Handletteredjoy: Jordan Fowler

Hello! My name is Jordan Fowler, and I am the owner of Handletteredjoy.

I started learning hand lettering and calligraphy about three years ago. I found myself in a really dark place in my life; I was a sophomore in college and suffering from severe anxiety and depression. I went to appointments and learned millions of techniques to help calm me down but none seemed to work until my doctor asked if I had any interest in art. Her suggestion caught my attention and I decided to give it a try. I started looking through Pinterest for inspiration and came across a pin titled, "Your guide to learning fake calligraphy.” Every time I started to feel my anxiety or depression try to sneak into my day I started writing, relaxing, and most importantly calming down. As I started to get better at calligraphy, my anxiety started to go down.

Fast forward to my senior year in college this past March, I decided to start an Instagram account called Handletteredjoy. My intention for this account was to encourage my fellow students, friends, family and maybe even a few strangers with several handwritten bible verses weekly. Before I knew it, this "anxiety reliever" was starting to encourage others and share the gospel. One of the coolest parts was it being a huge encouragement for me to dive deeper into my bible every day. I would look for new verses and get lost in what I was reading. This was one of the hidden blessings of starting Handletteredjoy. After tons of encouragement from my family and friends, in June I decided to open an Etsy shop. I want to share my art and God's words with anyone and everyone. My hope is that everything I paint is an encouragement and a joyful reminder of God's love.

God sure knows what he is doing in every aspect of our lives. Three years ago, I really had no idea what my future would look like, or even if I would have an future. It's incredible how the Lord uses us as disciples of his kingdom in so many different ways. We were all created for a certain purpose and he knows exactly just how he wants to use us. It has been amazing to use my hand lettering as a way to share the gospel with others. With every piece I send out, I hope that it will be a continuous reminder of the love the Lord has for us. As I experienced the negative sides of my depression and anxiety, I also learned the beauty in the unknowns life holds.  

Although the road getting to this point wasn't all smooth and straight, I have learned so much about God's faithfulness and unfailing love. 

To learn more about Jordan, follow her on Instagram: @handletteredjoy and visit her shop on Etsy.