She has opened Individual Designs, creating soft furnishings and interiors and restoring small furniture.
Mrs Shaw, whose son Simon runs Legacy Comics, worked for the Halifax for 12 years before moving to Calderdale College. Previously she had been a book-keeper.
But at 45 she gave it up and enrolled at Huddersfield College to join a soft furnishings and art and craft City & Guilds course.
"I needed to change my life. I always liked sewing and art and my husband said just go for it. I always thought I should be working for myself," she said.
Three years later she had her diploma and an endless enthusiasm for creating and designing soft furnishings and interiors.
She also learned chair caning and painting techniques and now restores and recycles small furniture too.
For two years she worked at home but as the furniture was piling up, felt it was time to have her own shop.
Mrs Shaw's son, Simon, had already opened his shop seven months before
Mrs Shaw said: "Simon gets his regular customers and his friends bring their mothers who come to my shop so everyone supports each other."