Taylor Swift fan and bracelet artist to be featured at Salina's First Friday event

What began as a hobby and a way to cope with anxiety has turned into a business for one 11-year old Salina girl.

Now, Reese Hamilton, who makes custom bracelets, will be a featured artist at True Betty Boutique and Gifts for the upcoming First Friday event this week.

These kinds of beaded bracelets have become a cultural phenomenon in the past two years because of their popularity at Taylor Swift concerts. Reese said a lot of her friends at St. Mary's Grade School were making them, but she didn't really get started doing it herself until her older sister got a bead kit for Christmas.

"I tried it out and I loved it," Reese said. "And then, I just started making a bracelet business at school."

Taking her business to downtown Salina

Reese's business started at school, with classmates, and even teachers, asking her to make custom designs, including things like school colors for Sacred Heart and St. Mary's.

She said the idea to expand to making and selling bracelets to more than just friends and family came after her uncle told her about youths selling bracelets at a shop in Kansas City.

"We thought that was a good idea and one night we said, 'Tomorrow morning, we're doing it,'" Reese said.

Reese's dad, John Hamilton, said they drove to downtown Salina to see if there might be a local business that would be interested in partnering with her.

It didn't take long. The first store they walked into, True Betty, was immediately on board with the idea.

"They're really supportive of local artists. That's a big thing for them," Hamilton said.

Reese said she was really happy with how well it's gone at True Betty and even more excited after owner Valerie Linenberger reached out to ask if she wanted to be featured at First Friday.

"Immediately, I was like yeah," she said.

Making bracelets a way to deal with anxieties of life

For Reese, making bracelets isn't just about the business but also a way to have a creative outlet.

"(She's) a kid that has endless amounts of energy," Hamilton said. "If she didn't do enough during the day, kind of the way it started was ... to go and get away from her tablet, do something that calms your mind."

After first trying to calm down with reading and then drawing, he said nothing really stuck until Reese started to make these bracelets.

"It's just very soothing to her," Hamilton said. "It started with her friends, but it became: 'This calms me down. This quiets my mind.'"

Hamilton has recently taken on the role of counselor at Sacred Heart after years of teaching and being a vice principal. He said as he continues to learn about the mental health of children, he sees how such outlets can help with coping.

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Reese said she also takes part in sports like soccer, volleyball, basketball and other higher-energy activities, but she can use this to help get away from the stress those and other events might cause.

"If I ever have anxiety about a sport or family or something, that would be the first thing I'd go to," she said.

Now, she said this relieving activity has gotten even more fun for her and she hopes to continue to use her creativity in the future, including with a dream of selling bracelets at her own shop one day.

Visit and buy a bracelet from Reese on Friday at True Betty

Some of her creations are on display and for sale at the store right now. Reese also will be set up from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2, at True Betty Boutique and Gifts, 108 N. Santa Fe Ave.

Reese said she will also be taking custom orders from people who want a truly unique bracelet for themselves or their friends.

Reese said she's excited not only to meet customers who might buy her bracelets but also to meet other people who create things as well.

This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Taylor Swift fan and bracelet artist to be featured at Salina's First Friday event