There will be a pile of silver wire waiting when Larkin arrives home! Are there particular stones/wrap styles you think would be especially striking in silver?
musings
More Dragon Eyes Are Here!
product, musingsCommentThe Idle Talons tech support team has been not-entirely-idle while Larkin is traveling. ;) The dragon eyes sell so briskly at local markets we've been a bit lazy about listing them all. Recognizing this isn't fair to our far-flung audience we've put them all together in one listing and included every one that is currently ready to ship. There is so much variety it's hard to choose a favorite!
Learning Curve
musings, processCommentWe know we've been quiet lately. This has been Larkin's first full market season and it has been a learning experience for the whole Idle Talons team! It turns out restocking is very time consuming and slows down the process of coming up with new designs. Larkin has received quite a few custom commissions which are always fun and challenging. Also, it turns out there's some value in enjoying being 14. ;) Larkin has some international travel planned in the next month and then is looking forward to focusing on more Idle Talons design work!
Leveling Up!
musings, processThis week, Larkin got samples of three of the most common kinds of silver wire used in jewelry making: argentium, sterling, and fine. Larkin preferred working with the argentium silver (naturally the most expensive option🙄) which also has the advantage of being slower to tarnish than the other two. Larkin has been saving some favorite cabochons that seem better suited to a silver wrap than copper— It must be time to place a larger order and see what comes next!
Cabled Lace Agate Leaf
product, musings, processCommentIt is interesting to see how all the time Larkin has devoted to various crafting techniques can be reflected in current wire work. This purchased lace agate cabochon is wrapped in a unique style reminiscent of knitted cabling, resulting in a stunningly elegant piece!
A Little Help From Your Friends
fun, musings, processCommentLarkin’s productivity has been a little low. We’re opening an investigation into probable cause.
Or should we say, pawsable claws…
Nature's Easter Hunt
fun, process, musingsCommentA beautiful day in southern Oregon— found some great pieces of petrified wood, agate and jasper, just laying on the ground waiting to be discovered!
Dragon Magic In The Making
fun, musings, process, productCommentWhen you bring your mum a dragon you stopped working on a while ago and she spends 2 minutes cooing and tickling its belly and demands you finish it NOW.
Stormy Weather
product, musings, processCommentThis piece is cut from a stone found by our family near our home in southern Oregon. Jasper and agate combine to paint a striking landscape in stone, which Larkin framed, cut and polished. Whether you see fields, forest or ocean, the copper wire wrap portends an oncoming storm. This cabochon was cut from a small stone (pictured) so there may never be another like it!
Kelp Fronds On Plume Agate
product, musingsCommentIt is interesting how many stones seem to inspire water imagery! Larkin cut and polished this stone from a purchased slab of plume agate. The red dendrites of the moss agate surround a druzy pocket of glistening crystal. The stone evokes an underwater ocean scene, matched by the wire fronds of kelp climbing the frame.
Finishing touches
process, musings, productCommentDid you know how much of the detail and character of a tree of life appear at the very end of the shaping process? The first photo is before final pliers-work and the second is after all the crimping and kinking give the tree its final shape.
This dark green, almost black, stone is Applegate jade, a particular kind of serpentine found near our home in southern Oregon. This is another piece Larkin created from the slab up, so to speak.
Cabochon Mania
process, musingsCommentLarkin completed the rock shop's cabochon making class that is required before using the machines specifically for making cabs. They work so much better and faster than the other machines! I can't wait to see what comes next...
How Many Jewelers Does It Take To Screw In A Light Bulb?
musings, processCommentMe: How many tools do you possibly need to make one little piece of jewelry?!
Larkin: More.
Fingers Crossed...
process, musingsCommentThe middle stage of wrap projects are always exciting... and by “exciting” we mean they seem like they could go horribly wrong at any moment!
Market-Season Stress
venues, musings, processCommentWe've been quiet lately, we know! Larkin's first market of the season is Tuesday and the Idle Talons product line has changed a great deal since we designed displays-- fewer bead intensive pieces, more wire work. So we've been hard at work and getting a little loopy making sure everything is ready for a successful kick-off to market season!
Public Service Announcement
musings, processCommentSomeone's poor parent is going to go cross-eyed sorting them out later...
Dreaming Of A White Vending
venues, musingsCommentSo... one week from today Idle Talons will be wrapping up the first (outdoor!) market of the season. Keep your fingers crossed!
Bittersweet Goodbyes
musingsCommentIt is such a bittersweet moment as an artist (not to mention an artist's parent!) when a one-of-a-kind piece sells. So exciting! ...and then you ship it away. Goodbye, fair tree of life-- we're sure Montana will treat you well. :)And... an excuse to make another!
Decisions, Decisions...
musings, processCommentHelp us with a tough decision! The dragon eyes are very striking and are big sellers at local markets, but Larkin doesn't feel they can be priced in a way that accurately reflects how many hours of time are required to make them. The beadwork on one of these eyes takes literally less than half the time that the other does. Is it obvious which? Do you strongly prefer one over the other (discounting preference for the eye itself)?
Notes on Copper
product, musingsCommentAnd now for a random note on copper from Larkin's Chem-nerd mum. ;)We found claims on several jewelry sites that wearing copper against the skin allows your body to absorb copper if needed AND it will only turn your skin green when a copper deficiency is no longer present. A little research has convinced us that science does not back this claim. Elemental copper can not be absorbed by the human body and no form of copper can be absorbed through the skin. Idle Talons jewelry may make you feel wonderful, but not because it’s curing a copper deficiency!
For more information on taking care of copper jewelry, and avoiding green skin, we've added a page to the website:https://www.idletalons.com/copper-care