Today we’d like to introduce you to Judy Quintero
Hi Judy, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born to create. Every free moment of my day, I find myself dreaming up what to make, invent, or reimagine—whether I’m in the kitchen, art studio, or just tinkering around the house. The wheels in my brain are always spinning, and that unstoppable energy is what drives my business.
It all began about 15 years ago with a beat-up old dictionary I found at a thrift store. Flipping through its pages, I stumbled upon the word “heart” and thought, Wouldn’t it be cool to tear this page out and paint a heart with flowers all around it? I rushed home and did exactly that. Then I did it again. And again. Because that’s what creatives do—we repeat the process, not just to perfect it but to keep the fire inside us burning.
Before I knew it, I was surrounded by stacks of painted dictionary pages and completely out of wall space. The natural next step? Trying my luck on Etsy. To my surprise, the pages sold like hotcakes. But after a few months, when I went back to the thrift store for another dictionary, I found myself drawn to a pile of vintage plates instead.
Now, most people would say, Why change what’s already working? But creatives are restless souls. We repeat things until they no longer fulfill us, and then we chase the next spark. I’d rather start from scratch and feel that thrill of passion and giddiness again than play it safe. So I went home with those plates and started experimenting.
After much trial and error, I figured out how to make my vintage plate idea a reality. I wanted these plates to be conversation pieces—something that felt like it had been plucked from a proper tea party and infused with a punch of modern-day wit. The juxtaposition of fine florals and gilded gold edges with unexpected sayings gave the plates their magic. Some featured lines from rap songs, others had cheeky slang, and a few included bold curse words like “Fancy as F…”—which, of course, turned out to be my bestsellers.
Then came the turning point: BuzzFeed featured my plates, and suddenly, I couldn’t keep up. Orders poured in, but I faced a new problem—my business wasn’t scalable. Each plate was one of a kind. Once it sold, it was gone, and recreating each piece was time-consuming and exhausting. I knew I needed a product I could reproduce endlessly.
As wonderful as the business boom was, it took a toll on me both physically and emotionally. I was overwhelmed, juggling everything from creating the plates and filling orders to sourcing vintage pieces from vendors all over the country. That’s when I learned one of my most valuable lessons: lean on your loved ones. My husband stepped in to help with the business strategy, focusing on sustainable growth and relieving me of some of the workload.
Together, we made a major shift—partnering with a manufacturer to bring our designs to throw pillows. The transition was slow but steady, and soon enough, one of our pillows was featured in Better Homes and Gardens (April 2016). Home decor was booming, and we sprinted to seize the opportunity.
While searching for ways to grow in the home space, my husband discovered Spoonflower, a company that allows artists to design their own fabrics and sell them on commission. It was born out of a co-founder’s frustration when his wife couldn’t find the perfect fabric for her projects.
At first, we sold small swatches—8×8-inch fabric samples—earning just twenty cents per sale. It might sound trivial, but our motto became “One swatch at a time.” Every single swatch was an opportunity—a chance to introduce ourselves to someone new, make an impression, and build a lasting relationship. That approach turned out to be the magic formula. Those little swatches opened doors to loyal customers who became friends, collaborators, and advocates for our brand.
Since then, I’ve had the privilege of designing for homemakers, crafters, manufacturers, architects, decorators, and even political figures, TV stars, movie sets, and world-renowned corporations. It’s been an incredible journey.
Today, our best-selling products are wallpaper and fabric, and we’ve sold millions of yards of both. We no longer sell plates or dictionary pages, but we recently opened a small Etsy shop to meet customer demand for prints. That endeavor has been a great success, too.
Looking back, it’s amazing to see how far we’ve come—from a thrift-store dictionary to a global business. Through it all, I’ve stayed true to what fuels me: the joy of creating, the thrill of reinvention, and the belief that even the smallest spark can ignite something extraordinary.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There have been bumps in the road, fires to put out—you name it, we’ve had to overcome it. My instinct has always been to react immediately, to jump in and fix whatever seems broken. But over time, I’ve learned that quick action isn’t always the answer. Sometimes, we need to quiet the fear, step outside of our own heads, and shift our perspective. It’s about swimming outside the glass to see whether it’s half-full or half-empty—and from that clearer vantage point, finding the solutions we need. As entrepreneurs, we all have tough days. That’s just part of the journey.
