Hi folks! We know we have been a bit quiet lately-- isolation is taking its toll on this extroverted teen. Larkin does have a special offer for Facebook followers, though! Now until Mother's Day, Larkin is offering 10% off all purchases with the coupon code MOTHER. If you happen to be local (generally between Central Point and Ashland) we're also offering free no-contact delivery before Mother's Day with the code LOCAL. It's a good time to get something to beautify your time in isolation if you've been on the fence.
musings
Spring Office Hours
process, product, musingsCommentHere's a view of the ever-changing Idle Talons workshop today! Amid the wildflowers and dirt from the hobbit-hole-under-construction, Larkin is working on these elegantly understated silver leaves.
Media Attention
process, musings, venuesCommentSpring, isolation and market cancellation has led to distraction, disappointment and frustration for small businesses and Idle Talons is not immune! Larkin is working on some new designs and is busy cleaning and reorganizing the Idle Talons studio/ teenager bedroom. It was a bright spot in our week when a local news outlet included Idle Talons in their coverage of the local Comic Con that was cancelled this year! https://www.roguevalleymessenger.com/fear-not-fantasy-fans-comic-con-vibes-abound-in-virtual-form/
Genie Magic
process, musingsCommentLarkin is excited to have the genie set up in a more permanent location so it doesn't have to be moved when not in use! Today's experiments include trying out some homemade dop sticks for polishing cabs and hopefully getting stones cut for some projects Larkin has in mind. Some of us <ahem> are having a hard time not pestering Larkin constantly about one of these projects in particular because the anticipation is torture, but no spoilers!
Speaking Of Dragons...
product, musingsCommentMeet Puff, the latest dragon in the Idle Talons menagerie! Glistening green scales, silver spines, amazing wing veining and details. <sigh> I want to keep them all!
Experimental
process, musingsCommentLarkin was playing with some new techniques and including negative space in a design. This is a gorgeous Humboldt chert cab and Larkin likes it much more than the wrap so is considering pulling it out of this piece.
Red Jasper Flame
product, musingsCommentLarkin cut this cabochon from a very striking piece of red jasper found by our family in southern Oregon. The shape and color of the cab, combined with the style of the copper wire wrap, evoke the feeling of a flame. Historically, red jasper has been associated with vibrancy and endurance, worn by warriors and those who wish to champion justice. Today, it is more commonly viewed as a grounding stone, promoting connection to the earth. No matter your view, this piece is a gorgeous talisman!
Compass Rose With Amazonite
product, musingsCommentThis compass rose is crafted from pure argentium silver which has been hammered and fused. Larkin uses a torch to form each solid sphere. At its heart is a faceted bead made of amazonite, a stone said to represent truth, hope and luck. Who among us couldn’t use more of those these days?
Custom Gallifreyan Pendants
musings, productCommentWhovians rejoice! These Gallifreyan pendants can be made for any word up to seven letters in length. Pictured, starting at the bottom and working clockwise (because that’s how you read Gallifreyan), are TARDIS, dalek, angel, and doctor. The possibilities are endless! We like the idea of couples/friends sets where one is “spoiler” and the other “sweetie” or “timey” paired with “wimey!”
Size will vary slightly depending on the length of the word, but they are generally about the size of a quarter. Larkin crafts each piece by shaping and fusing argentium silver wire.
Beaded Medallions
musings, process, productCommentBeading was Larkin's first creative love. I went into craft stores asking about beads for my 3-year-old and they'd point me towards buckets of giant plastic monstrosities. I quickly learned to ask for seed beads! While Idle Talons has moved more towards stone and wire work, Larkin still loves beading. These medallion pendants are intricately mesmerizing!
Out Of This World!
process, product, musingsCommentThis planetary cab is another that Larkin cut from an Applegate jade stone found by our family. This is a prototype for a design Larkin wants to do in silver, but the gleaming copper rings are pretty spectacular in their own right! Certain sci-fi buffs among us were amused to discover that it measures precisely 42 mm long.
Dynamic Design Duo
process, product, musingsCommentVoluntary isolation means lots of time for sketching and plotting... with a little help from Pippin. ;) Today's design features clean lines and sparkling beads which combine to form quite a striking piece!
Turning Over New Leaves
product, musingsCommentThere’s no stopping spring! The trees around us are really leafing out…
New Cabs!
process, musingsCommentFirst things first: in case you were wondering if Larkin's work outfit could get any more glamorous, check it out with the addition of a sun hat! Larkin spent a day outside before this most recent storm hit getting some work done on the genie. All the unlabeled cabs are local Applegate jade/serpentine and destined to become leaf wraps. Finn, Larkin's younger brother, helpfully dubbed the grossular garnet cab "Shrek snot." Thanks, Finn.
Current Events
musings, venuesCommentWe're living through a pandemic unlike anything we (personally) have seen before, and it seems remiss not to mention current events here. Our family lives in southern Oregon. Schools were closed last week (we homeschool, so not much has changed for us) and local governments are urging social distancing. We live in the forest, at the end of a half mile driveway, with no visible neighbors-- again, isolation is easy for us. We have chosen to stay home, except for carefully conducted trips to town for necessities, in an effort to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
Almost all of Idle Talon's upcoming markets have been canceled. Larkin is lucky-- as a 15-year-old supported by parents, these cancellations don't have a catastrophic effect on family finances. We know SO MANY artists and creators, many met through Larkin's forays into the local market scene, whose crafts are their family's sole support. These folks rely on event income and face serious hardship in the coming months.
Please, if you were planning on attending a Comic Con or other event that has been canceled, check out the vendor list and make a purchase from a small business's web site or etsy page. If you were planning on attending a concert that has been canceled, consider going on-line and purchasing the musician's latest album. Canceled book signing by a local author? Purchase their latest book on-line. Buy directly from the artist whenever possible! Support each other as events unfold.
We will continue to post regular updates on Larkin's work (maybe even *more* regularly since real-world teen distractions are minimized at the moment!) but wanted to acknowledge that current times are not business as usual for any of us. Kind readers: stay healthy, maintain social distance, and, of course, wash your hands.
Aventurine Leaf
musings, process, productCommentThis may be my favorite of all Larkin’s designs to date. Deceptively simple with a distinctive organic elegance, it showcases the quality of the cabochon and lets the unique properties of the stone really shine through.
Serpentine Moonscape
musings, process, productCommentLarkin's latest tree is done! The large background cab is cut from a swirly, deep green Applegate jade/serpentine stone found locally by our family. Larkin cut the moon from another stone we found comprised of agate and common opal. The swing is hand-formed and fused, made of argentium silver. There is something very evocative about the scene this piece presents!
A Day In The Life
musings, processCommentEarly spring weather, a grape arbor, a cat, and the latest commission piece... sometimes the life of a teen entrepreneur looks pretty sweet.
Elemental Snacks
fun, musingsCommentAh, procrastination. Larkin took a bit of a break from preparing for market season (first market is in less than 1.5 weeks! Yikes!) and baked the periodic table of cupcakes. Especially of interest, of course, are copper and silver.
Ring Around The Rose Quartz
product, musingsCommentLarkin cut and polished this pale rose quartz cabochon and surrounded it with a ring of beads and hand-shaped roses, all in oxidized and polished copper. The stone is semi-translucent so the wires on the back will show through on a light background. Larkin insisted that "sproingy cord holder loopies" is not the official name for this style of bail but failed to present me with an alternative, so there you have it. ;) A classically elegant piece by any name!
