Larkin's lapidary work for the day! These were all cut with specific final designs in mind and hopefully we'll be seeing some of them later this week. :) Left to right: moss agate, petrified wood, mystery stone from a rock show... some kind of jasper/agate mixture.
Silver Ribbon Earrings
process, fun, productCommentMore production work! I woke up to discover that Larkin had laid out this river of silver ribbon earrings across my desk.
These are so classic and elegant... always a fan favorite at markets!
Vining Roses Galore
musings, process, product, venuesCommentWe're not sure what is in the air (except snow, which admittedly may be turning thoughts wistfully to blooms of spring) but these chokers/bracelets have been going fast lately!
Larkin stocked up and made a few long chains so it's quick to turn them in to custom lengths at markets.
Speaking of markets, the first Rogue Valley Growers & Crafters Market Tuesday market of the season is next week! They're back at the Ashland Armory this year, and I'm sure Larkin would love to see you on the inevitably chilly first day!
Silver Tree And Moon Hair Clip
fun, musings, process, productCommentTired of the silver tree hair clips? How about one... with a moon! <3
And some more good hair clip news! Our cousin Elly came to visit last week and wear-tested one of Larkin's hair clips for a couple of days. She had given up on this style of hair clip years ago because they wouldn't stay put in her silky smooth straight hair. But, as I suspected would be the case, Larkin's stayed securely in place all day! I'm kicking myself for not getting a photo because it was super striking in her dark hair, too.
Cattail On Applegate Jade
musings, process, productCommentAnother piece in what we've been calling Larkin's terrarium series! This time they cut the cabochon freeform in the shape of a water droplet forming.
They included some of the rind of the "applegate jade" (bowenite) as well as the gemmy, translucent interior to echo the striations in a summer pond. This stone also includes a chatoyant seam across one corner.
Larkin framed the gleaming cattail with rough branches hand-hewn from sterling silver. The bail is a large, closed circle of silver, textured to match the branches. A beautiful, bucolic pond scene-- We even got a picture in the snow that's been going around!
Silver Tree Hair Clip
musings, process, productCommentAnother silver tree hair clip looking for a head to call home! This one is slightly smaller and might not contain all of your hair if it's especially thick (mine puts on a good show, but isn't actually very thick).
Larkin is going to make a collection of these, but they let the wire choose the frame and branch shape as they work so each one is unique.
Again, the frame is hammered, work-hardening the silver so the fit will remain snug over time. The pin has been rolled through a mill to achieve the same result.
Calling All Naiads!
fun, musings, process, productCommentCalling all Naiads! Larkin hand-fabricated this gorgeous two-piece hair decoration entirely from solid sterling silver. Don’t let the delicacy of the cat tail and dragonfly fool you— this is a sturdy piece of hardware that will stay put through a busy day!
Both pieces are slightly bent so the clasp lays flat against the head and is comfortable even when leaning back against a head-rest.
They are designed to be placed with the dragonfly facing the hair, then the dragonfly is twisted 180 degrees tightening the clasp and securing the decoration securely in the hair.
The frame is hammered, work-hardening the silver so the fit will remain snug over time. The pin has been rolled through a mill to achieve the same result.
Can you tell I'm excited about Larkin's new line? 😅 These really are *the best* combination of function and exquisite form! Just for funsies we combined it with a lily pad hair pin :)
Silver Lily Pad Hair Pin
musings, process, productCommentThings have been a bit slow as the Idle Talons home studio has been hit by the plague (thankfully not the Big C) this week. Larkin has been working through it like a trooper, but their alpha minion (😅) has not been quite as graceful dealing with this first illness in several years. So a little catch-up this week.
Larkin hand-sculpted this lily pad and flower from 0.925 sterling silver, with a small copper ball at the center of the bloom.
This sweet little adornment is smaller than a bobby pin and meant to be added to a hair tie or style, more for decoration than function. Very versatile, it can also be worn with any knit, crocheted, or loose-woven garment as a clothing pin!
Artist Of The Month
fun, process, product, venuesCommentLocal folks! Larkin is Artist of the Month at Dancing Beads in Medford this month! The Idle Talons display is up and a great chance to see some of Larkin's new work in person before their regular market season begins in March. Carol of Dancing Beads has lots of new amazing gifts available, and of course an amazing variety of beads!
Hair Clip Prototype
musings, process, productCommentThis hair clip! It is hard enough it doesn't bend and slip, the stick twists to hold it firmly in place in all or some of my hair, and there are no finicky open ends that get tangled in my curls! This prototype is MINE, but Larkin will be making more soon. ;)
Rose Quartz Jellyfish
fun, musings, process, productCommentIf you saw the post referring to "sproingy silver coiling tendril thingies" yesterday, whoa! They became stinging jellyfish tentacles!
Larkin cut a rose quartz jellybean cabochon that was clearly begging to be dressed up as a flowing sterling silver seascape. The hanging tendrils appear fluid and delicate, but are reinforced with attachment points everywhere they touch. That said, it would be possible for them to snag on a loose-knit garment, so care should be taken when worn.
