September 2010

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Aaaaaaaand ACTION! In her "Live Action" collection, Thai jeweller Jittrakarn Bunterngpiboon encourages participation with your ring, bringing you into its creation. The "Build ME" box (above), for instance, can be unfolded into numerous shapes.

Above: more of her interactive jewellery, including pieces from her "Play" collection.

Bonus link: Scotland's Hazel White is a designer and researcher who creates interactive jewellery (like this light ring) to study "the aesthetics, meaning and functionality that jewellery can bring to wearable technology."

Even more jewellery:

Kate Sandilands (UK) - bright & playful
Saltalamacchia - Victoria Simes (NYC) - tassels & knots
Metalista (California) - brass & crystal
Shirley Park (Toronto) - silver & gems
Celedonio (Argentina) - florid beading

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Wednesday, September 29, 2010

So just what, exactly, is Ryan Thomas Peters offering?

Well, this "teething" ring, for one. For two, and three, and even four, visit the Rhode Island designer's site!

Bonus link:
Add to your collection of meta-statement rings with this "SOLD" piece from New York's Miansai (Michael Saiger), a jeweller who works with bullets, razors and wartime relics.

Even more jewellery:

Icarus & Co. (New York) - claws & teeth
Annika Åkerfelt (Sweden) - porcelain bulbs
BB Becker (Colorado) - quotes on silver
Kadomi (Japan) - metal & gems
Hannah Pallett Belben (UK) - clustered chains

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Tuesday, September 28, 2010

These decorative planters would look nice by the front entrance.

Of course, you'd have to be careful not to step on them. Shrunken vase rings in ceramic and silver by Spain's dterra (Roberta Ferreira, originally from Buenos Aires, and Jener Laura, a native Barcelonan).

Bonus link:
If you've got vases, you need flowers. Aline Kokinopoulos of France has lots of botanical silver pieces inspired by her garden (as well as miniature city rings).

Even more jewellery:

Molly Dingledine (North Carolina) - botanical metal
Dörte Scherbartt (Germany) - simple ceramic
Molly-Hanna (New York) - crystals on fabric
Laliblue (Spain) - vintage style
Louise Chesshire (UK) - clean silver

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Monday, September 27, 2010

Looks like this...

...was attacked by this.

But, not to worry — they're all part of one happy family created by Brazilian designer Fernando Akasaka (whose "Le blob" collection I also mentioned in passing last November).

Bonus link: for another spiky ring, check out this "SuperStud" created by Stephen Webster for Urth, a Beverly Hills jeweller that buys its gold directly from miners and reinvests profits back into the communities where the gold was mined.

Even more jewellery:

Victorian Death Kult (New York) - talons & bones
Les Floralies (Japan) - romantic roses
Meghan Donahue (Maine) - organic metal
Karin Mugnaini (Switzerland) - shells & beads
Marika O'Sullivan (Ireland) - enamel & silver

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Friday, September 24, 2010

"Personalized jewellery" doesn't have to mean monogrammed rings or a pendant stamped with your birthdate. UK designer Jess Jones offers a more subtle solution with her "Time" rings, a "jewellery system which allows the wearer to mark a significant piece of time." Enter your data (date, time, etc.) into a computer program and it uses the numbers to create a unique shape for your ring. Personalized but private.

Bonus link: here's a ring personalized with someone else's dates. The numbers in this Jimi Hendrix tribute ring represent his birth and death (40 years ago last week). Created for a client by Maine's Chaya Studio.

Even more jewellery:

Brent Williams Designs (Maine) - fingerprint bands
Glynneth B (California) - glam punk
Eiko Yoshida (UK) - mixed media
Alessandro Petrolati (Italy) - metal & stones
Three Little Pearls (Chicago) - simple pearls

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Thursday, September 23, 2010

The cure for a chilly, drizzly day? Cozy colour. Rings in knit wool, silk and magnets by Amsterdam's Rivka Dieho.

Bonus link:
If you're yearning for something a bit more luxurious than regular wool, there's this piece lined with cashmere. Ring by Rhode Island's Maurie Polak.

