OCONTO FALLS – Creating opportunity from loss is a talent Oconto Falls artist Samantha Messersmith has honed over the years. Through her business Serendipity by Sami, Messersmith turned her artistic abilities into a growing business and has found ways to help others grow from their own loss.
After losing her corporate management job during the holiday season of 2018, Messersmith was encouraged by her husband — who had just returned from the Marine Corps and enrolled in school — to pursue her love of art.
“The holidays were just around the corner and now me, the main breadwinner, was without a job,” she recounted.
Messersmith stayed busy by hand painting ornaments while home with her eight-month-old daughter. Although her job search didn’t end up a success, she created an even better opportunity for herself and founded her own business.
“I made the decision to jump into my art full-time and I knew I needed to be legitimate and start my legal business in 2019. Lucky for me, combining my Master’s Degree in Business Administration and my Bachelor of Arts Degree worked well together, and my art business was born,” she explained.
Since then, Messersmith has dabbled with a variety of different mediums. One that she has found success with is resin.
Resin art is typically based from liquid epoxy or casting resin mixed with colored ink, pigment and embedded items poured into molds. While this art form is popular amongst many beginners, it does require a strong attention to detail and safety due to the chemical products being combined.
Serendipity by Sami has carved a niche for itself amongst other businesses through Messersmith’s techniques of working with items given to her by clients to preserve memories. Some of the pieces people have brought her to work with include shells, sand and flowers from special events.
“When [a client is] overjoyed to see their wedding flowers forever preserved and get to relive their special day every time they look at them, my weeks of work are worth it,” she shared.
Messersmith’s jewelry creations have also become a highlight for many, not only for the beauty she creates, but also the personal connections.
After the passing of her grandfather in 2022, she was given the cremains of him and her grandmother. From there, she began putting more time into learning how to turn cremated ashes into physical reminders of that person.
She explained her personal connection, “[My grandparents] always supported my art and I knew I wanted to make special jewelry for my mom to keep her parents close. Creating a keepsake with my loved ones made me realize I found my life’s purpose.”
Messersmith works with people both online and in-person to understand how she can contribute to preserving the memory of loved ones. When it comes to creating art from ashes, it isn’t just about the final product, but the journey.
“My favorite thing is that people will come to me with an idea and just say, ‘I trust you, just create something beautiful!’ and get to be creative and create something so very special for them to treasure for life. The greatest feeling is when they look at their piece and I can just see the happiness in their eyes. It’s the raw emotions from people that make everything I do worth it,” Messersmith said.
“I hope every person knows that I’m honored they share their stories
The crafting of the actual jewelry requires only a small amount of remains, which Messersmith said “are handled with love and care, as if they are my own family.”
From there, she works with the client to pick a shape and setting — either sterling silver or 14k gold — and makes the “stone” by mixing ashes and resin. Some people also choose to add dye or glitter, which can serve to represent their personality.
“When someone comes to me with their loved one’s ashes, tears welled in their eyes and they tell me about how amazing this person was, we cry together and find the best way to memorialize them. I’ve been told several times that my work has given closure, and I’m not sure there is a more rewarding job out there. My clients are my inspiration; they are why I do what I do,” Messersmith shared.
In addition to remains, she has also worked with hair, fur, clothing fibers and breast milk to make keepsakes.
Serendipity by Sami offers a wide range of products, including the 3D printed items her daughter Rowan makes when she isn’t busy working with Messersmith on her homeschool work.
The public is invited to visit Serendipity by Sami and check out the new, larger than ever space as well as the variety of art she has in stock.
“I think the most exciting part of this new space is the larger retail area where I have the opportunity to support other local small businesses and give them a space to be able to sell their handmade goods as well,” she added.
The grand re-opening will be hosted on Saturday, Jan. 24, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the new shop location, 230 Vanburen St., Oconto Falls. Sunrise Sourdough by Alyssa will be in attendance as she sells her baked goods and, weather permitting, the Drip - More Than A Brew mobile coffee bar will be serving up hot drinks.
Additionally, Messersmith is offering “swag bags” for the first 20 customers who spend $10 or more, which will be filled with exclusive Serendipity by Sami goodies and items from other local businesses as well.
As Messersmith finalizes preparations for the grand re-opening and enters her seventh year as a business owner, she expressed her gratitude for the community, “It’s all because people have put their trust in me, shared my businesses with their friends and families and helped me grow that I get to do what I love every day and make art. It’s not always easy, but I do get to live my dream.”
To learn more, visit Serendipity by Sami on Facebook.
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