Vining Rose Doublet

Hot off the workbench! This piece is currently exclusively available over at the Royaboya Handmade Bazaar! There's also a poll going in that group and Larkin might win a prize if you respond that we're the ones who sent you there! (Shameless, huh?)

This cabochon is a doublet that Larkin formed from a face of rose quartz backed by obsidian, resulting in a really unique grey-lavender tone. Wrapped in argentium silver roses and vines, the back is simple to showcase the translucence of the stones. The bail is designed so the cord will thread through the looping vines.

And, yes! That second picture is backlit-- the stones look So. Cool!

Green Lagoon Applegate Jade

Larkin cut this cabochon from a piece of applegate jade found by our family in southern Oregon. Some of the stone’s crust is included at the bottom of the cab and we keep seeing a frog-like face: a creature from the green lagoon!

The main frame is sculpted, wrapped and soldered from copper wire, and the back plate is fused and wrapped in argentium silver wire. I can't decide whether the back looks more like kelp or a Tolkien-esque tree! Plus, the stone glows brilliantly when backlit— this is a gorgeous piece from any angle!

This piece and much more will be featured this evening at Larkin's trunk show with Dancing Beads! Tune in at 7 to see what's new :)

Agate Bouquet

This agate cabochon was a gift from a neighbor whose father did lapidary work in the 1960s. Its face is much flatter than most of Larkin's cabs and encapsulates a perfect still-life bouquet. Larkin thought that an oxidized copper frame without distracting embellishments would best highlight the beauty of the stone.

New Leaves!

Amidst all the recent exciting publicity, Larkin has been hard at work! Larkin rough cuts each of these stone leaves into its unique shape, then grinds and polishes the domed cabs to shiny perfection. A small hand-filed score at the tip of each leaf ensures the surrounding wires stay in place. Larkin then individually sculpts the stems and veins from copper wire and solder, pickles the result to cleanse it of any torch scorches, secures it to the intended leaf, dips the piece in liver of sulphur to oxidize it dark, and polishes to gleaming.

Each leaf is unique in more ways than one-- I've never seen another jeweler make anything like these! I think a fan said it best when they proclaimed these lovelies as "a pendant any hobbit would be proud to receive from Galadriel."

Rock & Gem Magazine Article

Today we made a special trip to Crater Rock Museum between bowling practices just to pick up real, paper copies of the December issue of Rock & Gem Magazine. Why, you ask? Because there's a four page article on Larkin's work!!! So much gratitude to Jim Landon who reached out to us about writing an article after finding Larkin's work on-line! (Also thanks to Larkin who gamely let me set up the young Einstein jeweler photo 🤣)

Crooked Mile Gallery Opening

Our family attended the Crooked Mile Gallery opening last night in Phoenix, Oregon. The wine was flowing (Larkin had special permission to attend the 21+ invite-only event as a featured artist), the snacks were tasty, the art was spectacular, and there's something surreal about seeing Larkin's work just casually hanging out with all the big kid art!

If you're local, we highly recommend checking out this fun new artistic addition to our community!

Rose Stud Earrings

Larkin is stocking up on these silver rose stud earrings. These are all shaped entirely freehand and no two are exactly alike, but all are perfectly lovely! This gleaming handful of shiny pretties will be featured at the Dancing Beads trunk show on the 30th!

Galactic Sodalite

Larkin's latest piece is this brilliant blue sodalite framed with a combination of wrapping and fusing in argentium silver. I said the stone in the wrap looked positively galactic with timey-wimey space waves and swirls and now I think Larkin is looking for a new copy writer. 😅 I didn't even point out that the blue in the stone was, in fact, TARDIS blue...

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from your friendly neighborhood jewelry gnome!

Vining Applegate Jade

Another piece using one of my favorite applegate jades found by our family! This particular swirly green stone has veins of translucence, but is mostly opaque. The picture with a gravel background was taken in direct sun and best shows the colors and patterns in the stone.

