My New Book Soldered Alchemy Now Available!

Im excited to announce that my new book,

Soldered Alchemy: 25 Jewelry Projects Using New 

Soft-Solder Techniques

is now available on Amazon.com for pre-order!

Inside this book, I take soldering in a completely new direction, and I am SO EXCITED 

to share these brand new techniques, designs, and creative projects with you! 

Each project is explained in detail from start to finish alongside of beautiful 

images to guide you through the projects every step of the way! There are projects 

from beginner to advanced, and I organized them with skill-building in mind, so

whether you are new to soft-soldering, or are an experienced solder artist, this book

has something for everyone and is sure to get your creative juices flowing!

Inside I share all of my techniques & secrets for creating unique soft-soldered 

jewelry, including  all of my soldering techniques, so that you can become a 

soldering pro too! 

Click here to check it out!

What do you think?

Check out my new DIY jewelry instruction books and DVDs!

   

Learn how to solder and make unique jewelry!


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

Read More..

Perfect Elephant Ear Pastry Cookies to die for!

In yesterdays blog post I included a photo of these amazing Elephant Ear cookies that I made during last weekends snowstorm. I promised you the recipe, so here it is! Its funny how Ive gotten into the habit of grabbing my phone to snap photos while I bake and cook. "Wait! dont eat that yet! I have to take a picture of it first!" is something that my daughters are getting used to hearing. Hehe. 

Before you start:

*I highly recommend baking these cookies on parchment paper covered cookie sheets. It eliminates a lot of the mess and once you take them out of the oven they just slide right off of the parchment paper!*This is a yeast dough that you will need to refrigerate for two hours before you bake the cookies.*One last word of advice. If there are more than two or three people in your household, you may want to double this recipe. These cookies are just THAT good! 

Heres what you will need:

1 package active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water (105 to 115 degrees F)
2 1/4 cups flour
2 Tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup milk, scalded and then cooled to lukewarm temperature (scalded means heated to just below boiling when tiny bubbles begin to appear around the edge of the milk)
1 egg yolk
2 Tablespoons of butter, melted
1 1/2 cups of sugar
2 Tablespoons cinnamon
(Optional - 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans)


Directions:

Heat the 1/4 cup of water in a glass measuring cup. Dissolve the package of active dry yeast in the water, mix well until the yeast is dissolved, and then set aside for five minutes to allow the yeast to activate.

In a mixer combine these ingredients:

2 1/4 cups flour
2 Tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
Mix until you have the consistency of course crumbs.

In a glass measuring cup, mix together the lukewarm scalded milk and egg yolk. Then add the yeast and water mixture to the milk and egg yolk and mix well. 

Now add the milk/egg yolk and yeast/water mixture to your flour mixture and mix well until all ingredients are combined and you have a soft dough. If the dough is too sticky you can add one or two tablespoons of flour, but the dough should be soft and not stiff. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least two hours. 

Roll the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Shape into a 20x10 inch rectangle.

Brush the top of the dough with two tablespoons of melted butter

Mix together the 1 1/2 cups of sugar and 2 tablespoons of cinnamon. Sprinkle about a half cup of the cinnamon sugar mixture onto the dough. 

Starting at the long end of the dough, roll the dough into a long log shape. Pinch the edges closed but do not seal the edges tightly.

Place the roll onto a cutting board and slice into one-inch slices. I slice about 18-20 rounds from my dough.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Sprinkle some of the remaining cinnamon sugar mixture onto a piece of waxed paper and place a slice on top. 

Roll the slice with your rolling pin until it is a long oblong shape. I usually roll mine once or twice and then flip it over and roll it once more on the reverse side. 

Carefully place the rolled slice onto a parchment paper covered cookie sheet. Repeat this process with the remaining rolls of dough. Sprinkle the tops with additional cinnamon sugar if desired.(Note: If you are adding chopped walnuts or pecans to your cookies, now is the time to do so. Sprinkle the nuts on top of the cookies and gently press them into the dough with your fingers.)

Bake the cookies in a 400 degree F oven for 10-12 minutes until they are light golden brown and the cinnamon sugar melts. Remove from oven and slide the parchment from the cookie sheet and allow them to cool on a tabletop or on wire cooling racks.

Yum :) Enjoy!

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I hope you enjoy these amazing cookies. If you try this recipe, be sure to stop back and leave a comment and let me know how you like them! 

Enjoy your weekend! 

Love, Laura

Images and recipe copyright Laura Beth Love. For personal use only. 

Not for commercial use without express permissions.

Check out my new jewelry instruction books and DVDs!

   

Learn how to solder and make unique jewelry!

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

Read More..

Life Isnt Happening To You Life Is Responding To You!

Life is not happening to you, but is responding to you.

What do you think?

Check out my new DIY jewelry instruction books and DVDs!

   

Learn how to solder and make unique jewelry!


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

Read More..

Easy Homemade Holiday Thin Mint Cookies

These easy no-bake cookies are perfect for the holidays and are a homemade replica

of Girl Scout Thin Mints cookies! All you need are Ritz crackers, bittersweet chocolate
(or semi-sweet), peppermint extract (make sure you use peppermint extract and not 

peppermint oil), and vegetable oil. 

Ingredients

Ritz crackers 20-25

Bittersweet chocolate 6oz

Peppermint extract (not oil) 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon (per 6 oz of chocolate) 

1/4 teaspoon vegetable oil

Holiday cookie sprinkles (optional)

Other Supplies Needed

cookie sheet with lip on edge (such as jelly roll pan)

wax paper or parchment paper

double boiler

two forks

Directions

1. Line cookie sheet with wax or parchment paper.

2. Melt chocolate in double boiler, stirring until smooth.

3. Stir in vegetable oil and peppermint extract.

4. Place a Ritz cracker into the chocolate and use a fork to flip the cracker, coating it on 

both sides and on the edges with chocolate. This is easiest to do with two forks. 

