October 2010

Saturday, October 30, 2010

See what's new this week in the shop!

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Friday, October 29, 2010

You may have heard of something called "Hallowe'en" going on this weekend. To get you in the mood is UK artist Lucy Elsie Harvey and these ceramic claws from her "Backstreet Dentist" series.

Above, her "Pedestal" ring with fly and her silver scar ring.

Bonus link:
"Wing of the Bat" ring from the "Punk Rock Luxe" collection by Heist Jewelry of Boston and Miami. Check out their "gallery" page to see the ring being worn.

Even more jewellery:

Decarabia (UK) - goth & Victorian
Mark Sanfilippo (Australia) - deco & poets
Les Morceaux (California) - chains & braids
Karla Wheeler (Illinois) - silver & resin
Claudia Diehl (Germany) - paper necklaces

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Thursday, October 28, 2010

Remember what I said yesterday? Well, this is amber done my other favourite way. Eugeniusz Salwierz props amber slices on straight-cut acrylic, contrasting clean lines with amber's raw, natural edges. A match made in heaven (where heaven = Poland).

Bonus link:
For more geometric rings featuring amber slices — though with silver instead of acrylic — check out Jacek Ostrowski, also of Poland (a hotbed of amber jewellery).

Even more jewellery:

Ambermoda (Poland) - geometric amber
Sahani (Australia) - modern deco
Lisa Jane Forrester (UK) - simple silver
Little Doe is Love (California) - crystals & headpieces
Marie-Pierre Ginestet (France) - metal & glass

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Wednesday, October 27, 2010

This is amber jewellery done my favourite way: carved and sculptural, on its own, sans silver. Latvian jeweller Janis Jakobson follows the principle that "objects created out of this substance should be held in great respect, that the material's natural attributes should be enhanced in the creation process."

She also has a collection of works in mammoth ivory — visit her site for more!

Bonus link:
Here's a mammmoth-sized ring that looks like ivory but is actually white amber (with gold). You'll find it in the special collections of Polish jewellery company S&A.

Even more jewellery:

Aleksander Gliwiński (Poland) - bold amber
Kirsty Eaglesfield (UK) - driftwood & silver
Karin Alisa Houben (New York) - seedbead animals
Ninaki (California) - chunky & sculptural
Sally Jean (Oregon) - vintage collages

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Tuesday, October 26, 2010

As Uncle Joey used to gesticulate on "Full House," CUT. IT. OUT. Cut out the silver, that is. These pretty rings with acrylic backings are by Japanese jeweller Kaori Watanabe; they were inspired by the rose windows found in Florence, Italy, where she now lives.

Here's an impressive, intricate display of cut-out silver: towering "Secret Garden" ring by Anne Léger, a French jeweller based in Norway.

Bonus link:
Also reminiscent of a rose window but inspired by a different part of the world is this silver and agate "Marrakech" ring by Australia's Carly Paiker.

Even more jewellery:

Magpie and Molly (Ohio) - hand-cut metal
Erica Meier (Wisconsin) - pierced silver
Caroline Watson (UK) - flora & fauna
Laurène Pijulet Balmer (France) - acrylic silhouettes
Cornelia Goldsmith (California) - gold & gems

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Monday, October 25, 2010

Looking like the parts for some fantastical lollipop-making machine are these riveted acrlyic rings by UK designer Dougie Kinnear. I always did love lemon.

And these must be the control panels. Studded plexiglas rings by New York's Sandy Hyun.

Bonus link:
This silver and candy pink briolette ring is called, appropriately enough, the "O'Lollipop Ring." Piece by New Jersey jeweller Sultana Aschim of Sultana Maria.

Even more jewellery:

Neonpolka (Germany) - minimalist acrylic
AuraDror (New York) - fused glass
Lorinczi Jewelry (San Francisco) - metal & gems
TLK Jewellery (UK) - simple silver
Perlenküche (Switzerland) - colourful PVC

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Friday, October 22, 2010

Dressed to kill?

Paging Wile E. Coyote! Put away your lighters and tread lightly around Ireland's Sam Hamilton.

