When you just started making isopods, it turns out that everything round looks like a place for a roly poly to take a nap. 😅😴
Larkin couldn't help plopping an isopod into a ladle when they had one on hand that was a perfect fit! While we did hear from a surprising number of people who confessed to eating these little crustaceans in their younger years, I don't expect them to become a culinary phenomenon. They may be land shrimp, but do they really belong in this collection?
Today, a ladle with a creeping ivy vine joins the other two.
Here's one of Larkin's collection that is a little less traditionally culinary! English ivy is toxic to humans (and many other living things), but it's a pretty impressive air purifier and apparently has been used in small amounts by herbalists for years to combat breathing problems and other complaints.
One of Larkin's favorite aesthetics is man-made items being slowly re-claimed by nature. Ivy is certainly a master of this, which may explain why it shows up in their work regularly. 😉
Larkin likes ivy's tenacity and clingy creepy crawly growth habit, but is wondering if it really belongs in this particular collection. What do you think-- should they stick with more traditional culinary elements or embrace the invasive creeper?
Day Two of International Ladle Week! (Check previous posts if you're kerfuffled by our rampant random rejoicing. 😅)
Larkin modeled this wee sprout after the oaks in our southern Oregon forest home. The acorns produced by these trees are crucial to local wildlife, and were a staple food for the original Native American inhabitants of this land. 🌳
I remembered to include a quarter for scale with this one, because I realize how hard it is to fully grok the scale of eensy weensy detail Larkin puts into every piece!
Welcome to the first day of the Idle Talons celebration of International Ladle Week! 🎉 Just kidding, we made up the holiday... but aren't all holidays really just human inventions? 😅 In the spirit of our week of festivities (it may be slightly more or less than a week... Larkin is still coming up with ideas!), we'd love to see your favorite funky ladles!
This line is for all you kitchen witches, herb magicians, and plant whisperers-- and we thought we'd start the week off with a... bean. First in Larkin's series of whimsical ladles is a twining, fruiting bean vine— complete with two little beans and three sets of leaves. The vine is rooted in textured silver, mimicking rich garden soil.
As always, Larkin's work is entirely hand fabricated, never cast. This piece is solid sterling silver, but copper components will be showing up this week as well! Stay tuned, and let us know your favorites as Larkin refines the line! 😁
Larkin made this sweet round-bellied copper cauldron as a table display/photo prop for their most recent line. 🧙 Any guesses what they've been working on?
We're going to be unveiling one new piece daily until... well, until Larkin stops coming up with new ones. 😅 But we need your help! We'd love to narrow them down to 5-ish styles that resonate with good folks like you. So please, follow along and let us know which pieces are your favorite!
Larkin was re-stocking their wild rose stud earrings when a few stud posts refused to solder properly. So they pivoted, added a couple of leaves and turned the stubborn studs into sweet little tiny necklace charms.
These aren't part of Larkin's regular line, but are something you can find on their ever-evolving market display. Next opportunity to visit in person is this Saturday August 3 at the Rogue Valley Growers & Crafters Market in Ashland!
At a recent market, someone told Larkin that one of their favorite perks of supporting Idle Talons is that Larkin is willing to break up pairs of earrings. Not everyone has symmetric piercings, and as a handmade business Larkin is always happy to provide a single earring!
Larkin came up with this charming snail design quite a few years ago-- these whimsical gastropods always have a surge of popularity in the spring and it was time for a re-stock! 🐌💦 Since Larkin makes all their own findings now, it was also time to update photos to include their handmade ear wires.
I took advantage of Larkin's grandparents' epic vegetable garden to get some photos of these silver slimers in their natural habitat. 😄🐌
[Today we are introducing Larkin's latest piece with a guest post from Larkin's grandpa Jim. Jim has never actually been on social media but is pretty confident that he knows what the people want. 😉]
Once upon a time, in a land far away, lived a small furry froon. As you know, froons are friendly creatures and normally live together in underground communal groups, often in caves where precious jewels abound, and decorated with secret, precious treasures. Froons are very observant, and often find such treasures in hidden forest glens, caverns, and dragon nests.
But, this froon had traveled far from their homeland in search of arcane knowledge and adventure. It was now too old to travel back to its homeland. It settled in a cave hidden in a remote corner of the shire. The froon made friends with many hobbits. It was particularly enchanted with Bilbo's magnificent home, and in particular Bilbo's fine entrance.