When it comes to struggles, I believe everyone’s path is unique, but certain challenges unite us all. For me, two stand out. The first is Impostor Syndrome. It’s that nagging feeling of, Am I really as good as they say I am? It’s the quiet voice of self-doubt that creeps in no matter how much we try to silence it. When I was just starting out, I dealt with Impostor Syndrome constantly. As my business began to grow, it loomed over me even more. But as time passed and I refined my business and my purpose, I realized that Impostor Syndrome can actually be a gift. It pushes us to strive, to improve, to be better than we were yesterday.
Today, I see how far I’ve come, and I use that perspective to keep my focus on where I want to be a year from now. Impostor Syndrome isn’t a setback; it’s a sign that we’re growing. It reminds us to keep showing up, learning, and evolving. Success doesn’t come from luck. It comes from waking up in the middle of the night to chase an idea. It’s putting in the work while everyone else is at a party. It’s the long hours, the sleepless nights, and the unshakable belief that the journey is worth it.
The second struggle, no matter what line of business you’re in, is acknowledging when you need to take a break. As a creative, it’s incredibly hard to produce something meaningful every single day. Our brains aren’t designed to run at full capacity all the time, yet for a long time, I felt like it was my duty to create even on off days. When I wasn’t feeling inspired, I’d feel guilty for stepping back.
What I learned—the hard way—is that burnout doesn’t produce great work. At best, it’s mediocre, and at worst, it drains the joy out of creating altogether. So why not take a break? I’ve come to understand the importance of listening to my mind and body when they’re telling me, Today’s an off day. That’s when I step away to do something different—something I truly enjoy. Whether it’s taking a walk, reading a book, or simply being with my loved ones, I give myself permission to fully embrace the moment.
The result? I come back feeling refreshed, recharged, and brimming with new ideas. Those breaks are not wasted time—they’re an investment in the creative process. They remind me why I started in the first place and allow me to return with renewed energy, ready to give my all.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My first business, Shopcabin, specializes in personalized wallpaper and fabric designs for children. A few years ago, I decided to embark on a secret experimental project to prove to myself that Shopcabin’s success wasn’t just luck. Using the same formula, I launched RebelMod, a brand focused on bold, adult-oriented prints for home decor. It didn’t take long for us to realize we had created something truly special. RebelMod quickly became my most profitable brand and the one that has opened doors to some of my proudest opportunities. Our number one seller is custom wallpaper designs.
There have been many incredible moments in my professional journey, but a few stand out in a special way. I had the honor of having my art featured as part of Pantone’s 2023 Color of the Year launch during Art Basel—a dream moment for any creative. My Bubble Gum Historic Figures artwork now adorns major establishments across Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., including the homes of well-known political figures. I’ve collaborated with a larger-than-life pop star’s grandmother to bring the room of her dreams to life. Most recently, a global pharmaceutical company selected my Lady Liberty wallpaper to grace the walls of their conference room in their new resi-mercial office space in NYC. They even plan to dedicate a plaque with my bio and the inspiration behind the piece.
As someone who came to America as a child during the Mariel boatlift, seeing my work center around the Statue of Liberty feels like a beautiful full-circle moment. It takes me back to the word that started it all for me: heart. Achieving your dreams requires vulnerability—the courage to open your heart to the endless possibilities waiting for you. That belief is what drives me every day, and it’s what sets my work apart.
How do you define success?
Success is deeply personal—it can only be measured by you. It’s not always about giant leaps; sometimes it’s as simple as getting out of bed, taking a walk, or posting something on social media. Success can be smiling through the overwhelm and believing, even in stressful moments, that everything will work out. It’s measured in small, meaningful increments—the little wins we often overlook. When we celebrate those little victories, we give ourselves the gift of celebrating more often. And those small wins, when strung together, eventually transform into the giant strides we’ve been working so hard to achieve.
For me, success isn’t defined by material things; it’s about doing what I love. It’s about being gentle with myself, showing love, and offering encouragement. Success is waking up with excitement for the day ahead and feeling that childlike giddiness to get started. It’s about living with passion—taking each breath with purpose, and fueling the fire that drives me to create, dream, and push forward.
Ultimately, success lies in the power to acknowledge every win, no matter how small, and to keep learning, growing, and evolving. It’s the commitment to becoming just a little bit better tomorrow than I am today. That’s what success means to me—progress, passion, and the joy of the journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shopcabin.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebelmod/
- Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/theshopcabin
- Twitter: https://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/rebelmod
- Youtube: https://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/shopcabin
