I am part of a large family of happy creative people that grew up in a house designed by my father - his playhouse in the woods in the middle of suburbia in Dayton, Ohio - where I live today.  My head was always full of dreams and the beauty of this world.  That ability to stop and truly be in the moment and see and feel things has stayed with me.  That is the place my beads come from. 

I have a Bachelor’s of Fine Art degree in Painting in 1979 from Northern Kentucky University, got married and soon went back to school in the computer field - they understood that artists could solve any puzzle and make things happen.  As my Art professors had told me I was living my life to find what my art wanted to express.  Through the years I have looked for a way to bring light into my work and been called by the siren song of glass.  While raising my little blessing, the Z of MarZ, the changes of 9/11 brought me back to art.  I started in stained and fused glass then...

The first time I saw a book on beads and lampworking I felt a twinge that my life had just changed.  I knew I must create lampwork beads and signed up for classes.  With glass beads I revel in the mix of transparent and opaque, the light dancing inside and all around the bead.  Now I say that “I paint with lava”. Where before my paintings were 6 feet tall now they are less than 3 inches long and I can wear my art!

I am a member of the International Society of Glass Bead (ISGB) and the local chapter Miami Valley Lampwork Bead Artist (MVLBA).  I currently sell my beads at MVLBA shows: Bellevue Beadery in Bellevue Kentucky, Beadcage in Dayton Ohio and the Bead Mercantile shows in Cincinnati, Dayton and Wilmington Ohio. 

I do take special orders. E-mail me at martmeratla@yahoo.com