These are all new in my Etsy shop, Dishfunctional Designs! Get them while they last! Like what you see? You can find them here in my Etsy shop.   Happy New Year! -Laura  NEW! The Broken China Jewelry Book! Available Now! Check out my books    You might also like:          Don't miss out! Subscribe to my YouTube channel! Have a great week! Laura Join me on:  Instagram Facebook YouTube Twitter  Pinterest Article and images copyright ©Laura ..read more

  What do you envision as a cozy creative space? You don't need a great deal of space or fancy furniture to create a cozy art space for yourself. Pick up a few pieces at your favorite thrift shops (this is half the fun, right?) and of course they don't even have to match.   Here's some small space creative space inspiration!  Happy New Year! -Laura  NEW! The Broken China Jewelry Book! Available Now! Check out my books    You might also like:            Don't miss out ..read more

  Hi friends! I hope you are having a great New Year! I sure have been keeping busy. I always get a burst of inspiration and industriousness at the New Year.  I often get requests for jewelry made from vintage Fiestaware china, but I don't often make it because, to tell you honestly, it can really be hard on my tools!  It's not something I bet you'd guess, but from my side of things, yes, it is some tough stuff (and the reason you can find so many great vintage pieces around today!)  I did have this one imperfect vintage turquoise blue Fiesta bowl, though - and it had ..read more

Happy New Year! Check out some of the brand new broken china jewelry that I just finished making and listed in my Etsy shop! More to come soon! Like what you see? You can find them here in my Etsy shop.   Happy New Year! -Laura  NEW! The Broken China Jewelry Book! Available Now! Check out my books    You might also like:          Don't miss out! Subscribe to my YouTube channel! Have a great week! Laura Join me on:  Instagram Facebook YouTube Twitter &nbs ..read more

Happy New Year! I hope you had a peaceful holiday and are having a great New Year.  Today, I'm sharing a video workshop project where I show how you can solder on wood. I used a small twig that I found in my yard! I love playing with these types of experimental projects because I never know where they are going to go.  The outcome can be great and inspiring, and other times not so much, but I always enjoy the process, and I always am learning new things.  I have loads of new videos I've been uploading to YouTube (and I just uploaded a Members-only video yesterday, too, so if ..read more

Hey friends! I hope each of you had a really nice holiday. I am playing catch-up now with a few blog posts so that I can share some of my recent YouTube video uploads with you. You know how it is; things really start to ramp up right before the holidays, and then I don't get a chance to share all of the new videos that I put up on YouTube here on my blog, so now it's time! One popular question I frequently get asked is how to choose a soldering iron for jewelry making. It's a topic I've discussed here on the blog in the past and occasionally when doing a YouTube soldering Q&A, but ..read more

Yikes! It's been so many years since I first published my Bright White Clay Dough blog post (and you can see the original blog post here)! Where does the time go?  Anyway, a few weeks ago when preparing for the holidays I came across that old blog post and decided to make a video of creating the recipe, but I haven't had time to share it here until now, so if you didn't catch it over on my YouTube channel, here it is!  This fabulous, easy-to-make dough will last for a few weeks, wrapped in damp paper towels and stored in a tightly sealed plastic container in your fridge, so make now ..read more

For those who appreciate a more subdued, vintage-inspired aesthetic, dark, eclectic Christmas decor is the perfect fit. This style blends classic antique furniture with rich, muted colors and luxurious fabrics, creating a festive atmosphere that feels both elegant and cozy. If your home already has a moody, eclectic vibe, here's how to bring that look into your holiday decorating. Choose Muted, Rich Colors Dark, eclectic decor thrives on rich, muted tones rather than bright or overly bold colors. Opt for deep greens, charcoal greys, burgundies, and navy blues to create a sophisticated h ..read more

  If your home already embraces eclectic or exotic decor, why not extend that style into your holiday decorations? Jewel-tone Christmas decor, with its rich, vibrant colors and unexpected combinations, is the perfect fit for an unconventional holiday aesthetic. Here's how to create a festive yet distinctly personal holiday environment with an eclectic, jewel-tone twist. Mix Bold Colors Jewel tones like emerald green, deep sapphire, rich ruby, and amethyst bring warmth and depth to your space. Don’t be afraid to combine these hues in unconventional ways. For example, pair emerald green ..read more

  Sometimes, a piece of china just doesn't break the right way. Other times, a shard is found with beautiful colors or an interesting scene, but a vital element of that scene (such as a person's head) is missing from the shard due to breakage. What do I do with these odd but interesting pieces? I keep them and think about them, and then when the mood strikes, I sit down with them and transform them into something wearable and beautiful. I'm pretty sure the two pieces shown here both came from antique calendar plates. These were the types of plates that were given away or sold by busin ..read more