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!
A Tree Grows Slowly
product, processCommentLarkin has a billion (okay, maybe slightly fewer) projects going at once and my pleas for JUST ONE to be completed seem to be falling on deaf ears. So here’s a view of Larkin’s office for today, complete with majestic guardian and parasol, and a photo of the tree-in-progress. I am still awed when Larkin gives that snarl of wires its final fancy form!
Tree Seeds
process, productCommentAnother tree in the making…
Custom Moonstone Scroll
process, productCommentThe second silver moonstone and aquamarine scroll commission is done! Larkin is planning on making one more of these soon since it would be nice to have one actually make it to market. ;) The combination of argentium silver and moonstone is positively luminous!
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.
Market Season Is Upon Us!
venuesCommentTomorrow's the day! Come visit all the amazing local vendors, including Larkin and the Idle Talons booth, tomorrow at the first RVGCM Ashland Tuesday Market of the year! Larkin will be bringing lots of old favorites plus new designs and updated displays, and it's looking like the weather will be cooperating beautifully. Woot!
Market Booth Facelift
product, process, venuesCommentMore work on new displays and signs! Have we mentioned our great fondness for public domain images? The sea star dish for the mermaids was a fortuitous thrift store find.
Display Progress
product, process, venuesCommentWe've been playing with dressing up displays for the upcoming market season and have been really pleased with some of the public domain images we've found for making new signage! Big shout out to fellow vendor Ruby of Valhalla Organics for letting us borrow her laminator to make them extra sturdy!
Frogs, Skunks, and Lizards... Oh My!
product, processCommentWe’re also updating displays for the first market of the season next week... more on that in the coming days!
See You Later, Alligator
fun, process, productCommentMonkeys, alligators, and a fancy new haircut (finally) happening today!
Mermaids!
product, processCommentDisclaimer: no actual mermaids were harmed in the taking of this picture. That said, this snarl is what 16 Ariels look like waiting for their ends to be woven in and trimmed. Market preparation is getting serious!
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.
Brazilian Topaz Scroll
process, productCommentA customer brought Larkin this faceted Brazilian topaz to set for his wife. He saw the scroll prototype Larkin was working on and was sold! This topaz is wrapped in argentium silver with sterling beads.
Return of the Peacocks
product, processCommentThese peacocks were a custom order from someone who saw them in the Idle Talons gallery and had to have them! Larkin had discontinued these beauties because they take so much intricate work it was difficult to price them accordingly.
Moonstone Scroll
product, processCommentThis commission was from a customer requesting a moonstone centerpiece with aquamarine accents. Wrapped in argentium silver, this piece positively glows! Another patron who had come to discuss a commission saw the design and liked it so much they ordered something similar with their own faceted topaz centerpiece.
Fabulously Festive Festoon
fun, process, productCommentLarkin made this piece as a prototype for a new commission-- always nice to try a new design in copper before committing to silver! The drop cab is poppy jasper, with coordinating beads in orange and yellow/green jasper. The scrollwork is so graceful, and a little research revealed that this style of necklace, wirework connected to cord or chain at two points, is called a festoon. So you are hereby invited to festoon yourself with this festoon!
