TCJORIGINALS

NAAWAKAMIG · A SERIES BY TIM JORDON

Naawakamig

The One Who Stands in the Middle.

Stories of community, resilience, and belonging.
From Bois Forte Ojibwe author and artist Tim Jordon.

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THE STORY BEGINS HERE · BOOK ONE
NAAWAKAMIG: The One Who Stands in the Middle by Tim Jordon — book cover
NAAWAKAMIGBy Tim Jordon · Explore the series ↗

BOOKS BY TCJ · TIM JORDON

The NAAWAKAMIG series.

Northern Minnesota. An Ojibwe family. A changing world—and a choice whose consequences echo across generations.

ABOUT THE BOOKS

One act of mercy. A generation of consequences.

NAAWAKAMIG follows an Ojibwe man, his family, and the Bois Forte community as prospectors and the iron industry transform northern Minnesota. At its heart is a question that grows harder with every book: how do you protect the people you love without becoming the thing that threatens them?

These are historical novels rooted in a real place, told through love, loss, ancestral teachings, and the choices people make when power closes in. The characters are fictional; the homeland and the history that shape their world are real.

Start with The One Who Stands in the Middle, then read The Scars of Iron and The Center Remains. The first three books are available now.

NAAWAKAMIG: The One Who Stands in the Middle by Tim Jordon — book cover

NAAWAKAMIG · BOOK 1

The One Who Stands in the Middle

He could leave the stranger to die. Instead, he saves him.

In the Northwoods of northern Minnesota, young Naawakamig learns to live by the teachings of his Ojibwe community. But prospectors are moving into the country, and the iron traps of an Irishman named Patrick O’Riley leave wounds in the land he calls home.

When Patrick’s life falls into his hands, Naawakamig faces a choice that will reach far beyond the two of them. Mercy begins a connection neither man understands—and sets a family’s story in motion.

Begin here: the first book in a historical saga of the Bois Forte Ojibwe, family, and the cost of holding to your beliefs.

Paperback $15 · Hardcover $20

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NAAWAKAMIG: The Scars of Iron by Tim Jordon — book cover

NAAWAKAMIG · BOOK 2

The Scars of Iron

A woman goes north to begin again. Her husband’s shadow follows.

Eva’s journey brings her to Nett Lake with Léon Beausoleil, an aging Métis trapper who has spent a lifetime moving between worlds without fully belonging to either. Among the People, she finds a community, a new name, and the possibility of a life she can choose for herself.

As Eva and Léon grow closer, Patrick O’Riley’s ties to the iron industry threaten the future taking shape around them. Love, jealousy, and the growing power of the mine draw their lives toward a collision—and Naawakamig must reckon with what the land’s warnings may mean.

Book two brings an intimate love story into the path of an industry that measures the land by what it can take.

Paperback $15 · Hardcover $20

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NAAWAKAMIG: The Center Remains by Tim Jordon — book cover

NAAWAKAMIG · BOOK 3

The Center Remains

Fourteen years later, the mine is reopening. So is the past.

Patrick O’Riley returns to Minnesota with wealth, influence, and a reason to fear the men digging deeper underground. What he left beneath the mine has stayed hidden for years. New work threatens to expose it.

At Nett Lake, Naawakamig is raising the next generation while holding his community together. As buried truths move toward the surface, the family he has protected faces the power of a company with its own version of justice. The man who once chose mercy must confront its hardest cost: how do you seek justice without surrendering yourself to vengeance?

Book three brings the opening trilogy to its reckoning, where family, belonging, and the fight for a future meet.

Paperback $15 · Hardcover $20

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Buy any book and get 10% off a painting! Your discount unlocks after payment. Shipping excluded; cannot be combined with another discount.

Order directly from Tim: paperbacks $15 each · hardcovers $20 each. US shipping and handling is $12.99 per order.

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Tim Jordon relaxing at home with his dog

THE AUTHOR BEHIND NAAWAKAMIG

Tim Jordon.

Tim Jordon is a Bois Forte Ojibwe author and artist from Minnesota’s Iron Range. He writes the NAAWAKAMIG series, exploring belonging, resilience, family, and the strength it takes to hold on to who you are. His storytelling grows from a deeply personal journey of learning his heritage and reconnecting with his ancestry.

Why NAAWAKAMIG means so much to me

I became an enrolled member of the Bois Forte Band at 38, after years of seeking that recognition. My heritage was already part of me, but there was so much I still needed to learn. Much of that journey has been one I have had to find my own way through.

Writing NAAWAKAMIG has become part of that learning. As I explore my ancestry and the history of my people, I am also working toward a deeper understanding of where I come from and where I belong. These are works of fiction, shaped by questions and feelings that are very real to me.

These books carry the weight of that search: the ache of disconnection, the determination to keep learning, and the pride of reconnecting. I am still learning. I write with love for my people and the hope that these stories will help someone else feel a little less alone in their own search for belonging.

