From colored pencils to clay, paint to pottery or brushes to baking, Shelby Thompson (11) has dabbled in it all. Thompson is known synonymously by some of her friends for her creativity and crafting, which is the art of making decorative baubles and trinkets by hand.
Thompson began crafting when she was young, often making things for her parents and family. Thompson can also trace the origin of her hobby to her mother making crafts and decorations for their house.
“Art’s a fun way where I can be creative,” Thompson said. “Sometimes I can use [art] to be academic and it can help with getting into competitions and things and winning awards. But other times it can be a fun hobby, or I can make gifts that can mean more sometimes than something that can be bought.”
Thompson’s gift giving didn’t start until middle and high school, where she would give her friends her creations for birthdays or just as spontaneous gifts. The impact of this habit on the recipients of her creations is generally one of gratitude and joy. From miniature figurines of animals to clay trinket dishes, each is unique to the giftee.
“For me, I think [the impact of Shelby’s gift giving] is a little bit of happiness and also knowing that someone that I might not know super personally is still caring for me,” Lucia Yang (11) said.
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Because of her attention to detail and care for her friends, Thompson’s gift giving is more than just a hobby: it is a way for her to connect on a personal level with her friends. Her close attention to their likes and dislikes, including their favorite colors and animals, allows her to create personalized crafts, keeping each recipient in mind.
“I really appreciate Shelby and her gift giving because she is so sweet and intentional, so she knows what people like and what they don’t like,” Addie Scoggins (11) said. “She’s really intentional with the way that she gives gifts and picks out things for people.”
Thompson is also an artist, using mediums like colored pencils and clay for classes such as AP (Advanced Placement) Art and other art classes. She shares her progress photos and final products both online through Instagram and in-person with friends.
“To her friends and everything, she’ll show off her art, just like ‘Oh yeah you were asking about this, you were asking about my art the other day. This is how it looks right now,’” Yang said. “And then she’ll give you progress photos. And that’s like a gift too.”
Thompson’s love for crafting has fueled her gift giving, giving her an outlet to keep creating without the confines of storage space availability, sharing her creations as gifts instead of keeping them all. But beyond her creativity and artistic ability, Thompson’s generosity and care have influenced her habit of giving her handiwork to those around her. Ultimately, her love for art has prompted her to keep creating.
“I think the biggest thing is that I’m a very sentimental person,” Thompson said. “I think I’m very big on expressing my love and appreciation for those around me and just for the things I have been blessed to have. [I also think] my creative aspects [have impacted my gift giving]. I really enjoy being able to make things, and it’s a proud feeling when you can reflect on things you’ve made. And especially now being able to see my growth and see how my effort is paying off.”