Larkin created this piece for someone wanting rich, earthy colors in a copper wrap. The gorgeous marquise-cut cabochon is applegate jade, and includes the full range of materials that stone offers, from the sandy-looking rind to the deep green, translucent interior. It still blows us away that we can find rocks like this near our home!
Bear with me, folks... this post involves some backstory. 😅 When I (Larkin's mum) was a teenager at Reed, I purchased this amazing hair clip at the Portland Saturday Market. It felt like a big splurge at the time, but quickly became the only thing I ever wore in my hair. The first picture is the only photo I know of where it is visible, but the hair hardware is understandably difficult to focus on since the eyes are naturally drawn to sweetly sleeping Larkin circa summer 2005. ;)
The wire was flat, not round, and super hard-- I was never able to find that vendor again (I looked!), and every other similar clip I tried was inferior. Most wires were round, and not suitably work-hardened so they would bend with use and slip in my hair. With mine, I put it in my hair with concave faces together, then twisted the stick to lock it into place.
After 20+ years of daily use, I misguidedly stowed my beloved hair clip in my pocket while my hair dried. It fell out while I was in town and I never saw it again. I truly hope it was found by someone who recognizes its value and wears it often.
Don't get me wrong, I didn't encourage Larkin's interest in jewelry making *just* in the hopes of eventually getting a replacement awesome hair piece... but who am I to stand in the way of destiny?! I was watching Larkin play with the metal roller and having to re-anneal the curved results as they were quickly work-hardened by the rolling process.
I think you see where this is going.
This piece is Larkin's first small prototype, and it has SO MUCH POTENTIAL!! The slight curve is perfect for fitting comfortably against the head, the pin twists to lock into place, and so far it is not bending loose and slipping. Would a slightly larger one that incorporated a bezel-set applegate jade cab and fit all my hair be even better? Yes. Yes, it would.
A new toy arrived today! Larkin's latest acquisition is this rolling wire mill. It had to be fully disassembled, cleaned, oiled, reassembled, and tested before we figured out that one of the pieces was the mirror image of what it needed to be for the rollers to sit flush. Soooo... drill press to the rescue! Larkin added holes in the right position and is now happily squishing metal.
We experimented with getting leaf prints on sheet metal (they're there, but fainter than hoped) and made the world's unhappiest clump of lichen in the process. This little powerhouse can also turn round wire into square, triangular, or half-round wire, can make comfort bands for rings, and has several patterned rollers. Can't wait to see where this leads!
Larkin completed this special order and sent them off to their new home today. We learned that the technical term for a group of rhinos is, rather fittingly, a "crash"-- in part because they can only see 30 feet in front of them so they may live up to their name even when traveling at low speeds. This collection definitely qualifies as a crash of rhinoceroseseses (rhinoceri?!)... and apparently I should have looked up the proper plural of rhinoceros while I was at it.
These fabulous statement earrings are constructed of argentium silver, with 5 solder joins ensuring they maintain their shape. These are larger than most of Larkin's designs-- some creativity was required to fit them onto product cards.
Larkin wrapped this gorgeous purchased blue-flash moonstone cab in argentium silver. This design feels so magical! It will be offered first at the Idle Talons/ Dancing Beads show next week, so be sure to tune in at 7pm (Pacific time) on Tuesday if you need a little more of this kind of fanciful whimsy in your life!
Fun news! Local bead shop Dancing Beads has made an amazing pandemic pivot over the last year, offering classes via zoom as well as amazing offerings through live shows on Facebook-- goods can be picked up at their local storefront or shipped. Mark your calendars, because their show on Mar. 22 will feature Idle Talons!
We anticipate that this audience will be a little different since many Dancing Beads fans make their own jewelry. Larkin is stocking up on wire charms and drilled cabs that can be incorporated into the work of others, as well as some of the finished pieces usually featured here. It will be a fun opportunity to see Idle Talons pieces in video!
So follow Dancing Beads and tune in at 7pm Mar. 22 to see Larkin and Carol talk shop and present some fun Idle Talons inventory!
Multi-tasking in action! We briefly moved Larkin's genie set-up into the kitchen to more easily make adjustments to improve its ergonomic design. After lots of machine height shimming, wrist-rest bumper experimentation, and creative seat height adjustment, we believe we've found a set-up that minimizes shoulder/neck/back/elbow fatigue. Now all we need is to build a workbench the right height outside. And a proper-height stool (no, the footstool + folding chair is not the final set-up). Okay, and maybe a well-insulated workshop with big windows and a heater... but one improvement at a time!
In the midst of all these adjustments, Larkin turned out some new cabs... with an obviously biased color palette. The top row is two round applegate jade cabs (the larger one! *swoon*) and a blue/green chert destined to be a leaf pendant. The chert has a distinctive band through its center that is almost purple. The bottom row is an applegate jade marquise cab, a double-sided applegate jade cab with a hole for a cord drilled sideways through the tip, and a serpentine cab that Larkin plans on making into a leaf.
