Vendor Spotlight: Samantha Somers of AMidSomersNap 🌙✨
- The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime
- Feb 11
- 4 min read
Laser-cut layers, big dreams, and a whole lot of heart
If you’ve ever wandered through The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime and found yourself stopped in your tracks by a jaw-dropping layered wood mandala, chances are you’ve met the magic of Samantha Somers, the creative force behind AMidSomersNap.
Samantha joined The Bazaar on February 2, 2023, which means she’s been her over three-years with us. She found The Bazaar while searching for a creative, community-driven space that genuinely supports local makers. What she discovered was more than a storefront. From day one, it felt like a collaborative home, a place where artists and small businesses grow together, share ideas, and cheer each other on. In other words, a perfect fit.
From “Just a Hobby” to Full-Time Creative Fire 🔥
AMidSomersNap began with a laser purchased purely for fun. The long-term plan was to slowly enjoy it over a couple of decades, maybe easing into retirement with sawdust in the air. Then corporate America threw a curveball, and suddenly the timeline snapped forward.
In less than two weeks, Samantha set up her machine, devoured YouTube tutorials, learned laser cutting inside and out, and debuted her very first pieces at the Coquina Beach show on December 8, 2021. What was meant to be a hobby ignited into a full-fledged creative business powered by grit, curiosity, and a deep love of making art that connects.
The Art: Layered, Dimensional, and Deeply Meaningful from AMidSomersNap
At its core, AMidSomersNap is a creative studio specializing in laser-cut wood art, with a strong emphasis on layered mandala designs. Samantha fell in love with this style over 20 years ago. The depth, the dimension, the way each layer adds to the story. That fascination never left, and today it fuels everything she creates.
Her collection spans from bold statement pieces to smaller keepsakes, offering something for every style, space, and budget:
Intricate layered mandala and dimensional wood art
Large-scale showstoppers reaching up to five feet long
Engraved olive wood charcuterie boards
Artistic nightlights that glow like miniature sculptures
Wooden notebooks, keychains, and everyday functional art
Each piece is visually striking, emotionally resonant, and designed to elevate the spaces people live in.
And yes, letting go of early favorites was hard. Those first creations felt like children. Over time, Samantha learned to see them as exactly that. They grow up, spread their wings, and find homes all over the world. Still bittersweet, always rewarding.
A Family-Powered Business 💛
Behind every beautifully finished piece is a whole lot of sanding, support, and love from Samantha’s mom, Debbie, who plays a massive role in the business. From hands-on production to day-to-day encouragement, she’s the backbone of AMidSomersNap.
In fact, she loves The Bazaar so much that she practically refuses to let Samantha work her own store! She’s claimed it as her social headquarters, happily soaking up the camaraderie and vendor friendships that make this place feel like family.
Life Beyond the Laser
When Samantha isn’t at The Bazaar, she’s everywhere. You’ll find her every Tuesday (except during summer) at the Anna Maria Community Farmers Market, plus 35+ art and craft shows throughout the year. Most days are spent with her lasers, Fiona and Fritz, creating in a joyful, never-ending cycle of making.
Outside of work, she balances it all with family, friends, gym sessions, cardio on the streets, poolside lounging with a piña colada, and supporting local arts. She’s driven Indy cars at Lime Rock Park (speed is fine), but ladders are her sworn enemy. She’s dyslexic, so handwritten notes come with extra love, rewrites, and determination.
Her journey has spanned Charlottesville, Northern Kentucky, Arizona, and finally Florida. Before AMidSomersNap, she co-owned a pet food and grooming salon, then spent years as a sales manager traveling across North America educating people about pet nutrition. It was fast-paced, people-focused, and full of connection, all things that still shape how she shows up today.
Go Big or Go Home
Samantha’s motto is simple and unapologetic: “Go big or go home.”That’s how she ended up with Fiona, her first laser, roughly the size of a small car and capable of handling nearly a 40×60 sheet of wood. It’s also why her favorite pieces to make are the massive, layered showstoppers packed with detail and wow factor. Watching one come together is equal parts challenge and thrill.
If she were stranded on an island, she’d want her mom (and honestly, all her people if possible) and exactly one food: fajitas. No debate.
Why We Love Her at The Bazaar
Samantha embodies what The Bazaar is all about. Creativity, resilience, generosity, and community. She reminds us that fellow vendors aren’t competition, they’re chosen family. The kind that laughs together, supports each other, and stays connected long after the booths are packed up.
We’re so grateful to have AMidSomersNap as part of our Bazaar family and can’t wait to see what Samantha creates next. If you haven’t spent time with her work yet, trust us. It’s the kind of art that stops you mid-step and makes you feel something. 💫
AMidSomersNap is open inside The Bazaar every Thursday - Saturday 10-3 pm.