Bonus link:
Wile E. should consider upgrading from ACME to California's Rogue DZN, who uses aerospace- grade titanium in their military style jewellery (like this three-piece "Clover" ring).

Even more jewellery:

Michelle Verbeeck (Pennsylvania) - leather & bullets
Sian Bostwick (UK) - anodized titanium
Vanessa Lianne (New York) - modern metal
Agustina Fernandez (Argentina) - silver & beads
Chris Ploof (Rhode Island) - meteorites & mokumegane

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Thursday, October 21, 2010

Of all the obscure phobias out there, chromophobia has got to be one of the most inconvenient. For one thing, you wouldn't be able to appreciate these vibrant pieces in crochet fabric, steel wire and silver nylon from Mexico's Marta Carmela.

Another dose of nylon: loopy filament rings by Denmark's Owe Johansson.

Bonus link:
Here's one more loopy ring in blue, this time in felt instead of nylon. Blooming wool ring by English textile designer Seventyseventyone Design.

Even more jewellery:

Juha Koskela (Finland) - spirals & loops
Julia Barello (New Mexico) - dyed film
Tereza Pízová (Czech Republic) - felt & porcelain
Haruko Ito (Italy) - organic metal
Anya Keeley (UK) - collaged pendants

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Wednesday, October 20, 2010

When you've got this many ears...

...you probably have a good appreciation for quiet.

Ear and nose rings by Dutch jeweller Jennifer Hoes; "Shhhhh" rings by Golden Chix (Korean jeweller Soonmi Kim).

Bonus link:
Here's another pair of lips for your fingers. Sterling ring by Rhode Island's Katelin Gibbs, who does some interesting work in silver and glass.

Even more jewellery:

Simona Kaunaite (Lithuania) - five senses
Renaissance Life (Sweden) - hearts & horseshoes
Marco Fleseri (Illinois) - silver & stones
Gemstitch by Christine Witham (UK) - textile neckpieces
Nancy Hoyt (Idaho) - figural metal

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Tuesday, October 19, 2010

You might think she were Japanese...

...or maybe English...

... or even Scandinavian, in her minimalism. But you'd be wrong on all counts. Irina (Ira) Frid hails from Russia, a place I think is under-represented in the world of jewellery (at least on my blog!). Visit her site for lots of small, sweet, modern silver work.

Bonus link: by my count, I've featured only six other Russian jewellers. Slovakia doesn't fare much better, at 13. Make that 14, with this kinetic bird ring by Karol Weisslechner, chancellor of the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava.

Even more jewellery:

Carmine (Japan) - fruit & animals
Becca Straus (New York) - organic gold
Malte Ström (Sweden) - clean silver
Pilar Agueci (UK) - roses & curlicues
Maya Brenner (California) - state outlines

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Monday, October 18, 2010

Despite their relatedness, it seems the words "strum" and "plectrum" have different etymologies. Huh. Anyway, these plectrum rings were created especially for the qanún (or kanun), a stringed instrument found in regions of the Middle East. By Israel's TULILABEL (Tal Arbel).

Above, mud rings from her "Terrific Land" series, "which bonds the wearer's body and the Israeli scenery."

Bonus link:
Speaking of stringed instruments, check out this "wind harp" ring in silver, gold and silk linen, one of many interesting, sculptural pieces by Quebec jeweller Michel de Bellefeuille.

Even more jewellery:

Pokke (Japan) - instruments & animals
Cheng Xu (Pennsylvania) - audio earrings
Route 13 (Tennessee) - simple silver
Johnny Loves Rosie (UK) - roses & pearls
Molly Buckle (Ontario) - mixed beads

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Saturday, October 16, 2010

See what's new this week in the shop!

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Friday, October 15, 2010

A tangle of dark colour from Ireland's Emer Duffy.

Lightening up with colourful cells by Montreal's Francesc Peich.

Muted hues in these tourmaline slices by Brazil's Kika Alvarenga.

Colours hidden in white by Melbourne's Emi Fukuda.

Finally, a faint drop of blue from Costa Rica's Catalina Brenes.