Even more jewellery:

Huei Hsuan Sun (Rhode Island) - yarn & silver
Jin ah Jo (Australia) - acrylic & steel
Nina Mann (Michigan) - contemporary metal
Alison Evans (UK) - bead clusters
Arcangelo Bungaro (Italy) - stones & coral

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Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Now that summer is officially over, it's time for rain, rain and rain. I should be sick of the wet stuff but I can't get enough of these "Plink!" rings by Italy's Luisa Bruni.

Of course, the plus-side of living in rainy Vancouver is that when it's dry, it looks a little like this.

Bonus link:
A clear sky wouldn't hurt right about now. Maybe I can appeal to the weather gods with these blue sky rings by Norwegian jeweller Lise Schønberg.

Even more jewellery:

Pilar Walteros (UK) - drops & ripples
Elizabeth Staiger (Ohio) - sculptural metalwork
Helena Sandström (Sweden) - plush balls
Raewyn Walsh (New Zealand) - oxidized silver
Jeelee Jewelry (Toronto) - beads & wire

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Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Dominique Thomas-Vansteenberghe has lots of jewellery for your fingers... but no rings. That is, you won't find any circular bands in her gallery. The Belgian jeweller revels in non-traditional shanks, from T-bars to vesica pisces to an unclosed, twisting line, all designed to adorn your fingers. Just no rings.

Bonus link: Denmark's Superstar in Fashion (Ann Lund Würtz) also has plenty of multi-finger rings, though hers do use the familiar bands of a typical ring.

Even more jewellery:

Lorena Kritz (Argentina) - circles & silver
Vincent Durbák (Slovakia) - sculptural & experimental
Alexandra Dillon (California) - symbolic charms
Daniel Widrig (UK) - nylon bangles
Dalya Luttwak (Maryland) - body ornaments

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Monday, September 20, 2010

I can't quite decipher Israeli artist Tamara Navama's "I Am Writing" series. With those tangled connections of copper wire, perhaps it's a commentary on email and modern communication. Or maybe it's just stylized chicken scratch. Either way, visit her site for more.

Bonus link:
There's no way you'd miss what this ring has to say. German artist Tom Schmelzer's ring is embossed with letters so sharp, they cause pain to the wearer. Visit his site to find out why.

Even more jewellery:

Ebon Heath & Mona Ibrahim (NYC/Dubai) - typography
The Smths Lab (UK) - toy jewels
Circadian Studios (California) - simple & modern
Vadjutka - Judit Wild (Hungary) - colourful fabric
Kim Drosdick (Toronto) - silver & beads

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Saturday, September 18, 2010

See what's new this week in the shop!

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Friday, September 17, 2010

Can you spot the rings? Taiwanese illustrator, animator and jeweller NizA Huang incorporated all three areas of her expertise in her "Hello Puppet" series. Visit her site to see the video and the jewellery pieces that make up her marionette.

Bonus link: when you're done assembling that puppet, you can start to work on one of Israeli jeweller Dafna Schwimmer Dagan's many puzzles, like this heart comprised of three separate rings.

Even more jewellery:

Ena Macana (Spain) - toys & Barbie
Briana Lawrence (Australia) - enamel & silver
Pedro Loureiro (Portugal) - CAD pieces
Marya Dabrowski (Rhode Island) - clustered gems
Catherine K Designs (California) - threaded bracelets

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Thursday, September 16, 2010

Variations on a theme: UK jeweller Olga Konopka plays with many iterations of gold dots on silver.

Meanwhile, Spain's Claudio Paniagua uses the same two metals to explore circles and spheres.

Bonus link: here's another ring with gold dots on silver — only this time, the dots are actually Braille. Designed by Hong Kong's Codigo Mio, a collaboration between jeweller Carol Carmen Xavier and product designer Gareth Joe.

