Red Jasper Mushroom

Larkin is slowly putting final touches and polishes on the results of last week's workshop and we'll be listing them in the next few days! First up is this super sweet mushroom pendant.

Larkin cut this uniquely shaped red jasper cabochon from a stone found by our family in Humboldt County, California. All metalwork is done in 0.925 sterling silver. Larkin is having a small crisis of commitment after working in sterling at the workshop. They vastly prefer the color/quality of argentium, but it's not clear if the ease of working with metal at the workshop was entirely due to using sterling or the quality of the tools. Lots of experimentation ahead!

The sweet little rounded mushroom base frames a cluster of young mushrooms, and the back of the bezel setting features a trio of hand-cut and textured oak leaves.

ACME Delivery

As predicted, Larkin came home from last week's workshop with tools on their mind! The first arrived today like this (no, we didn't unwrap anything before taking a photo)-- can you guess what it is? 🤣 Apparently anvils are so big and heavy that they don't bother with a lot of pesky packaging.

Workshop Wrap-up

The last day of the Nicole Ringgold workshop was a bit eclipsed on the home front by Larkin's brother having his wisdom teeth extracted (he's doing great!) so I'm playing catch up now.

When Larkin sent me this first photo I thought it looked like the worst toothbrush ever 😅.

But it turned out to be a pretty adorable inchworm twig ornament!

Larkin also took a class photo, so to speak, of all the pieces (not all are complete) they worked on this week. That little round shape that looks a bit like a wad of aluminum foil is the beginnings of a hollow form pumpkin.

I also want to include a few pictures of the workshop space, which I'm pretty sure has become Larkin's dream studio! Not pictured are all the frogs that apparently inhabit the many plants Ringgold keeps around as models.

Larkin and Emile are now moseying their way south, stopping at every hopeful-looking rockhounding site on the way home. Bonus photo of a maple with Larkin's samaras in amongst their brethren.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing the results of this week as much as I have-- I'm super excited to get my hands on this new work in person and get some glamour shots. :)

Workshop, Day Five

Nicole Ringgold workshop, last day! This morning Larkin made a pretty stinkin' nice little apple blossom, and a first attempt at a hollow form hazelnut. I'm guessing one of them will end up on that little branch!

Workshop Day Four, Part Two

I haven't gotten a final picture so I think that means Larkin didn't quite have a chance to finish this today. When they sent me the first little blobular photo and told me it was the parts for a bee body, I had a hard time seeing it. 😅

But lo and behold, it began to take shape!

The original body cracked at some point so they had to start over. This time with more fuzz!

The fuzz on the body was made by adhering silver dust left over from saw cuts.

One more day to go!

Workshop Day Four

Nicole Ringgold workshop, day four. Apparently today is all about bugs! First up was wings, and Larkin finished those with time to spare so whipped up this twig with lichen.

Workshop Day Three Bonus

Workshop Day 3 bonus! Remember that amazing little whirligig seed pod Larkin made yesterday? Today it got a mate! I can't wait to see these all finished with their final polish.

Workshop Day Three

Nicole Ringgold workshop, day 3. Halfway point! Larkin's morning was shrouded in mystery while they worked on a secret project... no spoilers here!

The afternoon yielded this sweet little bezel set mushroom. Larkin cut some cabochons before the trip with designs in mind and this is one of those. And check out the tiny oak leaves on the back!

Workshop Day Two, Part Two

A starflower! These are common spring wildflowers in the forest around us and Larkin has been thinking about making one for a long time!

And the photo that Larkin used as a reference:

Workshop Day Two

Nicole Ringgold workshop, day 2... barnacle ahoy!

And I learned that the maple seeds that I always call helicopter seeds or whirligigs are actually called samaras.

Workshop Day 1.2

By the end of the first day of the workshop, the oak leaf is finished and has become a hair pin! Tantalizing teasers in the background...

Workshop Day One

First day of the Nicole Ringgold workshop! This is what's currently on Larkin's bench:

Also, a reminder that this workshop means that Larkin will not be at tomorrow's Rogue Valley Growers & Crafters Market, but will be there next week-- probably with some brand new treasures in tow. ;)

Nesting Bowls?

Larkin's experimenting again!

I'm *pretty* sure these aren't going to end up being dollhouse mixing bowls...

