About Me
Restless for His return, I aim to offer approachable creative services and to share gospel goods and musings while living ‘a thousand elsewhere’ until I can spend a day in His courtyard.
Meet the Mind Behind A Thousand Elsewhere
I'm Jordan, your creative ally. I’m a lifelong follower of Jesus, a wife, stay at home mom, designer and small business owner currently residing in northern BC, Canada.
My favourite place to be is outside; near mountains, in forests or by water, adventuring with my family. A "thirtysomething" born and raised in small-town Ontario, I have moved to BC not once but twice. The first time as a teen to pursue a Graphic Design diploma in Vancouver, and again in my late twenties with my husband and young daughter in support of Messiah Canadian Reformed Church in Prince George. Having gone through both the 'Life Renewal' and 'How People Change' programs, I am a mental health advocate, sharing my experiences with Anxiety and Postpartum Depression and how it informs and impacts my faith through writing and hand lettered artwork. I love working on all things creative in my tiny little in-home studio; from crafts with my little one to extensive brand packages.
My Favourite Bible Verse
"'But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.’" — 2 Corinthians 12:9
Why A Thousand Elsewhere?
"Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked." — Psalm 84:10
This verse is a daily reminder that we are only here for a short time. Yet all the beauty and inexpressible joy we can find and experience in creation and through each other is just a foretaste of what's to come. It barely scratches the surface of what ONE day will be like with Him. Isn't that our main goal in life anyways? Our worth is not in our gender, our careers, our looks, number of followers, where we have travelled, or if we are married with 2.5 kids. Our worth is in our faith in Christ and His salvation for us, so we can be with Him one day.
With every product or post, I encourage you to refocus on the vertical and not the horizontal and to
"Lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." — Hebrews 12:1b-2
Stick around and DV we’ll grow together!
Design Services
Left Brain Department
If you can believe it, design (specifically branding) has been my unintentional life interest since I was 13 years old, as Branding was the topic of my Grade 8 Speech. After receiving my High School diploma with courses like computer, arts and business selected, I relished in a gap year of working, traveling and house sitting. I then moved from Niagara, Ontario to Vancouver, British Columbia for College, graduating in 2013 with a Graphic Design diploma from VCAD. After some more travel I returned to Ontario and worked my way up at various design studios while doing freelance and pro bono on the side. As of now, I have been pursuing a professional design career for over a decade (you can learn more about those services over here).
Gospel Goods + Custom Commissions
Right Brain Department
I have been hand lettering and drawing for as long as I can remember. I started this journey "officially" in 2015 as a recovering perfectionist who wanted to be more intentional and creative about getting into the Bible. So I set out to do that by hand lettering a Bible verse every day for what ended up being 5 months straight. I made myself share a photo of my creation to my Instagram page no matter what, mistakes and all. This was as much a practice of refining my lettering and illustration skills as it was a push to spend more time with God. Here's where this journey began, on November 27, 2015 on Instagram originally under the handle @thebiblesketched.
Many years and over 1000 little squares later, I continue to use Bible creative as my outlet to serve and dive in and spend time with God in His word. I continue to share it in hopes that maybe my honest musings and creative reflections on Christian life will help another fight a lukewarm faith (you can learn more about those services over here).
