Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jordan Elliott. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jordan , we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
Turning a passion for art into a purpose.
I have always been artistic and enjoyed being creative since I was younger. But I was very good at comparing myself to others and thinking my art or creativity could never compare or be as good as others, so I did not share what I made very often with anyone.
After I had graduated college with a degree in marine biology I started working in a store working with animals, shelter adoptions and much more. I didn’t realize that this was going to be where my love for art would blossom and actually be utilized. My position put me in charge of all the events that the store designed and hosted and I was finally given the confidence and encouragement from team members to use my creative skills to improve these events.
I started making nice backdrops and staged areas for customers to take holiday photos or picture their newly adopted pet.
These events that rarely got attention when I first started in the position started to gain traction and excitement in the community and from our local shelters as well. Being able to use my creativity to bring joy to others brought a level of joy and happiness to me as well. Once Covid hit though, all the events and community gatherings were put on hold and I lost my creativity outlet.
A few years later, I had a job change where my creativity was still on a pause and I started to get very self conscious of my skills again. My husband and I became pregnant and after an extremely rough pregnancy I ended up having an emergency c section to stop my liver from shutting down. We ended up being in the NICU for just shy of two months with our little girl, and I entered a whole new world of motherhood and being a stay at home mom. During that time I fell back into the creative community and started to teach myself how to do digital art. And through the encouragement of loved ones I decided to start up my sticker and stationery business with my new found love of creating digital art.
Although I was nervous about sharing what I made and fearful of failure, I still put myself out there and in that I found my community of supporters again. My favorite part of selling my art is meeting new people and other like minded creatives, and seeing the joy that I bring to other’s days. Within my journey of becoming a mom and building my business, I have found my life more fulfilled than it’s been before.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Jelli Bloom Designs is a small business located in Great Falls, Montana. We create fun and cute vinyl stickers, bookmarks, notepads and so much more. Everything in the shop is illustrated, printed, and cut all in the corner of my little home office.
The name comes from not only a play on my first and last name mixed together, but also from my love of ocean and plant life that I’ve always had and blossomed even more while getting my bachelors degree in marine biology. That love of animal life is also shown throughout my art as well. I have also gained the title of “The Sticker Lady!” at my local farmers market and pop up shops.
My goal with my art and product is to bring a smile to my customers faces and share that laughter with anyone that sees it. I love to capture different hobbies, senses of humor and a sense of community with my product. Whether you are a book lover, gaming nerd or snarky office worker, I have something that will surely brighten your day.
I also do commission work as well and helped other local small businesses with their logo designs, stickers and merch. As well as helping others bring their cute sticker ideas or organizational notepads to life. I am currently in the process of growing my online shop and online presence so that more people can enjoy the little things I make or make the perfect gift for someone.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Authenticity, Willingness to Learn, and Community
Be your Authentic self.
Being authentic is a very important part of the creative world and community. It is very easy to find yourself trying to conform or be trendy, but at the same time you or your style will not be a fit for every trend or niche. I found when I tried to make a product for an event or something that was going viral online I would burn out more easily or not finish it because my heart was just not in it and the art just wouldn’t turn out right. Which can lead to doubting your own work or even yourself and making the whole process feel forced. I could always tell when I would switch to making a design that I would want or make me happy, because art felt right and easy and I actually enjoyed designing and making the product again.
Willingness to Learn and Change.
Something I have learned on the way is to forever be changing and learning new things. I am very good at getting stuck in my ways and sticking with a process that I thought worked. I have definitely had to leave my comfort zone or think outside the box to improve what I’m already doing or in doing something completely new. Getting stuck in a rut or never changing can really put you at a stand still whether it’s in making a product, growing a business or even in personal aspects. I have found that listening to others suggestions or learning from mistakes has helped me the most along the way. The small business world is ever changing so being able to flex and move with it is definitely beneficial.
Build your Community.
Don’t be afraid to find your community of people who support you. This may be a business that I solely own and run, but it has been made exponentially easier with the support group of friends, family, and even other business owners I have met along the way. Building friendships in the business community or even including people you already know in your process can be more beneficial and vital than you may realize. I became very nervous for my business when I broke my hand in the middle of peak market season, but the community of supportive people I had grown made working through that time possible and kept me from failure. Everything from helping me get past an art block to being extra hands for events, or even just getting my business name out to others. The little friendships you make along the way can have a huge impact on your success.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
My small business has only been open since April of 2024 so I am still expanding and growing each and every day and that can be overwhelming, especially since I am a full time mom as well. I have found that writing out a weekly schedule has definitely helped in productivity and keeping stress and the feeling of being overwhelmed at bay. When you wake up in the morning and know there is a plan for the day (even if it’s just a tentative one) it can keep you motivated to get things done. Something about checking off little boxes throughout my day gives me the boost to keep going. And keeping things written down helps unburden the already full mind, especially if things get suddenly hectic or changed last minute.
But with the said, also make sure to give yourself some grace. Overdoing it or if you’re forcing yourself to get things done can also make that overwhelming feeling come back tenfold. Giving myself the grace and breaks I needed was definitely not the easiest thing to make myself do. The idea of taking a break for a day made me feel unproductive or like I was falling behind, but I promise you the burnout or unchecked stress that followed pushing too much was far more unproductive. So take that coffee break that you’ve been really wanting, and absolutely take that day off to do what you love or just relax. It’s amazing how doing nothing sometimes can lead to something.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jellibloomdesigns.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jellibloomdesigns/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jellibloomdesigns/
Image Credits
Personal photo credit to Taylor Zuidema Photography
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