Even more jewellery:

Meghan Patrice Riley (California) - simple twotone
Mackenzie Meagor (Australia) - dots & flowers
Hold Out Your Hand (UK) - silver & felt
Jewelry by Katey (New York) - wooden beads
Matt Bezak (Ohio) - cast glass

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Wednesday, September 15, 2010

In the artist's own words:

"I am particularly interested in how entomology and lepidoptery collections are displayed in uniform alignment in cabinets and drawers. Drawing aesthetic inspiration from this, I create geometric structures that imitate the display cases that the insects are butterflies are held in."

That artist? Scotland's Allyson Gee.

Bonus link:
Looking for a more vegan-friendly butterfly ring? Germany's Anna Sue Lorenz has this version in silver. She has a whole series of square rings topped with various figures.

Even more jewellery:

Paula Alves (UK) - hinged butterflies
Kath Inglis (Australia) - carved PVC
M. Verbruggen & L. Vandycke (Belgium) - mixed media
Milk Jewelry (Ontario) - silver hearts
Rebecca Zelis (Vermont) - rock & beachglass

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Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Have a seat and get cozy with Fanni Vékony.

The Hungarian jeweller also has a harder, industrial side, showcased in a series featuring fiber optic wire.

Bonus link: Washington State's Grain Design doesn't use fiber optic wire but reclaimed electrical wire. The sustainable design company is made up of Chelsea Green, Brit Kleinman, Sami Nerenberg and founder James Minola.

Even more jewellery:

Alison Bailey Smith (UK) - TV wire
Pecas (Chile) - bright fabric
Mo Man Tai (Netherlands) - stainless-steel cutouts
Kit Burke-Smith (New York) - modern silver
Bellissima (Colorado) - beads & briolettes

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Monday, September 13, 2010

What's this?

Does this clue help?

How about now?

Combine all three "skull parts" rings and you get — surprise! — a skull. Rings by Japan's Aquvii.

Above, some girly skulls from London's Noemi Klein (top left), Los Angeles' Catherine Michiels (bottom left) and Japan's Bohem (right).

Bonus link:
For more skulls and jaws, including the "Pearl Story" series that mixes pearls with gold bones and diamond-studded skulls, see Florida's Luis Morais.

Even more jewellery:

Winifred Jewelry (Oregon) - fruit skulls
Vita Fede (Los Angeles) - leather & metal
Povl Larsen (UK) - silver & stones
Nick Mullins (Illinois) - steel & brass
Fairytale Jewellery (Germany) - enamel flowers

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Friday, September 10, 2010

When it comes to making jewellery, London's Mahtab Hanna has the Midas touch. Visit her site for a gallery of amazing sculptural work.

Bonus link:
Perhaps if Midas had owned this ring, he would've avoided his curse. This "Alchemist's Wedding Band" by Texas metalsmith Ana M. Lopez depicts the fabled practice of turning lead into gold.

Even more jewellery:

Drin & Dran (Germany) - gold & gems
Emily Miranda Studio (New York) - bold bracelets
Sassy Park (Australia) - porcelain pendants
Laura Preshong (Boston) - modern classics
Bex Bardon (UK) - silver links

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Thursday, September 9, 2010

Are you ok with white after Labour Day? I sure am, especially when it comes to this ring in recycled styrofoam by Chinese jeweller Bai Yang Qiu. She has lots of jewellery made from recycled material, like the "$¢ent" necklace of perfume samples!

Ok, what if it's white as in Henriette White? The South African jeweller, who now resides in Holland, made these bright rings using perspex and aluminum.

Bonus link:
There are no archaic rules about black or blue after Labour Day, so I can safely present the UK's Blue Barkes and her slate rings with inlaid silver and sapphires.

Even more jewellery:

Melissa Curry (Ireland) - bold & colourful
The Glamourai (New York) - recycled vintage
F!NK Design (Australia) - sleek aluminum
Jig Pattni (UK) - white gold
Antonini (Italy) - contemporary classics

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Wednesday, September 8, 2010

For little kiddies, back-to-school means fresh crayons — something Rowena Murray probably used to draw the images that now adorn her jewellery. The UK artist used her own childhood drawings as patterns on her rings, encasing the figures in Perspex or engraving and enamelling them onto the surface.