PAINTED. ENGRAVED. ONE OF ONE.MADE TO BE SEEN UP CLOSE.TCJ ORIGINALS

MADE FROM YOUR PHOTOS

Custom portraits.

COMPLETED PET PORTRAIT

Luna — Pet Portrait

Luna perched on her rope, captured in a detailed black-and-white portrait engraved on painted canvas and finished in a handmade wooden frame.

COMPLETED PET PORTRAIT · ENGRAVED CANVAS · HANDMADE FRAME

Luna the parrot perched on a rope in a black-and-white engraved canvas portrait with a handmade wooden frame
Luna · Completed framed pet portrait Tap to enlarge ↗

COMPLETED CUSTOM ORDER

Lola — Pet Portrait

A portrait of Lola engraved on painted canvas and finished in a handmade wooden frame. Her expressive eyes, distinctive markings, and crossed paws make this a personal, one-of-a-kind piece.

COMPLETED PET PORTRAIT · ENGRAVED CANVAS · HANDMADE FRAME

Completed black and white canvas portrait of Lola wearing a bandana with her front paws crossed, displayed in a handmade wooden frame
Lola · Completed framed pet portrait Tap to enlarge ↗

COMPLETED CUSTOM ORDER

Custom pet portrait

A one-of-a-kind dog portrait engraved on painted canvas and finished with a handmade wooden frame. A personal piece made for a custom order.

PET PORTRAIT · ENGRAVED CANVAS · HANDMADE FRAME

Completed custom black and white dog portrait engraved on canvas in a handmade wooden frame
Completed custom pet portrait Tap to enlarge ↗

COMPLETED CUSTOM ORDER

Daisy — Memorial Pet Portrait

A custom memorial portrait of Daisy engraved on painted canvas, with the tribute “Rest in Peace Daisy.” A personal keepsake honoring a beloved companion.

MEMORIAL PET PORTRAIT · ENGRAVED CANVAS · CUSTOM ORDER

Completed black and white engraved canvas portrait of Daisy, a French bulldog lying down, with the words Rest in Peace Daisy
Daisy · Memorial pet portrait Tap to enlarge ↗

PERSONALIZED PET GIFTS

Keep them close.

Your companion. Your photo. A keepsake made for you.

Choose a gift for a pet lover or honor a companion’s memory. These printed gifts are made by a production partner and shipped directly to you; they are separate from Tim’s handmade engraved canvas portraits.

Supplier example of a pet-photo blanket; your order uses your own photo and text
Supplier product example · Your photo goes here

Pet-photo blanket

From $59.95

A favorite photo and your pet’s name on a soft velveteen blanket. Starts with the 30 × 40 inch size; larger sizes quoted individually.

Personalize & request total ↗
Supplier example of a memorial photo ornament; your order uses your own photo and text
Supplier product example · Your photo goes here

Memorial photo ornament

From $29.95

A ceramic keepsake with a photo, name, and optional memorial dates. Printed on one side with a hanging cord included.

Personalize & request total ↗
Supplier example of a personalized pet clock; your order uses your own photo and text
Supplier product example · Your photo goes here

Personalized pet clock

From $79.95

Your pet’s photo or a custom pet-themed design on an acrylic wall clock. Starts with the 8-inch round size. AA battery not included.

Personalize & request total ↗

How to order

1. Send your photo, personalization, and delivery ZIP code. 2. Tim confirms the design, final price, and delivery estimate. 3. Pay your confirmed order, then your gift is made and shipped directly to you.

Starting prices include standard shipping within the contiguous US for the entry option, subject to confirmation for your address. Applicable tax is additional. Sizes, availability, and delivery dates are confirmed before payment. No payment is taken by the request form. Original painting discounts and shipping offers do not apply to these gifts.

CUSTOM PORTRAIT EXAMPLE

Tim Jordon — Self-Portrait

A self-portrait engraved on painted canvas, showing the detail and character Tim can bring to a personal photograph. This piece is an example of custom portrait work available through TCJ Originals.

Turn a favorite photo of yourself, someone you love, or someone you want to remember into a personal piece of art. Contact Tim to discuss your photo, size, and a custom quote.

CUSTOM PORTRAITS · ENGRAVED CANVAS · MADE FROM YOUR PHOTO

Ask about a custom portrait ↗
Tim Jordon’s detailed black and white self-portrait engraved on painted canvas, signed TCJ26
Self-portrait · An example of custom portrait work Tap to enlarge ↗
Ask about your portrait ↗Personalize a pet gift ↗

CUSTOM ART COMMISSIONS

Your idea.
My imagination.

Commission a one-of-a-kind painting made just for you.

Have a subject, a story, or something wild in mind? Tim welcomes custom art commissions. Share your idea, preferred size, and colors, and talk directly with him about the possibilities, price, and timing.

