Author/mitten maker, Jen Ellis, will visit South Portland’s Main Library

Author/mitten maker, Jen Ellis, with her Grandmother, Helen Lord Jen Ellis

Jen Ellis with a display of her mittens. Jen Ellis

SOUTH PORTLAND – Author Jen Ellis recently shared insights into her journey as a writer and the transformative impact of creativity on healing trauma and finding peace. The creator of Bernie Sanders’ mittens, and author of the widely celebrated book, “From Bernie’s Mittens to My Heart,” discussed her path to becoming an overnight sensation, the individuals who inspired her, and her future plans.

The brown mittens that captured the internet’s affection on Inauguration Day, inspiring countless memes featuring Sen. Sanders seated in unexpected locations, were crafted by Ellis, a second-grade teacher from Essex Junction, Vermont. Ellis said she gave them to Sanders as a way to show support, even if he didn’t win the nomination.

Images of Sanders at President Joe Biden’s swearing-in ceremony dominated social media feeds, turning him into an instant meme sensation. The Vermont senator, known for his no-frills approach, sat in the bleachers wearing mittens crafted from repurposed wool. Contrary to popular belief, Ellis doesn’t knit or crochet. “I don’t knit or crochet. I make the mittens by cutting up discarded wool sweaters and piecing them back together,” Ellis said. “Jeanette Collett at Mahoney Middle School taught me how to sew.”

Ellis’s passion for writing dates back to her childhood. In fifth grade, her grandmother gifted her a journal, sparking a lifelong love for writing.

“I have always liked writing,” Ellis said. “When I was in fifth grade, my grandmother gave me a journal and I wrote in it every day until it was full, then I bought another one. I used to go to the Hallmark store in Mill Creek with my babysitting money and buy new journals. I loved a blank book. During the pandemic, I dug all those journals out of the attic and reread them. They were full of my pre-teen professions of love for the middle school boys on whom I had crushes, and gossip about my friends. This gave me a real laugh because I am a lesbian and all those friends were at my wedding with my wife Liz.”

Ellis acknowledges her grandmother, Helen Lord, as her earliest writing inspiration. She also credits her teachers.

“I had wonderful writing teachers in the South Portland school system,” Ellis said. “Mrs. Towle was my fifth-grade teacher and she encouraged me to write poetry. I had Mr. Towle in seventh grade, and I remember researching and writing a detailed report about Austria for his social studies class. When I read it to my mother, she couldn’t believe I had written it myself, but I had. I think it’s important to remember those early teachers. I had Mr. Thombs and Mrs. Thombs in seventh and eighth grade who instilled in me excellent sentence construction and grammar. Then, in high school, Susanne MacArthur and Jeri Theriault encouraged me and always took time to read my writing. Craig Furbush was also instrumental in my writing success. He taught me how to write a killer essay and that was very helpful as I majored in English at the University of Vermont.”

The therapeutic power of creativity is a central theme in Ellis’s book. She noticed a pattern in her life where she turned to creative pursuits during times of turmoil. Research led her to studies linking creativity to increased serotonin and dopamine levels, reinforcing her focus on this aspect in her book.

“One of the patterns I noticed in writing the book was how often I turned to creativity in times of turmoil throughout my life,” she said. “I did some research and found studies that found connections between creativity and increased serotonin and dopamine levels. Since the connection was already there, I decided to make that a bigger focus in the book.”

Ellis explained that the COVID-19 pandemic, a time marked by a widespread search for happiness and peace, provided a backdrop for anecdotes about finding solace through crafting.

Reflecting on her sudden fame, Ellis describes it as a stressful experience and advises against it. After 17 years of teaching, Ellis resigned 18 months ago. She is now pursuing a master’s in counseling at the University of Vermont and plans to open a private therapy practice in the future. In the meantime, she is dedicating her time to promoting her book, “From Bernie’s Mittens to My Heart,” which has taken her on a book tour across New England and includes upcoming college visits.

“This year, I am taking a year off from my studies to write a second book – this one is fiction and set in Maine.” Ellis said.

After the inauguration, she partnered with local businesses for fundraisers benefiting nonprofits in Vermont. “I partnered with Darn Tough Socks and they made a Bernie inspired sock that sold out overnight,” Ellis said. “They donated 100 percent of the profits from that sale to the Vermont Food Bank.”

Vermont Teddy Bear is her partner in crafting the iconic mittens, with a portion of the sales supporting Outright Vermont, an organization serving LGBTQ youth in Vermont. “I also partnered with Vermont Teddy Bear to make the mittens because 22,000 people reached out to me via email asking for them,” she said.

Ellis’s journey from childhood journaling to becoming a celebrated author, and her exploration of creativity as a healing force, offer a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Her ability to craft mittens that became iconic symbols further underscores her dedication to making a positive impact on the world.

Ellis will be at the South Portland Main Library on Thursday, Oct. 19 at 6 p.m. to discuss her debut book, “Bernie’s Mitten Maker.”