Larkin braved the cold of our rock shop (okay, okay... it's a tent... without heat... and all rock work is done in water) for a couple of hours today and turned out these new double-sided cabs. These are domed and polished on both faces, with a hole drilled sideways through the top so they can be hung on a cord. Top: serpentine; bottom left: chert; bottom right: some kind of funky orbicular jasper from who-knows-where that should obviously be worn by someone with a penchant for pizza.
process
Leaves! (not for you!)
fun, musings, process, productCommentLarkin's grandma had put in a request for first rights of refusal to the next batch of leaves. She saw these and wanted them all. From left to right: red jasper, applegate jade, and what we think is applegate jade with some super striking impurities. So, I guess what I came here to say is: aren't these pretty? You can't have them! Larkin should have more done in the next few days. If you’re a leaf fan, these tend to sell extremely quickly! If you’re not lucky enough to be Larkin’s grandma, we highly recommend you follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Idle.Talons where we usually give fans a first chance to purchase before listing here. :)
Serpentine Planet
musings, process, productCommentOur family found this serpentine stone near our home in southern Oregon. Confession: we brought it home thinking it might be applegate jade before we learned what applegate jade really looks like in the wild. But what a wonderful learning mistake since the stone has gorgeous grey-green coloring and swirly patterns! The first picture shows the wrap with the stone from which it was cut. Then I took a bunch more pictures because everything is pretty in the rain. 😬
Larkin thought the grey-green swirls in the round cabochon were calling out for a planet wrap! The argentium silver lines in the planet’s rings follow the natural shift in patterns in the stone, complementing the serpentine beautifully.
Boxes Leveling Up!
fun, musings, process, productCommentOver the holidays, Larkin's uncle spoiled us with a laser cutter AND an airbrush! Between the two, Larkin's packaging has seriously leveled up! From now on, wire wraps will come in these fancy hand-painted boxes featuring the Idle Talons logo!
Plume Agate Wrap
musings, process, productCommentA kind neighbor saw Larkin's work and offered up some cabs that her father had cut in the 1960s. This plume agate is one of those pieces. We don't know any more about the provenance of the stone, but the wrap makes it look like a small portal into an underwater landscape! The top of the cab is quite translucent and Larkin designed the wire curls on its back to complement it when they show through.
Rockhounding Success!
fun, process, musingsCommentWe broke in 2021 with a close-to-home rockhounding trip today! Found some gorgeous jaspers and agates and petrified wood (oh my!). One chunk of petrified wood is the size of Larkin's head and has agate veining and druzy pockets! It's the kind of specimen that makes it hard to decide whether to cut it up...
Moonstone Scroll
musings, process, productCommentLarkin used a purchased moonstone cabochon in this argentium silver wrap (if only we could wander our usual trails and find labradorite!). The blue flash of the stone combined with the swoops of silver are evocative of a magical, breezy night! The second picture, with a dime for scale, shows the back of the piece.
16!
fun, musings, processCommentAmongst all the other holiday hoopla, Larkin had a quiet 16th birthday on Dec. 24! A brand new drill press has been tested on wood, but this week has been a wee bit chilly to get it set up with water to drill stone. Hopefully it shall fulfill it's destiny soon-- we're looking forward to seeing what this kid creates in the new year!
Happy Holidays!
musings, process, productCommentWinter solstice is the big seasonal holiday at our house! This year felt much smaller without visiting grandparents, and Larkin has been very busy in the last few weeks creating and shipping holiday cheer. :) Larkin also spent some time figuring out what a young jeweler can make for parents who wear so little jewelry that even their wedding rings are usually missing. ;) One answer? Cabinet knobs! These applegate jade beauties will be admired and appreciated every time we're in the kitchen... perhaps a new product line has been born?
Happy holidays from the Idle Talons family to yours-- may we all find peace in the darkness and hope in the lengthening days ahead!
Copper Dragonfly
product, processCommentAnother special request-- this time for a dragonfly! Larkin had been thinking about wire dragonflies for awhile, and this order was the perfect push to get it done!
