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Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Two things I always wear when I leave the house on foot: a pair of rings and a pair of earbuds. Oregon's Allison Ullmer just shaved a minute off my "getting dressed" time with these earbud rings from her "Disengage" series.

Bonus link:
Brussels-based French product designer Judicaël Cornu created "headphones" that conduct music through your bone tissue. Pictured is the spacer ring version.

Even more jewellery:

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Tuesday, May 15, 2012

I think that brooch is onto something.

Yes. Both donut pieces by California's Tammy Young Eun Kim.

Bonus link:
Montreal's Lovefool Designs was inspired by her mother's and gradmother's shortbread cookies when making this "sugar cookie" heart ring.

Even more jewellery:

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Monday, May 14, 2012


Apparently, the future's going to be quite rocky (but pretty). Pictured above are "rock" rings from UK jeweller Julie Legault's "Wearable Futures" (first two rows) and 3D-printed "rock" rings from New York's TheFutureFuture (Brandt Graves & Carrie McKnelly).

Bonus link:
More rock rings, this time made of actual granite, from Sissi Westerberg, a Swedish artist (and sometime RISD instructor) who also makes many fleshy sculptures.

Even more jewellery:

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Friday, May 11, 2012


A "solitaire" solitaire, a sieve ring incapable of holding anything under 1ct diamonds, an engagement ring engagement ring, ring box rings... Halifax jeweller Greg Sims is a trove of clever treasures. Visit his site for much more!

Bonus link: for more unconventional diamond rings, see Italy's Duepunti, who sets their gems in silicone bands.

Even more jewellery:

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Thursday, May 10, 2012



I'm a fan. Retractable folding rings in gold-plated silver and hand-dyed silk by UK jeweller Joanna Hemsley.

Bonus link:
Another jeweller mixing metal and fabric is Belgium's Valérie Wyn, who accents her silver pieces with bits of inlaid fabric in colourful patterns.

Even more jewellery:

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Wednesday, May 9, 2012

I'm thinking of going platinum blonde — what do you think? Not your thing? There's blue and red hair options, too! Rings in silver and fake hair by New Zealand's Farah Bandookwala.

Bonus link:
Is blonde too boring for you? South Africa's Kinkel Jewellery (Marleen van Wyk) has hair rings in a whole assortment of colours and styles.

Even more jewellery:

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Tuesday, May 8, 2012


A tale of two Roisins: silver photo-etched with urban scenes from Scotland's Roisin Connolly (top three rows) and Ireland's Roisin Sheridan.

Bonus link:
If you love photoetching as much as I do, keep the love going with another UK jeweller, Britain's Charlotte Lowe. She works with silver, gold and copper.

Even more jewellery:

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Monday, May 7, 2012

"Inspired by research into the different theories claiming that all humans can be divided into set characters or personality types, this piece illustrates my belief that we are all capable of playing many different characters in our everyday lives. It is designed to be worn on the hand, with interchangeable lenses that can be screwed on depending on which character you are being that day. Each set of lenses changes and distorts the world you see through it, leading you to interact with it differently."

"Daily Spectacles" by UK artist Grace Page, whose conceptual jewellery may or may not be the cure to the melting polar ice caps. Check her site to find out.

Bonus link:
If you're more intrigued by her mustache than by her spectacles, get your own from Maryland shop Rebecca.

Even more jewellery:

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Friday, May 4, 2012

While yesterday's cards are nice, you can't beat the versatility of an all-purpose credit card — even when it's cut up.

When she's not cutting up credit cards, she's cutting up coins.

Who is she? She's New Jersey metalsmith Kristal Romano, who also made this ring, which is of particular interest to this here blog.

(In case you couldn't tell, it's made of carrot.)

Bonus link:
For an entire body of work with financial and business themes, check out Texas artist Deanna Ooley. Her work mixes metals and US currency.

Even more jewellery:

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Thursday, May 3, 2012

I know some people who'd gladly take one of these over a diamond ring. Starbucks card rings by North Carolina's Jason Stein...

...whose usual medium is metal, not coffee credits.

Bonus link:
If you prefer your caffeine carbonated, Wearwolfs (Arizona's Vicki Wolf) makes jewellery — like this red cola rose — out of recycled pop cans.

Even more jewellery:

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Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Folds hold the old untold. Or, as Israel's Lital Mendel explains her "Folds" series, "Jewelry contains memories. Experiences and events are embodied in a small and intimate object which holds a special meaning to its owner. By wearing the jewelry, one can take with him his most precious and secret moments."

Bonus link:
For more folds, check out the metal origami jewellery of Barcelona-based Taiwanese artist Walter Chen. See his site for more silver rings as well as pleated paper art.

Even more jewellery:

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Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Ever tried jewellery shopping at Home Depot? If you're anything like Emma McFarline, it might be worth a try. The Edinburgh artist uses such materials as cardboard, steel and paint to create these pieces reminiscent of construction castoffs.