Larkin had a request for silver rhinoceros statement earrings, and this copper prototype turned out pretty sweet! The metal pictured is still scorched from torch work, so the final product will be much more uniformly shiny. Any other rhino fans here? This makes me wonder if other animals would translate to wire as well...
Frame for plexiglass display cover built and painted, test booth layout laid out... Guess we're ready for this! Locals: Idle Talons will be at RVGCM at the Ashland Armory for the very first market of the season tomorrow-- here's hoping tomorrow is as glorious as today! Hours are 8:30-1:30 and Larkin would love to see you there!
Larkin is SO EXCITED to be returning to in-person markets at Rogue Valley Growers & Crafters Market this season! As in 2019, Idle Talons will be at the Ashland Armory every first Tuesday of the month from 8:30 am - 1:30 pm starting <eep!> next week. Our family did a bit of soul searching regarding safety, but RVGCM is an outdoor market and has a dedicated social distancing officer. Our experience as shoppers last year made us pretty comfortable with the level of masking and social distancing accomplished by this amazing group of organizers and vendors.
Today has been all about populating Larkin's product board-- we're loving how the cards with printing and the logo up the professional feel! First markets are always a little chilly and slow-- if you're local stop by and say hi next Tuesday!
Today's wire doodle, inspired by the watery feel of Larkin's latest wrap! This is about the size of a quarter, constructed from copper wire and copper solder. A magical little porthole!
Fresh out of the polisher, here is Larkin's latest piece! This is another cab Larkin cut from a blue-green chert we found in Humboldt, CA. The top line of silver across the face follows a sparkling vein of quartz. The whole piece has a very flowy, watery feel-- Larkin played with making some bubbles on the back and liked the effect so much there may be some stand-alone bubble earrings in the works! Wrapped in argentium silver and polished bright.
Larkin couldn't resist buying a slab of this rose quartz! The good folks at the rock shop affectionately called it "lavender quartz" due to its uncharacteristic blue-ish hue. Larkin cut and polished the round cabochon and wrapped it in copper wire, accented with argentium silver roses and leaves.
Larkin is ready to offer these vining rose chains in both bracelet and choker lengths! The prototype was made in copper and, unfortunately, turned our hapless wear tester <ahem, I mean dear friend> green in mere hours. So these are solid argentium silver in two styles: one with bright roses and dark, oxidized vines and one with dark, oxidized roses and bright silver vines.
Larkin's Uncle Felix thought the chokers were beautiful, but might live up to their name... so we did a little safety testing, too. Luckily, the links will come apart if pulled with enough force before injuring the wearer. That said, we don't recommend the chokers for children.
Larkin has officially wrapped up (so to speak) the last Idle Talons commission from the Royaboya Bazaar! This customer liked the leaves... but wanted more! Larkin strung them up on a branch in the same hybrid wrap/solder style as the stems. This lovely blue-green chert is definitely a favorite.
A customer at Larkin's last bazaar loved a wrap that had already sold, so they commissioned Larkin to recreate this magical moonstone piece wrapped in argentium silver. The first photo captures the flash of the moonstone, but the piece is slightly foreshortened. The second photo is a better representation of its finished proportions. Off to its new home!
These hand-shaped roses really seem to have set Larkin's gears turning recently! This choker prototype is currently in the wear-testing phase. Each iteration of the rose and leaf pattern is made individually and then joined, so it could easily be adapted into a chain-style bracelet as well. Larkin completed the design with a custom clasp. These roses are bright copper with oxidized copper leaves, but it would be very striking with various combinations of silver elements as well!
<Whew!> Larkin and the Idle Talon minions needed a bit of a break after last weekend's extremely fun and successful bazaar! Larkin came up with these sweet little heart charms as raffle prizes-- pretty perfect for a certain upcoming holiday! ;) Each heart is constructed from a single wire, with a dot of solder at the join for reinforcement.
A mermaid tail seems especially appropriate for this wrap on a purchased fossilized coral cabochon! Larkin's copper wrap is perfectly evocative of ocean waves and finned friends-- a lovely blend of whimsical and elegant. This piece will make its debut on Friday at the Royaboya Handmade Bazaar-- hope to see you there!
This is Larkin's second foray into bezel setting, this time in copper. Larkin cut the cheerfully asymmetric tear drop cabochon from a fabulously patterned purchased jasper slab. Larkin's style really comes through in the wirework holding it in place on back. This piece will be available at the upcoming Royaboya Handmade Bazaar-- if you haven't joined the group yet, what are you waiting for? ;) Lots of fun will be had, all while supporting small, mom- and youth-owned businesses!