Every commissioned painting is a one-of-one original. Your design will never be reused for another painting.

Talk about your custom painting ↗

YOUR BRAND · MADE TO STAND OUT

For businesses.

Custom metal business cards, logo engraving, and branded gifts. Work directly with Tim to turn your business details and artwork into something customers remember.

COMPLETED CUSTOM ORDER

Bass Bros LLC
Metal business cards

Custom laser-engraved metal cards with a detailed fishing design on the front and a QR code on the back. Business information and artwork come together in a card made for the Bass Bros brand.

METAL CARDS · FRONT & BACK · CUSTOM DESIGN

Front of a green Bass Bros LLC metal business card engraved with a bass, fishing rod, trees and business contact information
Front · Fishing artwork & business details Tap to enlarge ↗
Back of a green Bass Bros LLC metal business card engraved with a QR code, Fish With Us message and website
Back · QR code & website Tap to enlarge ↗

TCJ ORIGINALS · METAL BUSINESS CARD

Detailed artwork.
A memorable introduction.

A gold-colored TCJ Originals metal business card with an intricate bird and Northwoods design, engraved contact details, and a QR code. An example of the custom detail available for your business.

METAL CARD · CUSTOM ARTWORK · QR CODE

Gold-colored TCJ Originals engraved metal business card featuring a bird with spread wings, pine trees, ornate borders, contact details and a QR code
TCJ Originals · Gold metal business card Tap to enlarge ↗

MAKE AN INTRODUCTION

Metal business cards

Custom engraved metal cards with your logo, contact details, and optional QR code. Front-and-back designs available. Quantity, card color, design, and machine time determine your quote.

PUT YOUR LOGO TO WORK

Branded drinkware & gifts

Discuss personalized tumblers, coasters, tags, and keepsakes for customers, staff, or events. Material and item compatibility are confirmed before ordering.

BUILD YOUR BRAND

Logo artwork & signs

Custom logo artwork on painted canvas, plus engraved wood signs and display pieces. Tell Tim your size, design, and where the finished piece will be used.

ADD THE FINISHING TOUCH

Leather patches & labels

Engraved logo patches and personalized labels for your projects. Ask about material options, dimensions, quantities, and how you plan to attach them.

Let’s make something for your business.

Send your business name, logo or design, product, quantity, and preferred date. Tim will confirm materials, the final quote, and timing before payment or production. Attach your logo in the message you send.

Request a business quote ↗Email your logo & details ↗Call (218) 206-0024

HANDCRAFTED BY TIM · MADE TO FIT

A frame with
its own character.

Custom wood frames for your artwork, photographs, and meaningful keepsakes.

Handmade wooden frames with different finishes in Tim’s workshop

Choose the look. Request your estimate.

From warm, natural grain to a rich stained finish, each frame is made to suit your piece and your space. Tell Tim the size, style, and wood you have in mind—or ask for help choosing.

Every custom frame is estimated individually. Pricing depends on wood species and availability, frame dimensions, profile, finish, and any additional details. Wood options and the final price are confirmed with you before work begins.

Custom frames are available as a separate order, including for artwork you already own. Pickup or shipping arrangements are included in your estimate discussion.

Request a frame estimate ↗

Have a reference photo? Include it with your email when requesting an estimate.

Portrait of Timmothy Charles Jordon

THE ARTIST BEHIND TCJ

Timmothy
Charles Jordon.

BOIS FORTE OJIBWE ARTIST · MINNESOTA

“I want to spend my time spreading beauty. That’s all.”
— Timmothy Charles Jordon, TCJ Originals

An imagination that doesn’t
stay inside the lines.

Based on Minnesota’s Iron Range, Tim creates paintings that bring layered color and detailed laser engraving together. From otherworldly landscapes to surreal storms, the work invites a closer look. Tim also hand-builds every wooden frame, making the finished piece his work from the painting to the frame.

Each design becomes a single original painting. Once that piece finds its home, the design is never reused for another painting.

Find a piece that speaks to you ↗

HOW IT’S MADE

From a white canvas
to a TCJ original.

A look inside our workshop,
from the first layer to the final finish.

A plain white canvas panel before painting in the TCJ workshop

01 / WHITE CANVAS

Start with a blank canvas.

Every piece begins with a white canvas, ready for its own colors and design.

Colorful painted canvas panels on an easel in the TCJ spray paint area

02 / SPRAY PAINT

Build the color.

Next, we head to our spray paint area to lay down the colors and layers.

The laser engraver adding detailed artwork to a painted canvas

03 / LASER ENGRAVING

Bring out the detail.

The painted canvas then goes onto the laser engraver to reveal the detailed artwork.

04 / THE FINAL FINISH

Finish the painting. Hand-finish the frame.