Custom Heart
product, process, musingsCommentNow that the fun busy-ness of the bazaar has wrapped up, Larkin is catching up on custom orders! The first picture is the gorgeous (almost rainbow) jasper cab Larkin received from the customer. They wanted it re-wrapped, in a simple style that was secure but left as much of the stone visible as possible. The second and third pictures are the front and back that Larkin came up with. Larkin had not wrapped a heart-shaped stone before and this was a fun challenge!
Logo!
processComment<phew> This feels like it was a long time coming! Larkin traded jewelry for logo design with a fellow teen artist and we couldn't be happier with the dragon logo!
Dragon logo by Zoi Hunter: Zoi the Creative on Facebook, https://www.artbyzoi.com/, and instagram.com/artbyzoi.
Next up: business cards! Market booth banner! Logo on invoices! Allthethings!
Owl Be Seeing You
fun, process, product, venuesCommentLarkin is still super busy over at the Royaboya Handmade Bazaar-- there's still time to join us over there! This sweet little owl is a new addition-- it popped out unexpectedly when Larkin was stocking up on honeysuckle earrings!
Morado Opal Planet
product, process, venues, musingsCommentHere's a close-up of the piece Larkin finished during a live video series in the Royaboya Handmade Bazaar yesterday! The morado opal is such a gorgeous stone-- Larkin thinks there's enough left for one (maaaaybe 2) more cabs. This piece was a commission and will be making its way to its permanent home soon!
Shop Small!
venues, product, processCommentToday's the day! Albums are now open over at the Facebook Royaboya Handmade Bazaar! These clearance pieces are all on sale for the first time on-line-- you may recognize some of them. ;) Many of these are practice pieces, prototypes, or pieces that just took too much time to make the regular Idle Talons line-up. It would be a huge help to Larkin if you would check out the Idle Talons album in the group and comment on your favorite pieces-- that bumps them up in the group feed! :)
And Now For Something Completely Different...
musings, process, product, funCommentThese earrings are Larkin's most entertaining commission to date! I would pay good money to have a recording of Larkin's younger brother's double-take when he first spotted them "wait... are those...?!" And all the design conversations we usually have about commissions took on a whole new level of culturally-induced hilarity: "so... is it fun if the nipples move-- even if it's possible for them to end up over one shoulder-- or should I solder them in place?" After consulting with the customer, nipple mobility was the clear winner. I was preemptively banned from ever owning a pair due to the likelihood I would present myself ear-first to people I don't know very well and ask them if they want to play with my nipples. In all seriousness, they're a beautiful celebration of the female form. [inside voice: BOOBIES!]
Moss Agate Doublet Planet
musings, process, productCommentThis cab is Larkin's second doublet! The face is cut from a piece of translucent moss agate, and the backing material is applegate jade. The white spot just above the rings on the face is a common opal inclusion. The complex landscape in the stone was begging for a wrap that is literally out of this world! ;)
We went through a very strict two week quarantine so we could visit Larkin's grandparents safely, and I may have gotten a little carried away with a fresh forest of photo backgrounds... 😅
Holiday Bazaar
venues, processCommentIdle Talons will be participating in Royaboya's fun on-line bazaar again-- this time a week-long holiday extravaganza! Larkin will be debuting some new items there, and is hoping to do a series of live maker videos that may end up with a new wrap coming together before your eyes.
You can join the Facebook group any time (https://www.facebook.com/groups/royaboyahandmadebazaar), but albums won't be open for purchases until the beginning of the bazaar. This is a wonderful way to support small businesses this holiday season!
Jeweler Goblin
musings, processCommentA trained eye can determine the approximate age of a jeweler goblin simply by careful observation of their working posture in their natural habitat. 🤣
Larkin is set up by the fire, making hand-shaped earring hooks that are a lovely finishing touch on handmade earrings.
Autumn Leaves!
musings, process, productCommentThese leaves seem especially timely as the forest around us has started (finally!) looking like autumn! These are probably the last batch of leaves Larkin will have done in time for the winter holidays-- fair warning if you happen to be looking for gorgeous hand-made gifts. ;)
A - red jasper
B - applegate jade
C - grossular garnet
D - red jasper
E - applegate jade
F - mahogany obsidian
G - chert
H - dark green jasper
I - applegate jade (with rind)
K - moss agate
L - red jasper
M - applegate jade
N - red jasper
Random reminder: applegate jade often appears quite dark, but is a deep green stone, remarkably translucent when back-lit!
