Well friends, we made it to 100 episodes! 🎉 And I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate than by chatting with the incredibly talented Tamara Goldsmith, a Pacific Northwest artist, metalsmith, and stained glass maker behind Magic Hourglass.
Tamara's creative journey is such a fun one. She started out as a jewelry designer, explored all kinds of creative disciplines, and then rediscovered stained glass during the pandemic. Today, she combines techniques like copper foil, wirework, and painting to create the most beautiful, detailed pieces.
🌈 Letting the Glass Lead the Way
One of my favorite things about talking with Tamara was hearing how often the glass itself becomes the inspiration. A particular color, texture, or pattern can practically tell her what it wants to become. I love that idea so much!
We also talked about how she thinks about light, balance, and structure when designing her pieces. She described stained glass as “painting with light,” and honestly, I don't think I could have said it better.
🛠️ Thinking About Trying Stained Glass?
If you've been tempted to try stained glass, Tamara's advice is simple: take a class! There are a lot of tools, techniques, and safety considerations involved, and learning from someone who can guide you through those first steps can make all the difference.
We also had a good laugh about the importance of taking care of your tools. Because apparently, sewing machines need to be cleaned and have their needles changed. Who knew?! 😂
💛 Follow Your Curiosity
What I loved most about this conversation was Tamara's belief in creativity, collaboration, and following your curiosity. She's constantly looking for ways to combine different materials and artistic disciplines, and I am HERE FOR IT.
I truly believe that the more we create, the more we want to create. And when we give ourselves permission to play, experiment, and try something new, we never know what wonderful things we're going to discover.
So go make something, friends. Take the class. Try the new craft. Follow the weird little idea that's been hanging around in your head. You never know where it might take you. 💕
Joleen
PS: 🎥 Watch the full episode below:
Guest Bio
Tamara Goldsmith is a Pacific Northwest artist, metalsmith, and stained glass maker who creates under the name Magic Hour Glass. With decades of experience in jewelry and supporting local artists, she rediscovered stained glass during the pandemic and now creates intricate, light-filled pieces that often combine copper foil, wirework, painting, and found or vintage materials. Her work is exhibited with the Side Street Arts Collective in Portland, and she loves exploring the possibilities that come from blending different artistic disciplines.
Follow Tamara
Episode Chapters with Timestamps
[00:00 – 13:09] – Welcome & Jolene’s Five Happy Things
[13:10 – 18:10] – Meet Tamara Goldsmith
[18:11 – 27:00] – Rediscovering Stained Glass
[27:01 – 34:30] – Glass, Light & Meaning
[34:31 – 43:15] – Choosing Materials & Finding Inspiration
[43:16 – 51:30] – Starting Stained Glass Safely
[51:31 – 57:30] – Mistakes, Muscle Memory & Tool Care
[57:31 – 1:02:30] – Where to Find Tamara
[1:02:31 – 1:08:30] – The Creative Act & Creative Inspiration
[1:08:31 – 1:15:00] – Behind the Scenes at Big Raven Farm
[1:15:01 – 1:25:00] – The Happy 10
[1:25:01 – End] – Collaboration, Creativity & Happy Time
Quotes from the Episode
“The glass itself is the inspiration in a lot of cases.” — Tamara Goldsmith
“When you get really, really good at a few things that someone is going to find valuable, that’s where you’re going to find success.” — Tamara Goldsmith
“You just need perseverance and practice.” — Tamara Goldsmith
“I think with time, you can achieve pretty much anything you set your mind to.” — Tamara Goldsmith
“If you can look deeper into any discipline and just find it in the details, that’s probably where you’re going to find your specialty.” — Tamara Goldsmith
“When you play and have fun, it’s unbelievable what you can find and what you can discover.” — Joleen Emery
“Just believe in yourself. Trust the process. Take the leap. The net will appear.” — Joleen Emery
Resources & Calls-to-Action
🎨 Side Street Arts Collective: Tamara’s work can also be found through Side Street Arts in Portland.
📚 Jolene’s book recommendation: The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin
🏡 Big Raven Farm: Jolene also gives listeners a little nudge to check out the remaining 2026 retreats, including the September cyanotype & eco-printing retreat and October Pick Your Projects retreat, while space remains.
Love "Happy Time Craftcast"?
👉Don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts and leave a review to help others discover our crafty community
👉Stay tuned for more Happy Time Craftcast with Joleen Emery. Subscribe now!
👉FOLLOW ME ON TIKTOK | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
👉SIGN UP FOR THE ART KIT OF THE MONTH CLUB