October 2009

Friday, October 30, 2009

Frankenring and Scary Clown wish you a Happy Hallowe'en Eve. Rings by London's Dog State and available at Goodhood.

Bonus link: for a headless way to get into the Hallowe'en spirit, try this giant spiderweb ring. Hand-pierced out of two sheets of silver by Karenna Maraj of Massachusetts.

Even more jewellery:

Softprong (Spain) - Jason masks
Julia Lowther (Seattle) - bats & chains
Anne-Marie Herckes (Luxembourg) - leather charms
Barbara Tipple (UK) - metal & gems
Erin Austin (California) - modern silver

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Velvet: it's not just for Elvis paintings. While there's a good variety of textile jewellery out there, velvet seems to be under-represented. Portugal's Rita Ruivo remedies that situation with her rings incorporating the lush fabric.

Above, a ring from her MNAA collection, in which copies of antique jewellery from Lisbon's National Museum of Ancient Art were printed onto fabric.

Bonus link: looking for a more casual fabric? New Jersey's Jen Abrams recycles both gold and vintage denim from the '60s, '70s and '80s to create her pieces. Jordache never looked so good.

Even more jewellery:

Montse Rego (Spain) - tags & textiles
Sid Vintage (California) - clustered chains
Emma Glover (Victoria, BC) - contemporary silver
Ellen Himic (New York) - architecturally-inspired
Selma Stagg (UK) - glazed ceramic

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Inventor Joseph Friedman was awarded U.S. patent #2,094,268 in September 1937. The business was incorporated in April 1939. Then came the war, delaying the first sale (to a hospital) until 1947. It's been a long time coming but the bendy straw has finally met its full potential in these colourful, whimsical rings by Italy's Linda Schailon.

Bonus link:
Do you like the bendy? For more bent pieces, as well as a series of gorgeous art jewellery, see Swedish jeweller Åsa Lockner.

Even more jewellery:

Saloukee (UK) - phenomenal paper
Emedee (France) - silver straws
Haji Couture (Chicago) - feather earrings
Circo (Spain) - brass & beads
Tavia Sanza (New York) - plastic flowers

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Making science pretty: "Observation Ring" with magnifying glass.

Making science putrid: said ring with decorative petri dishes.

Check out Philadelphia's Erin Colleen Williams for interesting work in a style I like to think of as "turn-of-the-centry mad scientist." (Turn of the last century, that is — that expression got really confusing around the year 2001.)

Bonus link:
Of course, if "turn-of-the-centry mad scientist" is your thing, steampunk jewellery is where it's at. Robot ring by Montreal's Daniel Proulx.

Even more jewellery:

Alejandra Koreck (Argentina) - silver & copper
Albeit (Jenny Lu) (Los Angeles) - delicate typography
Parts by Heather (Vancouver) - recycled vintage
Corry Ernsting Suermann (Germany) - modern artifacts
Lisa Murray (UK) - coils on bands

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Monday, October 26, 2009

Jack-o-luxe.

A little Hallowe'en glam in black rhodium, gold and gems from Paris jeweller Lydia Courteille.

Bonus link:
If you like your skulls a little more colourful, Germany's Encore Jewellery has neon resin skulls for €119 a pop.

Even more jewellery:

Pyrate Style (Germany) - pirate skulls
Formik (Austria) - Darwin's bracelet
Annette Dickow Munck (Denmark) - metal & porcelain
Lauren Ramirez (San Francisco) - oxidized silver
Genevieve Jones (New York) - safety pins

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Friday, October 23, 2009

I came, I saw, I randomly plucked.
Time again for Random Pluckings from my Bookmarks!

"Loop" rings by Argentina's Magali Anidjar.

Art pieces by San Francisco's Tura Sugden.

Chunky silver from Japan's Jurgen Lehl.

Fun felted flowers from Spain's Kebonikö.

Silver and resin from Australia's Jasmine Matus.

Etched silver swivel rings by UK jeweller Ruth Anthony.

