How HamsaSoulCatchers got started
Introduce your Etsy shop and tell us your story. How did you begin and decide on what to sell on Etsy, and how do you create your products?
I’m Elizabeth Toumajian, the artist behind Hamsa Soul Catchers. Crystals and beads have always felt like small pieces of magic to me —scattering light, shifting energy, and transforming a space in an instant. When I’m creating, I enter a space of peace and positivity. Each suncatcher I design is original, carrying its own energy and story.
Designing these pieces lets me blend my love of color, texture, and pattern with prisms that radiate rainbow light. Every suncatcher is made as an invitation to pause—to breathe, reflect, and notice the beauty around you. My process is intuitive and patient: I’ll string and restring until the beads flow together in harmony. No two are ever the same.
Creativity has always been part of my life. For years, I made handmade gifts for family and friends, who eventually nudged me to share my art more widely. As a longtime Etsy customer, I’ve always admired the way this marketplace celebrates small business, artistry, and personal connection. Joining that community feels like a natural step, and I’m honored to add my work to it.
From the beginning, I’ve centered on creating elegant suncatchers with a boho, spiritual flair. While there are many makers in this space, I believe the combination of high-quality crystals, beads, and charms gives Hamsa Soul Catchers their unique sparkle. The hamsa symbol, at the heart of my work, represents protection, good energy, and joy—values I want each piece to carry into a new home.
Over time, I also began blending another love into my work—dogs. My Boho Tail Catchers are playful mini-suncatchers designed for dogs and their people. These charms can hang on a rearview mirror, dangle from a keychain, or rest near a pup’s space. Each stone is chosen with intention—rose quartz for love, blue agate for calm, aquamarine for tranquility, purple agate for strength. They’re meaningful tokens for dog lovers who cherish light, energy, and mindful design.
Quality is essential to me. I source beads, crystals, and charms from trusted suppliers and small shops, always selecting materials that inspire me. Every design begins at my worktable, tested in natural light, and is carefully packaged to arrive ready to brighten someone’s home—or a dog’s corner of the world. Sending a piece off to a customer across the country feels like sharing a spark of light and connection.
At its heart, Hamsa Soul Catchers is about spreading positivity—through artistry, intention, and a little bit of magic.
Favorite items
What are your favorite items? What makes these so special? Why do you think these items might be selling well?
Choosing a favorite from my shop feels nearly impossible—every piece holds its own story, and I travel alongside it while creating. Some suncatchers come together quickly, while others are strung and restrung many times until the colors, textures, and energy flow in harmony. Each one has its own quirks, its own character—like freckles that make it perfectly unique.
Lately, my inspiration has led me toward a new collection: Día de los Muertos Mini Altar Decorations and Beaded Skull Ofrenda Candle Charms. These pieces are rich with symbolism, adorned with skeletons, crosses, flowers, and the vibrant hues of orange, purple, and black. Every bead and charm is chosen with intention, designed to bring both reverence and radiance. They are meant to honor loved ones who have passed, while filling a space with joy, light, and celebration.
What I love about this collection is its versatility. Each charm can rest on an ofrenda, adorn a picture frame, or decorate a candle—adding a meaningful accent wherever memory lives. Some customers have even chosen to place them at a gravesite, weaving together remembrance and beauty in a deeply personal way.
And while these designs hold a special connection to Día de los Muertos, their appeal doesn’t end there. Skeletons, after all, carry a playful, spirited energy that transcends the season. They make striking year-round décor for anyone drawn to bold colors, boho spirit, or a touch of whimsy with meaning.
Getting sales on Etsy
How long did it take for you to earn your first sale and how do you currently attract customers to your Etsy shop?
It took me about three months before I made my very first sale, and since then I’ve been steadily refining my listings—adjusting photos, tags, and descriptions to align with Etsy’s algorithm. Each tweak is part of the journey, helping me reach more people who are looking for art that brings both beauty and energy into their space. Just when I think I am on top of every detail in my shop, I learn something new to change or do in my listings.
I connect with customers mostly through Instagram, where I share a blend of sparkle, spirituality, and suncatcher magic. My feed highlights not only finished pieces but also behind-the-scenes moments and those fleeting flashes of rainbow light that only real crystals in sunlight can create.
On the business side, I lean on tools like Alura to keep my listings and SEO tuned, making it easier for people searching for suncatchers to find my shop. Alura is very user friendly and makes it easy to track information about your own shop as well as the shops of your competitors. It is an application that saves me a great deal of time!
Etsy is full of beautiful suncatchers, but I believe mine stand apart because of the creativity and intention woven into each piece—authentic crystals, boho-inspired charms, and designs crafted to feel soulful, meaningful, and one-of-a-kind.
Managing HamsaSoulCatchers
How do you manage your shop? Are you running solo or do you have any team members? What tools or services do you use to run your shop and how do you handle fulfillment?
By day I work full time in a career I love, and by night I pour myself into my shop. It’s a true solo journey—every suncatcher is designed, photographed, and listed by me. I use Canva to create banners, edit photos, and keep my shop’s look consistent, but the creative process is always hands-on and deeply personal.
I also see packaging as part of the art. Each order is wrapped with care and intention so the unboxing feels special—an extension of the piece itself. Whether it’s a suncatcher, keychain, rearview mirror charm, or mini-altar décor, I want customers to feel a spark of light and joy the moment they open their package. To make it even more personal, I often tuck in a small extra tailored to the type of suncatcher purchased. This entire process brings me great joy and I create in every step of the process. Each item is also a representation of me and my work - so customer satisfaction and excellence are my top priorities.
The future of BloomingSageDesign
What goals do you have for your shop in the future?
Looking ahead, I’m excited to keep expanding my suncatcher collections while staying true to the handmade, authentic and soulful quality that sparked this journey. My hope is to grow a loyal customer base who values pieces made with intention and care. I’d also love to take on more custom orders, creating designs that feel deeply personal. So far, I’ve crafted special pieces for occasions like a college graduation and a wedding—each designed around meaningful themes such as The Lord of the Rings.
The act of creating suncatchers brings me joy—it grounds me, fuels my creativity, and gives me the chance to share light with others. More than anything, I want my art to continue spreading color, sparkle, and joy—whether it shines through a window, dances across a candle, adorns a picture frame, or finds its place on an altar.
Advice for new sellers
What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?
If I could give new sellers one piece of advice, it would be this: invest time in learning before you launch. Etsy isn’t just about uploading your creations and waiting for sales—it’s about understanding how the platform works, how to present your shop, and how to reach the right customers. Think of it as building both your art and your foundation.
At times the learning curve can feel overwhelming—I remember thinking, “I just want to create beautiful things with beads and crystals and prisms!” But the reality is, running a shop means embracing both creativity and business. Tools like Canva, Instagram, and SEO resources aren’t distractions—they’re part of the toolkit that helps your art get seen.
The key is not to get discouraged and don’t give up! Every seller starts in the same place, and every bit of knowledge you pick up adds to your confidence. I’m four months in and still learning every day from Etsy experts and other creators. Stay curious, be patient, and remember that the effort you put into learning now will set you up for long-term success.
