Lettering Works - 2024 Year in Review
As we say goodbye to 2024, 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 eight 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, 60 whole months ago).
Adobe Illustrator Summit in NYC
Adobe MAX in Miami Beach
New Chicago Skyline Neon Sign
Updated Chicago Pizza Postcard
Stickers at Blvd&Branch in Chicago’s O’Hare Airport
Lettering Works postcards and stickers at Flyover Chicago
New Stickers from 2024:
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 24 Highlights from 2024:
Married Daniel at the courthouse in Chicago, surrounded by some of our immediate family.
Celebrated getting married on our Midwest Wedding Tour where we logged 70+ hours of celebrating over 14 events in four cities.
Supplied 40,000 stickers and 10,000 buttons to Gift of Hope for their Say Yes campaign that I rebranded last year.
Was invited to go to New York City for the first-ever Adobe Illustrator Summit with 30 other creatives.
Started selling to Flyover Chicago at Navy Pier and launched in 10 Rally House stores in the Chicago and Milwaukee area.
Fulfilled a total of 150+ orders on Faire and 40+ wholesale orders outside of Faire.
Completed 7 trades through the Artist Trade Program and supported creatives through Self-Made Artist Academy.
Developed branding for Laughing Angels, Sunnyfest, Frittata Consulting, and Divine Dine Food Tours.
Was invited to attend Adobe MAX in Miami Beach and participated in the Creative Cloud Community Summit.
Launched a new sticker collection alongside a special collaboration with Amelia of Off the Grid podcast, where I designed custom merchandise for her listeners and was a guest on her show.
Presented at the Typism Summit and was accepted into the Typism 10 Book.
Listened to 30+ audiobooks. (Down from 60+ the past three years.)
Traveled internationally to Mexico City and England (with a quick day trip to Whales). Flew domestically to Port Royal, Portland (twice), Boca Raton, New Orleans, New York City, Miami Beach, and Denver.
Was featured in 12 podcasts and articles throughout the year.
Participated in various groups including the Museum Store Association (MSA), Sunnyside Chats, AIGA Chicago, Chicago Graphic Design Club, Lifestyle Business League and The Interweb as well as served as a Chicago Ambassador for the Makers United program by Nest.
Opened a health savings account (HSA) and maxed out my contribution to my SEP-IRA business retirement plan.
Gifted a black, woman-owned business a unique logo and branded graphics.
Moved my online courses from Kajabi to Squarespace.
Launched new free resources including journaling prompts + a guide on how to work with a designer.
I did a one-week artist residency in Peoria and created artwork around the theme of friendship.
Designed and developed new products including a jewelry collaboration with Katy of Narrative Material and neon signs with my artwork.
Reflected on my journey in the aviation space after getting into a new shop in O’Hare’s Terminal 5.
Celebrated eight years in business and five and a half years in Chicago.
Logo design for Frittata Consulting
Logo design for Laughing Angels
Custom sticker and logo design for Divine Dine + Out The Box Experience
Logo design for Sunnyfest
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 Lisa Dodson of Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network, Jennifer Daly with Leapfrog Technologies, Garfield Park Conservatory, the Milwaukee Art Museum, Souvenir City Chicago, Hoypoloi Gallery, Acacia Holidays, and Atlanta Botanical Garden. Without all of you (and many more), I wouldn’t have this dream business of mine. Thank you!
Spring Sticker Collection + collaboration with Off the Grid
Out the Block Experience t-shirt designs
The Favicon Fix
Passion Projects are still our jam.
Passion Projects from 2024:
A highlight of our trip to Mexico City was going on a taco tour bike ride
We went to New Orleans for a long weekend to attend our friend’s wedding
We got to visit our friends in Portland, Oregon twice this year!
This was one of our many stops on our Midwest Wedding Tour
Cheez-It launched in England while we were in London on our honeymoon
We took a day trip to Llangollen, Whales with friends while on our honeymoon and it was beautiful
Adobe Community Summit Yacht Party in Miami Beach, Florida
Summer gathering with Daniel’s family to celebrate our marriage
Family time in Boca Raton over Easter
Family time in Denver where we celebrated Thanksgiving early
Travel in 2024 included multiple trips to Milwaukee and Central Illinois as well as trips to Mexico City, Port Royal, South Carolina, Portland, Oregon (twice), Boca Raton, Florida, New Orleans, Louisiana for a wedding, New York City, New York for the Adobe Illustrator Summit, Post Lake, Wisconsin, London, Liverpool, and Huddersfield, England and LLangollen, Whales for our honeymoon, Miami Beach, Florida for Adobe MAX, Denver, Colorado, and St. Louis, Missouri.
Interviews + Press Features:
Since I didn’t have any interviews and press features in 2023, I made it a priority to get back to them in 2024. I was featured 12 times over the course of this year:
Brazen Business Podcast
Off the Grid Podcast
Creative Chats with Mike Brennan Podcast
Meanwhile Back in Peoria (Midwest Wedding Tour Feature)
The Savvy Session Podcast
GSD Factor Podcast
Topshelf Creator Podcast
The Content Repurposer Podcast
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 2025. I am committed to continuing to focus on thoughtfulness and intentionality as well as making space for more calm and ease in both life and business. I am still liking my approach of “fewer, better things” and excited to see where this next year takes me and my business. Since 2024 was such a personal year, I have a feeling that 2025 will be even better for Lettering Works and allow me to recenter business growth.
I will be prioritizing the following work in 2025:
Branding for successful solopreneurs looking to level up, small-to-midsize companies ready for a refresh, and non-profit and mission-driven organizations (specifically rebranding key programs they offer or branding new initiatives).
Wholesale and custom merchandise with a continued focus on museum and airport gift shops, as well as cultural attractions.
Ensuring my services and offerings remain accessible to artists and creatives through my Artist Trade Program.
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 get in touch and book me for a project via my 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.
