The wildfire smoke has finally caught up with us here in southern Oregon. Luckily, being a jeweler comes with certain PPE benefits. Larkin rode into town to drop some orders off at the post office this afternoon (thank you!!), and didn't understand why they were getting some pretty funny looks. They snapped a quick selfie when they figured out that, indeed, they were pretty darn visually entertaining. 🤣
process
Shelf Mushroom Stud Earrings
fun, musings, process, productCommentIntroducing the next in Larkin's earrings series we're lovingly calling "weird things that sprout from your ears!"
I slept in these last night and, as someone who can only rarely be bothered to change my jewelry, I think I finally found the artisan studs that will replace my longstanding boring mall hoops!
Larkin hand-fabricated these sweet little conk mushrooms entirely from sterling silver. Each shroom has rings and a gently frilled edge, just like their wild counterparts.
They come in two sizes and are especially sweet when worn as a cluster in multiple piercings! You can customize your colony to your piercings.
Silver Cat Tail Bangle Bracelet
musings, fun, process, productCommentLarkin formed this assertive (it took awhile to find the right adjective for this one!) solid sterling bracelet from hand-fabricated cat tail leaf blades and flower heads.
It looks like a cuff bracelet, uniquely designed for the gap to be on top of the wrist, but wears like a bangle. The pointy tips and sharp leaves look daunting, but the bracelet is designed to be comfortably smooth against bare skin. That said, care should be taken if it will be paired with loose-knit garments… or physically friendly people.
Larkin always wear-tests new designs. Not gonna lie, this bracelet really dresses up a delightfully drippy chaffle sandwich!
Do not be tempted to put this deceptively lithesome bracelet on as you would a cuff bracelet— the pointy end of the cat tail is designed to be comfortable during wear, but it will scrape you if you don't don it with the proper respect.
Rocks, Cats, and Medieval Times
fun, musings, process, venuesCommentLarkin is spending some time sorting through stones today and cutting cabochons for some new projects. (Pippin is helping, and thinking he's being subtle about his desire for the water bowl.)
I'm hoping some of those tumbled sunstones make the cut-- look at them shine in the sun!
Larkin's next market looks really fun! It's indoors (out of the heat!) and there are some amazing old school artists attending. Check out the Medieval Craft Fair and come say hi if you're local!
Silver Tree Hair Clips
musings, process, productCommentThese are my favorite, practical item Larkin makes! They hand-fabricate these gorgeous two-piece hair decorations entirely from solid sterling silver. I have tried a LOT of this style of clip and always been disappointed-- usually because they loosen over time, are made with cheap silver-coated metals that wear off and leave them looking blotchy, and because they are not as flat as I would like so they stick out and are uncomfortable when leaning against a seat-back. But not Larkin's! ;)
Both pieces are slightly bent so the clasp lays flat against the head and is comfortable even when leaning back against a head-rest. They are designed to be placed with the concave faces together, then the stick is twisted 180 degrees to tighten the clasp and fasten the decoration securely in the hair. Larkin hammers the frame, work-hardening the silver so the fit will remain snug over time. They roll the pin through a mill to achieve the same result.
These pieces are rugged enough for daily wear and beautiful enough for a night on the town! These are pretty versatile, and are suitable for most hair textures and types (even if you have the kind of straight, silky hair that this style of clip usually slips out of!). That said, if your hair is especially thin you may want to use these with an additional hair tie, and if your hair is super thick they may be used to tie back only part of your hair.
Each hair clip is one of a kind! As always, this style of hair decoration also works beautifully as a cloak/shawl/hat pin!
Silver Ivy Hair Piece
fun, musings, process, productCommentCalling all fairies, elves, royalty, druids, bog witches, fauns, and other fanciful creatures!
Larkin's first circlet! Only it's not a circlet, it's a... horshoelet? Is there a name for this kind of head/hair decoration? 😅
This hair piece is a hefty chunk of sterling silver that Larkin has shaped into a remarkably delicate-looking ivy vine. There are seven ivy leaves in decreasing sizes on each side of the central loop, each hand-shaped and textured. The band is not closed and can be gently bent to fit virtually any head size.
Larkin softened the points of the ivy leaves for maximal comfort during wear, but this piece does have many points and jags that could catch on hair or garments. If it will be worn with an elaborate hairstyle, we recommend setting it in place with bobby pins and not constantly readjusting it!
