First Friday At The Banana Factory May 2, 2014

I'm expecting a great crowd tonight for First Friday at the Banana Factory in Bethlehem, PA

where I am an artist in residence! From 6pm to 9pm all of the resident artist's studios 

will be open to the public and there is lots to see and do. My studio is on the first floor,

 studio 102, so if you get a chance to come out, be sure to stop in and say hello! 

It's going to be a beautiful night! 

Part of my studio inside the Banana Factory in Bethlehem, PA. I am in studio 102, first floor.

One of my studio walls, all filled with new jewelry available for purchase.

On display tonight in my studio at the Banana Factory

I was featured artist of the month last month for April! Here I am hanging my exhibit. April 

is now over, but you can still see my exhibit, which I moved from the hall into my studio. 

Featured artist exhibit night and book signing

Inside my studio

I will also have some copies of my new jewelry instruction book, BoHo Chic Jewelry available

for purchase in my studio. If you can't make it to the studio, you can purchase a copy here.

The Banana Factory in Bethlehem, PA  (directions)

What do you think?

Hope to see you there!

I hope you have a great week 

Love, Laura

My broken china jewelry is always available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns

Check out my new jewelry instruction books and DVDs!

Learn how to solder and make unique jewelry!

New For First Friday At The Banana Factory

I have a handful of new pieces of broken china jewelry that will be on display

and for sale at my studio at the Banana Factory in Bethlehem, PA tonight 

for First Friday! That's studio 102 if you haven't been there yet. Stop in 

and say Hi, I will be there from 6-9pm!

Antique Flow Blue china with shamrock or clover motif

What do you think?

Check out my new jewelry instruction book!

I hope you have a great week 

Love, Laura

My broken china jewelry is always available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns

Check out my new jewelry instruction books and DVDs!

Learn how to solder and make unique jewelry!

The View From One Of My Studio Windows

We've sure had our share of snow this year in Pennsylvania! I don't know what

it's like where you live, but believe me, we've seen enough of the white stuff

this year! Had more snow and lots of sleet last night and hoping that we don't

lose power! What's it like where you're at?

This is the view from one of my studio windows at the Banana Factory in Bethlehen, PA

What's it like outside where you are?

I hope you have a great week 

Love, Laura

My broken china jewelry is always available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns

Check out my new jewelry instruction books and DVDs!

Learn how to solder and make unique jewelry!

Inside My Studio: Filling The Walls

It has taken me a while to fill up my studio walls - displaying jewelry vertically

can be a challenge! I use both canvases and plates for most of my displays.

Check it out!  

What do you think?

I hope you have a great week 

Love, Laura

My broken china jewelry is always available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns

Check out my new jewelry instruction books and DVDs!

Learn how to solder and make unique jewelry!

From Inside My Studio

I hope you have a great week 

Love, Laura

My broken china jewelry is always available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns

Check out my new jewelry instruction books and DVDs!

Learn how to solder and make unique jewelry!

A Peek Inside My New Art Studio At The Banana Factory!

This past Friday May 3rd was "First Friday" in Bethlehem PA, a community 
celebration that is held on the first Friday night of the month, every month -  when 
shops and restaurants open their doors and loads of people fill the streets to take part
 in all types of festivities. The hub of First Friday is in the Banana Factory, which is 
where my new art studio is located (as well as the studios of over 25 of the other 
resident artists of the Banana Factory.) On First Friday inside the Banana Factory all 
of the resident artists are "in the house" and open the doors to their studios and 
welcome the public to come on in and see all the exciting things that are going on, 
view their artwork and current works in progress, as well as purchase art. There are
 also glass blowing demonstrations and all other types of festivities. 

I worked like crazy to get my new studio furnished and in order in time to greet the crowds! Here is a little sneak peek at what I've been up to!

These photos show only one side of my studio - I will show more next time!

I still have lots to do - I plan on installing a pegboard on the wall above the work 
table in the corner to hold many of my tools and goodies. Some things can't be 
rushed though, and I really like to do a good job at whatever I am working on, so it 
will take me a little time until it is just right!

One thing that was a challenge to me was to figure out how to display my jewelry
on my walls. I think I came up with a pretty creative solution to that challenge and I'll
share it with you in my next post! 

Check out the Banana Factory on Facebook!




Click here for the tutorial for how to make the letter word wall
plates that I made for my wall!

What do you think?

I hope you have a great week 

Love, Laura

My broken china jewelry is always available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns

Check out my new jewelry instruction books and DVDs!

Learn how to solder and make unique jewelry!

Exciting Announcement: My New Art Studio At The Banana Factory

I'm thrilled to announce that I am a new resident artist at Bethlehem PA's Banana Factory!

Located in the south side of Bethlehem at 25 W 3rd St. in Bethlehem Pennsylvania, the

 Banana Factory Arts Center is a visual arts & education campus run by ArtsQuest that features over 30 resident artists who have studios in the building. The building is also

home to three award winning art galleries and features a ceramics studio, the ArtsQuest 

Glass Studio, and the Olympus Digital Imaging Center. Just minutes from Steel Stacks 

and Sands Casino, the Banana Factory is a true gem of Pennsylvania art and culture! 

Click here to check out the Banana Factory's resident artists 

And yes, it actually was once a banana distribution center, in case you were 

curious about the name...

image via

Even more exciting: First Fridays at the Banana Factory

On the first Friday of every month from 6 pm to 9 pm the Banana Factory and South Bethlehem come alive for a community celebration where local merchants, galleries 

and restaurants open their doors to celebrate Bethlehem's awesome community. During

First Friday inside the Banana Factory, all of the resident artists open their doors to their 

studios to the public and you can stop in and say hello, as well as view and purchase 

wonderful artwork. This coming Friday (May 3, 2013) will be my very first First Friday

as an artist in residence at the Banana Factory, so if you are around town, stop in 

and say hi!

My New Studio - First Floor, room VA-A

Here's a sneak peek at my new space, which I am filling up as we speak!

I love the two large windows...and there's plenty of room for me to teach 

all kinds of workshops right in the studio, which is an added bonus!

I've already started moving in, though it is a little bare right now because I am in the 

process of packing up all of my tools and getting ready to ship them out to Cincinnati, 

Ohio for a week-long photo shoot for my new jewelry instruction book, but I will have the 

space filled up soon enough! I hope one day you will have a chance to stop in on a First 

Friday and say hello, or perhaps take a workshop! 

What do you think?

I hope you have a great week 

Love, Laura

My broken china jewelry is always available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns

Check out my new jewelry instruction books and DVDs!

Learn how to solder and make unique jewelry!