We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Chelsea Oliver a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Chelsea, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How do you feel about asking friends and family to support your business? What’s appropriate, what’s not? Where do you draw the line?

My friends and family are the sole reason I started this business. They believed in me long before I did. One day in 2020, during the pandemic, my sister-in-law called me an artist. When I first heard her say it I thought she was crazy, but I eventually started to believe it. I’ve never had to ask for support from my friends and family. They have networked for me, shared all of my work, and made me take chances. I would not have made it this far without them.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Like a lot of lettering artists and modern calligraphers, my business started out as a hobby. I had always enjoyed writing but it never occurred to me that I could make it into a business. For a few years I had been doing friends’ and family members’ event signage and at one point, a restaurant menu for a friend’s place of employment. I started an Instagram page only to serve as a portfolio for my own enjoyment. Soon, people I had never met were reaching out for signs for there events and restaurants.

Initially, chalkboards were the only type of signage I offered. Once the pandemic settled down, I began collecting vintage, ornate mirrors to rent for weddings. I was creating signage for coffee shops, bbq spots, weddings, keepsakes, and everything in between. 2021 was my first real year of running my business. I was busier than I would have ever expected to be, then unfortunately, everything came to screeching halt – literally – in October of that year. I was in a head-on collision that left me with a perilunate dislocation and a fractured arm and wrist of my dominate hand. I soon learned that a perilunate dislocation was the worst wrist injury you can have and that I had a very long road ahead of me.

I didn’t pick up a pen again until February of 2022. I would ultimately have three surgeries as a result of this injury. I spent most of 2022 in occupational therapy trying to improve my range of motion and strength so I could get back to my craft. And thankfully, I was able to. While 2022, was by and large a year of recovery, it was also a year full of perseverance.

My first commission of 2023 was my largest to date and it’s the project I am most proud of. I sent 5 chalkboards off to NYC to be hung in a store in Manhattan. If someone could have told October 2021 me that I would recover and be creating signs for a store in Manhattan a year later, there’s no chance I would have believed them.

One thing I would like future clients to know is that I don’t stick to one aesthetic. Everything I do is custom. It’s all about bringing their ideas and visions to life. If you’re looking for a classic, romantic, or vintage look, I got you. If you’re looking for rustic or farmhouse, we can do that, too. Modern and minimalistic or bright and fun? I’m all in. If you know exactly what you want, great! If you have no idea and need some guidance or are ready to give full artistic freedom, also great!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I know I shared a lot of this info on the previous question, but you’re free to do with this additional information as you wish.

On the morning of my car accident in October 2021, the first thing I asked my surgeon was “Will I be able to write again?” My hand and wrist were entirely dislocated from my arm. I didn’t know at the time that the dislocation was going to be my main problem, not the fractures. A perilunate dislocation causes so much damage to your wrist tendons that the curvature and rotation of your wrist will never be the same. The initial surgery occurred on the day of the car accident to reconstruct my wrist with pins and a plate. 12 weeks later, I was scheduled to have the pins in my wrist removed. Pin removal went as planned and I began occupational therapy. About a month later, one of the screws in the plate began rubbing against my arm tendons. For fear of my tendons being ruptured, I had to undergo another surgery to remove the plate and screws. So in April of 2022, I underwent my third surgery. After 4 months of occupational therapy, I wasn’t making the progress I wanted or was expected to. In July, I was prescribed a brace that was to help my range of motion. I was to wear it 3 times a day for 30 minutes. My days revolved around finding time to wear this brace. I felt like it kept me away from my business and doing the things I wanted to grow my business. I felt stuck. My strength was gone. I was in constant pain – I still am. I wore this brace as prescribed for 4 months and called it quits in December of 2022. It had been all for nothing. My range of motion went right back to where it was at the beginning. I had to come to terms with the fact that my arm and wrist would never be what it was or be medically normal. I still struggle as a artist. I have to work much slower, take more breaks, maneuver my body and arm in ways I never had to. Most days of writing end in nights of icing my wrist and spending time in my hand massager. I wake up every night with my hand cramping up. I’m afraid of on-site commissions because I’m worried that my hand and wrist won’t cooperate. I usually pack ice and kinesiology tape and allow time for breaks. I love what I do and I put everything I had into my recovery to make sure I could get back to creating. Things look a lot different now, but I made it through and will continue to navigate this injury as time goes on.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Social media and word of mouth! Lots of new brides are friends of brides that had my signs at their weddings. And as I’d mentioned before, my friends and family. They yell my name from the mountain tops, truly. I love them for it.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.oliverletteringco.com
• Instagram: @oliverletteringco
• Facebook: @oliverletteringco

Image Credits
Tiny Heart Photography @tinyheartphotographypgh