Even more jewellery:

Jennifer Moss (Michigan) - felt & styrofoam
Birgit Kupke-Peyla (California) - black & gold
Maiko Takeda (UK) - shadows & light
Theresa Burger (South Africa) - silver & stone
Apodaca Jewelry (Oregon) - metal & gems

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Thursday, October 22, 2009

The maze symbolizes ability — the compass, purpose. To learn what the others symbolize, and for the full story behind these rings, see the thesis page of Michigan artist Erin Cornell.

Bonus link:
Here's another take on the compass ring. Heavy silver piece by Los Angeles skull-ring specialist Tony Creed.

Even more jewellery:

Tobias Alm (Sweden) - art jewellery
Leslie Matthews (Australia) - organic silver
AK Vintage (Portland, OR) - remade vintage
Diana Kim England (Massachusetts) - gold & gems
Buccellati (Italy) - fine & luxe

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

I'm hungry for hippos. Pink enamel hippos.

But I'd settle for coffee and cake.

For a smorgasbord of fun pieces (how cute is that alarm clock ring?), check out the UK's Galibardy.

Bonus link: if hippos are too much for you, how about an elephant? How about just part of an elephant? Trunk ring in silver and modelling clay by the UK's Shona Macsween.

Even more jewellery:

Stenzhorn (Germany) - pavé animals
Jewelry Alchemy (Los Angeles) - twigs & chains
Zo-Landing (France) - crocodile skin
Mary Odorcic (Australia) - silver circles
Tito Pedrini (New York) - gold & gems

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

What's peaceful yet twisted? The yoga ring by Swedish born, Cape Town-based jeweller Frida Sjögren.

Above, more of her gorgeous work in silver and teak.

Bonus link:
Fair trade jewellery shop Shanti Boutique has lots more yoga-themed jewellery, like this ring etched with flowing yoga poses.

Even more jewellery:

Om Jewels (Toronto) - yoga pendants
Laura Christie (Scotland) - metal on wood
Hanna Liljenberg (Sweden) - organic & modern
Barbara Pliskin (Maryland) - reticulated silver
Chieko Akagi (New York) - gold spirals

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Monday, October 19, 2009

"Scrap heaps from a torn-down building" might not seem like an appealing description but it's a look that works in these artfully chaotic rings by Dina González Mascaró. Check out the Vancouver-based Argentinian jeweller on her freshly-launched website! (And if you're in Vancouver, visit her JewellerBau gallery at 2408 Main, right by where Aurora Bistro used to be.)

If it's chaos in colour you want — or maybe some sleek knobs of glass — check out Sweden's Lisa Malmgren Åberg.

By the way: I haven't posted on the weekend in a while but I did on Saturday — scroll down if you missed it.

Bonus link:
This delicate open circle ring is by another Vancouver jeweller (and illustrator), Jana May of Janamade.

Even more jewellery:

Jessie Turner (Vancouver) - simple & modern
Primadina (California) - druzy quartz
Lisa Björke (Sweden) - organic & colourful
Christopher Trollen (Pennsylvania) - metal & gems
Kristin Wiepert (New York) - chunky silver

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Weekend quickie: yay! An artist I've long admired, San Francisco's Raïssa Bump, finally has her site up and running. Alas, I think these are the only rings, but the rest of her work is well worth a visit [spoiler warning] especially if you like colourful silk thread.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Friday, October 16, 2009

You know you're a metalsmith when silver runs in your veins. This amazing piece by Virginia's Alice R. Scott, bejeweled with a single tooth, is like an external vascular system for your hand.

Speaking of hands, here's another in crocheted silver from Montreal's Barbara Stutman (I've also thrown in some legs for good measure; the ones on the left are a ring and brooch sculpture).

Bonus link:
A couple more hand rings in silver and white Delrin plastic by Australian jeweller Laura Simeoni.

Even more jewellery:

Black Jewls (Australia) - anatomical pendants
Handle & Spout (New York) - metallic leather
Garnett Jewelry (Virginia) - pocketknife necklaces
Tellurus (Singapore) - pearls & briolettes
Shelley Strong (Ontario) - textured silver

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Maybe I'm being Jedi mind-tricked but the more I stare, the more a white Darth Vader in the cockpit of a pink TIE fighter makes sense. I mean, of course.

