Showcasing Marybeth's Beaded Tapestries
Visit my work in person at
Showcasing Marybeth's Beaded Tapestries
Visit my work in person at
About Marybeth as an artist
The Journey Begins
Connection and Continuity
Connection and Continuity
My beaded tapestries are stories woven from memory, spirit, and connection to the natural world. Each piece begins with a vision—rooted in patterns of the land, the cycles of women’s lives, and the quiet teachings that come through stillness and reflection. I work on a handmade loom using Czech seed beads, creating designs that blend tr
My beaded tapestries are stories woven from memory, spirit, and connection to the natural world. Each piece begins with a vision—rooted in patterns of the land, the cycles of women’s lives, and the quiet teachings that come through stillness and reflection. I work on a handmade loom using Czech seed beads, creating designs that blend traditional motifs with contemporary storytelling.
Years ago, when my children were young, our travels took us through Alberta, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, and North Dakota. Everywhere we went, I sought out museums showcasing First Nations art—especially intricate beadwork. My family often waited as I sketched Lakota pony blankets or teepees being raised for a PowWow. Those moments planted the seeds for my own creative path.
Connection and Continuity
Connection and Continuity
Connection and Continuity
Over time, I discovered that the region I now call home—Kawartha and North Hastings County—also holds a deep First Nations heritage. You might find me at the Petroglyphs near Norwood or kayaking beneath the Pictographs at Bon Echo Provincial Park, drawing inspiration from these sacred sites. It was in this journey that my beaded tapes
Over time, I discovered that the region I now call home—Kawartha and North Hastings County—also holds a deep First Nations heritage. You might find me at the Petroglyphs near Norwood or kayaking beneath the Pictographs at Bon Echo Provincial Park, drawing inspiration from these sacred sites. It was in this journey that my beaded tapestries truly came into being.
Though I do not hold formal Indigenous status, my father shared that our family carries Indigenous ancestry through my grandmother, who was from the Iroquois Nations (Seneca). With this knowledge, beading has become a deeply personal way to connect with my ancestors—including the grandmother I never had the chance to meet. I create in a way that honours lineage, tradition, and the sacred role of art as both expression and teaching.
The Art of Beading
Connection and Continuity
The Art of Beading
Many of my pieces reflect my spiritual understanding of the Thirteen Original Clan Mothers—the feminine aspect of First Nations spirituality—as well as the teachings of the Sioux Nations and wisdom passed down by Elders and Medicine People. I have been fortunate to learn from a Blackfoot artist who was, in turn, taught by his Elders.
Go
Many of my pieces reflect my spiritual understanding of the Thirteen Original Clan Mothers—the feminine aspect of First Nations spirituality—as well as the teachings of the Sioux Nations and wisdom passed down by Elders and Medicine People. I have been fortunate to learn from a Blackfoot artist who was, in turn, taught by his Elders.
Golden Dragonfly Beading is my way of listening—to the stories carried forward by ancestors, to the wisdom in nature, and to the power of art as a bridge between cultures and generations. My first small homemade loom has been set aside to make space for a much larger one—because beading should never be confined by inches, only by imagination. Each tapestry is an offering: a celebration of beauty, resilience, and connection.
Artist Statement – Golden Dragonfly Beading by Marybeth Earl
Golden Dragonfly Beading - Your Partner in Creative Expression
My beaded tapestries are stories woven from memory, spirit, and connection to the natural world. Each piece begins with a vision—rooted in patterns of the land, the cycles of women’s lives, and the quiet teachings that come through stillness and reflection. I work on a handmade loom using Czech seed beads, creating designs that blend traditional motifs with contemporary storytelling.
Though I do not hold formal Indigenous status, my father shared that our family carries Indigenous ancestry. I honour that lineage with humility and gratitude, creating in a way that respects the traditions that have shaped beadwork as both art and teaching. Through colour, form, and repetition, I explore ideas of belonging, healing, and continuity.
Golden Dragonfly Beading is my way of listening—to the stories carried forward by ancestors, to the wisdom in nature, and to the power of art as a bridge between cultures and generations. Each tapestry is an offering: a celebration of beauty, resilience, and connection.
