Photo by Deborah Hodgin
Whether you want to declare “no new friends,” “I woke up like dis,” or simply sport a piece of locally made, handcrafted jewelry (horseshoe-shaped pocket knife-slash-pendant, anyone?), Bryanna Simpson is your girl. The 26-year-old Long Beach, California native and current East Atlanta Village dweller creates trendy, minimalist knuckle rings, necklaces, vintage pocketknives and customizable wares (maybe you’d prefer a banner necklace that says “#flawless,” for example). When she’s not making jewelry or slinging beers and burgers at The Book House Pub and Argosy, you can find this blonde-bobbed beauty “buying things and spray-painting them gold.”
Here, Simpson talks to CommonCreativ ATL about self-promotion, the post-graduation life crisis, Drake and more.
CommonCreativ ATL: How did you start making jewelry, and how long ago did you start?
Bryanna Simpson: When I moved to Atlanta I was determined to explore my “creative side” and may have been in the midst of my “I graduated from college… now what?” life crisis, so I let my freak flag fly and took whatever classes sounded interesting: beekeeping, belly dancing, and an ‘intro to jewelry making’ class. The only one that stuck was jewelry making! (Full disclosure: I also tried to buy a goat during this time.)
CC: Some of your pieces—like the Beyoncé and Drake lyric necklaces—reference pop culture. How did that come about?
BS: I used to date this guy who would make me legitimate mix tapes—I don’t even know how he made them. But amidst the sappy love songs he would always put a crap-load of Drake and Young Jeezy and stuff that I would never normally listen to on it, and he kind of created a monster. Like, I actually own multiple articles of Drake-themed clothing. And I’m dead serious about wearing it. Basically the idea came about from me being deeply and irrevocably in love with Aubrey Graham [Drake’s real name]. Queen Bey’s just along for the ride.
CC: How do you promote yourself? Do you have any tips for other makers looking to do the same?
BS: I have an Etsy shop and a severely neglected blog called Be Good that I run with my best friend, Allie. My biggest source of promotion has definitely been my friends’ bodacious bodies, though. I’m truly blessed with a great group of people who are super supportive of me and are always willing to wear my necklaces and get my name out there through word of mouth. It’s a slow process, but it feels more earned than like, paying a blog to advertise for me.
Photo by Deborah Hodgin
CC: What are you favorite materials to work with?
BS: Brass, probably, because it’s the most forgiving and still looks like gold. If you’re working with gold it’s like, holy crap, this could be an expensive mistake. If I stamp the wrong letter on a brass plate I can just toss it and start over. I am, however, taking a wax carving class right now and am pretty excited about all the new possibilities for Be Good!
CC: What inspires you?
BS: Khaleesi [from Game of Thrones]. I just like making nerdy stuff that I would want to wear, and sometimes it turns out that other people like the same nerdy stuff as me and want to buy it too.
CC: What are some of your favorite spots in Atlanta?
BS: I go to We Suki Suki for some Buford Highway-worthy Bahn Mi in East Atlanta Village. I’ve been on a serious Sun In My Belly brunch kick the past couple of weeks; and the Book House Pub and Argosy for some amazing libations (but I might be a little biased). Since it’s summer, my excessive thrift-store sweater collecting has subsided, and I’ll hang out anywhere where there’s a patio or a pool.
Photo by Deborah Hodgin
CC: Where can locals find your stuff?
BS: On Etsy and at Hodgepodge Coffee House & Gallery in Ormewood Park.
CC: Do you have any new pieces, collaborations, projects etc. in the works for summer and beyond?
BS: My roommate Anastasia is a beast with a sewing machine—she makes these amazing bags and leather goods… we may have something planned for this summer.
CC: What do you think about the current creative scene in Atlanta?
BS: Say what you want about San Francisco, Seattle, New York and everywhere else—I don’t think there’s any place that does it better than Atlanta.
See more of Bryanna Simpson’s work at her Etsy shop, Be Good.
