Meet Jenna Duvall

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenna Duvall.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
My mom has been a home economics teacher my whole life, so being crafty has always been something that my sister and I were used to doing in order to stay busy and entertain ourselves. My freshman year of college, I was taking so many credit hours, but wanted to find a way to have some kind of cheap hobby for myself. I had seen some embroidery on Pinterest and was especially interested in some of the pieces that promoted feminism. It didn’t seem too hard to get started, plus it was SO cheap. I bought all the supplies I needed and decided that my first piece would be one of Frida Kahlo, one of my favorite artists and feminist icons. My first piece is still my favorite piece that I have ever created. From there, I started making more pieces – mostly for myself, but then I began to gift them to other people. People started asking for curated pieces, which was how “Don’t Threaden Me” was born. Right now, it’s mostly just people closest to me who request custom pieces, but I am hoping to expand and better promote my presence on Etsy.

Please tell us about your art.
It’s still so surprising to me that people see my embroidery pieces as artwork, but I love that they do. My pieces are needlework that are made out of embroidery floss, any kind of fabric and usually an embroidery hoop. I wish I could say that I always pencil sketch a design before I do it, but I usually try to just freehand them. I want to create pieces that people can display and enjoy in their homes, or even gift to someone else. I have some many people who have asked me to embroider new baby names for their nurseries or handkerchiefs for their wedding gifts. More than anything, I strive to create something that can make a memory last.

Given everything that is going on in the world today, do you think the role of artists has changed? How do local, national or international events and issues affect your art?
My favorite role that I play as an artist is a feminist! If you are ever on Pinterest, just search “feminist embroidery,” and you’ll have thousands of pins with art that aims to empower women, femininity, and equal rights. I think that artists have so much more of a voice, especially when they are allowing current events to change and influence the way they create. I love creating portraits of strong women, like Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Frida Kahlo. They are here to inspire us!

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
Right now, my main gallery can be seen on Instagram on @dontthreadenme which is where I post photos and stories of recently created pieces. This is also where people can send me a message and request custom orders. I have an Etsy shop, but I am still working on building it up. My Etsy shop is also called Don’t Threaten Me.

Contact Info:

• Website: Etsy.com/dontthreadenme
• Email: duvallje@gmail.com
• Instagram: @dontthreadenme

Image Credit:
Jenna Duvall (Don’t Threaden Me)

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