product
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.
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!
Audrey II Drops
fun, productCommentAudrey II drops! You may recall the name for these curling vine-like beauties was inspired by the plant from Little Shop of Horrors. Now in silver or copper, with faceted red glass or carnelian drops.
Banded Calcite Curls
productCommentBanded calcite cabochon that Larkin cut and polished from a slab. Wrapped with swoops and curls of copper which has been oxidized and polished.
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.
Gemstone Whorls
productCommentThese gemstone whorls are now available in copper or silver, with your choice of sparkling amethyst, garnet, or lapis lazuli faceted gemstones.
Silver sets are limited since Larkin has not yet taken the financial leap required to have a large stash of the precious metal on hand.
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.
Lapis Whorls
product, musingsCommentA new earring design! Gleaming wisps of copper and faceted lapis lazuli make for some magical adornments.
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
Charoite In Silver
product, musingsCommentThis is a purchased charoite cabochon that Larkin wrapped in argentium silver. Charoite is a beautiful 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!
