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Student artisan turns hobby into side business By Paige Lambert Trends Reporter
Carlos Valdez, Assistant Photo Editor
Reagan Smith, studio art junior, works on making oil-tanned leather wallets Dec. 4 for his customer’s Christmas orders. Smith has an Etsy.com account where he sells his leather designs.
He hit a wooden cylinder with a pint-sized mallet, adding another hole in the intricate design of the next project. He concentrated on every detail, surrounded by blueprints, 1800s-styled tools and large sheets of leather. Reagan Smith, studio art sophomore, works in his leather shop every day, fulfilling his hobby and creating practical, artistic leather products. During high school, Smith would make macramé bracelets, tooling with the material or making wood pendants. “I have to constantly do something with my hands, even when I’m watching TV,” Smith said. “I just picked up leather work to keep me busy, and it turned into this.” In a summer break from Texas State, Smith met up with Cody Vance, a friend who owned a leather shop. Smith would learn about different techniques and lend his creative mind. “I really wasn’t teaching him. In a way, he already knew what to do. Someone I call a natural,” Vance said. “Within the first week, he made a camera bag all on his own.”
Smith came back to Texas State the next fall, switching majors from photography to studio art, allowing him to work with more sculpting tools and techniques. He said some of the classes help refine the skills he uses in the shop. “There’s this metals class where you have to be more delicate, and pay attention to detail,” Smith said. “It’s helped fine tune a lot of things I do here, and it’ll help in the long run.” When making a bag, Smith first has to draw out a blue print, trace it onto wet leather and cut out each individual piece. He then punches holes for each stitching and carves in designs. At times he’ll punch 500 holes for one panel. While he makes a few basic bags and wallets, Smith also takes in custom orders. It not only brings in more business, but compels him to work on projects he may not have otherwise. “Its nice to get people’s insight,” Smith said. “I make bags that I like, but custom orders can broaden that and get some new designs in.” Smith said his favorite custom order was the briefcase he made for his roommate, Jonathan Zmikly, because it was a simple and sleek design. Zmikly, who began the fall semester at Texas State as a senior lecturer,
said his old backpack made him look like a student. He wanted something that was functional and professional. “It always gets the second glance on campus,” Zmikly said. “I wanted something that was custom fit my laptop, and I liked the nature of the handcrafted idea. I knew it was going to be quality work that would last.” Since launching his Etsy store, Smith has received orders from places around the world such as China, Canada and Russia. Smith said he would eventually like to have a shop bigger than his two-car garage, depending on how the next few years go. “I’m staying on this level right now, but I haven’t decided exactly what I want to do,” Smith said. “I like working and developing something on my own, but it would be great to expand and have more people to bounce ideas off of.” Until then, Smith said he would continue developing techniques and new designs in his shop. “Knowing how to make things look finished, perfecting techniques, has been hard,” Smith said. “But there’s something about seeing a finished product, about knowing someone will have a piece you put your heart into for a very long time.”
Deceased student remembered by family, friends By Hollie O’Connor Trends Reporter Bonnie Esquina remembered the shock of receiving the news that her daughter had died. Her dogs barked, alerting her to approaching visitors, and she thought her daughter, Erika Esquina, must be home. Instead, there were two policemen and a chaplain approaching her door. “I thought this must be a dream. You must be mistaken. Maybe there’s a wrong identity—that’s what I was thinking,” Bonnie Esquina said. “Not my child. She was just too perfect, and no one is, but she was real near it.” Erika Esquina, former mass communications sophomore, died Oct.11 in a car crash on her way home to Pearland from Texas State. The loss was felt across campus by her friends, classmates and teachers. Erika Esquina transferred to Texas State from Stephen F. Austin University this semester. She quickly became involved on campus through Diamond Sweethearts, a student organization that supports the Texas State baseball team. She was one of about 60 girls chosen to be a Diamond Sweetheart out of more than 200 who applied. Taylor Shelton, communication studies sophomore, was one of the club officers to interview and choose Erika Esquina to be in the group. Shelton remembered picking
her because of her passion and professionalism. “She was a breath of fresh air,” Shelton said. “We all just loved her. You see tons and tons of girls, and they can seem the same after a while, but when she left the room, it was unanimous. She was going to be in.” Kalisha Ybarra, president of Diamond Sweethearts, remembered hearing the news of her death. The Sweethearts had a social mixer planned for that night, but canceled it when they found out. No one was in the mood for partying, Ybarra said. “Everyone got together at my house, and we hung out and were there for each other, Ybarra said. “It really hit us hard. She was always so lively and was a good energy to be around. We all miss her a lot.” Shelton and Ybarra, along with some of the other Diamond Sweethearts, went to Erika Esquina’s viewing, which drew more than 600 people. “It was just such an outpouring of love, and I know their prayers were with us,” Bonnie Esquina said. “It’s what’s carried us from day to day, me being without my Erika.” The Esquina family has always been close, and the loss has been especially difficult for them. Bonnie Esquina was a stay-at-home mother who spent a lot of time with Erika Esquina and her sister, Jenny, when they were growing up. Erika Esquina had taken dance lessons since she was 3-years-old and became a cheerleader in middle school.
Her mom loved taking her to practice and watching her perform. It’s hard to believe that her daughter is gone, Bonnie Esquina said, but she is determined to move forward with the help of her Christian faith. “She is joyous, she’s in no pain, she is at peace and those that she leaves behind are the ones that have to deal with her loss,” Bonnie Esquina said. “We don’t know what heaven is like, but she’s at Photo courtesy of Jenny Hernandez peace. It seems selfish to miss her, but our entire lives will be changed forever, and it is our faith that keeps us going—knowing that she is in good hands.”
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