Sewing experience led her to Etsy shop

WSU alumna created Etsy page to sell three-dimensional quilts, cloth postcards; several years of sewing

VICTORIA GIOMI, Evergreen reporter

A local Palouse woman took her love for sewing and turned it into beautiful artwork for all of the world to see. Jennifer Whitted uses her many years of sewing experience to craft one-of-a-kind, three-dimensional quilts and cloth postcards.

Growing up in Salinas, California, Whitted began sewing at a young age. She later moved to Pullman and took classes at WSU while working in the animal sciences department on campus. Since then, Whitted has spent about 40 years on the Palouse.

Whitted has lived in Lewiston for the last 20 years. Before that, Whitted said she moved from Genesee and Moscow and has lived in the general area for about 40 years.

Whitted has since been very involved in her community, joining the board of directors as treasurer at the Valley Art Center in Clarkston, Idaho. The center hosts the gallery Whitted joined. Their goal is to have a different show every month. Right now there’s a fiber art show going on through the end of March, she said.

Whitted has always had a passion for art, leading her to finding her love for quilt making and opening her own online shop called “Uniquely JenCreations.” Whitted said she gets most of her inspiration from flora and fauna she sees on her walks every morning.

“What inspires me often is either seeing a photograph or even just walking in nature, and thinking: ‘Oh that would make a great quilt?’” Whitted said.

She takes inspiration from a lot of floral landscape, butterflies, birds, and anything else she finds beautiful.

Whitted makes both full size quilts as well are fabric postcards, which are the best sellers on her Etsy page.

“Postcards are made with fabric also. I made the front fabric and then I put a piece of cardstock paper on the back of it so that you could write the message,” Whitted said. “I show a lot of postcards on my website. They’re right at that price point where people feel like I can buy this.”

Whitted restocks her website weekly with her newest pieces. Some of her products can take up to 10 hours to produce depending on what she creates.

“A postcard I can probably make in half an hour.  It probably takes me the longest time to gather this stuff, but half an hour pretty good,” Whitted said.  “If I’m making the full-size quilt, we’re talking about anywhere from nine to 10 hours.”

Whitted is still actively making and posting new products on her Etsy page, where she hopes to draw more attention to her store.