We've been quiet lately, we know! Larkin's first market of the season is Tuesday and the Idle Talons product line has changed a great deal since we designed displays-- fewer bead intensive pieces, more wire work. So we've been hard at work and getting a little loopy making sure everything is ready for a successful kick-off to market season!
Public Service Announcement
musings, processCommentSomeone's poor parent is going to go cross-eyed sorting them out later...
Dreaming Of A White Vending
venues, musingsCommentSo... one week from today Idle Talons will be wrapping up the first (outdoor!) market of the season. Keep your fingers crossed!
Creepy Crawlies
productCommentBlack widows: when you need to goth up your houseplants. Coming to the website later today!
Here's Looking At You
processCommentNothing says “fun Saturday afternoon” like a pile of frog eyeballs!
Tiger Labradorite
productCommentAnother labradorite piece! This one we're calling "Tiger Labradorite" due to the way its stripes flash yellow-orange in the sun.
Idle Talons Accepted to Rogue Valley Growers and Crafters Market!
venuesCommentLarkin successfully navigated a jurying process for the first time! Idle Talons will be vending at Rogue Valley Growers & Crafters Market first Tuesdays in Ashland at the National Guard Armory. Woot!
A Flight of Dragonflies
productCommentMarket prep and the dragonflies are swarming!
Bittersweet Goodbyes
musingsCommentIt is such a bittersweet moment as an artist (not to mention an artist's parent!) when a one-of-a-kind piece sells. So exciting! ...and then you ship it away. Goodbye, fair tree of life-- we're sure Montana will treat you well. :)And... an excuse to make another!
Swoopy blossoms
productCommentThese graceful wire swoops remind us of honeysuckle blossoms! The vines are shaped from copper wire, oxidized and polished, and embellished with glass beads.
Decisions, Decisions...
musings, processCommentHelp us with a tough decision! The dragon eyes are very striking and are big sellers at local markets, but Larkin doesn't feel they can be priced in a way that accurately reflects how many hours of time are required to make them. The beadwork on one of these eyes takes literally less than half the time that the other does. Is it obvious which? Do you strongly prefer one over the other (discounting preference for the eye itself)?
Second Cabochon
processCommentThe evolution of a cabochon! A friend gifted Larkin a beautiful chunk of raw, blue aventurine so it was time for another trip to the shop at Crater Rock Museum! Larkin cut the stone into slabs, rough cut a cabochon shape, then ground and polished to the finished state. So cool!
Spiky!
productCommentWe’re not going to lie to you; this pendant looks like something a Klingon warrior would give to their sweetie. Perfect for the strong fighter in your life, especially as zebra stone is said to boost physical endurance and increase energy! Copper wire is shaped, wrapped, oxidized and polished, with balled ends. 5.4 cm long, 3.5 cm at the widest point.
First Cabochon!
processCommentLarkin finally met the age requirement to join the Roxy Ann Gem and Mineral Society at Crater Rock Museum and learn to use their machines! Here’s Larkin’s very first cabochon made from a stone our family found on the northern California coast. We know the matrix is quartz— any rock hounds out there who know what forms the dark streaks?
Here Comes the Sun (Do do do doo!)
processCommentThe sunstone is finally out of the rock tumbler! These gleaming sparklies are sure to inspire something lovely. After the snow melts. ;)
Anniversary Commission
productCommentA sweet custom order for an anniversary! The customer had these small, hand-made glass beads with sentimental value and wanted them hung in a simple wire wrap as matching pendants. There’s even a stealth heart featured on back! There’s still time to place that special Valentine’s order... ;)
Snow Day
funCommentTo dispel any rumors that Idle Talons works only in jewelry, check out this sibling snow collaboration! Unipig? Porcicorn?
Found Materials
productCommentOur family spotted this piece of petrified wood while hiking near Agate Lake in southern Oregon. After the stone spent a few weeks in the rock tumbler, Larkin wrapped it in this distinctive woven copper band which is hammered, oxidized and polished. 6.3 cm long, 1.5 cm wide.
Froggy Fiiiiingerrrrrs!
productCommentLarkin thought this crocodile jasper had a pond-like aquatic look so wrapped it clutched in these sweet little amphibian toes. We may or may not have danced around the house chanting “froggy fingers!” when it was finished. Coming to www.IdleTalons.com later this week, after Larkin goes through a jurying process for a local market— keep your fingers crossed!
Process Mystery
processCommentFroggy fingers? Dragon wings? Stay tuned... ;)