As usual, Larkin couldn't let the front of the piece steal the show! On the back they featured a cluster of kelp, swaying in the current, then capped the piece with a custom-made bubbly bail. A truly stunning statement piece.
Today On The Workbench
fun, musings, processCommentThose of you who have been with us for awhile know that one of Larkin's favorite things (other than jewelry design/creation) is bowling. This year, Larkin has qualified for the State All Stars-- the state championship for high schoolers that is one step away from the national competition. Larkin is still working towards that perfect, elusive 300 game.
A team parent wanted a few pairs of Larkin's bowling pin earrings as gifts, so Larkin is making a batch to have a few extras on hand as market season approaches.
Also, something appears to be happening with sproingy silver coiling tendril thingies.
New Leaves!
musings, fun, process, productCommentLarkin has been hard at work creating this new batch of leaves! These have been super hard to keep in stock during market season. Larkin has begun framing some in sterling silver as well as copper. It turns out sterling silver is so much easier to work with that both metals are priced the same and Larkin matched each stone to the one that suits it best.
A - applegate serpentine in copper
B - humboldt jasper in copper
C - local agatized jasper in copper
D - grossular garnet matrix in copper
E - moss agate in silver
F - serpentine in silver
G - jasper in copper
H - applegate serpentine in silver
I - plume agate in silver
K - moss agate in silver
L - veined humboldt chert in silver
Know what's really cool? These were all found by our family except for G and I!
Applegate Jade Witch Marquise
musings, process, productCommentThis is the last cab Larkin was able to create from the slabs they originally cut from this stone.
it's my very favorite of our family’s applegate jade/bowenite finds to date and I'm so glad there's plenty more of the stone left to cut!
This stone is not as "gemmy" as the more highly valued varieties, but its impurities and inclusions give it so much character!
Larkin started with a wire wrap, then added some shelf mushrooms (check out the zoomed in picture! They have all the realistic layers and texture!) and ivy.
The back is relatively simple with a crescent moon and mushrooms, but truly completes the magical forest feel of the piece.
Silver Manzanita Leaf
fun, musings, processCommentLarkin's dad, Emile, grew up in southern Oregon and has always had a soft spot for the manzanita trees that populate the understory of the oak forests here.
Larkin made him this manazanita leaf pendant that looks just as at home in the local trees as Emile!
Moss Agate Mushroom With Petrified Wood Door
fun, musings, process, productCommentLarkin's portal period and mushroom period have collided!
The cap of this mushroom is a moss agate with deep purple-red strands suspended in the translucent agate.
Larkin cut the doorway from petrified wood found by our family— they left its front rough to show the wood grain, and polished its back which is visible on the back of the piece.
The back features a small vine weaving in and out of the doorway and a tendril of ivy creeping across the agate. Girded with a shiny silver veil and topped with a custom bail, this is a little piece of forest magic!
It's easy to imagine some of Larkin's recent pieces as fairy houses, but I see a family of laughing field mice wearing wildflower hats in this one. ;)
Applegate Jade Mushroom With Sprouting Vine
fun, musings, process, productCommentRemember that sprout Larkin made recently? Check it out paired with this Gemmy McGemerson applegate jade!
Larkin cut this cab from a bowenite stone found by our family near our home in southern Oregon. This stone is known for its deep green translucence and black flecks of magnetite that cause it to attract a magnet! Very deep green, almost black in some light, it really glows when light passes through.
That orange-ish skinned stone in this picture of the back of the piece is the original, raw bowenite cut for this cab.
Larkin paired the silver mushroom form with a sweet little sprout, entirely hand fabricated from sterling silver and modeled after young vines currently appearing on the forest floor around our home. Larkin left the back empty to allow the stone to really shine, and topped the whole thing with a custom made vining leaf bail.
Sprouting Vines And Imaginings
fun, musings, processCommentLarkin is in that creative stage where there are sketches on every surface in our house and random little design components like this little sprouting vine randomly left about for me to find and photograph.
Larkin is out working on the genie today, creating some cabochons to suit the pieces they are envisioning... I suspect there will be a veritable flurry of new finished pieces soon!
New Year, New Growth!
fun, musings, process, productCommentNew year, new growth!Larkin is starting to feel recovered from the gloriously diverting distraction of year-end holidays/birthdays/merriment at our house and getting back in the studio!
This sterling sproutling design is one Larkin wants to continue to play with-- possibly adding some rootlets and/or seed remnants/cotyledons.
As it is, it's a pretty powerful symbol of new growth-- and the circular bail is a nice nod to the sun's role in this business of life.
Happy Holidays!
fun, musings, processCommentHappy holidays from all of us at Idle Talons! Today Larkin is 18-- can you believe it?! Here they are, goofing off with younger brother Finn in front of our version of an xmas tree... solstice branch?
We are also finally able to unveil the project Larkin spent the better part of the last month working on!
Larkin has always associated Grandma Mary with lilacs, and they had been wanting to try a more sculptural project.
Each tiny element of this piece is hand-fabricated, shaped, and polished.
The flower features buds in all phases from entirely closed to fully open, and the leaf is perfectly textured to mimic the shiny, waxy surface of a lilac leaf.
Grandma Mary couldn't be happier, and we had a good time with photographs!
