the sand for a bit! There is also a random swing set in the sand which would make for some fantastic photo ops. Another favorite spot of mine is called Pinku in Little Tokyo. You purchase whatever it is you would like to decorate — headband, phone case, jewelry box, etc, and then you use “frosting” which is actually some sort of mixture of glue to decorate. It’s so much fun and very reasonably priced, I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone! If your thing is people watching, Venice Beach is the place to go. So much diversity and interesting people, along with fun shopping!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Huge shoutout to my mom. She taught me to crochet when I was only 8 years old, allowing me to find my passion quite early in life. I would also like to recognize Alyssia Strasser. We met in art school and she has been a dear friend, confidant, cheerleader (literally and figuratively), and creative inspiration for many years now. Alyssia saw my potential and has helped shove me into the direction of success.

Website: Knittingispunk.square.site

Instagram: @knittingispunk