Featured Friday: Chelsie Tamms of Lettering Works

This week we talked with Chelsie Tamms of Lettering Works, a branding studio that connects businesses to their audience through creativity and strategy. Founder and owner Chelsie is an award-winning lettering artist and designer based out of Chicago. With over 10 years of practice of lettering and design, Chelsie is passionate about craft and intention. When she’s not designing, she can be found eating ice cream, traveling internationally, or starting a new passion project. You can visit Chelsie online at www.letteringworks.com.
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Tell me about yourself!
I am a lettering artist and designer who is passionate about helping others bring their ideas to life visually through compelling custom artwork. I love working on a mix of passion projects, product design, and freelance design work. I personally love to travel and connect with other creative people.

Tell me about your business!
I started Lettering Works after winning $10,000 in startup funding from Bradley University in Peoria, IL when I was a senior there. I spent the first three years in business in Peoria, Illinois where I worked with countless small businesses, independent creatives, and causes. I relocated to Chicago in summer 2019 and began to expand my product line and services for the Chicago market. Most of the work I do is in the advertising and marketing spaces, but has a focus on art and creativity.

Previous to starting a business, I held several internships at creative advertising agencies and worked at personalized product company. I studied graphic design, Spanish, and marketing and got involved with the entrepreneurship department at Bradley my senior year. After winning the $10,000 in startup funding, I started my business in Peoria in 2016.

What's the hardest part about being an entrepreneur?
The hardest part about being an entrepreneur is having to educate others on the value of your services. This is especially challenging being a solo-preneur because it can be easy to feel isolated or alone and unsure of what you should be charging or offering to clients. Knowing and understanding your value is an ever-evolving component of being an entrepreneur. 

What's your favorite part?
My favorite part of being an entrepreneur is being in control of the work that I want to do. I am always making time for personal projects, which help me proactively secure the type of projects I want to work on. Being able to choose what I work on ensures that I am truly passionate about the work that I am doing, which often leads to better results for everyone involved.

What advice would you give to women either working in business or starting their own?
Invest in yourself. Don't allow others to dictate your career, but instead work proactively to attract the exact work you'd like to get. If you have an idea that you are truly passionate about, find a way to make it happen.

What's your favorite quote?
Do more of what makes you happy.