Crafting a comparable door for his home was sadly beyond the froon, for while his imagination was unbounded, his craftsmanship was limited by age. When his friends, the roly polys, discovered the froon's longing for an artisanal entrance, they pitched in to create a charming, vine-covered edifice, both useful and inspiring. The door was created in ancient wood, surrounded by silver vines. It was soon renowned throughout the shire, and even beyond, with rapt stories of the door told by adventurers in far lands.
From the mists of time and legend, Larkin has created a facsimile of the legendary froon entrance, using petrified wood (rumored to be part of the original froon creation) and sterling silver. The diligent roly-poly craftspeople are depicted as well, proudly showing their handiwork.
Larkin was asked to make a remembrance piece based on their book design and was both honored and a little anxious at the prospect of working with ashes for the first time. They made a prototype with a bit of wood ash to make sure their fabrication process would keep the ashes safe and secure before making the final piece.
Larkin designed the books as hollow forms so they are light enough to be comfortable as a pendant or earrings, and for this purpose they fabricated a small silver pillow pocket to fill with ashes and include inside the book. The packet is loose inside the book and its soft rattle serves as a gentle reminder of its presence.
Today's the happy day! I have been begging for tentacles since... well, pretty much since the day Larkin first picked up wire. 😅 Check out these tendrilly wendrilly undulating copper lovelies! 🐙
This is a prototype piece, and Larkin is hoping to make a series of these, each unique with different stones and tentacle patterns. This one has copper tentacles with itsy bitsy silver suckers on the largest-- it has been awhile since Larkin has worked with copper and there is a tiny crack on the largest where they didn't anneal it sufficiently before twisting it into its final form. 🐙
The deep green pool is "applegate jade," (actually bowenite) probably our family's favorite local stone. It's almost black in some light, glows when backlit, and attracts a magnet! ✨
Larkin shaped the back plate from solid sterling silver and fashioned the tentacles to look as if they are emerging from or grabbing it. 🐙
Another sort-of-throwback-Thursday to a tried and true older design that Larkin has, quite literally this time, tweaked slightly. These vining leaf earrings are always popular at markets and it was time to re-stock!
The picture on the ear (thanks again to Larkin's younger brother and willing jewelry model!) is the older design.
The difference is subtle, but adds quite a bit of dimensionality to the finished feel of these earrings. Rather than the leaves being perfectly flat, Larkin has gently torqued the tip of each leaf, giving them a slightly cupped appearance.
Such a simple yet graceful design! 🍃
Larkin has a new hair clip design! I love the imagery in this one-- the overall shape is that of a ringed planet, and the interior incorporates the graceful branches of a tree. The moon and the star inclusions enhance both the celestial and terrestrial aspects of Larkin's design.
If you've been following Idle Talons for awhile, you know I can't help waxing poetic about Larkin's hair clips occasionally. 😅 I lost a treasured hair clip when Larkin was little, and tried countless others trying to replace it. They were ALL uncomfortably bulky against my head and the metal wasn't hard enough so they unbent over time and I continually needed to re-place them in my hair.
Both clip pieces in Larkin's hair clips 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 concave faces together, then the stick is twisted 180 degrees to tighten the clasp and fasten the decoration securely in the hair. Larkin hammers and work-hardens the frame so the fit will remain snug over time. They roll the pin through a mill to achieve the same result.
Even folks with the kind of straight, silky hair that usually defies this kind of hair clip have reported successful staying power with Larkin's designs!
This out-of-this-world piece is Larkin's second locket and first ever truly double-sided stone piece! Larkin has always loved making the backs of pieces beautiful, but the nature of cabochons means one side is naturally the front (domed) and one side is the back (flat). With a locket, the back of the cab is... well, the inside!
🌕 One side of this locket features a round polished banded agate cabochon, while the other is a silver cratered lunar dome.
Larkin cut the banded agate cab from a stone found by our family near our home in southern Oregon and it includes creamy layers of agate and some crystalline structure. A bit of staining on its face gives the moonscape unique coloration.
As always, Larkin's silver work is entirely hand-fabricated, from the cratered moon face to the hinge and clasp.
