Grace Shelby-Wells darts about her south Jackson boutique of fashion, jewelry and hand-crafted items multi-tasking with a smile, and well, with grace. 

She stops, looks around, lights a few candles to set a warm, welcoming mood, then begins arranging a display of colorful Fall hues. 

“For about 20 years, I was a marketing executive assistant for a wonderful company,” said Shelby-Wells. “But you know, I’ve always had an artist’s mentality.”

” And this,” she says, with a sweep of her hand, “has been my dream. I’ve always loved being creative and this dream here just kept being put on the back burner. It was in the background, but never far from my mind, always.”

“Truth be told, there was that part of me that honestly felt being an artist, creating and decorating wouldn’t get me paid. So, you do grown-up things. Get a good job, get married, have kids. And life does get in the way. And still…,” she trails into silence. 

But the smile comes back full force.

“So, fast forward. After many, many years, I decided at the top of this year to push forward no matter what. Fear, no matter. Anxiety, no matter, I would push forward and follow my dream. It empowered me. Like an elephant, strong; a determined, regal creature and that’s how I felt inside. It was time for me to move forward. Remember, an elephant never forgets. Thus, you know… The Elephant’s Trunk.”

Shelby-Wells’ boutique offers an array of fashion, jewelry and hand-crafted, decorative items. The business is located at 2570 N. Siwell Road in south Jackson.

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The Elephant’s Trunk

by Vickie King, Mississippi Today
November 14, 2023

<h1>The Elephant’s Trunk</h1> <p class="byline">by Vickie King, Mississippi Today <br />November 14, 2023</p> <p>Grace Shelby-Wells darts about her south Jackson boutique of fashion, jewelry and hand-crafted items multi-tasking with a smile, and well, with grace.&nbsp;</p> <p>She stops, looks around, lights a few candles to set a warm, welcoming mood, then begins arranging a display of colorful Fall hues.&nbsp;</p> <p>"For about 20 years, I was a marketing executive assistant for a wonderful company," said Shelby-Wells. "But you know, I've always had an artist's mentality."</p> <p>" And this," she says, with a sweep of her hand, "has been my dream. I've always loved being creative and this dream here just kept being put on the back burner. It was in the background, but never far from my mind, always."</p> <p>"Truth be told, there was that part of me that honestly felt being an artist, creating and decorating wouldn't get me paid. So, you do grown-up things. Get a good job, get married, have kids.&nbsp;And life does get in the way.&nbsp;And still...," she trails into silence.&nbsp;</p> <p>But the smile comes back full force.</p> <p>"So, fast forward. After many, many years, I decided at the top of this year to push forward no matter what. Fear, no matter. Anxiety, no matter, I would push forward and follow my dream. It empowered me. Like an elephant, strong; a determined, regal creature and that's how I felt inside. It was time for me to move forward. Remember, an elephant never forgets. Thus, you know... The Elephant's Trunk."</p> <p>Shelby-Wells' boutique offers an array of fashion, jewelry and hand-crafted, decorative items. The business is located at 2570 N. Siwell Road in south Jackson.</p> <div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter" data-effect="slide"> <div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container"> <ul class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper"> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1106265" data-id="1106265" src="https://mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/The-Elephants-Trunk1.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">"Life gets in the way sometimes. But I never forget my dream. Now I'm living my dream," said Grace Shelby-Wells, owner of The Elephant's Trunk, her boutique located in south Jackson, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1106264" data-id="1106264" src="https://mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/The-Elephants-Trunk2-1200x880.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Grace Shelby-Wells, owner of The Elephant's Trunk, fashions ribbons for a decorative wreath creation at her boutique located in south Jackson, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1106263" data-id="1106263" src="https://mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/The-Elephants-Trunk3.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Grace Shelby-Wells, owner of The Elephant's Trunk, creates a decorative wreath at her boutique located in south Jackson, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1106262" data-id="1106262" src="https://mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/The-Elephants-Trunk4.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Grace Shelby-Wells, owner of The Elephant's Trunk, showcases some of her creations at her boutique located in south Jackson on North Siwell Road, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1106261" data-id="1106261" src="https://mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/The-Elephants-Trunk5.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Grace Shelby-Wells arranges a display at The Elephant's Trunk, the boutique she owns and operates in south Jackson on North Siwell Road, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1106260" data-id="1106260" src="https://mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/The-Elephants-Trunk6.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Decorative wreaths to match the Fall season, created by Grace Shelby-Wells, owener of The Elephant's Trunk, located on North Siwell Road in south Jacksonm Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1106259" data-id="1106259" src="https://mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/The-Elephants-Trunk7.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Jewelry display at The Elephant's Trunk, a boutique owned and operated by Grace Shelby-Wells in south Jackson, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1106258" data-id="1106258" src="https://mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/The-Elephants-Trunk8.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Jewelry display at The Elephant's Trunk, a boutique owned and operated by Grace Shelby-Wells in south Jackson, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1106256" data-id="1106256" src="https://mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/The-Elephants-Trunk10.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">A look inside The Elephant's Trunk, a south Jackson boutique owned and operated by Grace Shelby-Wells.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1106255" data-id="1106255" src="https://mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/The-Elephants-Trunk11.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Jewelry display at The Elephant's Trunk, a boutique owned and operated by Grace Shelby-Wells in south Jackson, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1106254" data-id="1106254" src="https://mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/The-Elephants-Trunk12.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Calling all tiger fans, whether you roll with Jackson State, Memphis State, Grambling State or LSU, get tiger swag at Grace Shelby-Well's boutique, The Elephant's Trunk, located in south Jackson, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-1106253" data-id="1106253" src="https://mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/The-Elephants-Trunk13.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Are you an AKA, a fan of Wanda and Cosmo or simply a lover of pink and green, The Elephant's Trunk in south Jackson, owned by Grace Shelby-Wells, has what you desire, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023.</figcaption></figure> </li> </ul> <p><a class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white" role="button"></a><a class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white" role="button"></a><a aria-label="Pause Slideshow" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause" role="button"></a></p> <div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white"></div> </div> </div> <p>This <a target="_blank" href="https://mississippitoday.org/2023/11/14/the-elephants-trunk-opens-in-south-jackson/">article</a> first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://mississippitoday.org">Mississippi Today</a> and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<img src="https://i0.wp.com/mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/MT_square-thumb.jpg?fit=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1" style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;"><img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="https://mississippitoday.org/?republication-pixel=true&post=1106757" 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