Oh yeah, and it's not *all* about the stone. 😅 Larkin set the cab in gleaming silver that has been shaped, fused, and wrapped into its final form. It's like an explosion of new growth! Measuring in at 6.6 cm long and 6 cm at its widest point, this is a gorgeous, bold statement piece.

Idle Talons News Update

There's a new "about the artist" page up here on the Idle Talons website! If you're new here, it might answer some questions about Larkin's craft. :) And Larkin is gratefully taking suggestions if there's something else you'd like to know! https://www.idletalons.com/about-the-artist

We've been trying hard not to put the cart before the horse, but a national lapidary magazine is due to publish an article about Larkin's work in their December issue!!! This issue may come out as soon as November 1, so if you've had your eye on a particular piece you may want to make your move before Idle Talons is brought to the attention of a much wider audience! More info on the article when we have it in our hot little hands!

Applegate Jade Tree

We’ve been calling this stone “half-cooked” applegate jade— it’s a beautiful green base with orange-yellow speckles, and is translucent at the thin edges of the cabochon.

Larkin has been frustrated with how messy the back of a tree of life usually is since each branch needs to be individually tied off on the back of the piece. For this piece, Larkin soldered each of the 72 wire ends of the copper tree to the inside of the frame, allowing a more decorative back than usual. This took a Very Long Time and may or may not ever happen again.

The twisted rope and tire swing are constructed from argentium silver— and the swing actually swings from the branch!

Lavender Quartz Jellyfish

Larkin cut this uniquely shaped cabochon from a rose quartz stone with more flashy blue in it than most, which the folks at our local rock shop affectionately dubbed “lavender” quartz. The frame and curling tendrils are constructed with a combination of wrapping and fusing, resulting in a piece that is amazingly sturdy while capturing the dainty, ethereal spirit of a jellyfish! Even the back features whimsical underwater bubbles!

Those spiraling tendrils were a labor of love! Larkin flattened 14 gauge wire slightly with the rolling mill, softened them with the torch and rounded the ends, shaped the curls, trimmed them with the jeweler's cab, filed the ends to fit the edge of the wrap exactly, then fused them to the frame while keeping all fingers and toes crossed that none of the metal was going to slump. Just in case you were wondering.

New Dragon Eyes

Larkin has been restocking dragon eyes! These are always most popular at in-person events and I can't help but think that's because it's so hard to capture their detail and personality in photos.

Autumn Leaves

Autumn leaves! Larkin has a hard time keeping these in stock and is offering these first over on Facebook with a special discount. Clockwise from the top left: red jasper, applegate jade, blue-green coastal chert, and yellow agatized jasper.

First Tuesday

It's first Tuesday! Bundle up and come see Idle Talons at the Rogue Valley Growers & Crafters Market at the Ashland Armory by Scienceworks until 1:30!

Lapis Lazuli Marquise

Larkin cut and polished this marquise cab from a piece of lapis lazuli gifted by a fellow rock enthusiast at Crater Rock Museum. The long swirls of wrapped and fused argentium silver are lovely, and Larkin is considering turning this design on its side with beefier copper wire as a hair clip design. (I'll take one in applegate jade please, Larkin!)

Worried about it flipping over while being worn? Larkin has you covered: the back is gorgeous, too! This piece measures 8.5 cm long and and 1.8 cm at its widest point.

Brick and Mortar, Yo!

Local rock shop Dragon Crystals invited Larkin to return as their October artist of the month! If you're local, this is a great chance to see some of Larkin's work in person. These good folks lost their Talent shop to last year's Almeda fire and have re-opened at 107 W 1st St in Phoenix. It feels so official to have a display in a local brick and mortar shop!

Stone Cold Bouquet

Larkin put in a seriously long day of stone work yesterday. This isn't even all of them, but I love the way the cabs still on dop sticks look like a bouquet! It's looking like leaves will be back in stock soon-- and check out that wire wrapper's manicure! 😅

Moss Agate Tree Of Life

Okay summer, we're done with you! 😅 This latest piece is quintessentially autumnal. Larkin cut this moss agate cabochon from a slab gifted by a friend. The cab boasts gorgeous, earthy reds and yellows— the perfect backdrop for an intricate tree of life.