Bonus link: do they have Home Depot in Australia? Here's the "Tuerca" nut ring by Rowen Wagner, an industrial designer in Sydney.

Even more jewellery:

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Friday, April 27, 2012

These are bound to be a perfect fit: "A Moment of Clarity" rings by Aviv Kinel. The Israeli designer also worked with Yael Gaizler on "Carton," a series of cardboard jewellery; you can catch a glimpse here.

I'll also squeeze in this paint tube ring but check her site for more!

Bonus link:
These rings feature a somewhat less flexible trio of figures. Rings by Denmark's Lea Marie Becker, an artist who works with both metal and textiles.

Even more jewellery:

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Thursday, April 26, 2012

Pop quiz. SPO Créations:

   a) stands for "sculptures, parures, objets"
   b) is the work of French jeweller Patricia Lemaire
   c) features lovely botanical metalwork
   d) all of the above

I think you know the answer.

Bonus link:
For more metalwork, including actual botanicals (Norwegian reindeer moss, to be exact), see Texas jeweller ILDVED (Karen Ilvedson).

Even more jewellery:

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Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Inspired by man-made landscapes, Edinburgh artist Joanna Hill uses laser-etched acrylic sheet to "describe old architecture reflected in modern structures." Lots of lovely pieces in her portfolio, including enamel work!

Bonus link: another Scottish jeweller inspired by architecture is Celina Rupp, whose "Italian Chapel" collection is based on an Orkney church built by Italian prisoners of war during WWII.

Even more jewellery:

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Tuesday, April 24, 2012

If you need a vase for your gerbera daisy, this probably costs a lot less than a Volkswagen Beetle.

Hair ring and "Hand Vase," above, both by London's Francesca Smith.

Bonus link:
If you're more into roses than daisies, grab yourself one of these pretty bouquet rings from Japan's Richbon.

Even more jewellery:

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Monday, April 23, 2012

There's only one way this awesome steampunk rocket kit could be improved.

And there we go. New York's Herbert Hoover, aka POTUS31, creates miniature sculptures, silver snackfoods, rocket rings and more.

Bonus link: here's another rocket ring from California's Healy Designs (couple Deborah & Kevin). The two are known for their kaleidoscope jewellery; the midsection of the rocket is, in fact, a scope!

Even more jewellery:

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Friday, April 20, 2012

A lock of hair, a switch, a retractable pen — twiddlers, rejoice! California's Dha-Mee Hahn takes care of all your fidgety needs.

She also has something to refresh you after all that fidgeting: plastic fruit rings from her "Artificial Preciousness" series.

Bonus link: more buttons and refreshments for you! Vintage (non-pushable) button and miniature tea rings from UK shop Blanche & Lola.

Even more jewellery:

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Thursday, April 19, 2012

In her "How to Touch a Sky Roof" series, Australia's Zoe McMurdo explores "the idea of looking up." In her words: "Each work is a honeycomb cage-like structure, with delicate paper stitched to each hexagonal frame representing the leafy canvas of a forest roof. When held up to the light, it provides a glorious ambiance only visible to the wearer, pinpricked stars on an isolate of paper."

Above, a ring from her "Do You Believe in the Tooth Fairy?" series, in which she used different materials to symbolize different stages of life. See more work on her blog.

Bonus link:
Even if you don't believe in the Tooth Fairy, perhaps you believe in werewolves. Silver "wolf fang" ring available from Hong Kong's Infmetry.

Even more jewellery:

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Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Two's the magic number for Poland's Lis2, where a pair of Lises (Anetę Lis-Marcinkiewicz and Adrianę Lisowską) has made double-top rings featuring real amber paired with fake amber. Check out their "true & false" rings on their site or see Anetę's and Adrianę's individual portfolios.


Here's a second duo of designers with rings that come in pairs. Bonnie Bling and Obscure Couture collaborated on these knuckledusters that come in two-word/two-ring phrases such as "hard core," "man up" and, pictured above, "och aye." As you may have guessed, they're from Scotland.

Bonus link: though going by the moniker Acorn & Archer, and offering this two-finger "Gemini" ring, this shop is just one person: Tennessee's Carolyn Sellers.

Even more jewellery:

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Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Quirky. Jumbly. Knotty. Either Snow White actually knew ten dwarfs or I'm describing these colourful rings by Spain's Búfalo Rosa (Mónica Mandarina).

Bonus link:
For more knots, visit Switzerland's Formabina (Bettina Geistlich), who combines traditional craft and modern technology to create sleek pieces in metal.

Even more jewellery:

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Monday, April 16, 2012

I have a fear of popping balloons. If I were trapped inside one, even with needle in hand, I'd be imprisoned until the thing deflated on its own because I simply cannot bring myself to pop the damn things. Luckily, these balloons come pre-deflated, and pleated, and cut into pieces, becoming the "fabric" of choice for Italy's E-vasiva (note: the second piece pictured above is a bracelet).

