Larkin was gifted a batch of leopard print jewelry boxes, and we decided to turn them into something a little more on-brand for Idle Talons. ;) From now on, higher ticket items will arrive in fun, hand-painted dragon themed boxes! 🐉
process
Companion Pieces
musings, process, productCommentLarkin has been asked several times about potential companion wraps-- for significant others, parent and child, siblings, best friends, etc. These two were not designed with that in mind, but they were cut from the same spectacular red jasper stone (pictured rough) and certainly fit the bill!
Larkin completed the one on the left several months ago, and did not look back on it before wrapping the one on the right last week-- clearly the stone inspires a certain feel!
In other (tangentially related) news, Larkin passed the DMV's driving test for a learner's permit yesterday! If there is a market season next year, chauffeur service may not be required!
Fossilized Shell Earrings
process, product, musingsCommentBy special customer request, Larkin created this earring version of double-sided cabs. Larkin started with an extra thick slab of fossilized shells, rough cut the shape, drilled a hole sideways through the top of the cab so the face would be unbroken, and domed and polished both sides. Now I want to see some in applegate jade!
Treble Clef Progression
process, musings, productCommentThese silver treble clefs went out to everyone who bought a single ticket in our recent raffle! Larkin makes them in batches and it's fun to see the progression from start to finish. I'm blown away at how consistent they are-- Larkin's a wire-bending machine!
Red Jasper Wing
product, process, musingsCommentLarkin had an appointment to meet someone at the park to discuss a custom wrap, and Finn (Larkin's younger brother) and I thought we'd tag along to play some catch in the beautiful weather. Unfortunately, we forgot to bring anything to throw at each other. Instead, we spent some time finding new photography backgrounds for Larkin's latest piece (which we considered throwing, but didn't want to get in trouble).
Larkin cut this cab from a spectacular red jasper stone found by our family while visiting the northern California coast. It evokes feelings of flight and fire, somehow appropriate as Larkin's first uncommissioned piece since the Almeda fire. I admit to being a little verklempt when I first saw the finished product.
Everybody Must Get Stones!
process, product, musingsCommentThese are all the stone-only pendants Larkin currently has. These thicker, double-sided cabs are really a spectacular way to show off a stone without distraction. Here we have:
A - applegate jade, including the stone's natural rind
B - red jasper/agate
C - applegate jade
D - jasper (with such cool patterning!)
E - rhodochrosite (the top edge shows the raw stone)
F - applegate jade
G - banded calcite
H - fossilized shells
After using the drill press at the rock shop rather than the dremel we have at home, Larkin may be looking to invest in another machine! These are all $33 shipped anywhere in the U.S.— send us a message to claim!
Custom Leaf
process, product, musingsCommentLarkin received a customer request for a leaf made from labradorite. So shiny! Larkin and Emile spent yesterday at the rock shop cutting into some new rocks and as I type Larkin is hard at work making cabs squeal on the genie-- should have some new pretties soon!
Cloaked In Mystery
fun, process, musingsCommentLarkin spent the last few days making this cloak, complete with hand-crafted copper cloak-pin, feline photo shoot assistance, and all the flap-tastic twirls! So... how anachronistic is the Idle Talons fan base-- should Larkin design a line of cloak/shawl pins?
(And, Yes! I *do* constantly think Larkin's going to correct my sloppy use of The Force or break out into Benedictine chants, thanks for asking. 😉)
Applegate Jade Leaves
process, musings, productCommentLarkin made more applegate jade leaves since they have been hard to keep around... then A and D were spoken for before we even had a chance to post! 😅These are two pictures featuring the same leaves in slightly different light. Clearly we need to plan a trip to the machine shop so Larkin can cut more slabs! 🍃
Pure Stone!
process, productCommentIf you like beautiful, shiny stones without the distraction of wirework, these may be the pendants for you! Larkin starts with an extra-thick slab, rough cuts the pendant shape, drills a hole sideways through one end so the faces of the stone are smooth and unbroken, then puts a domed high shine on each face so the finished product is reversible.
