bio

Flipt founder Shelly Leer has been taking apart furniture and rebuilding it for more than 15 years. A weekly DIY columnist for The Indianapolis Star her familiar voice and easy-to-follow projects have worked their way through the hands of creators from novice to professional. Shelly is also a featured writer for www.curbly.com and www.weebabystuff.com. A former apprentice of renowned British furniture designer and upholsterer Paul A. Howard, Shelly has been rescuing, repurposing and selling unique pieces to clients and shops in the Midwest for over ten years. The directive to “teach what you know” led Shelly to teach sewing and design at a housing facility for women and children who were victims of domestic abuse. She witnessed firsthand how the process of creative planning and expression can become a valuable tool in confidence building. She currently teaches creative design and sewing to young adults at the Indianapolis Art Center. A graduate of Butler University, Shelly holds a B.S. in Education with a concentration in Textiles and Design. She has donated original designs to dozens of charities and schools in the Greater Indianapolis area for fundraising events.

Shelly lives in Carmel, Indiana.