Pink Vader, golden slug and things that look like sour soothers with all the sugar sucked off, all resin, by Swedish jeweller Märta Mattsson.

Bonus link:
Ok, time for a little more Stars and a little less Wars. These cute, silver star bands are by Massachusetts jeweller Jade Moran.

Even more jewellery:

Patina Studio (Rhode Island) - silver & resin
Sally Pattrick (UK) - magnifying lenses
Danielle Gori-Montanelli (Connecticut) - playful felt
Thomasin Durgin (Tennessee) - mixed metals
Camilla Gough (Australia) - twotone bands

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Is the whole more than the sum of its parts? What if its parts are pretty awesome on their own and what makes the whole awesome is that it can be broken down into three awesome parts and that the actual summation itself is a whole other kind of awesome that almost supersedes the resulting sum, which is still, if you will recall, awesome? To summarize: this is awesome.

And so is this. (You wear it with the crescent moon resting on your pinky!) All work above by Oregon's Amy Johnston.

Bonus link:
If you prefer your birds in a more natural habitat, check out this bird nest ring by Italian jeweller Vernissage.

Even more jewellery:

Sarah Hearey (New York) - feathered birds
Bridget Catchpole (Vancouver) - recycled packaging
Katharine Redford (Wisconsin) - silver & glitter
Anita Quansah (UK) - textile necklaces
Gisela Seibert-Philippen (Germany) - mixed metals

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

I think my blog wants to be an IKEA catalogue for Hallowe'en, because we've got more furniture today! These adorable chair rings were created by Tennessee woodworker Kent Perdue.

Above, a piece more befitting a hangar than a living room, from the artist's "wing ring" series.

Bonus link: here's a set of wings from a much smaller entity. Beetle ring from California's Reclaimed Relics, where you'll find lots of great nautically-themed pieces.

Even more jewellery:

Woven Flesh (Denmark) - cute wood
Lola & Bailey (Australia) - shadow puppets
Jill Graham (UK) - modern silver
Enso Jewelry (Minnesota) - beads & washi
Giselle Minoli (New York) - botanical metal

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Monday, October 12, 2009

Neatniks, take note. In her "Furniture to Jewelry" project, Israel's Shlomit Ofir has created a "storage" line of jewellery consisting of pieces that can store themselves.

Above, another ring from the series. The concept is particularly effective when it comes to the brooches and necklaces with dripping chains, so go check them out now!

Bonus link:
For more furniture jewellery, check out the chair rings and sculptures by Toronto's Ruby Diego; this tall piece is a ladder-back chair.

Even more jewellery:

Pilar Marsà (Spain) - minimalist ebony
Ilka Bruse (Germany) - happy flowers
Cruz (Richard Campiglio) (New Mexico) - silver & gems
Ghita Kolker (Netherlands) - contemporary metal
Em's Studio (San Francisco) - beads on hoops

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Friday, October 9, 2009

Let's span an even larger distance than yesterday with this two-finger suspension bridge ring — the Brooklyn Bridge, to be exact.

Above, more from New York's Leeora Catalan, who showcases her glam-punk aesthetic with Noir Jewelry.

For more urban jewellery, but tending more hip-hop than punk, check out Anjuna Bijoux of Paris. In addition to a bevy of graffiti rings, they have this four-finger village ring that spells "Anjuna" when viewed from above.

Bonus link: another graffiti ring from the "b-side" line by Ken & Dana Design. I mentioned the NYC duo's "bylu" line in July '05 but they now have a different website.

Even more jewellery:

Daisuke Sakaguchi (UK) - wearable graffiti
Susanna Loew (Germany) - folded metal
Sou Brette by Muqliza Imroni (Indonesia) - urban lucite
Urban Concept (New York) - simple silver
Rosalina Lydster (San Francisco) - ornate pavé

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Giraffe necks and bridges? Oh yes: if you love things that span long distances, today's your day! Giraffes (which are brooches, not rings — forgive me) and beam bridge poison ring by Scotland's Pure Brass Neck.

