Just a quick announcement about the next opportunity for you to see my work…..
I’m part of the Fall Foliage Open Studio Tour (affectionately known as the FFAST tour), aptly named because it takes place during some of the most beautiful days here in New England. On Saturday and Sunday, October 6 & 7, I will open my studio to the public–YOU, dear reader.
There are two preview shows for this tour. One just finished up at the Jaffrey Civic Center in Jaffrey NH. 
The other will run through the month of October at The Works Bakery on Main Street in Keene, NH.
You can see peeks of my studio here. And see more details about the FFAST tour here.
And now I have to find my vacuum cleaner and dust cloths. And find a place to stash my 250 old wood boxes for my new series I’m working on. And make it look like I actually did use the dust cloths in here…!!!
So….Why should you visit an artist’s open studio?
Well….Years ago, it was how I found out I was an actual artist.
I stuck my head inside the door to ask a new housemate something. To my amazement, he had the same vast collection of beach pebbles, small animal bones, acorns, interesting sticks, sea shells, sea glass, bird’s nests, squashed rusty metal objects and other little doodads as I did.
He was a “real artist”–enrolled in art school, making cool stuff, etc. It slowly dawned on me…. maybe I wasn’t “crazy acorn-hoarding squirrel person”. Maybe….I was an artist, too! An artist-in-waiting, perhaps. An artist who hadn’t actually honored and made room for her creative spirit–yet. But an artist all the same.
It was the beginning of an incredible journey. And I’ve never forgotten that first moment, that shock of recognition, that foreshadowing of what I was supposed to do in this world.
Other reasons to visit an artist’s studio:
A chance to talk with someone who makes stuff.
A chance to snoop through drawers and bins and shelves. (You cannot believe all the drawers, bins and shelves I have in here, and what they hold.)
The opportunity to see work I can’t display or sell at the League of NH Craftsmen shops and Fair. (Hint: It involves PEARLS and semi-precious stones!)
The opportunity to watch me make stuff.
The chance to buy really cool stuff. Like jewelry, and wall art, and sculptures, maybe even a handmade print or two.
Wine.
Wine and crackers and cheese. And maybe chocolate. Oh, and more wine. Cold cider. Or hot cider, depends on the day’s weather. Did I mention the wine?
And who knows? Maybe, as you exclaim (with astonishment, or dismay) at my immense collection of pebbles, sea glass, driftwood, elk antlers, moose antlers and deer antlers, buttons, bird’s nests and such, you, too, will have that same flash of insight….
Maybe I can be an artist, too!
Luann Udell 
That’s exactly how I felt when I entered your studio! Can’t wait to come again. See you in October.
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Oh Luann, I dearly wish I lived close enough to attend your open studio! One of these years . . . ! 🙂
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Sounds like great fun,, Yours is at the same time as ours in Mountains on the way to Yosemite National Park,,, Sierra Art Trails.. and this year I will be located at our small Coarsegold Historical Museum school house… With the gas costs, driving the mountains for 100 artists sometimes gets difficult. So some of us gather at local historical places.We have changed and have ours open for 3 days.. I wish you lots of guests and a fun time. It takes tons of time and planning, the enjoyment is chatting with everyone and explaining why we do what we do…
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Wish I weren’t 2000 miles away, I think we’d be kindred spirits. We could see whose collections of broken pieces of glass, seashells, interesting seeds/acorns, etc. is the largest! :<)
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