Customer Spotlight #16 - Lori Augenstein from Marion, Ohio

This is #16 in our series Cobweb Corner Customer Spotlight. Enjoy the interview and the fabulous photos chosen especially to share with you. Please comment after reading the interview - the featured stitcher will be thrilled to know you took the time to admire and comment on their craft.

Please contact me if you would like to be a featured stitcher


Tell us something unusual about your self:I graduated from Ohio State at age 39 and began my career as a pediatric occupational therapist at age 40. I work mostly with special needs preschoolers. My job is literally play.

How long have you been stitching and how did you start? I started stitching about 27 years ago. I wanted a creative hobby and the pictures on the cross stitch kits were so colorful and inviting.

Why did you select the pieces you did to share with us? I have so many pieces! These were handy. The picture of the baby in the wash bowl was from a pattern that appeared in a magazine more than 20 years ago. The "Autumn Queen" is from Mirabilia Designs and "Cupid's Garden" is from Heaven and Earth Designs.

Do you have a favorite designer or style that you prefer?    I love Mirabilia. I prefer to work on pieces that have alot of shading and shadowing. I tend to gravitate towards women in flowing gowns. It is sometimes difficult to work with similar colors over large areas but I think the end product is worth it.  

Is there anything you wish would change in the cross stitch industry?  I wish retailers had a larger variety of the more difficult charts.

How often do you stitch and where do you do it? I stitch on the couch most every night for a couple of hours while I watch T.V.  Stitching, for me, is very relaxing and calming. People ask me how in the world I don't become cross-eyed. It is like second nature to me.

Are you embarrassed to admit to friends and family how much stash you have on hand? Besides my 2 daughters and husband, no one has any idea how many projects I have completed or how many I have planned. My biggest problem is that I have only framed a small percentage of what I have done.

Do you have a favorite quote? There are too many quotes out there to pick just one.



Thank you Lori! Please post comments/questions for Lori below.

Jewelry Makeover - Episode 4 - Silver Tubes & Black Onyx

This is the fourth in my series of taking old jewelry 'mistakes' and remaking them. These items include jewelry I made when I was first starting to bead, 9 years ago, or things that have simply been in many, many shows, or items that scream "What were you thinking?"  (scroll to the bottom of this page for links to more makeover posts)

This makeover is for a 2-strand necklace I made using sterling silver tube beads and black onyx round beads. The design was very simple, and at the time I made it, in style. However this piece never sold, even on the 'major sale' table. Now, the silver in the necklace has increased in price, making the components quite a bit more expensive. So - time to cut it apart and try again..
Here is the before photo:

Simple - and silver/black combos are always a great choice - but it wasn't going anywhere. So after cutting it apart and going through my stash of pendants I REALLY need to use up - I came up with these THREE necklaces - and I still have enough silver tube beads left to make 3-4 more!  Talk about extending the value of my components.

In addition to using pendants, I used some colored wire that I have had on hand for years. It is great wire, but I stopped stringing some time ago and have been wondering what I was going to do with it.

Each of these necklaces has exposed wire at the top, followed by a single strand of colored beads and sterling silver tubes - with a coordinating pendant. Fun, colorful, stylish and inexpensive.

This one is probably my favorite. It is made with a handpainted copper pendant. I had bought a number of these many years ago and just 'refound' this one. I would love to wear this with a white shirt and black pair of jeans.

As of August 16th, 2011 these necklaces are listed for sale in my Etsy store. Also a great place to see more photos of them:

Black and Silver Necklace   Blue hand-blown Glass pendant  Pink Acrylic Pendant

I hope you enjoyed this article. Please feel free to leave a comment - even if you don't like the new pieces.

Jewelry Makeover Episode 1
Jewelry Makeover Episode 2
Jewelry Makeover Episode 3

Jewelry Makeover - Episode 3 - Malchite and Silver

This is the third in my series of taking old jewelry 'mistakes' and remaking them. These items include jewelry I made when I was first starting to bead, 9 years ago, or things that have simply been in many, many shows, or items that scream "What were you thinking?"To see the first in the series click here.

The article is for a necklace I made using beautiful components - Malachite gemstones and a large Hill Tribe Silver pendant. While the individual pieces were stunning - the end result just didn't do them justice.

Here is the before photo:

The beautiful dark green Malachite was set off with lighter green aventurine. There was a small bit of silver breaking it up. The necklace is shorter - meant to be worn above a shirt neckline - but it left it a bit bulky and heavy looking.

I cut the necklace apart and made the following necklace. I accidentally grabbed a square/diamond Hill Tribe silver pendant that was lying on the table instead of using the original round one - but the look is basically the same.

The top part of the necklace is a double strand of 2-toned Myuki seed beads (glass) in a green/tan combo. It lightens up the green of the Malachite and makes the entire necklace lighter around the face, keeping the focus lower on the gemstones and beads. It also makes it lighter 'feeling' to wear.

Here's another view of the necklace.

Hopefully you'll agree with me that the new design is better - but I would appreciate your comments either way.

If you enjoy these before and after articles please consider sharing my blog on twitter, facebook etc. I look forward to your comments.