To finish the painting, we apply a clear coat—either sprayed on or brushed on. Tim also hand-builds every wooden frame, then sands, washes and cleans, stains, and clear-coats it by hand.

Wooden frames at different stages of cleaning and staining on Tim’s workshop bench

Sand & clean.

Each handmade frame is sanded and cleaned before finishing.

Six wooden frames with warm wood finishes lined up on the TCJ workshop bench

Bring out the grain.

Stain brings out the wood grain and gives each frame its character.

Dark and light wooden frames beside wood stain and polyurethane in Tim’s workshop

Protect the finish.

A clear coat protects the finished frame and completes the piece.

INSIDE THE TCJ WORKSHOP

The tools behind
the detail.

Laser engraving brings fine detail to custom pieces.
Meet the equipment in the TCJ Originals workshop.

LARGE-FORMAT DIODE LASER

AtomStack A40 Pro V2

Switchable laser power for detailed engraving and cutting wood, leather, paper, and suitable opaque acrylic. Also supports marking coated metals.

What it can do

  • Wood & leather: detailed artwork, lettering, signs, personalized gifts, leather patches, and decorative wooden pieces.
  • Cutting: wood, paper, leather, and compatible opaque acrylic; thickness and pass count depend on the material.
  • Coated metal: surface designs on suitable painted, coated, or anodized items, with results depending on the finish.
  • Project scale: larger flat artwork and panels within the standard work area.

Metal work is surface marking or coating removal where compatible. Deep relief engraving and metal cutting are outside this machine’s listed capabilities.

Optical laser power
48W / 24W, switchable
Standard work area
385 × 400 mm (15.16 × 15.75 in)
Maximum rated speed
500 mm/s (30,000 mm/min)
Laser spot
0.08 × 0.10 mm
Features
Auto focus, air assist, red-light positioning, limit switches, flame and tilt detection
Manufacturer specifications ↗

DIODE + INFRARED ENGRAVING

AtomStack P1 + IR module

A compact enclosed engraver with interchangeable blue diode and infrared modules. The additional IR module expands engraving options to metals and suitable plastics.

What it can do

  • 5W diode: small artwork, names, logos, and personalization on wood, bamboo, leather, cork, slate or stone, and suitable coated items.
  • Light cutting: paper, thin leather, and thin wood; AtomStack lists 3 mm basswood plywood in one pass under suitable conditions.
  • 1.2W infrared: fine surface marking on compatible stainless steel, aluminum, brass, iron, titanium, gold, silver, and platinum, plus selected laser-compatible plastics.
  • Small detailed pieces: metal cards, tags, jewelry, and keepsakes that fit the module’s work area and the enclosure.

The infrared module is for marking and shallow engraving. It does not cut metal; deep relief results are not promised. Material, finish, and part fit must be assessed first.

Optical laser power
5W diode + additional 1.2W infrared module
Wavelengths
455 nm diode / 1064 nm infrared
Diode work area
110 × 110 mm (4.33 × 4.33 in)
Infrared work area
105 × 100 mm (4.13 × 3.94 in)
Maximum rated speed
10,000 mm/min
Laser spot
Diode: 0.08 × 0.06 mm
Infrared: 0.03 × 0.03 mm
Maximum processing height
50 mm (1.97 in), standard configuration
Design & software
Class 1 enclosed design; manual focus; LightBurn and AtomStack software support
Manufacturer specifications ↗

EXPLORING WHAT’S NEXT

Decorative firearm engraving

Tim is developing this direction for TCJ Originals: personal artwork, names, and decorative motifs on suitable grips, wooden stocks, and compatible metal surfaces.

The A40’s wood engraving capabilities and the P1’s infrared metal marking capabilities offer potential for this work. Each project needs a material, finish, and fit assessment plus sample testing before a result can be promised. The P1’s compact enclosure limits which pieces can be accommodated.

Currently in development. Contact Tim to discuss an idea and whether the equipment suits the piece.

Specifications are manufacturer ratings for standard configurations. Actual settings and results depend on the material and design. Ask Tim about your project.

Discuss a custom engraving ↗

BRING HOME AN ORIGINAL

See something
you can’t forget?

Talk directly with Tim about the painting you love.
Ask about dimensions and arrange pickup or shipping. Handmade frames are included. Free US shipping on artwork over $150; size limits apply.

Text Tim ↗Call (218) 206-0024

Pay securely through Stripe. Free US shipping on artwork over $150. Artwork $150 or less: $25 shipping for canvases 16 × 12 inches or smaller. Larger pieces require a shipping quote.

TCJ ORIGINAL · ONE OF ONE

Handmade wooden frame included. Free US shipping on artwork over $150. Artwork $150 or less: $25 shipping for canvases 16 × 12 inches or smaller. Larger pieces require a shipping quote. Contact Tim to arrange local pickup.

Text about this painting ↗Call (218) 206-0024