Hearts for September and October

I've been lax in posting September's hearts! I think I've been posting some kind of heart, either fiber or metal, all through this past year.  I finished these small, but not delicate, bronze hearts on the last day of September.  It's taken me awhile to get them photographed.

These bronze hearts are all individually formed with the processes of chasing and repoussé.  Click on the small photos for details.

For those of you unfamiliar with chasing and repoussé, I start with flat sheet metal and use small chisel-like tools to push and pull the metal into the desired shape.  The metal is pushed out from the back side and refined from the front side.  I use pitch, a flexible pine resin goo,  as a support material for small work.  The pitch supports the metal, but does not act as a form or mold.  Each shape is free-sculpted, intuitively, with my hands, hammer, and chasing tools.  The finished piece is hollow and quite strong.

In October, I've started out with sterling silver heart jewelry. From left to right, a large heart pendant, a ring, and a small heart pendant.  Again, the silver hearts are created entirely with chasing and repoussé.  I've forged small wire to create the vine forms as bails.  These pieces are all sold and will be shipping out to their new owners this weekend.

and finally, a piece that is not a heart.  I don't think I've ever gone a month without doing some variation on an oak leaf, acorn, or both.  I created this bracelet as a special order for a talented metalsmith.  It will be going out to its new owner today.

I think it's time I made one of these cuff bracelets for myself!