This sinuous one-of-a-kind piece would be suitable for a fairytale wedding, renn faires, cosplay, coven gatherings, and more… I dare say it would brighten the day of every shopper at the grocery store. ;)
We were lucky enough to receive a visit from a local elf for a fun photo shoot! Thanks, Mac!
Leaves!
musings, process, productCommentLeaves! Oak and manzanita trees are mainstays of the forest around our southern Oregon home. Larkin created these two clothing pins using leaves from the forest floor around our house as models.
Larkin cut and textured the manzanita leaf, finishing it with a dusting of powdered silver to mimic the surface of their leaves.
The oak leaf took a whole lot of texturing to get that magical crinkly texture around the veins!
Larkin finished each of these with a hand-shaped sharp pin fastener, so they can be worn on any fabric. These could adorn a favorite hat, shoulder bag, jacket lapel, t-shirt, anything!
Stone-Hooded Jellies!
fun, process, productCommentStone-hooded jellies! These earrings appear delicately ethereal and flowy, but they are much sturdier than they appear! Each tentacle is soldered to the central stinging arm and work-hardened for rigidity.
Larkin has painstakingly cut, polished, and drilled the stone cabochons that are the bells of these jellyfish. The dark green is called “applegate jade” by the good folks at our local rock shop, but it is not a true jade and is more closely related to bowenite.
The pink is rose quartz.
Silver is *so* bright that it can be hard to capture in a photo! I like that the shadows in some of these pictures almost makes the tentacle pattern easier to see. 😅
The stone adds a lot of time to their making, and a whole lot of personality to the finished pieces. These are the only two pairs Larkin currently has made up, and they have some pure metal ones still as well!
Applegate Jade Ivy Nightscape
fun, musings, process, product, venues... and we're back! Larkin had a busy month of traveling and visiting with family but has been making time to work in the studio whenever possible. And my laptop has been given a new lease on life with a shiny new (bigger!) hard drive and not-so-swollen battery. 😅
Come see Idle Talons tonight at the Talent Artisans & Growers market-- and see this new piece in person! ;)
This is another piece Larkin cut from out favorite local stone-- applegate jade. It is not a true jade (more closely related to bowenite) and is a deep green stone, nearly black in some lighting, with flecks of magnetite that actually makes it attractive to magnets!
It glows a translucent yellow-green when backlit. I tried to demonstrate just how translucent it can be by balancing the piece on top of a flashlight standing in a jar of lentils and leaning on a pile of towels in the laundry room. Yep, a true glimpse into the glamorous world of jewelry photography!
This stone has a darker green stripe down the middle that gives the impression of a pupil— with the ivy “antlers” this piece reminds me of a forest guardian in the spirit of Studio Ghibli!
Larkin hand-shaped each ivy leaf from sterling sheet, and the vines are textured to mimic their wild counterparts. They polished the back for a smooth feel against the skin and finished it with a full moon peeking through the branches of a tree.
A whole lotta magic going on with this one!
Barnacles!
musings, process, productCommentJust a basket of silver barnacles.😁
These sticky little crustaceans have been showing up on some of Larkin's ocean-themed work, but most of these will be featured on a batch of stud earrings!
Jellies!
fun, musings, process, product, venuesCommentJellies!!! Did you know a group of jellyfish is called a... SMACK?!
These earrings appear delicately ethereal and flowy, but they are much sturdier than they appear! Larkin soldered each tentacle to the central stinging arm and work-hardened each earring for rigidity.
That said, if you have hair likely to tangle in these tentacles you'd probably want to wear it back— the better to show off these ebullient Medusozoa!
Larkin makes the bells of these jellyfish in either silver or copper. The ear hook and the rest of the jelly bits are hand-fabricated from sterling silver. No two will ever be perfectly identical, and that is part of their charm!
These will make their market debut tomorrow at the Spring Talent Craft Crawl, sponsored by the Talent Business Alliance! The Idle Talons booth will be in the lawn in front of Town Hall and Larkin would love to see you there!
Silver Ivy Hair Clip
musings, process, productCommentLarkin's latest sterling silver hair clip design looks straight from a secret garden wall!
Larkin hammered the sheet silver base, work-hardening the silver so the fit will remain snug over time. They rolled the pin through a mill, then hammered it for additional stability. The ivy leaves and vines are entirely hand-fabricated and each tip is soldered to minimize snags. Larkin oxidized the silver to accentuate the depth and texture of their metalwork.
