Town Portraits
Boutique Book Nook
Shelby Madison
Where did you grow up? And how did you find your way to Bellefonte?
I grew up in Mesa, Arizona and attended undergrad at Northern Arizona University. In 2015, I moved to Kentucky to attend grad school at University of Louisville. In 2022, I relocated to State College, Pennsylvania.
Tell us a bit about Boutique Book Nooks. How did you get into them?
I dreamed of being in the mental health field since I was 13 years old, so I immediately pursued my doctorate in psychology following undergrad. I completed my Ph.D. in 2021, in the midst of COVID-19. After completing my post-doc last year, I made the decision to temporarily dedicate intentional time away from the field to heal from the personal and collective trauma and grief resulting from the pandemic and its associated consequences. Fostering my creativity has been an integral part of that healing. I fell back in love with reading and discovered new interests in watercolor painting, embroidery, and – of course – book nooks. Boutique Book Nooks was thus borne from a desire to reconnect with my inner child, and I hope that they can help you reconnect with your inner child too.
Where do you get your inspiration for your builds?
I like to think of my brand as kind, quirky, and clever. I love fairy gardens, strawberries, academia, disco balls, mushrooms, dopamine décor, woodland creatures, and cottage life. I mainly get inspiration from nature and other forms of art, like books and music. I am constantly listening to music, podcasts, and audio books while I create, which uniquely impact each product. For example, I recently completed my Swiftie Series based on each of Taylor Swift’s ten “eras,” in which I listened to each album and a podcast explaining what each song means as I made the book nook so as to incorporate as many “Easter eggs” as possible. I am currently working on an “aura”-inspired series based on my friend Mystic Michaela’s book “What’s My Aura?” in which each book nook is based on how she describes each aura color, or personality. My current favorite from this collection is the greenhouse book nook, which is inspired by people who have a green aura and are really spiritually connected to nature.
What is your dream build?
My dream would be to create book nook series that give back, specifically related to mental health. I would love to create scenes that promote joy and healing, advertise the book nooks on social media along with psychoeducation as a way to promote awareness about mental health, and then donate a portion of the proceeds to benefit mental health organizations. I am always creating my dream “book nooks,” so the real dream would be to use my “dream builds” to eventually help others build their real life dreams.
What do you love about Bellefonte?
My favorite thing about Bellefonte is the emphasis placed on small businesses – this is the birthplace of my own creative endeavors, and it is in large part due to seeing how avidly the community supports one another.
More specifically, my perfect day in Bellefonte would be attending the Victorian Christmas Arts & Crafts Fair, stopping for a cannoli at Bonfatto’s, buying a plant (or two… or ten!) from Smith & Front, and getting a beer at Axemann Brewery.
What do you want to see in Bellefonte in the next 5 years?
I would love to see a public covered farmers’ market for the Bellefonte community with local food, beverage, and artisan shops where vendors can sell year round at cheaper cost whilst building community.
Anything you want to say to the Bellefonte Community?
Since I just officially launched in January 2024 and only recently relocated to Pennsylvania, I would love to immerse myself in and develop deeper connections with the community of creatives here. If you are open to collaborating or networking, please reach out to me via social media (@BoutiqueBookNooks) or email (smburt05@gmail.com).
Interested in more book nook content? Follow along with me!
Etsy: boutiquebooknooks.etsy.com
Social Media: @BoutiqueBookNooks on TikTok & Instagram
Come hang out with me!
4/27/24: Book Swap at Wildfire (Altoona, PA)
5/5/24: Curated Collective at U.S. Hotel Tavern (Hollidaysburg, PA)
5/19/24: Sunday Funday at Smith & Front (Bellefonte, PA)
5/26/24: Sunday Funday at Smith & Front (Bellefonte, PA)
6/2/24: Sunday Funday at Smith & Front (Bellefonte, PA)