Lettering Works Business Journal - April in Review
Business Journal: a place to celebrate wins & reflect - 40th Edition
April’s highlights included a fun-filled vacation to Italy, production of a new, custom collection for the Chicago History Museum, a restock of popular Chicago products, a new Steph’s Sticker design, rewarding client work, and prep for MSA Forward.
These design will be available exclusively at the Chicago History Museum starting May 20th
The Back Home: Polish Chicago Exhibit opens May 20th, 2023
The Big Wins
Explored the beauty of Italy with my parents and Daniel. We stayed in Rome, Florence, and Salerno. Highlights of the trip included taking a cooking class, touring the Vatican, taking a ferry along the Amalfi coast, traveling between cities via bullet trains, and, of course, eating all of the pasta, pizza, and gelato. Check out all of the photos and more details from our European adventure here.
Put a custom collection of Polish-inspired designs into production for the Chicago History Museum. Five new designs will be debut in the CHM’s gift shop alongside the Back Home: Polish Chicago exhibit that opens on May 20th.
I helped Steph turn her latest sketch into a custom sticker for The Hive in Peoria
Steph & Barbie came for a visit and we took them to several of our favorite Logan Square spots
New Denver, Colorado sticker design to debut at MSA Forward in May
An Italy-inspired design to be included in an upcoming travel-inspired collection
Chicago Skyline Enamel Pins, Pizza Enamel Pins and Pizza Patches are all restocked! Shop on Faire.
Pin restock delivered by bike to GPC by the official Lettering Works boy, Daniel Hart
General Updates + Accomplishments:
Created a new sticker with Steph of Steph’s Stickers during her visit to Chicago. Steph and her mom Barbie came up from Peoria for a little vacation and we squeezed in some business by finalizing Steph’s custom-designed sticker for The Hive in Peoria.
Held my first four consulting sessions with WBDC ScaleHigher participants where I shared my knowledge and insights on branding and creative marketing. My contract with the WBDC includes a presentation to the cohort, 1:1 sessions with all participants, and joining their graduation ceremony in early May.
Wrapped up two branding projects for creative women and a custom sticker design for another branding client. I’ll have more to share on these projects when their official launch dates are set.
Prepped for MSA Forward by creating new Denver, Colorado stickers and event-specific promo cards. I’ll be the featured artist in the Narrative Material booth (#740) at the Museum Store Association’s conference and trade show in May. Because it’s in Denver, I’m extending my visit so I can visit with my brother as well.
Made progress on wedding planning with Daniel. Our Midwest Wedding Tour* will be kicking off in May 2024 after we get married at the courthouse in Chicago. *Tour stops include Milwaukee, Chicago, and Central Illinois.
Restocked popular Chicago products, including Chicago Skyline enamel pins and Chicago Pizza enamel pins and embroidered patches. Find them on Faire, or locally at Garfield Park Conservatory or the Field Museum, among other local independent shops.
Officially shifted Self-Made Artist Academy to an on-demand format. Artists can now enroll anytime (and yes, the pay-what-you-can options are still available).
Spending a third of the month in another country sure does make the time fly by! It was fun to unplug from work for a bit and show my parents around Italy. Returning from an inspiring vacation always has me ready to take on new creative work. If you’d like to get the conversation started about working together, simply reach out!
In May, I’m most looking forward to debuting my new Polish Chicago collection at the Chicago History Museum, attending my first trade show in Denver, and wrapping up my consulting work with the Aurora cohort of ScaleHigher through the WBDC (as well as attending the cohort’s in-person graduation!)
April is donate life Month!
A special thank you to all those who are living donors and everyone who is committed to passing along their unneeded organs when they die. You can register to be an organ donor here.
Thank you for being here, for supporting me, and for following along with my entrepreneurial journey.
PS - Have a project you’d like to chat about? Send me the details now to ensure your project gets on my calendar in 2023. Bring on all the logos, branded merchandise, + brand identity projects… let’s make some beautiful + impactful things together.
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