Martha Beadle’s mid-life crisis resulted not in a change of heart, but (excuse the pun) a change of art. When Beadle turned 50, she decided to utilize her well-honed skills of needlepoint and crewel and meld them with her love of poetry and art. The result—wildly colorful, intricate creations anchored with a quotation or a line of poetry.

Along with her love of art and poetry, about this time her oldest son finished high school and became her close companion. Sam was born with Down Syndrome and after graduation from high school there was not much available to fill his hours. Therefore his time and Martha’s started to mesh and as so often is the case, art filled a void.

Martha’s work is considered folk art in that it stems from the heart of the area in which she has lived all of her life. She puts heart and soul into each work. Her multi-media fiber pieces use scraps of fabric, buttons, beads, seashells, washers and other items. These pieces deal with family, which includes her husband and three children in their twenties. There was even a piece celebrating her father’s 80” birthday.

Martha has a B.S. degree in early childhood and elementary education and no formal art training.

“My sister said I was a bit eccentric,” said Beadle. “So now I refer to my work as ‘Needle Eccentricities.

“Sometimes it’s hard to share thoughts, fears, or feelings,” said Beadle. “It’s easier when I express my loves and concerns with my fabrics and my needle.”

Beadle’s work won a merit award at the 2002 Arts Alive Festival in Florence, Al and third place for her booth at the 2003 Arts Alive Festival in Florence. She was accepted at the Okaloosa-Ft. Walton Community Art Show in Ft. Walton, Florida, where she won second place with her piece entitled, “Everything to Rights. “Beadle had a piece accepted into the 2003 Appalachian Corridors Juried Exhibition in Charleston, WV in 2003. Beadle participated in the 32nd and 33rd Annual Kentuck Art Festival in Northport, Al in 2003 and 2004. One of Beadle’s pieces won Most Creative piece in December of 2003 at the Pinch Gut Creek Gallery in Birmingham, Al. Beadle won first place in the park at the 2004 Arts Alive Festival in Florence, Al.

The 2006 Arts Alive Committee in Florence chose a piece of Martha’s work for the 2006 poster. Martha was also juried into the Magic City Art Connection in Birmingham, Al. in April of 2006.

Most recently Martha won “Best in Show” and first place at the “The Jerry Brown Art Festival” in Hamilton, Al., March 2006.

Beadle’s work is on display and for sale at, America, Oh Yes Gallery in Washington, D.C. and Hilton Head Island, SC. And 87 Ruffin Street Gallery, Linville, NC and Cassetta Gallery, Tuscumbia, Al.  Martha also has a display of her work in the showroom at S.B.S. Electric Supply Company in Florence, Al.
 

THANKS!!!
Martha would like to thank all who have encouraged
her along...especially her husband Greg and children Sam,
Will and Liza, Anne and Champ Meyercord, Greg and
Beverly Watson, and especially Stan Larkin, O.F and
Shelby Moomaw, Ruby Beadle and the late A.I. Beadle.
A special thanks also goes to Mary Anne and Larry Haeger
for their help in setting up at the different art shows.
Martha would also like to thank the many button and fabric
scavengers who have shared from their collections.