15 Things I’ve Accomplished in the 15 Years Since I had a Spinal Fusion Surgery
On November 14, 2007, I had an 11.5 hour spinal fusion surgery to correct my scoliosis.
You can read my other posts Defying Limitations, 5 Lessons I’ve Learned from Living with Scoliosis, and No Excuses: How My Scoliosis Actually Fuels My Passion to Succeed in Business.
2007: Left: Before Spinal Fusion - 60 Degree Spinal Curvature; Right: After Spinal Fusion Surgery
Graduated from high school in the top 5% of my class
Worked as an intern in advertising and graphic design
Studied abroad in Granada, Spain (and got engaged to my best friend there seven years later)
Won $10,000 from Bradley University’s Project Springboard student entrepreneurship competition to start my own business
Graduated Summa Cum Laude from Bradley University with degrees in Studio Art - Graphic Design and Spanish
Self-published two books - Just My Type of Lettering and 100 Days of Peoria
Held an artist residency at the Prairie Center of the Arts
Recognized with a Small Business Excellence Award from the City of Peoria
Moved to Chicago to accomplish my childhood dream of living in a big city one day
Developed a vibrant product line of 250+ stickers, postcards, greeting cards, and more
Sold my art products to the Peoria International Airport, Peoria Riverfront Museum, Field Museum, Chicago History Museum, and Garfield Park Conservatory, among countless independent retailers
Created a successful passion project around kidney disease called Cool Beans (and worked with the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois as a result) and other passion projects around disability and chronic illness
Completed three cohorts with the Women’s Business Development Center to continue to grow and scale my business (and pitched to Walgreens and Hudson as a result)
Worked on a handful of creative branding projects to help small businesses and artists gain the visibility and recognition they deserve
Launched multiple courses - Self-Made Artist Academy, The Power of Passion Projects, Are You on Brand? and Learn Lettering with Chelsie Tamms - to help artists build sustainable businesses around their passions
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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. 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.
Chelsie had a spinal fusion surgery at age 14.