Larkin cut stylized stars ✨ on the back of the cabochon so the agate shines through when the locket is open. The locket’s inside space is fairly capacious— it could easily fit a small lock of hair, packet of treasure, photograph, or remembrance memento.
This locket is sure to be loved (dare I say it…😅) to the moon and back! 🌝
It's still roly poly season in the Idle Talons workshop! Larkin appreciates all the support so much and was totally caught up on orders... several times this week. 😅
Larkin had a couple of special requests that inspired adding two more necklace designs to their regular offerings. After playing with a few different designs, Larkin finally settled on a way to hang a balled isopod from a chain-- they create what they're calling a cherry pit centerpiece that the roly poly curls around. It can move freely (it's not soldered to the "pit") but the slightly flattened shape of the pit keeps it mostly oriented with the curled isopod's profile facing out.
Larkin also added a necklace design featuring all three isopod poses. The isopods are connected by hand-shaped hammered loops. This trio necklace is quite delicate but has enough heft that the isopods dangle rather alluringly (if I do say so myself).
The free movement means these necklaces make a very subtle jangling sound that brings Larkin a great deal of joy. 🥰🎶
Local folks! Larkin will be participating in the RVGCM Saturday market in downtown Ashland on Oak Street for the very first time tomorrow-- they'd love to see you there! :)
Tomorrow! May the Fourth be with you at this year's comic con! Larkin started vending at this super fun local event as a wee young 14-year-old Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. Their products have certainly matured a bit in the last 5 years. Stop by and say hi!
I don't think Larkin has *ever* been this busy filling orders and stocking up for markets! Wowza, what a wonderful whirlwind!
This l'il geode slice came to Larkin from someone who wanted it wrapped to wear in their wedding! They originally were looking for one of Larkin's more elaborate wrapped/fabricated pendants, but Larkin thought the raw edges and druzy sparkle of the stone was better suited to an open, vining frame.
It's fully reversible, but Larkin has a strong preference for which side is *right*! 😅 Can you tell which side they think is the front?
They're here! As soon as they laid the first batch of roly polies out on their hand, Larkin knew they had to make rings!
Not gonna lie, I kinda want one to creep across every finger. 😅
Each isopod is entirely hand-fabricated from sterling sheet metal. They are mounted on a hand-made hammered sterling band that Larkin custom makes to order in just the right size. They are sized to sit on top of your finger without adding bulk between fingers. I've slept in one for two nights now and can attest to their comfort! :)
Thanks to Larkin's younger brother, Finn, for always being ready to model jewelry. Aren't his hands purty? 😄❤
Local friendies! Larkin will be at this sweet little local market for the first time TOMORROW! And yes, the forecast calls for rain so they and the other vendors will be even more than usually super duper appreciative of your visit. 😉🌦
If you're hoping for roly polies, come early. 😅 Larkin has been turning them out and sending them off as fast as humanly possible over the last couple of weeks-- they will have just a few on their board!
Larkin took our cargo bike in to its servicing appointment this morning, and went armed with a sack of metalworking tools as entertainment while they waited. 🚵♂️
I received thisphoto with a text: This is my happy place! Yes, my dear wee jewelry goblin, a bucket of strawberries and pilfered foliage. That looks about right. 🤣
Larkin was able to complete this ivy leaf before the bike was ready to go home, but is not sure what to do with it. What do you think-- a hair accessory? Clothing pin?
I would very much like to have seen the looks of passersby while Larkin sat in the park and pounded on metal. 🔨😅
The oak leaves are officially unfurling here in our neck of the woods! Larkin models these silver hair/clothing pins after individual leaves from the forest surrounding our southern Oregon home. Each leaf is hand shaped and textured from sheet metal and wire. The wire base is bent and shaped into waves like a bobby pin for greater staying power. Each leaf is unique, just like their wild counterparts!
These solid 0.925 sterling silver hair decorations can be used in a variety of ways to dress up a style! A pin can be used alone for a small amount of hair (it will hold slightly more than a bobby pin and less than most barrettes) or added as decoration to a hair tie. We also like wearing them as decoration in a knit cap, scarf, sweater, or shawl.
I was feeling rather guilty for breaking off a growing tip from an oak branch while trying to get a photo... then Larkin reminded me that between gusts of wind, browsing deer, and rampaging squirrels, I was probably the least of these trees' worries.
