Bryn Athyn College Alumni Magazine Winter 2015 | Page 20

alumni spotlight HANNAH SIMONS The Art of Business Hannah Simons (‘10) is a Bryn Athynbased entrepreneur who sells her products to stores across the United States, and online to a worldwide audience. In fact, this writer was in a remote town in the Big Sur area along the California coast a few years ago and happened to notice a breathtakingly delicate wooden stand displayed in a boutique. Upon further inspection of the beautiful piece and its label, it was discovered that it came all the way from the creative mind and talented hands of Simons herself. From iPhone stands to jewelry boxes to book ends, the smooth cherry wood and graceful carvings are signature elements to her work. We wanted to know a little bit more about her business, and she was kind enough to share some details with us: ALUMNI MAG: Tell us about your business…What do you do? How long have you been doing this? How did you learn the trade? At the beginning of 2011 I launched my business, Hannah’s Ideas in Wood, at the Buyers Market of American Craft (now known as the American Made Show) - the largest American made trade show in the country. I design and create accessories made from solid cherry wood, sustainably harvested and local to Pennsylvania. Since the beginning of the business I’ve collaborated with my father, HANNAH: REPORTING BY ANGELLA IRWIN 20 | W I N