Larkin's latest tree is done! The large background cab is cut from a swirly, deep green Applegate jade/serpentine stone found locally by our family. Larkin cut the moon from another stone we found comprised of agate and common opal. The swing is hand-formed and fused, made of argentium silver. There is something very evocative about the scene this piece presents!
musings
A Day In The Life
musings, processCommentEarly spring weather, a grape arbor, a cat, and the latest commission piece... sometimes the life of a teen entrepreneur looks pretty sweet.
Elemental Snacks
fun, musingsCommentAh, procrastination. Larkin took a bit of a break from preparing for market season (first market is in less than 1.5 weeks! Yikes!) and baked the periodic table of cupcakes. Especially of interest, of course, are copper and silver.
Ring Around The Rose Quartz
product, musingsCommentLarkin cut and polished this pale rose quartz cabochon and surrounded it with a ring of beads and hand-shaped roses, all in oxidized and polished copper. The stone is semi-translucent so the wires on the back will show through on a light background. Larkin insisted that "sproingy cord holder loopies" is not the official name for this style of bail but failed to present me with an alternative, so there you have it. ;) A classically elegant piece by any name!
Attention To Detail
musings, process, productCommentDid you know Larkin makes almost all Idle Talons jump rings by hand? This ensures that the metals match and the rings are high quality. Most of Larkin’s jump rings are oval rather than round which keeps the joint away from the chain or cord— making it less likely for a necklace to fall apart entirely if it snags during daily wear. Larkin has been singing the praises of this new jewelry saw (broke the first blade last night!) that makes it easy to cut many rings at one time with a nice flat joint.
Morado Opal Roses
musings, process, productCommentLarkin had someone requesting a rose piece with a purple stone and found a gorgeous slab of Mexican morado (purple) opal. The day is too sunny for a great picture, but this cab is so lovely— it looks like a galactic view out a spaceship portal!
Neither Plane Nor Simple
musings, processCommentHow much wrap wire should you cut? Why, I’m so glad you asked! 😂 Life as an artist with nerdy parents... where wrap wire of length l and diameter d is wrapped around larger wire of length L and diameter D.
Necklace of Power!
fun, musings, process, productCommentLarkin crafted the many-sided dice used while playing Dungeons and Dragons from beads and joined them in this imposing necklace. It was probably too time-consuming to become a regular Idle Talons product, but there will no longer be any question who is DM at our house! Sure to be a critical hit with any D&D fan…
Applegate Jade Leaf
process, product, musingsCommentAnother slightly simpler wrap, this time a leaf cabochon Larkin cut and polished from Applegate jade (serpentine) found near our home in southern Oregon. The veins are shaped from fused argentium silver, with the stem end acting as the bail. A simply beautiful design that one customer described as being “the sort of gift any hobbit would be pleased to receive from Galadriel.” (okay, it was Larkin's uncle 😅)
Silver Rose Rings
product, process, musingsCommentAfter a great deal of wear testing (we put them through a lot, although we stopped just short of wearing them while splitting firewood) and quality control, Larkin is ready to offer these sweet rose rings!
These delicate but sturdy adornments are constructed of pure argentium silver— all joints are fused rather than soldered for a smooth, clean look and feel. (I learned jewelers say “fused,” perhaps because it sounds more delicate and less industrial than “welded,” but the meaning is the same.) Roses and leaves are individually constructed and wrap around the band. Our wear testers agree that they are very comfortable! Bands are 18 gauge silver and can be made to fit virtually any digit.
Obsidian Waves
musings, process, productCommentToday's lesson: my photography skills are not ready for Larkin to start working in obsidian. 😂 Look at the first picture. Closer. Zoom right on in there. See our circuit breaker? Yup, clear as day.
This is a black obsidian cab that Larkin polished to a mirror shine (thanks, Larkin). It is a solid, gleaming back, but displays interesting striations when backlit. The contrast between the bright silver and deep black obsidian give this wrap a bold, elegant feel.
Looking Fabulous
fun, musings, processCommentJust another shot from the Idle Talons office... nobody told us the wonderful world of jewelry making would be so glamorous! Coveralls that fit Larkin’s not-quite-5’2” frame don’t seem to be a thing. We think the shot of hot pink really pulls the whole outfit together.
Silver Leaf Earrings
musings, process, productCommentLarkin is taking a short break from stone and solder work while we wait for a respirator that should actually fit to arrive (hopefully Monday!). Apparently breaks from certain kinds of work can inspire new designs! These stunningly simple, shaped wire leaves are made from a single piece of 20 gauge silver wire. The wire is shaped, hammered and fused at one point. The result is very elegant— a design that we dare say wouldn’t look out of place gracing Galadriel’s elven lobes! (Thanks to Larkin's younger brother Finn for dipping his human lobes into the glamorous world of ear modelling.)
A Day In The Life
process, musingsCommentA brand new stash of argentium silver, jewelry saws (at last!), a warm fire, and a sleeping cat. Just another day at the Idle Talons office. ;) Larkin is excited for more silver stock-up for next market season and ready to turn out some rings!
Custom Tree of Life
product, process, musingsCommentAnother custom commission! (And Larkin's last for the moment if you'd like something on short notice!) The customer wanted a tree of life for their husband including their two children's birthstones. This is the very last cab Larkin was able to cut from that gorgeous chunk of Altman Creek jade we found-- must be time to go out rockhounding again!
Mummy Wrap
musings, process, productCommentI don't want to give away any top secret wire wrapping secrets, but apparently sometimes a little tape does wonders to keep curves in place until they're tied in! Such an elegant work in progress...
It's About Time...
fun, musings, processCommentWe were pretty amused to realize that Larkin is finally old enough to use seed beads. 😂
How Long Would It Take 100 Monkeys...
musings, process, productCommentLarkin has been thinking about leading some local beading workshops and used Emile and I as guinea pigs for this pattern. We’re both generally pretty crafty but neither of us have done any real beadwork. We (ahem *I*) also presented Larkin with the opportunity to demonstrate both skill and patience when dealing with a particularly obstreperous student. They turned out pretty well! Especially from a distance... Larkin’s are much tighter and more solid feeling than ours...
Serpentine Tree Of Life
process, product, musingsCommentThis stone is cut from a piece of serpentine, locally known as Applegate Jade, in this case found by our family along Altman Creek. Larkin cut and polished the cabochon, then wrapped it in a tree that looks remarkably like some of the old oaks in the area the stone came from! The details in this piece are especially remarkable given its small size! I included some progress photos because it's always interesting how the chaotic beginnings of a tree of life are given structure.
Van Duzen Jasper Sunburst
musings, process, productCommentHappy New Year from Idle Talons! This is a yellow agatized jasper stone our family found along the Van Duzen River in northern California. Larkin cut and polished the cabochon and wrapped it in a dazzling copper sunburst. May it be a harbinger of the brighter days ahead!
