In the shop, you will find the most beautiful of handcrafted antler jewellery. We're so happy to have found Brittany Semenoff and her gorgeous pieces. We love her work so much, we thought we'd find out a bit more about her. Read on for all things about this ranch-raised and West-obsessed, beautiful artisan of the West.
How did you get your start?
Antler jewelry was something I was always very passionate about making, though life had always got in the way. Back in September 2017, I had started making antler wreaths, then at Christmas, my sweet husband and dad gifted me a saw (every girls dream present right?!), and by that evening I was making antler jewelry!
Are all of your pieces done by hand?
Yes! Every piece is handmade by yours truly! I'm glad I do it myself. I'm pretty fussy about certain cuts for certain pieces of jewelry!
Does the limitation of making pieces by hand put a clear ceiling on what you can produce per season or per year?
Absolutely. Antler is a difficult and unforgiving medium to work with. Every piece that I create, from earrings to a beaded antler wrap necklace, are all very time consuming from start to finish!
Who are your artisan heros?
Tristen, friend and owner of Maiden Perras - @maidenperras She creates the most beautiful, handmade gemstone jewelry! I've gotten to know her very well through the handmade markets we've done together over the years!
I also really admire Breann, owner of Saddle Tramp Brand- @saddletrampbrand her jewelry speaks for itself!
Why is the West important?
Because we hold onto the traditions that our country was made on. There are so many life lessons taught in all aspects of the West that a lot of people in the city don't get to experience. There's no better way of living if you ask me!
Favorite artists?
Charles M. Russell, John Banovich and Kelsey Johnson.
Who do you follow on social media and why?
I have followed and admired Kelsey Johnson for quite a long time now. I feel Kelsey truly embodies what an outdoors woman should be. Her photography and artwork is absolutely amazing!
Also, Jan and Erin Johnson - @twoprairiegirls
These gals are the some of most empowering, hard working women I know! I first met them at a leather cuff course they hosted at Cody & Sioux, then again at Cowgirl Gypsy Lodge's, Noel Christmas Market in 2018. I can't say enough good things about these gals!
What social media influencers do you most admire?
Alexi Lively, maybe I'm a little biased since she's my beautiful cousin!
Have you ever considered how you would grow and scale larger, or did you always want to stay small?
My business has slowly been growing over the years and I'm taking on a few new stockists which is super exciting! Being that my husband and I are only able to find so much antler a year, that limits my ability to grow.
What’s your biggest motivator?
My two wild little ladies! I just hope I can be someone they can look up to!
Favorite book of 2020
To be honest, I'm not much of a reader, but the one and only book that I've read this year that was really good, was a poetry book called - Nocturnal, written by Wilder.
If I could go back in time and hang out for a day with someone from the past (West) oriented, he or she would be. . . and why. . .
Charles M. Russell. I love the way his art portrays real life events of the Old West. I am really intrigued by his art that showcases wildlife, hunting, pack-strings and grizzly bear encounters! It also reminds me of my late grandpa who was a big time hunter and would take big pack strings into the mountains!
I was fortunate enough to visit the Charles M. Russell Museum in Great Falls, MT last summer, it was truly one of the best days of my life!
I tend to splurge on. . .adorable clothes for my daughters, gemstones and Starbucks when I go to the city!
My current obsessions are. . .indoor plants! I've never had much of a green thumb, I'm the kind of girl that can kill a cactus... believe me, it's happened! But I have several that I've been able to keep alive for almost 2 years now.
I can't have much for flowers outside due to the deer and oddly our resident jack rabbits. Last summer I was within 10 foot of a buck that simply stared at me, then he proceeded to rip out a beautiful little pansy and eat it in front of me.
What are the challenges of marketing your product and how do you meet them?
Anything to do with antler has been so hard to market. A lot of people don't understand that deer, elk, moose etc. naturally shed their antlers and I've often had the question asked, if I "shoot" them for their antlers to use for my jewelry.
That question drives me insane because shooting animals solely for their antlers is poaching and that is not what I am. So what I do, is I educate those that don't know as much as I possibly can with video clips and I have set up an information page on my website.
How has COVID affected your business and how have you adapted?
Thankfully, Covid hasn't affected my sales at all, online sales actually improved. However, Covid did delay a lot of my supply shipments, and I haven't attended any handmade markets since the beginning of March.