Bonus link:
I'm sure you guessed what comes next (hey, I never said this was a Mensa test). For an all-white ring, check out this clustered porcelain piece by San Francisco's Cynthia Rohrer.

Even more jewellery:

Laura de Alba (Mexico) - colourful crochet
TULP by Gerry Hofstede (Peru) - bright & playful
Du Poil De La Bête (France) - noir fantasy
Kendra Studio Jewellery (New York) - inlaid stones
Sarah Proctor (UK) - wavy silver

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Thursday, October 14, 2010

What do these rings have in common with elastic waistbands? One piece fits all. In Micah Adams' own words, "multiple sizes are combined in one piece to make accessible one-of-a-kind rings modeled after a magnified look at the structure of foam." The Toronto designer has an interesting portfolio, including "My Own Personal Olympic Stadium," which is better seen than described.

Bonus link: for actually elastic rings (inner tubes, to be exact), see German artist Chiba of CoseInutili and her "Gummi 100% Recycle" collection.

Even more jewellery:

My Sister's Art (Alabama) - recycled rubber
Fay Andrada (New York) - simple & modern
Jasmine Pennamma (California) - agate slices
Nenad Roban (Croatia) - sculptural forms
Caroline Tetley (UK) - enamel pictures

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Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Today, we bring new meaning to "smoke rings."

Italian design duo 01MATHERY (Erika Zorzi and Matteo Sangalli) created these rings to keep the smell of cigarettes off their fingers. Just unroll when needed.

Check out their site for more design ideas, like these glue and clothespin rings.

Bonus link:
Another way to avoid the smell of smoke permeating your fingers is to have your cigarette be made of gold. "Hold It" ring by Hong Kong's Insinuo, aka conceptual artist Gloria Ng.

Even more jewellery:

Debby Xiaorui Zhang (UK) - rubber gloves
To the Metal (Greece) - silver & titanium
Made by Eugene (New York) - leather & charms
Baxter Moerman (California) - modern classics
Nancy Bullock (Arizona) - chains & briolettes

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Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Swedish jeweller Sabina Kasper takes the expression "splash of colour" quite literally. Her otherwise traditional rings are enhanced with at-times haphazard splashes of paint, turning classic gemstone rings into cool and modern statement pieces.

Bonus link: Greek jeweller Lina Fanourakis also paints gold, though with a more deliberate application, in keeping with her more formal aesthetic. Pictured is her "Zaha" ring in paint and 18k gold.

Even more jewellery:

Cometman (Japan) - metal & colour
Mathilde Quinchez (France) - clean & modern
Ruby Kobo (New York) - luxe bohemian
Carine Terreblanche (South Africa) - contemporary gold
Low Tide Jewellery (UK) - simple silver

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Monday, October 11, 2010

I thought I'd seen this ring before and I think I finally figured it out. Am I crazy? Or does that agate slice, above, look just like...

... this Percy Moran painting from 1909, depicting the Battle of Bunker Hill during the American Revolution?

Right?

Speaking of which, would the American Revolutionaries have been so quick to dump their tea in Boston Harbor if they'd each owned one of these tea infuser rings? We'll never know. All rings above (well, except for the one with the superimposed painting) by Atlanta's Erin Marie Holstein.

Bonus link: today is Canadian Thanksgiving, which means today is a great day for pie. Pie ring in silver, copper, enamel and resin by Canadian jeweller Point of Departure (Nova Scotia's Meris Mosher).

Even more jewellery:

Tea Stained (UK) - kitschy charms
Klik Klik (New York) - shiny magnets
Jesse Bert (Mexico) - found parts
Teal by Julie Wong (Singapore) - gold & briolettes
khMetalwork (California) - silver & stone

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Friday, October 8, 2010

Ceci, obviously, n'est pas une ring. But this embroidered knee is absolutely freaking me out, so I just had to share. Visit French artist Claire Bourdillon for more, including "anti-Bradshaw" non-nameplate necklaces.

Now, on to the rings. Reminiscent of the "Funny Face" ring is this stacking "Monsieur" set by New York's Kristy Lin ("Madame" also available).