Bonus link:
Though she doesn't make rings, I'd be absolutely remiss if I brought up balloons without mentioning Japanese artist Rie Hosokai. Her work is must-see!

Even more jewellery:

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Friday, April 13, 2012

I just checked my watch and it's time again for Random Pluckings from My Bookmarks, starting with a burst of red from Romania's Liana Sălăgean.


Painted wood "stratus" ring by Denmark's Christine Bukkehave.


Ring from the "Dhana" collection by London's Me Me (Michelle Scicluna).


The world needs more elephants! This one by New York's Elisabeth Sann.


Ending things just as we started, with an accent of red, from Greek jeweller Poly Nikolopoulou (who, by the way, does have an elephant in her lovely collection).

Bonus link:
One final hit of red, in the form of this felt rose ring from Adris Boltja (Adrienn Halák). The Hungarian artist works with textiles to make jewellery and embroidered goods.

Even more jewellery:

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Thursday, April 12, 2012



These aren't the first miniatures I've had on my blog but they very well may be my favourite. Hong Kong duo Shannnam (Riyo Chan & Howard Kwong) delight with their "Fragmented Chronicles" series.

Bonus link:
If you'd rather go big than go miniature, Switzerland's Shawish has the ultimate ring for you — it's made entirely of diamond! They claim the 150-carat piece is a world's first.

Even more jewellery:

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Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Make a splash with this "waves" ring...

...or any of the other shiny pieces from Lusasul (Mexico's Carmen Zambrano).

Bonus link:
California's Morgan Patricia Designs has plenty of waves herself, in a collection full of organic, ocean-themed metalwork (including crabs and seafoam).

Even more jewellery:

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Tuesday, April 10, 2012

London's Regal Rose has got me seeing stars — big, bold, shiny stars. Visit them for a cool collection of rocker chic pieces!

Bonus link:
Italy's Rafida Bijoux has got me seeing stars of a different kind with these six-pointed sheriff's star rings! Also available as a cuff (but not handcuffs).

Even more jewellery:

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Monday, April 9, 2012


These rings bring new meaning to the phrase "a pop of colour." Poland's Andy Pop (Maria Kuboszek and Tomasza Woźniaka) let you actually pop out the pop and let you change the colour whenever you want! And unlike other rings, the colour doesn't come from resin, acrylic or enamel. What is it? Think back to your pre-school days... nope, not crayon. It's Plasticine!

Bonus link: let's move from modelling clay to precious metal clay (aka PMC) with this ring by Little Love Prints of Cyprus. They also have fingerprint jewellery if you're looking for a personalized gift.

Even more jewellery:

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Friday, April 6, 2012

Ever since seeing her colourful laminate pieces, I've been stalking Rebecca Hannon's site hoping for some rings. Well, the wait is over. Above, the Halifax artist's rings in plastic and fimo. Below, her silver bird rings. Tons more to see on her site — I especially love the architectural brooches!

Bonus link:
For more fimo, check out Paris artist Lucie van der Elst, who paints and draws but who also makes rings out of the colourful clay.

Even more jewellery:

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Thursday, April 5, 2012

In his buffed aluminum jewellery, Singapore-based Filipino artist Jinggoy Buensucesoart turns erosion into design. Be sure to check out his gorgeous sculptures, as well!

Bonus link:
For more deliberate erosion, check out Pennsylvania metalsmith Sharon Massey, who incorporates rust into her jewellery (which also features cotton, iron, gold and more).

Even more jewellery:

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Wednesday, April 4, 2012

While some may see these as precious stones erupting from underneath, I see the stones in a more passive role, with the wearer scratching away at the surface to reveal the hidden gems. Of course, that could be my years of experience talking (experience in peeling foil away from chocolate, that is). For a modern take on stone settings, visit UK jeweller Mabel Hasell.

Bonus link:
For jewellery that actually has erupted, check out Sunsan. Their work features lava rock from their home, the volcanic island of Santorini, Greece.

Even more jewellery:

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Tuesday, April 3, 2012

More playful diamonds today! I absolutely love these spinning illusion rings from the UK's Alex Laurie. In one ring, two separate images combine to "draw" a diamond when spun together; in another, the spinning motion makes the diamond seem to grow in size (like a flip book). Visit her site for more!

Bonus link:
For more kinetic rings, like the one pictured here, check out Italy's Elena Martinelli. Her work features a mixture of metals and patinas.

Even more jewellery:

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Monday, April 2, 2012

Here's a playful entry in the already-playful "diamonds that aren't diamonds" category: crayon solitaires! Rings by Taiwanese artist Tzu-Ling (Sylvia) Lee.

Bonus link:
Here's another take on the diamond shape. These rings by Israel's Lee Bonk feature a diamond-shaped cutout in the metal; the cutout is filled with a zircon.

Even more jewellery:




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The Carrotbox is obsessed with rings. Please enjoy your stay.

Alice Matsumoto · Vancouver, BC



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