Meet Samantha Breneman | Owner and Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Samantha Breneman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Samantha, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I pursued an artistic career because I fell in love with the creative process of starting with raw materials and creating something functional out of it. I love to solve problems through my art. For example, if a customer has a space where they are having a tough time finding a piece of furniture to fill it, we can collaborate with the customer and create a unique piece that is both functional and beautiful.

I love to brainstorm new designs and see them come to life!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art has been evolving since beginning my creative journey with Fox Lake Furniture in 2015. My favorite items to create are furniture pieces that incorporate wood, epoxy resin, and metal. I also love to make larger charcuterie boards with epoxy resin, wood, and an embedded item such as lures or feathers that can be seen through a layer of clear epoxy resin. I create a lot of custom projects for my customers as well. I really enjoy collaborating with the customers to craft a special piece.

I love that every project is unique. You never really know what the item is going to look like until it is finished. I take a lot of pride in my work and how it represents the business. I love to spend hours out in the shop and often lose track of the time while engaged in the process.

Consistency and self-discipline have been the key to growth for the business. It hasn’t been easy, but it has been worth the hard work. Showing up every day and putting in the time promotes growth whether that’s learning something new, posting on social media, or getting a project checked off of my to-do list. Running a small art-based business has been a huge learning curve. I love to learn new things and it is amazing what you can learn online with some research. I pride myself in being open to new opportunities as they arise. You never know what that could lead to.

Meeting other artisans and small business owners has been invaluable to my business. I have met a lot of wonderful makers at art shows and markets. It’s fun to bounce ideas off of one another, collaborate, or ask for advice.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live just outside of Trimont, MN, which is a town of about 700 people. During the summer, it is fun to head out to the local lakes. There are some really good restaurants within a 30 min drive. The Bergan Bar and Grill is the best steakhouse in the area! Fairmont Brewing Co. is a fun spot to grab a beer with friends and catch up.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My parents, David and Julie, have been my biggest supporters with Fox Lake Furniture. We are currently remodeling an old garage into a new workshop and they have put in countless hours helping. My friends and family have also been so wonderful with supporting the business!

Mich Berthiaume has been a great resource! She curates many local markets in the Twin Cities area and is so knowledgeable with brand development.

The local community has also been very supportive of Fox Lake Furniture! I am fortunate to live in a tight-knit community that supports its small businesses and artisans.

Website: www.foxlakefurniture.com

Instagram: @foxlakefurniture

Facebook: Fox Lake Furniture