Opal Commision

Another two-cab wrap! This customer wanted a wrap that included their gorgeous dark opal alongside an applegate jade cab from Larkin's collection. All wrapped up in argentium silver, this is another piece that looks very different depending on the lighting!

Fun With Packaging

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! 🐉

Companion Pieces

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!

Fossilized Shell Earrings

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! 

Treble Clef Progression

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! 

Red Jasper Wing

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.

Everybody Must Get Stones!

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!

Custom Leaf

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!

Cloaked In Mystery

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. 😉)

Applegate Jade Leaves

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! 🍃

Pure Stone!

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!

Boulder Opal Commission

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!

Facebook Raffle!

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

Beaded Whorls

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.

To Oxidize Or Not To Oxidize...

Silver play! The earrings are polished, bright silver, while Larkin oxidized the roses on the charm. What do you think... bright silver or oxidized?

Almeda Drive Fire

Hello friends,

This site focuses on Larkin's adventures in crafting, and that is not going to change. However, occasionally events outside our happy Idle Talons bubble can't be ignored. We live in the hills between Talent and Phoenix, Oregon, an area which you may have seen on the news last week as it was absolutely devastated by the Almeda Drive fire. At least 2,357 homes were completely lost, in an area with a combined total population of around 11,000 people. The most vulnerable among us were hit the hardest-- including many migrant workers who were in the area for harvest season. These folks often don't have insurance or access to a stable support network, and won't qualify for any kind of government aid. This is a dynamic document showing some of the least funded accounts to help people in our area recover. If you have the means to donate, this list is an excellent place to start. Thank you. And now back to our original programming.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/11ugHQgi6s0XkcRy8i6Ak8C_jniaCeJmqguAg1cGnRac/mobilebasic

Rose Vines

After making roses in a live video for last weekend's on-line bazaar, Larkin's gears started turning. ;) These are super detailed; they have been sculpted, hammered, soldered, and wrapped into final form. Larkin says neither of these are quite ready for a website debut, but I'm here to tell you they are gleamingly gorgeous! If you'd like to claim one for $25 shipped to the U.S., comment here with your email address (or send it to us at idle.talons@gmail.com) and specify if you'd like the one on the upper right or the lower left. They are almost exactly the size of a quarter.

Mermaid Tails

Mermaid tails! Larkin hammered and wrapped these fun, fantasy-inspired fins into their fabulous final form. From lightest to darkest, they are made in bright silver, oxidized silver, and copper.

Celestial Lapis Lazuli

Larkin cut and polished this gleaming dome from lapis lazuli, framed it with copper wire, and accented it with metallic star and copper beads. The whole Idle Talons team agrees that the result calls to mind stars, space, and planets! Lapis lazuli is said to bolster confidence and encourage self-awareness— surely this piece would do so on a galactic scale!

Picture Jasper Tree of Life

This purchased picture jasper cab provides a gorgeous background scene that Larkin framed in copper and silver. The outer frame is copper, oxidized and polished until gleaming. The tree is formed from raw copper wires which will develop a natural, more dull patina over time. The swing is sculpted from argentium silver, polished bright.