• Home
  • Start Here
    • About Dukes and Duchesses
    • Collaborate/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
  • Holidays
    • New Year’s Eve/Day
    • Valentine’s Day
    • leap year
    • St. Patrick’s Day
    • April Fool’s Day
    • Easter
    • May Day
    • cinco de mayo
    • Mother’s Day
    • Father’s Day
    • Fourth of July
    • Halloween/Harvest
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
  • Crafts
    • general crafts
    • Cricut projects
    • printables
    • painting
    • sewing
    • knitting
  • DIY
  • Repurposed
  • Parties
    • Birthday
    • Entertaining
  • Recipes
  • Home Decor
    • Decor
    • home improvement
    • plants and garden
    • housekeeping
    • organization
  • travel
    • general travel
    • Dallas

Dukes and Duchesses

Dallas Fort Worth Creative Lifestyle Blogger

creative projects family/friends Lila · Written by Randi Dukes

DIY Broken China Jewelry

261 shares
  • Tweet31
  • Share

My little girls are wearing sweet new necklaces made from broken china.  And they come with a little story and a lot of family history.  If you’ve ever broken something that has a lot of sentimental value, don’t throw it out … make DIY broken china jewelry instead!

DIY broken china jewelry

My great Aunt Lorna painted china her whole life.  I remember going into her studio basement when I was a child to look at all of the projects she was working on.  The first time I was given one of her works of art, I was so touched.  To this day, I greatly treasure the pieces she painted … and even more so because she died a few years ago.  She was a lady who has always had a special place in my heart and I treasure the few things I have from her.

When each of my children were born, she sent them a special piece of painted china.  The twins were given patchwork piggy banks that I loved.  They were placed high on a shelf to keep them safe and I always told the twins to be so careful with them.

And then one day, I dropped Lila’s piggy bank and broke it.

broken china jewelry

I was so sad that I broke something that had such sentimental meaning.  I was hoping Lila would have this bank forever and actually pass it on to her child one day.

broken china jewelry

I kept the broken pieces in a basket for months, unable to throw them out, and finally decided to use some of the pieces to make little necklaces for my girls {and one for myself}.  It seemed like a fun way to hang on to that special piggy bank.

I bought small pendants for the girls and a big one for me, filled them with small pieces of china, and covered the pieces with a dimensional resin product.

broken china jewelry

At Lila’s request, I managed to preserve a little bumble bee on her necklace.

The girls are wearing their pendants on black cord and they look so sweet.

broken china jewelry

And I’m delighted that we’ve found a way to hang on to that special bank.

broken china necklace


17 Comments

About Randi Dukes

I’m Randi, a Dallas-based mom of five kids, ranging from third grade to college and including a set of twins. I love strong coffee, craft and DIY projects, my planner, and my big ol’ family. When I’m not creating something for my blog, I can be found in the car, running kids from one place to another. I’m the one knitting at the red light. Connect with me on google+ | twitter | facebook

« Knit Easter Garland
Peanut Butter Cup Basketball Treats »

Comments

  1. Alexis says

    March 22, 2013 at 2:20 pm

    Love it!

    Reply
  2. Laura says

    March 22, 2013 at 3:24 pm

    I love this! My husband’s grandparents collected souvenir plates from all over and we’ve been trying to figure out a way to honor their memories without necessarily decorating our entire house with plates…this might be a great idea for each of the granddaughters.

    Reply
  3. Debbie says

    March 22, 2013 at 5:11 pm

    What a great idea! Those pendants are so cute and have sentimental value as well. And like the black cord. Love it!

    Reply
  4. barb says

    March 22, 2013 at 5:53 pm

    Randi, these are so beautiful. Could you use the rest of the pieces in a garden stone? It could sit close to where those beautiful birds hang out.

    Reply
  5. Jenn "Rook No. 17" says

    March 22, 2013 at 8:21 pm

    Absolutely beautiful! I wish I had held on to our set of Spode dishes that shattered during our last move.

    Reply
  6. Cindy Eikenberg says

    March 23, 2013 at 11:04 am

    These are gorgeous and what a great idea! I’m so excited, because I just recently had a disaster with a falling china cabinet (tear) and a LOT of china was broken. I save some pieces and now I know what to do with it! Thank you SO much! Have a fabulous weekend! [email protected]

    Reply
  7. Lynda says

    March 23, 2013 at 1:03 pm

    I love this idea. I’ve got lots of broken china and this is a great and easy way to use it. Thanks.

    Reply
  8. Anonymous says

    March 24, 2013 at 3:35 pm

    She would have been thrilled that you cared enough to save and use the broken pieces, Randi. The garden stepping stone is also a good idea! We have a move coming up and who knows what could happen to all that beautiful painted china I have! I’ll keep your ideas in mind, just in case!
    Brenda

    Reply
  9. malia says

    March 25, 2013 at 5:29 am

    What a great story Randi and how meaningful for Lila to have a piece of your aunt’s special art work.

    Reply
  10. Bonnie @ Uncommon says

    March 25, 2013 at 8:29 pm

    This is just the sweetest story and what a lovely necklace keepsake Randi!

    Reply
  11. Finding Home says

    March 26, 2013 at 3:26 am

    So sweet, and although I am sad they broke, I love you found a way to use them.

    Reply
  12. Holly Lefevre (504 Main) says

    March 26, 2013 at 5:42 am

    The story is s sweet and you are so clever in the way you found to preserve these memories.

    Reply
  13. Julie {Lilacs and Longhorns} says

    March 27, 2013 at 2:59 pm

    I wish I would have thought of this when we broke two of my daughter’s precious piggy banks! Great idea and sooo precious! 🙂

    Reply
  14. thistlewoodfarm says

    March 28, 2013 at 8:48 pm

    Randi,

    What a wonderful story! This is something they will never forget! You are such an incredible mom!

    blessings,
    karianne

    Reply
  15. Joanna Clark Dawyd says

    March 28, 2013 at 9:14 pm

    These are beautiful! I will have to do the same with some broken pieces of my grandma’s antique china that I’ve been hanging on to.

    Reply
  16. Anonymous says

    March 29, 2013 at 5:23 am

    I’ve found lots of beautiful fragments out in the woods in farmland. I always thought I ‘d make something like this with it.

    Reply
  17. Kelly Rinzema says

    March 29, 2013 at 6:31 pm

    What a great idea! Super mom to the rescue 🙂

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Welcome to Dukes & Duchesses!

dukes and duchesses profile photo

I’m Randi, a mom of five living in Dallas. I love strong coffee, long lists, bright colors, thrift stores, repurposed junk, and power tools.

how to plant a sweet tea garden

Southern Sweet Tea Container Garden

colorful wood DIY garden marker

DIY Wood Veneer Plant Markers

creative outdoor garden ideas

8 Creative Ideas for Your Outdoor Garden

DIY herb garden markers

DIY Upcycled Knife Garden Markers

upcycled cutting board sign in beverage garden

DIY Beverage or Cocktail Garden

Dukes and Duchesses is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
Any content on this website is created for inspirational purposes only. You assume your own risk for using any methods, tools, or supplies suggested here. Follow proper guidelines for every tool or supply used and obtain professional guidance as needed.

Copyright © 2025 · Randi Dukes · Wordpress Hosting by SERVOUSLY