Listen to your heart, not the naysayers

Martha Sandlin of Cave Spring, GA has been exhibiting at the Christmas House for over 10 years.  She has faithful patrons who come each year specifically to buy her work, and I'm sure many of them know very little about her.  So here is what's behind Martha's amazing art.

I am a jack of all trades and probably a master of none. Throughout my life I have had some colorful and memorable moments and unusual experiences.  These are reflected in my art.

I started playing the piano when I was 9 years old.  Later I played the french horn and pipe organ.  A bad case of stage fright kept me from becoming a professional musician although I managed to make my way into the Atlanta Community Orchestra where I played for many years.  That was about all I was able to do with my musical abilities because I was always doing something embarrassing like turning over my music stand in the middle of a flute solo.

While I lived in Atlanta, I accumulated numerous college degrees but I never had any training in art.  My degrees weren't in anything very useful but after I got a graduate degree I got a dream job working with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta.  I wasted alot of time traveling overseas before I realized there really wasn't anything that interesting somewhere else.  Finally after too many years apart I was reunited with my childhood sweetheart and we married and had a beautiful son.

Although I spent many years working with disturbed adolescents and the profoundly retarded, in a sad but

ironic twist of fate I lost my only child to suicide in 2009.  My art has helped me cope with all the highs and lows of my life.

About fifteen years ago, I was suddenly overcome with an overwhelming desire to start making things.  Everyone around me tried to discourage me.  My brother said "you've got to be kidding me if you think anybody is going to buy that"  My father in law said, "Why would anybody want to buy that?"  My husband said I was making a big mess and wasting alot of money.  But my first show was a huge success to everyones amazement.

The first thing I started making was birdhouses..  I think I was drawn to the idea because of the beautiful candy gingerbread houses my mother made at Christmas when I was growing up.  I could never figure out how to make one.  We were supposed to eat the candy houses but I thought they were too pretty to eat.  Many years later an art show judge said my birdhouses reminded him of candy gingerbread houses.  It is one of the best compliments I have ever had.

My husband says I am the strangest person he has ever known.  I think this explains where I got my vivid imagination. You can see it at work in some of the things  I make.  I have taught myself how to make  gazillion different kinds of art.  From mosaic yard art to fused glass and more recently folk art paintings.  The most unusual thing I ever made was a metal iguana with a wooden Cheetah head.  After coming to Mabel House,  I decided to make jewelry covered Christmas trees and an almost unlimited variety of Christmas ornaments.I also love making fantasy animals like alligators with wings. Making all the many different kinds of ornaments really allows me to stretch my imagination.

I love the joy and magic of Christmas and nowhere is it more evident than the glittery and sparkly things you see at the Christms House. It is a special time of year because my son was born on December 26th.  And the Christmas House, truly is my very favorite show.