Quinine was born in Stock in the year 1384 S.R. Her father was a typical Marish farmer; her mother was a seamstress who plied her craft in the town. Quinine grew up among many siblings, brothers and sisters alike, and was considered rather unusual among hobbit-folk. She was quiet among hobbits, preferring to sit and listen, but lept at the chance to talk with outsiders and hear any stories they might have of the world beyond the Shire. 

Her mother taught her to always have something to do, and she came to feel uncomfortable if she didn’t have something in her hands. She had a natural talent for sewing, so stitchwork became her primary activity. She got plenty of practice, especially in the winter. In her tweens, she helped her mother with her trade. 

But despite her family and her sewing, Quinine was restless. Many hobbits are, in their tweens, but hers didn’t fade with age. When she finally reached adulthood at age 33, the restlessness remained, and she longed to see the world beyond Stock. When a chance came for her to work as a housekeeper to a merchant in Bree, she jumped at it.

For a time, all was well. Living in Bree was a rush of excitement. There were hundreds of people passing through the city, from hobbits to dwarves to men, even elves! She loved it, at least at first. But after the merchant she worked for left on a long journey and didn’t return, the magic and excitement began to fade. She hung on for a while, caring for the house and looking after the wares left behind, but after months of no word, she gave in to the growing feeling of homesickness. For all its excitement, Bree was a strange land, a dangerous land, with strange customs and unsavory types. She missed the reasonable, lively, simple chatter of home and missed feeling like she had a place and a purpose among a community of her own. There was no neighborliness in Bree like there was in Stock. So she handed over the business to one of the merchant’s associates and traveled back to the Shire.

There, she moved from Stock to Michel Delving and started her own small shop for clothes. Though not big by any means, the shop does well enough. She devotes herself to her craft and spends most of her time indoors, which naturally doesn't help her pale complexion. 

Quinine is highly judgmental, not especially unusual in a Shire-hobbit, but what is unusual in her is how firmly she clings to it. Her opinion, once formed, does not change, and she will go to extremes to justify her opinion, even denying reality outright or inventing ludicrous excuses for horrible actions. By the same token, she will demonize even the purest of actions taken by those she dislikes.

She is highly class-sensitive, especially when it comes to manners of dress. She refuses to wear formal or fancy gowns, and judges harshly when another wears or does something "above their station" or worse, beneath it.