Shirley comes from a family of excellent and traditional weavers. She learned primarily from her mother, Lillie Claleson. She also has three younger sisters who weave; Daisy Nakai, Gloria Van, and Mary Claleson. Shirley specializes in the Navajo Yei and Yeibichai designs, and is known for a great deal of detail in her work, with exquisite borders. Her depictions of the Yeibichai figures is very animated, and are truly woven in a Pictorial style that gives her weavings a feeling of depth and movement.