As we say goodbye to 2023, I am taking some extra time to round up some highlights from the year and appreciate the life that I’ve been building for myself. I’ve always enjoyed creating my own path and my business has truly allowed me to do things my own way over these past seven plus years.

I’m so grateful to everyone who has followed along with my business journey on a monthly basis (special shoutout to those of you who have been around since my first monthly business journal back in January 2020, 48 months ago).

New Stickers from 2023:

My success in 2023 resulted from my continued commitment to bettering myself and my business. I’m always striving to learn, grow, improve, and optimize. I felt like I really nailed prioritizing this year better than ever before. While I will forever believe there is always more to learn and improve on, I can’t help but feel both happy and content with the intentional lifestyle business that I have created that allows me to live out my values and share my creativity with the world.

A lot of BIG things happened!

Top 23 Highlights from 2023:

1. Worked with over 10 museums and cultural institutions, including the Milwaukee Art Museum, Field Museum, Chicago History Museum, Garfield Park Conservatory, CR Smith Museum Store (American Airlines), Mulva Cultural Center, Lightner Museum, Mütter Museum, Peoria Riverfront Museum, and Atlanta Botanical Garden.

2. Developed creative branding for Enneagram Empress, The Wink House, the Say Yes campaign, Craftinista Girl, and another local maker.

3. Advised 21 small business owners through my role as a subject-matter expert for two cohorts of the Women’s Business Development Center’s Scale Higher program.

4. Launched countless new stickers including a Polish-Chicago collection for the Chicago History Museum, a travel collection, Pedestrian by Choice collection, 2023 mantras, and various other collections and individual designs for clients and social causes.

5. Listened to 60+ audiobooks (for the third year in a row).

6. Participated in my first trade show at MSA Forward with Katy of Narrative Material.

7. Fulfilled 220+ wholesale orders including 23 orders in July through the Faire Summer Market.

8. Completed 10 trades through the Artist Trade Program and supported artists through Self-Made Artist Academy.

9. Updated my headshots through a photoshoot with Shannon D. Wyatt.

10. Started working with Hoypoloi Gallery at O’Hare Airport and made some more behind-the-scenes progress in the aviation space.

11. Attended the Brand New Conference, Brand Talks, and the WBDC Midwest Conference.

12. Presented at Adobe’s Create Now Chicago event at the Chicago History Museum.

13. Traveled internationally three times (one more time than my goal of twice a year).

14. Created a travel-inspired passion project around rebranding Ms. Jetsetter.

15. Presented at the Typism Summit and was accepted into the Typism 9 Book.

16. Received $5,000 in grant funding from the B2B Artist Grant.

17. Got a new laptop!

18. Celebrated turning 30 with a handful of close family members and friends.

19. Celebrated 16 years post spinal fusion surgery.

20. Participated in various groups including the Museum Store Association (MSA), Sunnyside Chats, AIGA Chicago, Chicago Graphic Design Club, and Lifestyle Business League. I also accepted a role as a Chicago Ambassador for the Makers United program by Nest.

21. Had my highest revenue year to date. My second highest was back in 2019.

22. Maxed out my contribution to my SEP-IRA business retirement plan.

23. Celebrated seven years in business and four and a half years in Chicago.

Client Shoutouts!

I worked with some of the best clients this year and am so grateful to companies big and small for trusting me to help with everything from wholesale orders to custom merchandise to custom logos and branding.

While I love all of my clients, I want to give a special shoutout to The Field Museum, Jennifer Daly with Leapfrog Technologies, Garfield Park Conservatory, Lisa Dodson of Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network, the Women’s Business Development Center, the Chicago History Museum, Andrea Winkler of The Wink House, Julianne Ishler of Enneagram Empress, the Milwaukee Art Museum, Souvenir City Chicago, Madam Clutterbucket’s, Hoypoloi Gallery, and Dom’s Kitchen + Market. Without all of you (and many more), I wouldn’t have this dream business of mine. Thank you!

Passion Projects are still our jam.

Passion Projects from 2023:

• Take Chelsie to Lunch Program

• Travel Sticker Collection

• Pedestrian by Choice

• Ms. Jetsetter Rebranding

• Portraits of Quinessa of Always on Q, Brandon Johnson, Judy Heumann, and Omar of Omarcito’s Chicago

• 2023 Hand-Lettered Mantras

Travel in 2023 included multiple trips to Milwaukee, Central Illinois, and Denver to visit family and friends as well as other domestic trips to Port Royal, South Carolina to visit my friend (and escape the cold Chicago winter), Denver to attend MSA Forward, Post Lake, Wisconsin for a family weekend at the lake, and Indianapolis, Indiana for the Museum Store Association regional conference. Daniel and I made our way to Mexico City for the first time, took my parents to Italy (specifically Rome, Florence, and a bit of the Amalfi Coast), and explored Paris and Amsterdam.

Interviews + Press Features:

While I don’t have any interviews and press features in 2023 to share, I am open to getting back to them in 2024. If you’d like to interview me about my creative and entrepreneurial experiences or are looking for an expert in the areas of creative marketing, branding, and passion projects - reach out!

Looking Ahead…

I am manifesting another successful year for Lettering Works in 2024. It seems like each year in business just keeps getting better and better. I am committed to continuing to focus on thoughtfulness and intentionality. In 2023, I accomplished my goal on focusing on what is important, not urgent. With that, I saw more calm and ease come into my life and business. I’ve grown in my confidence of making choices that are right for me and my business. My approach has been fewer, better things and I plan to carry this concept with me into the next year.

I will be prioritizing the following work in 2024:

1. Branding for artists and creative businesses. These services will continue to be made more accessible through our Artist Trade Program.

2. Wholesale and custom merchandise with a focus on museum and airport gift shops

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I will be re-evaluating the following in 2024:

1. Educational resources for artists including our online courses*, signature Self-Made Artist Academy program, and 1:1 consulting sessions.

*The first step in this re-evaluation is moving my online courses to this website from Kajabi (as the high cost of maintaining that separate website is not currently justified by the income from courses.)

Stay tuned for more creative work to come. If you are in need of a brand makeover, custom branded merchandise, or support growing your own arts business, you can book me for a project via the contact form.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Chelsie Tamms is an award-winning lettering artist and designer based out of Chicago. She is the owner of Lettering Works, a branding studio that connects businesses to their audience through creativity and strategy.