Nicole Ringgold Workshop

Larkin has a busy month coming up! One very exciting upcoming event is a workshop with Nicole Ringgold Jewelry Designs!

Many of you know that Larkin has been entirely self- (and YouTube 🤣) taught. When they first saw Ringgold's work a couple of years ago, they were immediately struck by her nature-inspired designs (I believe Larkin referred to them as "the big kid version of the work I'm trying to do" 😆). But hoo boy, they are not alone-- Ringgold's workshops fill up fast! Last year, Emile (Larkin's dad) was seriously on top of it and signed Larkin up for a workshop the morning openings were announced and next week the time has finally come!

Larkin is super excited for the format of the workshop-- unlike most classes where everyone works on a version of the same project, after demonstrations Ringgold encourages everyone to play with the equipment and techniques in whatever way best suits their style. Larkin is super excited to get their hands on more professional jeweler's tools and will probably come home with a loooong wish list. ;)

Emile and Larkin are making a whole trip out of it, visiting some rockhounding sites on the way, so hopefully Larkin will return with a head full of new ideas and pockets full of rocks.

I'll leave you with this image of the first (very nature-inspired) piece with which Larkin had a truly hard time parting ways. It went home with a wonderful repeat customer in the first few minutes of its market debut this month.

More Hair Pins!

Larkin is adding to their hair pin designs, with visions of similar designs as tie pins, hair clips, and cloak/shawl pins coming soon!

These are both designed in the bobby pin style, with the framing wire bent and shaped into waves for greater staying power.

Solid silver hair pins can be used alone for a small amount of hair (they will hold slightly more than a bobby pin and less than most barrettes) or added as decoration to a hair tie.

Silver Ivy Hair Pin

After losing a battle with kelp (silver kelp... more on that soon!), Larkin needed to switch gears for a bit and designed this super sweet, solid silver hair pin!

Larkin hand-shaped the ivy leaves from sheet metal and attached them to a beefy 12 gauge wire. They bent and shaped the wire into waves like a bobby pin for greater staying power, and balled the end for comfort.

This 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.

Here, Larkin's dad gamely demonstrates that, while this hair decoration is very versatile, it is not suitable for *all* hair types. 🤣

The hair pin measures 5.0 cm long and 2.4 cm at its widest point.

First Tuesday

There's still time! Larkin will be at the Rogue Valley Growers & Crafters Market in Ashland until 1:30!

The Dragon's Hoard

A new addition to the Idle Talons market booth! The idea was adapted (with their enthusiastic endorsement) from The Woodland Wandolier's fairy barter chest— if you're in the market for spell-binding wands and all manner of plant-based magic, definitely check them out!)

Something in, something out, no need to ask permission! Larkin is hoping this will be a fun customer ice breaker and will help entertain kids while their parents shop.

Petrified Wood Portal

Larkin cut this cabochon from a piece of petrified wood found by our family near our home in southern Oregon. They left the front raw to highlight all the glorious woody texture while polishing the sides and back smooth and shiny. The rough front naturally left some gaps in the frame, which allowed Larkin space to add extra mushrooms and creeping ivy vines. A natural druzy seam is just barely visible making its way from the bottom ivy leaf on the left to the top mushroom cap on the right.

Larkin equipped this magical portal with a tiny handle and a matching bail of hammered sheet metal adorned with a tiny ivy sprig.

And... can we talk about that back for just a second? (Who am I kidding, I'm gonna! 😅) This kind of sculptural technique is brand new to Larkin as well as this piece!

The following photo of the back shows the twig Larkin used for inspiration, resulting in a fantastically realistic solid silver twig that neatly complements the roughness of the front of the stone.

This piece has such fantastically fine detail, it's hard to remember just how small it is! Larkin's grandparents always remark on the dainty size of Larkin's work when they see it in person after seeing it in photos, enlarged on their computer and phone screens. That quarter is about as wide as this piece! The frame and all sculptural elements are hand-fashioned from solid argentium silver that has been oxidized to highlight its dimensionality and polished.

Spoilers, Sweetie

Spoiler alert! You know how I said Larkin is working on a series of magic doorways? They left the front of this one with all the glorious, raw, rough texture of petrified wood (there are even some druzy seams in there!) and added a sweet little bar handle. The frame should be ready for this lovely soon...