A weekend in the studio creating sterling silver stack rings inspired by the Southwest, where each piece tells a personal story through texture, stone, and craft.

Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at our recent Southwest Studio Sessions workshop with guest instructor Chris Pruitt. From technique and craftsmanship to problem-solving at the bench, discover how students challenged themselves, refined their skills, and gained valuable insight from an accomplished artist in an immersive weekend of jewelry making.

From stone to story, students crafted their own Radiant Rosecut Bracelet using sterling silver and hand-selected gemstones; each piece reflecting personal creativity, new skills, and the beauty of handmade work.

On May 17, the studio came alive with finished rings, proud smiles, and the energy of hands-on creation. From selecting meaningful gemstones to shaping and setting sterling silver, each student crafted a one-of-a-kind Keepsake Ring, leaving with both a finished piece and a lasting memory.

Two different groups, one shared process. Over May 15 and 16, students created paperclip chains in sterling silver, each bringing their own interpretation to a simple yet meaningful design, resulting in uniquely personal finished pieces.

On Mother’s Day, students at Meltdown Studio chose the bench over brunch, creating Blooming Heart Pendants in a class filled with intention, reflection, and quiet moments of connection.

This jewelry making class in Albuquerque at Meltdown Studio guided students through creating handcrafted Arroyo rings using foundational silversmithing techniques in a hands-on studio setting.

A weekend of slowing down and diving deep into silversmithing, students at Meltdown Studio explored ingot pouring and sand casting with Curtis Pete, transforming raw silver into meaningful, handcrafted pieces through patience, precision, and process.

Our Earth Day Earrings class on April 19 was a celebration of creativity and nature, as students crafted one-of-a-kind pieces using pressed flowers set behind cabochons, each design capturing a personal moment of the season.

A closer look at our Framed Turquoise Ring workshop, where students design and create their own rings while learning the fundamentals of stone setting and handcrafted jewelry.

Inspired by the season, our Botanical Amulet class invited students to create meaningful, nature-inspired jewelry designed to hold and protect personal mementos.

A classic tennis bracelet, reimagined with a Southwestern touch; see what our students created during this weekend’s Desert Tennis Bracelet classes.

A simple strip of metal becomes something personal in our Keepsake Ring class. Learn, create, and leave with a ring made entirely by you.

Two stones, one design. Explore balance, texture, and color in our Double Turquoise Cuff class, where every bracelet becomes uniquely yours.

A simple form, made personal. In our Essential Turquoise Hoops class, participants explored the rhythm of making, shaping silver and setting turquoise into pieces that reflect both process and individuality.

A weekend of fire, silver, and story marked the beginning of something new at Meltdown Studio. The first Southwest Studio Sessions brought makers face-to-face with tradition and technique, guided by Navajo metalsmith Bruce Lane. From melting raw silver to shaping conchos and applying gold through kuemboo, participants didn’t just learn the process, they experienced it, leaving with finished pieces and a deeper connection to the craft.

What begins as a strip of silver becomes something far more personal at the bench. In our recent Keepsake Ring classes, students shaped, soldered, and polished their way to rings that carry not just design, but story.

It started as raw silver and ended in motion. In two full Spinner Ring sections, students shaped, soldered, and textured their way to rings that spin effortlessly and carry the quiet pride of being made by hand.

Heart season came alive in the studio as students designed and handcrafted their own Corazón Bracelets. Inspired by Southwestern traditions and the symbolism of turquoise and spiny oyster shell, this Make it at Meltdown class was more than a workshop: it was a creative experience filled with learning, confidence, and meaningful connection.

Last weekend, two groups of students gathered at the bench to create handcrafted Corazón Earrings, learning to shape, solder, and finish heart-shaped designs full of meaning and personality.