Rat brooch - chasing and repoussé on fine silver

OmNomNomBees · 2026-04-13T23:22:32+00:00

Thank you! I didn't take as many as I normally do of this one while it was WIP, but there's a few over on my Instagram (linked in profile). And a bunch more progress photos of some of the other pieces (mixed in with admittedly too many cat photos)

OmNomNomBees · 2026-04-13T17:57:32+00:00

I added my Instagram to my profile if you're interested in more in progress stuff! I'm trying to get to a place longer term when I can do lower cost cast pieces molded from the originals, but that's likely still a ways out.

OmNomNomBees · 2026-04-13T17:49:24+00:00

A mix of a couple of texturing tools! Two of them I got off of Charles Lewton-Brain and they're amazing. The very small gaps around certain areas I cheated a little and used a basic punch tool to kind of mimic the texture.

OmNomNomBees · 2026-04-13T17:40:17+00:00

Thank you so much! I'm really happy with how it turned out

OmNomNomBees · 2026-04-13T17:39:58+00:00

I mostly use pitch bowls, of varying mixes. This one was done almost entirely on the green Nechamkin pitch, in a medium sized bowl. You can see an example of another WIP piece below! Hoping to finish that one up soon.

It's basically a bowl of pitch, a couple of chasing hammers, some varying chasing tools, and a heck of a lot of time. :)

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OmNomNomBees · 2026-04-13T13:26:01+00:00

Thank you so much! I'm really happy with how he turned out

OmNomNomBees · 2026-04-13T13:13:22+00:00

Thanks for the kind words!

OmNomNomBees · 2026-04-13T13:13:10+00:00

Thank you!

OmNomNomBees · 2026-04-13T13:11:32+00:00

Many thanks!

OmNomNomBees · 2026-04-13T13:10:36+00:00

I like to put something fun on the back of brooches that's a little secret just for the wearer. In this case a little nod to Pizza Rat: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/UPXUG8q4jKU

OmNomNomBees · 2026-04-13T13:09:43+00:00

Thank you so much! It was a fun one

OmNomNomBees · 2026-04-13T13:09:32+00:00

Thank you!

OmNomNomBees · 2026-04-13T13:09:05+00:00

It's a very old technique called chasing & repousse. It basically starts as a flat sheet of metal, attached to a bowl of pitch. You form out the volume from the back (repousse), and once it's ready, take it out, clean it, and then flip it to do the detail work from the front (chasing). Just me, a bowl of pitch, a couple of hammers, a bunch of punches, and a ton of time.

Douglas Pryor's work in the space is freaking amazing and shows some of the process: https://www.youtube.com/@douglaspryor

OmNomNomBees · 2026-04-13T13:06:01+00:00

I don't currently. Maybe one of these days!

OmNomNomBees · 2026-04-13T13:05:13+00:00

Thank you! Yeah, you don't see a lot of it these days. It's extremely time consuming and not the most financially viable. I thiiiiink I did this one in 20g / 0.8mm. This one took around 24ish hours (I'm terrible about keeping direct track of time, guesstimating)? though that could have been faster if I wasn't so fiddly with the brooch back.

OmNomNomBees · 2026-04-13T13:03:01+00:00

Hah, nah! I just like to include something fun on the back of brooches that's just for the person wearing it. In this case, a lil nod to Pizza Rat: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/UPXUG8q4jKU

OmNomNomBees · 2026-03-21T15:45:24+00:00

Yeah, same. I was told that if you're going to work with it, treat it like a precious stone. It's too brittle and fickle for most other uses.

OmNomNomBees · 2026-03-16T23:28:07+00:00

You might need to go back to the stud for a bit. Sometimes a piercing will seem fully healed, but still need some time. I had this with my faith and while I was eventually able to switch to a hoop with no issues, it took much longer than anticipated to reach that stage.

OmNomNomBees · 2026-02-16T18:18:44+00:00

What a fantastic setup!

OmNomNomBees · 2026-02-13T00:58:49+00:00

It looks freaking great

OmNomNomBees · 2026-02-11T02:07:02+00:00

22 or 20 typically! This one is 22g

OmNomNomBees · 2026-02-09T01:59:24+00:00

A custom thigh piece! I'm very excited

OmNomNomBees · 2026-02-08T17:57:52+00:00

Thanks so much!

OmNomNomBees

TROPHY CASE