Larkin used a purchased moonstone cabochon in this argentium silver wrap (if only we could wander our usual trails and find labradorite!). The blue flash of the stone combined with the swoops of silver are evocative of a magical, breezy night! The second picture, with a dime for scale, shows the back of the piece.
16!
fun, musings, processCommentAmongst all the other holiday hoopla, Larkin had a quiet 16th birthday on Dec. 24! A brand new drill press has been tested on wood, but this week has been a wee bit chilly to get it set up with water to drill stone. Hopefully it shall fulfill it's destiny soon-- we're looking forward to seeing what this kid creates in the new year!
Happy Holidays!
musings, process, productCommentWinter solstice is the big seasonal holiday at our house! This year felt much smaller without visiting grandparents, and Larkin has been very busy in the last few weeks creating and shipping holiday cheer. :) Larkin also spent some time figuring out what a young jeweler can make for parents who wear so little jewelry that even their wedding rings are usually missing. ;) One answer? Cabinet knobs! These applegate jade beauties will be admired and appreciated every time we're in the kitchen... perhaps a new product line has been born?
Happy holidays from the Idle Talons family to yours-- may we all find peace in the darkness and hope in the lengthening days ahead!
Copper Dragonfly
product, processCommentAnother special request-- this time for a dragonfly! Larkin had been thinking about wire dragonflies for awhile, and this order was the perfect push to get it done!
Silver Butterfly
productCommentA special request for a silver wrapped butterfly is winging its way to its new home today!
Custom Heart
product, process, musingsCommentNow that the fun busy-ness of the bazaar has wrapped up, Larkin is catching up on custom orders! The first picture is the gorgeous (almost rainbow) jasper cab Larkin received from the customer. They wanted it re-wrapped, in a simple style that was secure but left as much of the stone visible as possible. The second and third pictures are the front and back that Larkin came up with. Larkin had not wrapped a heart-shaped stone before and this was a fun challenge!
Logo!
processComment<phew> This feels like it was a long time coming! Larkin traded jewelry for logo design with a fellow teen artist and we couldn't be happier with the dragon logo!
Dragon logo by Zoi Hunter: Zoi the Creative on Facebook, https://www.artbyzoi.com/, and instagram.com/artbyzoi.
Next up: business cards! Market booth banner! Logo on invoices! Allthethings!
Owl Be Seeing You
fun, process, product, venuesCommentLarkin is still super busy over at the Royaboya Handmade Bazaar-- there's still time to join us over there! This sweet little owl is a new addition-- it popped out unexpectedly when Larkin was stocking up on honeysuckle earrings!
Morado Opal Planet
product, process, venues, musingsCommentHere's a close-up of the piece Larkin finished during a live video series in the Royaboya Handmade Bazaar yesterday! The morado opal is such a gorgeous stone-- Larkin thinks there's enough left for one (maaaaybe 2) more cabs. This piece was a commission and will be making its way to its permanent home soon!
Convinced Yet?
venues, product, funCommentWe're pulling out all the stops to convince you to join us at the Royaboya Handmade Bazaar! These earrings y'all enjoyed so much will be available exclusively over there until the end of the bazaar in about a week, now in either copper or silver. Idle Talons is a featured vendor on Monday and Larkin will be going live!
Shop Small!
venues, product, processCommentToday's the day! Albums are now open over at the Facebook Royaboya Handmade Bazaar! These clearance pieces are all on sale for the first time on-line-- you may recognize some of them. ;) Many of these are practice pieces, prototypes, or pieces that just took too much time to make the regular Idle Talons line-up. It would be a huge help to Larkin if you would check out the Idle Talons album in the group and comment on your favorite pieces-- that bumps them up in the group feed! :)
Royaboya Handmade Bazaar
product, venues, musingsCommentThis brilliant blue aventurine cabochon was calling out for an ocean-themed wrap! These flashing silver scales will make their debut on Friday at the Royaboya Handmade Bazaar! Roya has outdone herself with this holiday extravaganza-- live music, lots of prizes, 30 vendors (!), and definitely something for everyone on your holiday shopping list. If you haven't already, join the Facebook group and get ready for a fun shopping experience from the safety and comfort of home-- but remember the albums aren't open for purchases until Friday!
