Bling it On!

Fun stretch bracelets for 2016

Copper-plated beads with patina

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Spirit of the Southwest talisman bracelet

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This Little Light of Mine bracelet

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Heart on Your Sleeve bracelet

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Ring in the New Year

Green Mosaic Ring. Sterling Silver.

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Flower Power Southwestern Style

Yep, this is my style

Southwestern style dyed howlite stretch bracelet
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Forged Bracelets

Forged Copper Enamel Cuff
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Forged Copper Cuff
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Forged Red Brass Bangle
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some new rings

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water blue enamel stacking ring

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small enough to stack

pretty enough to wear alone

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enamel band rings

Just a quick post to show off what is new, and to see if I still remember how to navigate around my blog dashboard. I updated my profile. My husband surprised me on Valentine's Day with a kiln, but these rings here were fired with my torch. 

tiny little loveknot

I've been slowly using up materials that I have on hand to make our budget stretch just a little farther. That makes my ideas for projects jump around a bit, so my theme for the month is "practice." Soldering is still getting the best of me on most days, and I spend a fair amount of time doing fault isolation procedures, cleaning my work area, checking my equipment, reading resource literature, and then I usually melt something. This little ring is attempt # 4. The wire is 20 gauge, which is pretty thin. I like how it looks in this photo, but I think it would be more practical to wear if it were made of heavier wire. I'll try some more tomorrow. I'd like to make interlocking knots, too.

sterling silver loveknot ring

still here

I'm still here, chugging along and trying to make ends meet, just like everybody else I know is doing. Here is a peek at what I made this week. I love being able to go out to my little cluttered space and make things.



Homage to Frida Kahlo's painting
Hummingbird and Thorn Necklace




Forged copper hoop earrings

with Chrysoprase and Aquamarine drops

the latest from my workbench

This necklace is basic, but I think it turned out to be pretty. It was fun to make, and now I have had more practice at making jump rings.

Forged-links necklace, fabricated.
Copper and sterling silver.
Closed loop with no clasp.

torch-fired enamel

Jewelry components in progress:
Upside-down hearts for earwires, enamel blossoms. Assembly by riveting comes next.

soldering practice

 Etruscan link hand-forged copper chain

sacred heart earrings

this is my first attempt at sweat-soldering

I have been practicing soldering, and these are my results so far. It is fun and engrossing.

what is new around here

hollow form ring made from sterling silver, copper and brass

front view

I am taking a metalsmithing class at the community college called Jewelry I, and it has been very engrossing, challenging and fun. The instructor has a lot of knowledge to impart, and has an outstanding reputation around town as a great instructor. My classmates are becoming my good friends. I live within walking distance of the classroom as well, which is in the brand new art building. It is a modern and well-equipped workspace, and comes complete with an art gallery and upstairs open-air deck for exhibits and gatherings. Lucky me!

i've been acting knotty

Here is a glimpse of recent projects I've done for practice, and to build a little inventory up. The aquamarine necklace was a gift for my daughter's teacher as the school year ends.
turquoise and garnet

velvet for jewelry display in an antique store












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aquamarine knotted on silk

small steps every day

Slow and steady, that's me lately.
Here are some of my latest online listings in my shop.



Agate and jade necklace

Swarovsky and Czech glass bracelet

i figured out how to make this...

I decided to give my online identity fresh look for the new year. I am proud of this result, as I am not much of a techie whiz at all, so it is all the trial and error method for me. Ususally months later I come across the easy way to do what I was trying to do. I seem to spend alot of time trying to re-invent the wheel.

out with the old, in with the new

Hello! Are you staying warm?
I've been rearranging my online listings. Boy, alot of time flies when I'm online...I'm working on becoming more efficient.

romantic rose quartz, tourmaline and sterling silver necklace

cats and birds who love each other

I still love folk art.

tuxedo cats and canary bird earrings

my very first post

Well, here goes... my very first blog entry. I hope this format will be a good way to meet people, to share ideas, to support each other.

I wonder what I will say, for thankfully my life is ordinary. I'l l try not to ramble.

Seven.Dog.Studio is the name my sister and I call ourselves in our joint efforts as artists. I currently live with two of the seven dogs. You can meet them, just look to the right. I hope to show you some of my creative endeavors, to get your feedback, and to meet many of you.

My recent time and energy has been spent getting my creations photographed, described, and out onto the internet so that more people can see my work.
You can see more about my shop at etsy.com at http://www.7dogstudio.etsy.com .
You can view more of my photos at http://flickr.com/photos/sevendogstudio/ .

Please bear with my mistakes and questions, for I am not computer savvy, and I have much to learn.

Thanks for reading, and I'll see you later....