We recently connected with Jenny Ettinger and have shared our conversation below.

Jenny, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

What I do involves so much process that it was and continues to be a culmination of learning. That’s what attracts me to upcycling in particular, each style has a unique requirement that keep me learning.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I make clothing mostly, using upcycled (or thrifted) articles of clothing as a jumping off point. This allows me to one, be more eco-friendly as a maker and two, it’s endlessly inspirational. I find that I need to be challenged as an artist, thus I have developed a range of styles. I can’t just do the same style over and over (this is a bit contradictory as the basis of my work is hand stitched and crocheted, which is quite repetitive, yet that doesn’t bore me).

My nana taught me how to hand sew when I was 9 (I still only hand sew, I do not own a sewing machine). I learned how to macrame soon after, and was fascinated with the medium. I majored in Fine Arts in college and my concentration was Printmaking. Through printmaking I realized my love for process. After graduating I learned how to crochet and really took to it. Since, I have expanded my repertoire to include knitting, embroidery and a little bead work. I try to just follow my fascination, and even if I don’t immediately incorporate the medium into my work, it may show up sometime in the future.

I have always struggled to find clothing that makes me feel authentic, comfortable and confident. I strive to make clothing (& jewelry) that facilitates that feeling for another. I am inspired by hand crafted, indigenous, folk art. I try to replicate that feeling in my work.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

As humans, throughout time we relied on our creative abilities to survive. Whether it be engineering, architecture, mechanics, science, fine arts, crafts etc. it is coded into our DNA to manipulate the world around us. For us to live fully as the animals we are we need to engage this aspect of our nature. It manifests differently for each of us, for me I love to crochet and sew. Knowing I have a project to work on gets me out of bed in the morning. So for me, just being creative is the reward. Giving my brain and my hands something to figure out and perfect is the ultimate reward.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

It is important to me to not rely entirely on new materials in my work. It’s a small thing, but it is one thing I can do for the environment. I am also driven to make clothing for bodies that don’t fit the “norm”. I have always been a bigger body type and growing up (in the 1980’s) I was shamed about my appearance and never felt comfortable in the standard available clothing. I try to make clothing to help people love themselves and their bodies. Beautiful unique clothing for EVERYBODY!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.yettaforever.com
• Instagram: Yetta Forever
• Facebook: Yetta Forever