Luann Udell / Durable Goods

...Even if I forget what it is sometimes.....!

It's been a tough week. I could gritch a bit, but it's the usual. I've been working, working, working and not seeing much money for my efforts. Galleries have been slow to pay, cutting back on orders, feeling the pinch just like we all have. I've made a huge effort to carve out more time for my high-end fiber pieces even as the demands on my time for other things grow and grow. "I don't know why I bother!" I complained to my husband recently.

Well, an excellent answer to that came by e-mail the other day. Here is a note from a customer who purchased a wall hanging from me at the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen's Annual Fair a few years ago:

"Dear Luann,

I completed a table runner collage today of monkeys,
leopards and lions against pieces of an ancient map to
compliment the 3 monkey candleholders my 3 sons gave
me for Christmas. You were a catalyst in the
wonderful exploration of fabric and textures and
colors that I have begun in this past year. I did not
know when I purchased "Migration Moon III" several
years back at the Sunapee crafts fair that not only
was your piece a beautiful piece of art but also an
inspiration. I have it hanging on my side of our bed
at our home in Florida. I spoke with you at the fair
and told you that I have been to some of the caves in
France, but not Lascaux. I told you then and still
believe and feel that your work captures the majesty,
mystery and beauty of the cave paintings I saw. Those
paintings truly transformed my life and I am so
pleased to have a work of art which reminds me daily
of their power. It has given me great joy to have
your beautiful work in my life.

However, I did not know that this would also help me
find the creative outlet I have to recently been
unsuccessful at fulfilling. I didn't know that such
incredibly beautiful art could be created in this way.
This past year I uncloseted my 30 year old musty
smelling Sears sewing machine and made some albeit not
fabulous but nonetheless encouraging and for me
exciting forays into fabric collage. While working on
the runner for my table I wandered into my room and
took your piece off the wall. Feeling it and
examining it in the light of my own efforts I have a
completely new found respect for your workmanship and
artistry. I have always loved this treasure but now I
love it even more - who would have thought it could be
possible!

I loved looking at your website and all your beautiful
work. I was pleased to see that your work is at a
local gallery in Sanibel, FL. I will have to stop by
there.

Many thanks and best wishes,
Kathleen Faraone"

No, Kathleen....thank YOU!