If it's famous faces you're after, London's Theo Fennell has this "Heroes & Villains" set.

Bonus link:
Japan's Haru Mugikura has another Che ring, this time featuring the iconic photo by Alberto Korda. A hero to some and a villian to others, Guevara died 43 years ago tomorrow.

Even more jewellery:

Stick Man Creations (Montreal) - cute figures
Natalie Smith (UK) - crystal candy
Sibilia (Argentina) - enamel & metal
Nathalie Nahas (Toronto) - cast silver
Thomas Turner (Michigan) - gold & gems

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Thursday, October 7, 2010

Now this is what I call "chain of command." Sweden's Cornelia Webb makes me swoon with her super cool jewellery, designed to drape over everything from your ears to your hands to your entire body.

Bonus link:
If you love the look but are a little chain-shy, take a baby step with this more subtle fringed chain ring by Italy's Lotonatif (Giuditta Bevivino).

Even more jewellery:

Kueen (New York) - draping chains
Investment Design (Connecticut) - vintage parts
Marianne Dulong (Denmark) - modern classics
The 27 Life (UK) - bold & urban
Roberto Intorre (Italy) - contemporary silver

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Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Fable-ous! Japan's Amabro brings us these "Story Rings," based on Aesop's fables (such as "The Wolf and the Lamb," pictured above).

Bonus link: this "Reach Out & Touch Faith" stamp ring by UK jeweller Katie Rowland is based on the words (or lyrics) of a more contemporary writer: Depeche Mode's Martin Gore.

Even more jewellery:

Book Earrings (California) - miniature books
Caroline Cowen (UK) - cute silver
Jenny Klemming (Sweden) - raw & natural
Halleh (New York) - contemporary gold
Sonja Grondstra (Massachusetts) - beach glass

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Tuesday, October 5, 2010

You may want to sit down for this one. (Yes, that's a runway ring, and you get front-row seats.)

Australia's None the Richer (Ulyana Bezeruk) oozes cool. These are the rings that come out at night after the pearl solitaires go to bed early.

Bonus link: for another Eiffel Tower ring, check out the four-piece "world landmarks" set by L.A.'s Plastique (Jen Murse). Tower Bridge, Taj Mahal, Acropolis and Egyptian pyramid rings also available separately.

Even more jewellery:

Colleen Choi (New York) - cool & modern
Elke Kramer (Australia) - deco pyramids
Camille Demoustier (France) - diamonds & gems
Lorraine Tolmie (UK) - bright felt
Heather Matwe (Vancouver) - pierced silver

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Monday, October 4, 2010

I know you've seen the mug-as-ring idea before.

But have you seen the matching bangle saucers, bracelet bowls and plate necklace? Porcelain set by French artist Marie Pendariès.

Bonus link:
Here's another mug-as-ring, diamond edition! Available at Toronto shop Up To You. (See also this widely-available version, one of which I own myself!)

Even more jewellery:

Tasha McKelvey (Virginia) - cute ceramic
Il Jung Lee (Korea) - paintings & earrings
Gisselle Morales (Spain) - resin & copper
Yume Martin (UK) - simple silver
David Urso (New York) - metal & resin

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Saturday, October 2, 2010

See what's new this week in the shop!

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Friday, October 1, 2010

Are you leaving on a jet prop plane this weekend?

Or is Zeppelin more your style? Whatever your ride, there's a ring to match.

Top: "plain planes" by South Africa's Hoo-Doo Design (Brendan Marx and Thérèse de Villiers). Above: sterling boat ring by Swedish jeweller Anna Andersson (top left), vermeil Zeppelin by New York's Kim Lyons (top right), "escapement" ring made of motorbike rollers by Sydney-based Czech jeweller Radka Passianova (bottom right), and layered bike chain ring by Rhode Island's Patrick McMillan (bottm left).

Bonus link:
Even this pick-up truck knows how to ride in style. Silver truck with Akoya pearls by Japan's Cocomono Mamani (Marii Kishigami), who likes to use pearls in a playful manner.