And Now For Something Completely Different...
musings, process, product, funCommentThese earrings are Larkin's most entertaining commission to date! I would pay good money to have a recording of Larkin's younger brother's double-take when he first spotted them "wait... are those...?!" And all the design conversations we usually have about commissions took on a whole new level of culturally-induced hilarity: "so... is it fun if the nipples move-- even if it's possible for them to end up over one shoulder-- or should I solder them in place?" After consulting with the customer, nipple mobility was the clear winner. I was preemptively banned from ever owning a pair due to the likelihood I would present myself ear-first to people I don't know very well and ask them if they want to play with my nipples. In all seriousness, they're a beautiful celebration of the female form. [inside voice: BOOBIES!]
Moss Agate Doublet Planet
musings, process, productCommentThis cab is Larkin's second doublet! The face is cut from a piece of translucent moss agate, and the backing material is applegate jade. The white spot just above the rings on the face is a common opal inclusion. The complex landscape in the stone was begging for a wrap that is literally out of this world! ;)
We went through a very strict two week quarantine so we could visit Larkin's grandparents safely, and I may have gotten a little carried away with a fresh forest of photo backgrounds... 😅
Audrey II
musings, productCommentLarkin has been stocking up on these whimsical, viney earrings. We named this design Audrey II because it reminds us of seedlings from the plant from Little Shop of Horrors! These are the combos of metals and colors Larkin has made up and are ready to go. Drop beads are all sparkling glass.
A - silver/bright blue
B - silver/rose-violet
C - silver/deep red
D - copper/bright blue
E - copper/rose-violet
F - copper/smooth black
Holiday Bazaar
venues, processCommentIdle Talons will be participating in Royaboya's fun on-line bazaar again-- this time a week-long holiday extravaganza! Larkin will be debuting some new items there, and is hoping to do a series of live maker videos that may end up with a new wrap coming together before your eyes.
You can join the Facebook group any time (https://www.facebook.com/groups/royaboyahandmadebazaar), but albums won't be open for purchases until the beginning of the bazaar. This is a wonderful way to support small businesses this holiday season!
Jeweler Goblin
musings, processCommentA trained eye can determine the approximate age of a jeweler goblin simply by careful observation of their working posture in their natural habitat. 🤣
Larkin is set up by the fire, making hand-shaped earring hooks that are a lovely finishing touch on handmade earrings.
Autumn Leaves!
musings, process, productCommentThese leaves seem especially timely as the forest around us has started (finally!) looking like autumn! These are probably the last batch of leaves Larkin will have done in time for the winter holidays-- fair warning if you happen to be looking for gorgeous hand-made gifts. ;)
A - red jasper
B - applegate jade
C - grossular garnet
D - red jasper
E - applegate jade
F - mahogany obsidian
G - chert
H - dark green jasper
I - applegate jade (with rind)
K - moss agate
L - red jasper
M - applegate jade
N - red jasper
Random reminder: applegate jade often appears quite dark, but is a deep green stone, remarkably translucent when back-lit!
Ghosts In The Wire
fun, process, venuesCommentLarkin was working on some copper-veined leaves, and this little (fawn? dog? donkey?) popped out! The ears are the shape Larkin makes to tie off the veins on the backs of the leaves.
Larkin is stocking up for a week-long on-line bazaar extravaganza coming up at the end of the month-- more details on some exclusive Idle Talons deals for that event soon!
A Very Happy Saturday, Indeed!
process, musings, productCommentNew wire play, including handmade ear hooks which Larkin has had in mind for a while. We need a name for this new design-- what do you think? Are they peacock-y? Breezy?