This is a piece rugged enough for daily wear and beautiful enough for a night on the town! As with all of Larkin's clips made in this style, this piece would also be beautifully functional as a cloak, shawl, hat or scarf pin when paired with a loose-knit fabric.
Sneak Preview
fun, musings, processCommentLarkin's doing batch work on a new design! Any guesses what these will become?
Books!
fun, musings, process, productCommentLarkin created these sweet little tomes for a dear friend who recently got her ears pierced and is studying publishing at university. They were a surprise, and it was hard to wait until they arrived to share! Larkin liked how they turned out so much they've been added to the Idle Talons wares. :)
The books are hollow forms, shaped with copper covers and silver pages, bookmarks, and title plates. Larkin leather-textured the copper covers, and grooved the silver sides by hand to resemble paper pages. Each book hangs from a hole drilled through the bookmark.
The one with mushrooms was a happy accident-- Larkin burned a hole in the top pages and decided to fill it rather than scrap the whole book. It disappeared quickly at yesterday's market!
Copper Capped Mushrooms
fun, musings, process, product, venuesCommentWe have fungus among us, folks! Larkin made a whole cluster of these little copper-capped cuties.
Larkin shapes the caps from sheet copper, and drills a hole through the center. They form the jump ring on top from sterling silver wire, then they pass it through the cap to become the stem. They shape the base of the stem so it is larger and rough textured, just like so many mushrooms in the wild.
Such sweet little forest denizens! These will be available at the upcoming first annual Spring Talent Craft Crawl, sponsored by the Talent Business Alliance. We're so excited our small hometown has such amazing opportunities for artists!
Moss Agate Ocean Scene
musings, process, productCommentLarkin cut this moss agate cabochon leaving the top rough, showing the original surface of the stone.
It is reminiscent of breaking surf and is remarkably translucent with dominant soft sage and rose coloration.
Larkin secured the stone with a clingy starfish and a couple of tiny barnacles, all hand-fabricated from sterling silver.
The stem of kelp becomes roots on the back of the piece. Topped with a custom, hammered silver bail.
This piece is chock full of salty, oceany, fluid kelpie goodness!
Shooting Star
fun, musings, process, productCommentA sweet little table-top sculpture of shooting stars!
I thought it would be so cool to get photos out with their wild brethren, but the background is just too busy. Feel free to play a where's waldo version of "which one of these is not like the others" 😅
So I brought it indoors for photos, but I think this may be a job for a more traditional photography background.
Photography difficulties aside, Larkin pulled off a pretty amazing duplication! The leaves have the thick, almost waxy look of the originals, and the blossoms hang just right from their long, slender stems. Solid sterling silver.
Evolution Of A Leaf
fun, processCommentCan you tell what plant Larkin is re-creating? Hint: you saw the bloom last week. ;)
First, Larkin cuts the shape out of sheet silver.
Then they scored a line down the center and emphasized it with a chisel so it has a slight center fold.
Larkin then rounded the shape out with a ball peen hammer on a wood block.
Finally, the edges are rounded and given their final shape and the whole thing is hand polished, especially any remaining chisel marks.
Solder On
musings, processCommentEven when things seem quiet here, Larkin is working hard behind the scenes! They use tiny bits of solder in almost all their work, and this morning they ran out of pre-made bits.
Solder comes in wires or sheets, and Larkin likes the sheets because the tiny pieces turn out square and don't run away across their work surface. First, they cut the sheet into ribbons-- it curls while it cuts!
Then the curls get straightened out and Larkin cuts the ribbons in the opposite direction to get the tiny little chips they need.
Harbingers of Spring!
fun, musings, process, productCommentAnyone who has lived in the Pacific Northwest is familiar with these brilliant purple shooting stars that carpet the forest floor in early spring!
Larkin meticulously hand-crafted these metal blooms from solid sterling silver, each as unique as their wild counterpart. They have been oxidized and polished, and Larkin polished the bottom ring just below the petals by hand to mirror that brighter band of yellow on the flower.
Wild shooting stars hang straight down from their stem, and these metal blossoms mimic that habit from the wearer’s earlobe. The petals are more delicate than most of Larkin's work! These earrings are best worn with short hair, or long hair that has been tied back to avoid tangling and pulling.
No two flowers or pairs will match perfectly— that is part of their charm!
