This is a running watch, but not a watch that runs and/or keeps time. It's a visual geeky steampunk pun. Calling it the running dogs of imperialism also crossed my mind, but I let it pass.

I've used some of the jumping horse cabs (well, he's running too!) in other pieces, but the running dogs were just hanging around with their tongues out, waiting for something to do, when I suddenly saw how nicely they could fit under what's left of the pocket watch works, and that the jumper obviously belongs in the circular space below them.

So it sat around like that for a few days, and then, as I was tearing my workspace apart looking for something else, I opened the drawer containing this wonderful mesh chain. Understand that the chain is just a long twisty metal tube, with no ends. I had had it, and some endcaps, for awhile too, but was a little intimidated by the idea of cutting it -- I can redesign link cahins like a champ, but once this stuff is cut that's it. Well, OK, so I cut it and, after only a few false starts, managed to get the caps attached. I had wired a hanging loop to the watchplate, but of course it wasn't big enough for this chain, so I took that off and remade it.

After that it was pretty easy to thread the chain through the loop, attach the clasp to one cap and a ring for it to grab to the other, and take it out for a spin. Responses were positive, so I took the photos you see here and am now adding this description and getting ready to "go live".

I hope all this effort will give the dogs a new place to run -- they never seem to wear out!

This piece should be fine under normal wearing conditions. I would, however, keep it outside car shoulder belts and away from animals and small children.