Creating Something that Lasts

How a Stained Glass Artist Turned a Creative Outlet into a Thriving Studio

When Aisha Moghal discovered stained glass, she wasn't looking to start a business.
Like many makers, she was searching for something that felt personally rewarding, a creative pursuit that would leave her with something tangible to show for her time and effort. What began as an artistic outlet soon opened the door to opportunities she never expected.

Aisha spent years working as a dialysis nurse, a career she continues part-time today. When her children got older and needed less of her day-to-day attention, she found herself with an opportunity she hadn't had in years: time to pursue a creative outlet of her own.

"You sometimes have to do things that personally make you feel rewarded or satisfied," she explained. "You have to do things that help yourself feel better."

She wasn't entirely sure what form that outlet would take, but she knew what she enjoyed.
"I liked working with my hands and always enjoyed making things," Aisha said. "It's what makes me happy."

Over the years, she explored a variety of artistic disciplines, including watercolor painting, jewelry making, and pottery. While she enjoyed each experience, none truly resonated with her.

Then she discovered stained glass, and for the first time, a creative pursuit truly resonated with her.

She found herself drawn not only to the creative process, but also to the sense of accomplishment that came with making something tangible.

For Aisha, stained glass provided a creative counterbalance to the demands of her nursing career. It gave her an opportunity to focus on something entirely different, offering a sense of respite and personal fulfillment.

Her love of this art form is evident the moment she begins talking about stained glass.

"I like things that sparkle or anything that looks like treasure," Aisha said with a laugh. "I like the way light refracts from it. It's like a visceral joy for me."

The ever-changing nature of stained glass is part of its appeal.

"What I find magical about stained glass is how the visual experience of it is ever-changing," she said.

That fascination eventually grew into something more. In 2021, Aisha and her husband, Dave Richards, launched Marietta Stained Glassworks from their basement, turning a newfound passion into a family business.

Interest in their stained glass creations quickly outpaced the confines of a basement workshop. In 2024, the couple expanded into space within a local glass company, allowing Aisha to begin offering classes. Then, just a year later, they moved into their current location on Second Street in Marietta, Ohio. The move gave them the room to create pieces for sale, take on commission projects, and teach classes. The business reflects their commitment to preserving and passing along the stained glass craft. The shop is very much a family operation, with their son, Tristan, now serving as an apprentice.

"There's something about working all day and at the end of it, you're not just clocking out; you have something to show resulting from the time you spent," she said. "That kind of productivity is a need that all humans have but don't steadily recognize."

Preserving the Past Through Glass

Her attraction to the craft extends beyond the pieces she creates for customers. Aisha also restores historic church windows, work she considers both challenging and deeply meaningful.

Many of the church windows she restores are more than a century old. Time, weather, and the natural aging of lead cames can weaken and distort even the most beautifully crafted pieces. Restoring those windows requires patience, precision, and respect for the original artist's work.

"There's a lot of responsibility with it," Aisha said. "I feel honored to be given a chance to make something that is old like new."

For her, restoration is about more than repairing glass. Church windows often hold generations of memories for a congregation. Family members may have spent decades sitting beneath the same images and colors streaming through the glass.

"It always feels good to work on something that you know will be lasting," she said.
One recent church left a particularly strong impression.

"We walked into a church last week, and the church inside was very dark with dark wood tones, walnut, and was not well lit," Aisha recalled. "When you walked into that space, you felt like there's treasure in the walls."

Creating new stained glass pieces requires a different kind of vision. Beyond the design itself, she must consider how each type of glass will interact with light.

“When creating a stained glass piece, you have to think beyond the design about how you want something to look like,” Aisha said.

She explained that glass choice depends on factors like the location and lighting conditions. If it’s going to be strongly backlit, she may use opaque or opalescent glass because the light would not look as harsh directly behind it, ultimately allowing it to glow rather than transmit the light.

Aisha Moghal with husband Dave Richards - owners of the family business Marietta Stained Glassworks

Her husband, Dave, plays an important role in the process by helping create and refine patterns on the computer before production begins.

Once the design is complete, the work moves through a series of hands-on steps that include making the pattern, cutting each piece, grinding, assembling, and finally, leading. It’s that final step that Aisha admits is her favorite.

Aisha describes stained glass work as therapeutic. Cutting, grinding, leading: it can feel like you can turn your brain off, she explained. When everything makes sense and flows correctly, and after you choose your glass, that’s when the work begins. At that point, she puts on her headphones and listens to audiobooks or music, and it becomes meditative. The repetitive nature of the work can be surprisingly calming.

She candidly admits that there are always frustrations from being in business, but “you overcome them and gain a great deal of accomplishment.”

She has learned that knowing when to stop is just as important as knowing when to keep going. When you're tired or frustrated, it can be tempting to push through and finish what you started, but that's often when mistakes happen. Sometimes, you need to step away, whether you want to or not.

Advice for Beginners

As far as advice for someone wanting to try stained glass, Aisha suggests first of all to take a class to see if you like it before investing in a lot of tools and supplies. If you try it at home, it’s not something you can do in the living room or around pets or children. The best place would be in the basement, garage, or craft room.

“Fail on purpose” is her next suggestion for beginners.

As a self-taught craftsman, Aisha admits she’s made every kind of mistake. Rather than fearing imperfection, she encourages beginners to embrace it as part of the learning process.

“Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes, and that’s how you learn. Pinpoint why things happen and ask a mentor what you could have done better or differently. If you get frustrated, put it down, get some sleep. When you wake up, you’ll have a better sense of what should happen next.”

Working with stained glass can be a very satisfying, hands-on way to be creative. In fact, Aisha still has the first piece she made, which she proudly keeps on display at home.

Aisha said she has never met anyone who doesn’t like stained glass. To her, it is relevant and has value, although it’s not monetary. The value is the experience and appreciation of it. She especially enjoys seeing people’s reactions to finished pieces.

"I love the moment when someone comes into the shop, and they see what we've done, with all the work and effort put in, seeing it for the first time," Aisha said. "There's a lot of satisfaction in that."

For someone who values making things with her hands, that moment captures what drew her to stained glass in the first place. Not just the beauty of the finished piece, but the fulfillment that comes from creating something meaningful and lasting.

Aisha Moghal was featured on the cover of the September 2026 Woodcraft catalog.

Inspired to Get Started?

Go ahead, give it a try. Maybe glass will become your palette.

I hope reading about Aisha Moghal inspires you to give stained glass a try. To learn more about Aisha and Marietta Stained Glassworks, visit her shop at 432 Second Street in Marietta, Ohio.

DOUG LOYER