Biscayne Bay Campus’s Jewelry Maker Sells as Emotional Outlet

Guido Gonzalez/Staff Writer

For three days out of the week, students and faculty in the Biscayne Bay Campus will often walk by a wide assortment of necklaces, rings, earrings and bracelets.

Maria Marta Kaploian has been selling jewelry at her stand for seven years at BBC to the point where she has become a familiar and recognizable part of the campus.

Kaploian started designing jewelry 11 years ago, both as a hobby and as a means to provide herself with a creative emotional outlet.

Her youngest daughter was diagnosed with autism, requiring constant care that left the vendor occasionally stressed and overwhelmed.

“I started making jewelry at night when she went to sleep because I needed to stay away from the pressure,” Kaploian said. “Being the caregiver of a person with special needs can be very stressful.”

Kaploian not only found the experience to be calming and cathartic, but she also ended up discovering a flair for it. 

After a while, Kaploian’s family and close friends noticed her innate talent. It wasn’t long before she was making jewelry for others as a business. 

“They saw my pieces, asked me where I got them and if they could have some,” she said.

Kaploian has been working at her stand for about seven years. The first two years were at a farmer’s market located within the campus.

Eventually, the market was canceled. However, Kaploian was able to meet with the campus special events manager, filed an application and paid a one time fee to continue selling her jewelry.

She now works at the Wolfe University Center right in front of the student media office where she meets with at least 15 customers a day.

Her products include both handmade jewelry and items bought from online sources such as handcrafted rings from India. 

She buys materials from stores and with the help of special tools she makes her own designs.

“I’m a self-taught person, so I just put together what I think looks good,” Kaploian said. 

Her jewelry is comprised of natural gemstones, both precious and semi-precious, including rubies, emeralds, sapphires and opaques. 

The metals she uses include stainless steel, sterling silver and red brass, which is similar to gold as it does not tarnish. 

For Kaploian one of the best parts about her job is seeing people wear her jewelry, especially those who wear it multiple times. To her that means they like it. 

If you were to ask what her favorite type of jewelry is, she would answer none because she loves all of them.

“I cannot sell anything I don’t like,” said Kaploian. “If I’m working on a piece and I’m not liking the way it looks, I stop immediately and go back to zero.”

While Kaploian is extremely satisfied and content with her work, she does not have any plans for the future of her business. 

“My problem is that I have a limitation with my hours between work and home,” she said. “FIU offered me to set up a kiosk at one point, but to me that’s impossible.”

For the time being, Kaploian still sells her jewelry at a table located directly in front of the student media office on BBC from Tuesday to Thursday, morning to evening every week.

“They seem to like me here,” Kaploian said with a smile, “so I’m very happy about it. I have customers that have been buying from me since I worked outside and they’re still wearing my pieces.”

Kaploian can be followed on her Instagram @matydesigns, where more of her handmade designs can be viewed.