These are neither a matched set nor a finished product, but they needed to be hung to photograph-- All the shaky, sparkly little dangling bits don't lay flat well. This is a copper and lapis lazuli design that has been floating around in Larkin's head for some time but wrapping alone didn't leave them rigid enough. The one on the left has solder-only connections and the one on the right has wrapped connections that have been stabilized with solder. Which would you prefer once the joints have been neatened up?
process
Not The One Ring, The First Ring!
process, musingsCommentThese bursts of creative energy when a new toy or technique presents itself is so fun to watch! Larkin has been wanting to play with rings for quite a while but a lack of solder made it difficult to make really nice designs. This is still a work in progress. The first picture shows the "front" of the ring... every single spot the twist touches the framing wire has a tiny solder spot. The second picture shows the join-- it's solid, but obviously will improve with repetition! There is more to learn about getting the surface of the metal back to smooth and shiny after heat treatment, but this is a pretty nice start within days of beginning to play with jewelry soldering!
Author Appreciation Project
fun, musings, process, productCommentThe author of one of Larkin's very favorite web comics/graphic novel series is doing a signing, and Larkin made this charm necklace as a fan gift. The leaves, hearts and stars are the interstitial doodles the author uses around frames and between chapters, translated into wire.
<replacing my admin hat with my parent hat> Larkin is feeling very hesitant/self-conscious about giving this gift at the signing. I maintain that this is the kind of fan interaction that will make an author's day (if not month!) and Larkin should include an Idle Talons card with the gift. Please leave an encouraging comment telling Larkin how right I am (😂) if you feel so inclined.
The series is Heartstopper by Alice Oseman, and is an almost impossibly sweet coming-of-age/romance/coming out story. Highly recommended if you need more warm fuzzies in your life.
Solder On...
fun, musings, processCommentLarkin has some designs planned that require soldering connections. Soldering with a torch rather than an iron on a teeny tiny jewelry scale is, well, somewhat terrifying to behold. Here's to learning new tricks for the Idle Talons toolbox!
To Patina Or Not To Patina
musings, fun, process, productCommentLarkin is working to make more designs available in silver as well as copper, and we'd love your input! The pair of earrings on the left is bright, polished silver. The pair on the right has been patinaed then polished. Should Idle Talons make both available? Do you think one would me more popular than the other?
Idle Talons works with argentium silver, an alloy that contains a higher percentage of elemental silver than sterling, and replaces some of the copper content with germanium which makes it more tarnish resistant than any other silver alloy.
Hail That Cab!
process, product, funCommentLarkin entered a cabochon into the Roxy Ann Gem and Mineral Society monthly contest for the first time and won! It's hard to get a good picture through the case, but this is a piece cut from a slab of local Applegate jade. Larkin has a leaf wrap planned for the cab, but it will be on display at Crater Rock Museum through November so the wrap will have to wait! The prize includes some free machine time (more cabs!) and means that the next cabochon Larkin submits will be considered at intermediate level. Woot!
Amethyst Roses
musings, process, productCommentLarkin cut and polished this amethyst cabochon from a slab shard, then framed it with copper roses and faceted amethyst beads. The result was stunning, came out of the polisher late last night and was sold at today's market before 10am! The Idle Talons photographer didn't even have time for proper glamour shots!
Strawberry Calcite
process, productCommentThis strawberry calcite cabochon was cut from a small piece of stone gifted from a fellow enthusiast at the rock shop. Calcite takes a polish beautifully and is a relatively soft stone so these copper swoops were buffed by hand rather than put through the tumbling polisher. A very elegant wrap!
Blue Moon
product, musings, processCommentIt is somehow appropriate that this piece was finished on Halloween Day! The large cabochon is shaped from a blue aventurine stone gifted from a friend. The moon is from an agate/opal stone found by our family, tangled in the gnarled branches of a copper tree. The whole piece is surrounded by a frame incorporating luminescent mother of pearl beads. Truly the kind of piece that comes along only once in a blue moon!
Current Status: Barely Controlled Chaos
process, product, funCommentAnticipation builds.
Simple Custom Wrap
process, product, musingsCommentAnother custom commission! A customer brought Larkin this rough stone with sentimental value and wanted a simple wrap with spirals. It's a much more 3-dimensional stone than the cabs Larkin usually works with. We think it's fluorite-- catches the light beautifully!
Put A Ring On It!
fun, process, musingsCommentLarkin’s first crack at braided copper rings! We plan on wear-testing them for a while to see how the oxidized copper does up against skin.
Striped Mystery Stone
musings, product, processCommentLarkin found this slab at a rock sale and loved it, but no one could tell us what the stone is! Any rockhounds out there who might be able to help us out? Larkin cut and polished the cabochon and wrapped it in copper which has been oxidized and polished.
The Cab In The Slab
process, fun, musingsCommentThis is a cab Larkin cut from a piece of Applegate jade our family found. It's placed in the section of the slab it came from. It's amazing to see how different the dry stone looks from the polished final product! The lighter green areas are quite translucent, the darker areas more opaque. Larkin is envisioning a wrap evoking a stormy sea for this one.
Copper Doodles!
fun, musings, process, productCommentToday's copper doodles! Sometimes these are destined for the product board, sometimes they are further refined to finished products, and sometimes they're never spoken of again.
Product Board
musings, process, product, venuesCommentThe Idle Talons product board is ever-evolving. This is where Larkin puts new designs, experiments that will probably never be repeated because they were so time-consuming (but fun and educational!), and long-time customer favorites. This is how it shaped up for today's event at Scienceworks. You're missing out if you haven't checked out the booth in person.
More Rocks, Please!
fun, musings, process, productCommentAnother day at the rock shop, another handful of gorgeous cabochons to play with! Also made an exploratory cut into a big piece of Applegate jade that has us pretty excited! The jade is pictured held by Idle Talons' beta minion, Larkin's dad. From left to right, the cabs are banded calcite, strawberry calcite, lapis lazuli, and lace agate.
Songbird on Mahogany Obsidian
product, processCommentThis sweet little bird is shaped around a cabochon Larkin cut from a slab of mahogany obsidian. That almost-mirror polish makes photography hard, but it's oh so shiny! Larkin has visions of getting a bonsai and making more of these to perch in the branches. :) Wrapped in copper which has been oxidized and polished.
Seeing Stars
product, processComment
Jasper Sunburst
product, processCommentThe usual Idle Talons photographer <cough> is out of town but we couldn't wait to post pictures of this one. The stone is a brecciated red jasper that our family stumbled across as driveway gravel (!) in Northern California. Larkin shaped the cabochon and wrapped it in copper. The faceted garnet beads complement the stone beautifully and the result is a striking burst of summer energy!
