Larkin was working on some copper-veined leaves, and this little (fawn? dog? donkey?) popped out! The ears are the shape Larkin makes to tie off the veins on the backs of the leaves.
Larkin is stocking up for a week-long on-line bazaar extravaganza coming up at the end of the month-- more details on some exclusive Idle Talons deals for that event soon!
New wire play, including handmade ear hooks which Larkin has had in mind for a while. We need a name for this new design-- what do you think? Are they peacock-y? Breezy?
Fresh off Larkin's workbench! The first picture is taken with the red jasper stone from which Larkin cut the cab. Gorgeous colors, and I'm really digging the asymmetric design. I can't help thinking this piece evokes a lot of feelings of motion and flow for something made from hard stone and wire!
If you haven’t followed Idle Talons over on Facebook, now is a great time to start! Larkin caught the pumpkin-spice-and-everything-nice autumn bug and designed these sweet little (almost exactly quarter-sized) charms! These perfectly plump pumpkins feature textured stems with curly vines and will come on an 18" cord for $18 shipped to the U.S. They can also be made into earrings for $33 shipped. Join us on Facebook to get your pumpkin on! It's finally starting to feel like fall, y'all!
Larkin cut this round cabochon from a brilliant Mexican morado (purple) opal stone, wrapped it in copper, and accented it with handcrafted argentium silver roses and sterling beads (the beads picked up a coppery hue in the polishing process).
Another photography challenge-- the stone is super reflective and a brilliant purple similar to amethyst, not as blue as the full sun photo makes it look. I also included a picture of the back with a penny for size reference-- sometimes I forget after taking/editing photos just how diminutive many of Larkin's pieces are! Images on a phone screen are often far closer to actual size than the giant images on a computer screen. So much detail in this little gem!
Larkin designed these copper foxes* as an addition to a wire-wrapped pendant, but they are so charming we couldn’t resist offering them on their own! Each fox is hand-formed from copper wire and lead-free copper solder, pickled in an acidic solution to rid them of torch scorch (self-directed jewelry learning often results in less-than-official terminology), polished of any remaining residue, dipped in liver of sulphur to oxidize, then polished one last time. They have a ton of personality and eminently boopable snouts!
*Some viewers may see these as coyote pups. Idle Talons hereby acknowledges your right to interpret art however you wish, but insists that in this case you are wrong. 😉🤣🦊
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! 🐉
Larkin 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!
By 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!
These 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!
Larkin 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.
These 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!
Larkin 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!
Larkin 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. 😉)
Larkin 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! 🍃
If 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!
A 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!
Larkin 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
Larkin 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.
Silver play! The earrings are polished, bright silver, while Larkin oxidized the roses on the charm. What do you think... bright silver or oxidized?