Above: another callback to her childhood, this ring was inspired by her "fascination with the lifecycle of frogs and the experience of holding them in the palm of your hand."

Bonus link:
If your only interest in frogs is their potential princeship, this is the piece for you. Ring with lips and frog by Italian goldsmith Stefano Pedonesi.

Even more jewellery:

Cara Fairbairn (UK) - thick lines
Anat Basanta (Vancouver) - silver & pearls
BY YB (Denmark) - simple ceramic
Laetitia Hirschy (Switzerland) - gold & quartz
Eelz (Netherlands) - metal & gems

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Tuesday, September 7, 2010

It's the first day of school.

Time to venture out into a new world!

"They grow up so fast, don't they, Mildred?"

Rings above by Slovakian jeweller Hany Kašičková.

Bonus link: if you're past school age and it's just another day at the office, you may want to check out the fashionable and functional pushpin rings from Dutch designer Sjoerd Vroonland. (At the very least, see his collection of chairs!)

Even more jewellery:

Jessica Ricci (Rhode Island) - Latin phrases
Núria Manzano Vall (Spain) - paper & metal
Delphine Pariente (France) - vintage bits
Sarah Rhodes (UK) - contemporary silver
Adam Neeley (California) - fine jewels

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Monday, September 6, 2010

Yes, these are rings.

You just have to have the right perspective.

Argentina's ISKIN has many collections of simple, modern jewellery (including all the ones above), with pops of colour in acrylic and leather.

Bonus link:
Here's another simple U-ring with a strong emphasis on line. Silver ring by Dutch metalsmith Dick Monshouwer, who now resides in Norway.

Even more jewellery:

Cara Fairbairn (UK) - thick lines
Anat Basanta (Vancouver) - silver & pearls
EKV Joyas (Chile) - chunky & simple
Laetitia Hirschy (Switzerland) - gold & quartz
Eelz (Netherlands) - metal & gems

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Saturday, September 4, 2010

See what's new this week in the shop!

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Friday, September 3, 2010

Even "artificial" plastics originate from molecules found in nature. In "Natura e Artificio," Italy's Massimo Ottavio Pavan (aka MOP) aims to return some of that plastic to nature (in form, at least) with these blooming rings made from Corian. As the flower grows, so does the proportion of plastic in relation to the silver.

Above, simpler pieces, also in Corian, from his "Collection ONE."

Bonus link:
We go from Corian to Korean with the "Droppings" ring from Seoul's Jung Eeeun, who was inspired "by the way that wax melts from a lit candle."

Even more jewellery:

Aria Jewellery (Greece) - Corian pendants
Sunhi Jäger (Germany) - iron & silk
Abakus (New York) - chains & pearls
Carla Morrison (Colorado) - modern classics
Sakura Jewellery (UK) - blossoms & briolettes

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Thursday, September 2, 2010

If you like your wood IKEA style — that is, good ol' M(edium) D(ensity) F(ibreboard) — Juan Pablo Rodriguez is your man. The Barcelona-based Colombian architect/woodworker made these rings with MDF and enamel.

Bonus link:
This sleek ring by Peruvian jeweller Gonzalo Palma reminds me of an IKEA bench (but it's made of metal and not MDF, so it's perfectly safe for outdoors).

Even more jewellery:

Ditto-Ditto (New York/Texas) - lasercut MDF
Göran Kling (Sweden) - oversized necklaces
Tanya Logan (UK) - etched silver
J. Dillon (California) - charms & beads
Wear Ever (New Jersey) - wild enamel

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Wednesday, September 1, 2010

How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? I have no idea, but I do know someone who could and would etch wood: South Africa's Genevieve Motley. Get back to nature with her wooden rings in bird and botanical motifs.

Bonus link:
California's Knotty by Nature (Erin Bordenave) also does wood rings. Her "chaotic" rings are painted, then deliberately made to look weathered.