Bonus link:
Speaking of pure brass necks, what actually has a brass neck? A brass deer — like this one by Australia's Maria King.

Even more jewellery:

Sylvie Markovina (Australia) - brass & bakelite
Hanna Hedman (Sweden) - ethereal necklaces
iamacrylic by Brendan Fan (UK) - acrylic cutouts
Dorothée Meier-Gempper (New Jersey) - silver & felt
Theo Hoffmann (Germany) - contemporary gold

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

As scarf weather gets rolling, don't limit the cozy knits and rich hues to your neck only. Fingers need warmth, too! (Pardon me? What are these... "gloves" you speak of?) Crochet rings by Barcelona-based Swiss jeweller Catherine Maymo.

Bonus link:
For more stitchwork, check out Montreal's Nea, where you'll find this ring in great fall colours as well as adorable needlepoint pendants.

Even more jewellery:

Emmanuelle Esther (France) - bright knits
Joan Dulla (Arizona) - metal crochet
Make Believe (Tokyo) - resin flowers
Suzie G (UK) - boho bracelets
Saori C. (Seattle) - dainty bridal

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Hello, Mr. Bear! Love the mustache! Wha... wait, what are you doing?? Stop, Mr. Bear, stop!

Bad Mr. Bear. Baaad.

If you've been looking for something to match your Gloomy Bear paraphernalia, look no further than Japan's cogito, (with comma). To view their collection, follow their "web shop" links. Below, samples of their less morbid side:

Bonus link: for a super luxe animal head, UK jewellers Zinzi Coetzee and Ursula Horton of Francesca Sibylla Augusta FSA have this golden pig with yellow diamond eyes for a cool £6,440.

Even more jewellery:

Ysé (France) - animals & charms
Gemma Draper (Spain) - art pieces
Ana Eugenia by Anna Hinkes (Oregon) - cutout flowers
Jennifer Cervelli (California) - metal & beads
Lindsay Bishop (Maryland) - silver bubbles

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Monday, October 5, 2009

Aptly, these scratched-surface rings merely scratch the surface of Sarah Loertscher's portfolio (some of which I've shown, above left). The Seattle artist, also known as lucymachine, draws inspiration from crystalline structures when working on her steel, silver and gold pieces.

Above: for more crystalline structures, check out these "mineral specimen" rings in pyrite by Australia's Tessa Blazey.

Bonus link: Austin's Theresa Mink offers up the uncommon combination of crystals and lucite! The piece pictured here features raw amethyst on top of clear plastic.

Even more jewellery:

Paulo Segatto (Brazil) - crystals & gold
Esther von Bach (Germany) - sculptural silver
Judith Hoyt (New York) - collage on copper
Britt Anderson (North Carolina) - pearls on loops
Louise Grønlykke (Denmark) - wavy metal

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Friday, October 2, 2009

F-F-L-E has got to be one of the greatest non-suffix word-endings in the English language. You've got tasty words like waffle and truffle, plus raffle and sniffle and muffle and whiffle. You can scuffle and shuffle in a coffle or kerfuffle. Baffled by the piffle? It all leads to today's keyword — ruffle — and today's key artist: England's Rachel Darbourne.

Bonus link:
More ruffles! This sterling silver ring is from the "Ruffles" collection by New York artist Shella Robinson.

Even more jewellery:

Sandra Di Giacinto (Italy) - pleated paper
Sally Collins (UK) - metal & textiles
Sharon Vaizer (Israel) - plastic in water
Judy Dunn (Massachusetts) - polymer clay
Vonhey (Germany) - cord necklaces

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Thursday, October 1, 2009

For gorgeous glass globes galore: UK artist Abigail Stradling. I'm agog.

Bonus link: here's a globe that'll make you feel like you've got the world in the palm of your hand. Ring by Calgary-based Finnish jeweller Ellinor Stenroos (photo from her portfolio).