Sosy Agopian has loved beads for as long as she can remember.
“My first recollection of beads was when I was five, in kindergarten. Every week, we strung colorful beads. I loved it and looked forward to that class. I soon learned that I am happiest when I create.”
At 12 years old, Agopian learned to macramé from a woman she used to babysit for and became so good at it that she started helping the woman with her projects.
“I attended the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, wanting to become a designer, but worked and thrived in the insurance industry instead,” she said. “But I never stopped creating.”
When she became a stay-at-home mother looking after her twins, Tatiana and Shane, Agopian kept losing her reading glasses. “So, I began making eyeglass holders, which everyone loved. I have always made jewelry and accessories using crystals, sterling silver and macramé, and gave them as gifts. Friends and family told me I should sell them.”
As she was no longer volunteering at her twins’ elementary school, and they didn’t need so much help with homework, Agopian decided it was time to live her dream and launched Sosy’s Designs.
“Jewelry is my passion. Every item is handmade and unique,” said Agopian from her workshop at her Topanga home.
“My designs have lots of love and imagination. They are all items I love to wear myself.” said Agopian.” My niece, Gillian, told me, ‘Your jewelry looks like you. I can tell you made it.’ That really made me happy. My DNA is in my jewelry.”
Her first customers were family and friends and now, Sosy’s Designs is a thriving online store with customers around the globe.
Agopian and her husband, Raffi, have been married for 18 years, but knew each other since high school when they met in Spanish class. They are proud Armenians.
“We love food, family, friends and celebrating together,” she said. “My favorite time is during the holidays. On Thanksgiving, we usually meet at my mom’s house with my two sisters and their families, my brother, my aunt and her family, and dear friends and extended family we have known for 47 years.”
“Christmas is my all-time favorite holiday,” she said. “We have Santa Claus visit us and the kids love it. Watching the faces of the little ones when Santa arrives is priceless. We sing songs, make ornaments and eat a feast.”
Armenian food usually takes a long time to prepare. “My favorite Armenian dish is manti,” said Agopian. “My grandmother used to make it and then my mom. Open the dough that you made from scratch, cut them in small squares, then take ground beef and add chopped onions and spices. Put a small amount in the center of each square then pinch all the corners toward the center. Then sauté them lightly. Make a tomato-based light sauce/broth with lots of onions (which have been sautéd first with some salt and red pepper). Once the sauce is done, put the mantis in a flat oven-bake pan, pour over the sauce and bake for a short time. Serve them in a bowl with plain yogurt, garlic and sumac spice on top. Yummy.”
The Agopians have lived in Topanga since 2002. “My husband always wanted to live here and had a piece of land on which we built our house. We love how quiet and peaceful it is up here, yet so close to the city,” she said. “We love all the beautiful birds and animals. It is truly magical. Visitors tell us that after spending the night here they feel like they were on vacation.”
As she prepares for Christmas, Agopian doesn’t have to think too hard what to buy her female loved ones; they all want a piece of jewelry from Sosy’s Designs.
For more information: sosysdesigns.com.
