Idle Talons

Kelp Fronds On Plume Agate

product, musingsLarkin HamiltonComment

It is interesting how many stones seem to inspire water imagery! Larkin cut and polished this stone from a purchased slab of plume agate. The red dendrites of the moss agate surround a druzy pocket of glistening crystal. The stone evokes an underwater ocean scene, matched by the wire fronds of kelp climbing the frame.

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Finishing touches

process, musings, productLarkin HamiltonComment

Did you know how much of the detail and character of a tree of life appear at the very end of the shaping process? The first photo is before final pliers-work and the second is after all the crimping and kinking give the tree its final shape.

This dark green, almost black, stone is Applegate jade, a particular kind of serpentine found near our home in southern Oregon. This is another piece Larkin created from the slab up, so to speak.

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Tea Rose Quartz

productLarkin HamiltonComment

Another cabochon from the Idle Talons team! This one was shaped and polished by Emile (Larkin's dad) during the cabochon class. This rose quartz cabochon is embellished with exquisitely detailed wire roses— the perfect accompaniment for a stone said to restore trust and harmony in relationships and encourage unconditional love! Need we remind you that mother's day is coming up? Because this pendant definitely belongs around some mother's neck. ;)

Rose quartz is semi-translucent so the wires on the back of the piece show faintly through and were designed with this in mind. Wrapped in copper which has been oxidized and polished. 4.9 cm long, 3.5 cm at the widest point.

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A Milestone! (see what I did there?)

process, productLarkin HamiltonComment

Check it out! This is the very first Idle Talons piece that began as a raw chunk of rock! Larkin cut, shaped and polished the aventurine then wrapped the cabochon in copper wire. The copper has been oxidized and polished. Blue aventurine is said to keep personal thoughts and communication healthy and vibrant. We called this one "Ocean Currents."

Finished piece with the raw rock from which the cabochon was cut.

Finished piece with the raw rock from which the cabochon was cut.

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Dragon Eyes Backstory

process, productLarkin HamiltonComment

Dragon eyes start with a plain glass cabochon. Backgrounds are cut from nature magazines and pupils drawn on with a paint pen, then glued to the back of the cabochon. The back is painted black then coated in a waterproof glue. Choosing colors and beading the lid and spines gives each eye its final, distinctive look. Every dragon eye is unique, so if you see one you love, snap it up!

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Rock Hounding!

fun, processLarkin HamiltonComment

Took a brief break from market prep yesterday to join in on a field trip with the Roxy Ann Gem and Mineral Society. Found lots of agate and petrified wood and can’t wait to see how it polishes up! (Foreground of second picture has a colander just out of the rock tumbler.)

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Market-Season Stress

venues, musings, processLarkin HamiltonComment

We've been quiet lately, we know! Larkin's first market of the season is Tuesday and the Idle Talons product line has changed a great deal since we designed displays-- fewer bead intensive pieces, more wire work. So we've been hard at work and getting a little loopy making sure everything is ready for a successful kick-off to market season!

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