In the top-down picture, from left to right, the stones are: applegate jade, applegate jade (with more of the stone's natural crust included), fossilized shells, red jasper/agate, and one more applegate jade. All found by our family, except the shells which were found by a friend!
Boulder Opal Commission
process, productCommentA customer sent Larkin this lovely boulder opal cabochon and requested a copper wrap similar in feel to this silver applegate jade wrap. Love the whimsical vine bail!
Facebook Raffle!
product, process, fun, venuesCommentLarkin is offering the chance to win this gorgeous piece over on Facebook— if you’re not already a follower there, this would be a great time to start!
1) $10 buys you a single entry for a 1 in 15 chance of winning the piece. (Available for U.S. and international entries)
2) $15 buys you a single entry for a 1 in 15 chance of winning the piece AND a small handmade trinket so you're guaranteed happy mail even if you're not the big winner. (Available for U.S. entries only)
There are ONLY 15 TICKETS AVAILABLE-- first come, first served! To enter, and for more details, please see the Facebook post at www.Facebook.com/Idle.Talons
Beaded Whorls
product, processCommentLarkin modified the St. Petersburg beading stitch to result in this sparkling whorl design! These are $18 each shipped to the U.S., and a matching pair could be made into earrings for $33.
To Oxidize Or Not To Oxidize...
musings, process, productCommentSilver play! The earrings are polished, bright silver, while Larkin oxidized the roses on the charm. What do you think... bright silver or oxidized?
Rose Vines
musings, process, productCommentAfter making roses in a live video for last weekend's on-line bazaar, Larkin's gears started turning. ;) These are super detailed; they have been sculpted, hammered, soldered, and wrapped into final form. Larkin says neither of these are quite ready for a website debut, but I'm here to tell you they are gleamingly gorgeous! If you'd like to claim one for $25 shipped to the U.S., comment here with your email address (or send it to us at idle.talons@gmail.com) and specify if you'd like the one on the upper right or the lower left. They are almost exactly the size of a quarter.
Mermaid Tails
process, productCommentMermaid tails! Larkin hammered and wrapped these fun, fantasy-inspired fins into their fabulous final form. From lightest to darkest, they are made in bright silver, oxidized silver, and copper.
Picture Jasper Tree of Life
process, productCommentThis purchased picture jasper cab provides a gorgeous background scene that Larkin framed in copper and silver. The outer frame is copper, oxidized and polished until gleaming. The tree is formed from raw copper wires which will develop a natural, more dull patina over time. The swing is sculpted from argentium silver, polished bright.
Bezel Learning Curve
musings, processCommentA recreation of what must have been Larkin's thought process yesterday:
I'd like to try silver smithing. I don't really have the right materials or tools, but obviously today's the day. I think I'll use one of my smallest cabochons that is all curves and a point. That's very sensible. I *do* have a bit of bezel, but no silver sheeting. I'll hammer some wire out to use as backing. Oh look! An S curves nicely around the coral bursts! Hmmmm... how am I going to crimp and burnish this? Hey, remember that railroad spike I picked up on a hike years ago? I put a few twists in it using Emile's old forge. I bet I can polish one edge and use it as a burnisher. Perfect.
😂 Introducing Larkin's very first bezel-set stone. The burnishing is not quite done, so it will get a bit shinier. Obviously it's a learning process-- the fossilized coral sure is purty!
Charoite In Silver
process, productCommentThrowback Thursday... with an update! ;) This is the second wrap Larkin did entirely in silver, around a purchased charoite cabochon. I took a few new pictures because I was never really satisfied with the first set, but I was a bit chagrined to discover that I STILL found it almost impossible to capture the brilliant purple of the stone, the gleaming of the silver, and NOT my own reflection. 😅
Charoite is a stunning, purple stone found only near the Chara River in Russia, said to be very soothing and bring physical healing to its wearer. Better yet, it is said to invite magic into one's life-- this wrap definitely has a whimsical, magical feel-- front and back!
A Day In The Life
musings, process, funCommentToday is a bead-doodling, design-sketching, cab-drooling, family-card-playing kind of day. Happy Saturday!