5. Use a fork to lift the cookie out of the chocolate and while holding it above the chocolate, 

allow excess chocolate to drip from the cookie and back into the double boiler.

6. Carefully slide the cookie from the fork onto the wax paper covered pan.

7. Sprinkle with holiday cookie sprinkles (optional).

8. Place in refrigerator to set. 

Note: if you do not have a double boiler you can melt your chocolate in a microwave in a 

microwave safe bowl. Place chocolate in bowl and microwave for 20 seconds and then stop 

and stir. Repeat until chocolate is melted. Be careful not to overcook.

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Enjoy your day!

Love, 

Laura

Check out my new DIY jewelry instruction books and DVDs!

   

Learn how to solder and make unique jewelry!


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

Read More..

Easy Frosted Ricotta Cookies

These frosted ricotta cookies are so easy to make and are one of my familys favorite cookies!
Cake-like yet dense and rich, they are a nice change from crumbly or crispy type cookies. 
Match your decorative sugar sprinkles to the holiday and you have a cookie for all seasons. 
You can also substitute flavored extract (try lemon, or almond) in place of the vanilla.  

Ingredients

Cookies
1/2 c. butter
1 c. sugar
1 T. vanilla
2 c. ricotta cheese
1 egg
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
2 c. flour

Frosting
2 T. butter, softened
2 c. powered sugar
1 t. vanilla
2 T. milk
Decorative colored sugar sprinkles (optional)

Instructions for cookies

Preheat oven to 350 F. 
Grease cookie sheets (I use solid Crisco).
Cream together the butter, sugar, and vanilla until mixture is creamy and fluffy.
Add the egg and mix well.
Add the ricotta cheese and mix well.
Add the baking soda, salt and flour, mixing well.
Optional: refrigerating the dough for 1-2 hours will make it less sticky and easier to 
work with.
Drop dough by rounded spoonfuls (teaspoon or tablespoon depending on the size 
cookies you prefer) onto greased cookie sheet, about two inches apart. 
Bake cookies for 12 minutes or until edges are golden brown. 
Tops of cookies do not brown so watch them closely while they are baking. 
Once finished baking, remove from cookie sheets and cool on a wire rack. 
Prepare frosting while cookies are cooling. 
Note: do not frost cookies until they are completely cooled! 

Instructions for frosting

In an electric mixer  or by hand, cream the butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk until smooth and creamy. 
Add a little more milk or powdered sugar if necessary until your frosting is a spreadable.
Frost the cookies and then sprinkle with decorative sugar sprinkles. 
Store in an air tight container.  

Cool cookies completely before frosting

Prepare frosting while cookies are cooling

Add sprinkles immediately after frosting

What do you think? Whats your favorite cookie?

Check out my new DIY jewelry instruction books and DVDs!

   

Learn how to solder and make unique jewelry!


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

Read More..

The Upcycled Armoire

Its been a while since I did an upcycled furniture blog post, so I thought it would be fun to start the week by taking a look at old armoires. I am always impressed by the ways that creative folks repurpose old salvaged pieces of furniture. I soon found that old armoires are no exception! 

First of all, what is an armoire? A traditional armoire is an old movable cabinet that was commonly used for storage or as a pantry to store household things such as dishes.

If an armoire had a rod installed inside of it, it was used as a closet to store clothes. Those are commonly known as wardrobes. Now that makes sense! When I bought my first home, it was an estate, so it came loaded with old dusty furniture. What did I find in the basement that I instantly fell in love with? An antique armoire. I soon found out why the previous owner had the armoire. There was no closet in the master bedroom! Haha! 

Now, what do you do with an old armoire? The obvious answer is that they are great for storage. Armoires are perfect for hiding blankets and out of season and surplus linens. Do you happen to have a huge bathroom? If you do, add an old armoire to store towels and toiletries. I have two kids and we love to play games, so my armoire was quickly repurposed into a game closet! 

Here are some other ways that you can use an old armoire or wardrobe:

• Turn it into a mini bar.
• Use to store books or games.
• Use it as a craft cabinet to hold craft supplies. 
• Paint it crazy colors and turn it into a piece of art furniture.
• Use it to store your old vinyl record collection.
• Update it with wallpaper or stencils.
• If it has screened doors, use it to display collections or showcase your favorite things. 
• Idea: Create your own screened doors with chicken wire.

Check out these upcycled and repurposed armoires and be inspired! 

Old armoire turned new pantry from BHG

Amazing armoire to sewing cabinet transformation 
by Lindy at Cottage Hill blog

Old armoire now serves as bath linen closet

Bird aviary from old armoire by Empressofcreativity

Old armoire turned craft closet by Diane at In My Own Style

Craft cabinet by Susan at Maple & Magnolia blog

Armoire turned shoe closet from Apartment Therapy

Armoire mini-library from Apartment Therapy

Updated armoire with wallpaper (above) and paint, or stencils (below) from BHG

Armoire bar from House Beautiful 

Homemade bar from The Cow Spot

Art painted Lucas Rise armoires

I hope you enjoyed this peek at old armoires and hopefully it has inspired you to think about how you would upcycle one for your own home. What would you use an old armoire for? Id love to hear from you so please leave your comments below!  

Enjoy your week! 

Love, Laura

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Check out my new jewelry instruction books and DVDs!

   

Learn how to solder and make unique jewelry!

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

Read More..