5 minutes with Jo
About me Hello. My name is Jo Hutchens and I live in Sydney, Australia with my husband, Eric, and our darling dog, Sumo (who is a very small Yorkshire Terrier). Our daughter, Emily, has ‘flown the coop’ and lives just an hour away. I have worked in event management, marketing, advertising, fundraising and customer service most of my life. I am also a qualified interior decorator, shopkeeper and have recently written my first children’s storybook – a rhyme and colouring book based on Jonah and the big fish.
Well Versed Homes is my business which is an online Christian homewares and giftware retail store. We offer a range of beautifully designed and carefully curated products which are unique and we hope start ‘God conversations’ in our customers homes and lives. We also provide an interior colour consultancy, soft furnishing and fabric selection service to our commercial and residential clients. You can find me at www.wellversedhomes.com or Facebook @wellversedhomes and Instagram well_versed_homes What's your favourite bible passage & why? Jeremiah 29:11 without a doubt. My grandmother taught me this verse as a very young child and even though I did not realise it at the time (and was brought up in a non-Christian home) I now know that this was her prayer over my life. I can’t wait to tell her that God answered her prayers one day and that He sure did have a plan for my life which I try to follow every day. How do you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus? I think you need routine to help with this as well as the support of a Christian community in your life. Spending regular, quiet time in The Word and prayer is so essential. I pray a lot – in the car, in the shower, in bed, in the kitchen. Most importantly, my husband and I make sure we are encouraging each other in this way – he is a great leader and example to me. What would you like the next generation of Christian women to know? No matter what, God is with you and will be your comforter, provider and friend throughout life. Just ask Him. What's one thing that you love about your local church? There isn’t one thing. I love my church – the teaching, worship and community – I can’t imagine not being there every week to be well watered for what lies ahead. What did you learn about God at a time in your life you found hard? That He never ever leaves you or forsakes you. He stands beside you and loves you through everything. All we need to do is keep praising His name and hand our burden to Him. What are you passionate about? I am passionate about home and hospitality. I believe as Christians we are called to show hospitality to those around us and those in need (Romans 12:13). Investing in friendship is never going to be on your weekly ‘to-do list’ but few things will give you more joy than gathering together at a table. This became the basis of the mission for Well Versed Homes, to produce stylish homewares and gifts that allow you to show your values and generosity. It is my passion to create beautiful products that might lead to conversations in family homes and ultimately salvations. I want to empower women to feel comfortable to open their homes and use our products to show love to others because He first loved us.
If you learn the art of cooking, your friends will remember the food.
If you learn the art of interior design, your friends will remember your home.
If you learn the art of hospitality, your friends will see God.
What do you enjoy doing when you rest? Hmmm … this is a weakness for me. I am not great at rest. I think as a creative you are always working … observing, dreaming, sketching, wondering … but I guess these things can also be rest too.
