Blog > January 2008
Thursday, January 31, 2008
I must've been a piece of acrylic in a past life because I just can't get enough of the stuff! Above: rings from the "strat" collection by Switzerland's Bernhard Muller.
Below, acrylic neon rods from England's Becky Pierce:
And here's another Swiss designer: Christine Haussener of Ringsum, who offer stackable bands and other chunky goodies.
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Even more jewellery:
- Vesper Jewelry (Seattle) - etched creatures
- Titlee (France) - colourful fabric
- this is emillie (Australia) - fabric necklaces
- Leetal Kalmanson (Israel) - bold & glam
- Comfort Station (UK) - Victorian style
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
I like the perforated metal and droplet shapes of these "grid" rings from Belgian jeweller Salima Thakker. They're like tears from a bejeweled robot (which is the best kind of robot).
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Even more jewellery:
- Claire Pain (France) - diamonds & polar bears
- Anita Ko (Los Angeles) - pavé creatures
- Cat Preston (Australia) - orchids & toys
- Tracy Matthews (New York) - modern classics
- Claudia Jaffe (UK) - organic & textured
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
When I recycle paper, I end up with a pile of torn and crumpled sheets in a blue plastic bin. But when Barcelona's Ana Hagopian recycles paper, she gets these bright, pretty flowers. No fair.
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Even more jewellery:
- David & Martin (Sweden) - shiny & modern
- Julie Sion (France) - ribbons & colour
- Raul Frisneda (New York) - matte gold
- Jessica Hewitt (UK) - clean & modern
- Aki Oedl (Austria) - beads & cabs
Monday, January 28, 2008
I found this link in my notes annotated simply, "steak/vertebrae." I think I'll stick with that. Stainless steel and urethane "seque" ring by Grand Rapids, Michigan jewellery instructor Phil Carrizzi, whose work is vaguely anatomical and futuristic.
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Even more jewellery:
- Angela O'Kelly (Ireland) - paper & felt
- Steve Keene (Brooklyn) - art & pendants
- Lolita Pop (Singapore) - brass necklaces
Friday, January 25, 2008
What goes with a steel grater bracelet? Why, a nutmeg ring, of course. (I'm hoping it comes in parmesan, too.) Set by UK artist Chrysanthe Staikopoulou, a recent RCA metalsmithing grad who also has a background in architecture and who counts "the domestic environment" among her influences.
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Even more jewellery:
- Gisella Peacock (London) - metal sprouts
- Boutique 33 (Florida) - chains & crystal
- Amy Buettner (Portland, OR) - silver & jasper
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Brooklyn designer Quoc Lieu calls this his "3D Diamonds" collection, though I like to think of them as diamond skeletons. The rings are US$210 for gold fill or US$170 for sterling silver and come with a sterling chain so you can wear them as pendants, too! What a great touch.
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Even more jewellery:
- LaMayka (Netherlands) - embellished bracelets
- KT Collection (New York) - modern metal
- Anney Friday (Fullerton, CA) - mosaic necklaces
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Bold, organic silver creations from Santa Fe jeweller Lori Swartz. Most of the pieces pictured are from her "industrial flower" series.
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Even more jewellery:
- Anna Kaminska-Oginska (Poland) - closet lockets
- Hayluv (Nevada) - long necklaces
- Peggy Cochran (Portland, OR) - contemporary metal
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
This is probably the only case in which I'd advise attacking your jewellery with sharp blades. The cut-out ring by German artist Kerstin Henke features layers of plastic on silver with a cubic zirconium accent.
And here are some more folded layers silver and gold-plated silver "loop" rings by Austria's Heike Wanner:
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Even more jewellery:
- Inu Jewelry (New York) - organic silver
- Vincenzo Taormina (Philadelphia) - stainless steel
- Maneki Collection (Austin) - vintage charms
Monday, January 21, 2008
Awwwwww, yeah. I hope your eyes are hungry, because Switzerland's Mirca Maffi offers a feast of cool, geometric rings in wood and silver (be sure to devour the archives, too).
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Even more jewellery:
- Lia Vaz Saleiro (Germany) - matte silver
- Erica Weiner (New York) - brass charms
- Pet Hypothesis (California) - recycled billboards
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Weekend quickie: another site update I'd been waiting on is 22designstudio, who make chunky concrete rings in interesting shapes. The designers hail from Taiwan (which is not, as certain people seem to think, where Thai food comes from).
Friday, January 18, 2008
Friday fancy from Chile's Claudia Correa. I especially love that blue ring, which looks like a plastic blade slicing through metal (instead of the other way around). Fun idea, but remind me not to engage her in a round of rock-paper-scissors. Lots more on her site, including these great-looking pieces:
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Even more jewellery:
- Rita Bey Yu Lin (Taiwan) - ribbons & thread
- Lucia Odescalchi (Italy) - metal & stones
- Pei-San (Austin) - pearls & quartz
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Dutch-born Australian resident Christel van der Laan creates art jewellery in red, gold and translucent white, a palette which shall henceforth be known as "VanderLaanian." In my mind, anyway.
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Even more jewellery:
- Toril Bjorg (Norway) - woven silver
- Leviticus Jewelry (Spring, TX) - chains & charms
- Delight Design (Denmark) - quartz & topaz
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
I know the idea is to share these rings with another person but I'd be tempted to wear one on each hand and obsessively click the parts together all day. Rings on purple background by Seattle's Jana Brevick; USB rings by German design collective dialog05.
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Even more jewellery:
- Gabriel Urist (New York) - athletic & urban
- Kathy Bransfield (Santa Monica, CA) - inscribed pendants
- Marcin Zaremski (Poland) - raw amber
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
I've been eagerly anticipating the launch of Monique Péan's new site, and it was definitely worth the wait! The New Yorker (by way of Washington, DC) is committed to environmental issues and her "Bering" collection is a foray into the relatively tiny realm of sustainable fine jewellery. Inspired by Alaskan culture, she collaborated with Native Alaskans to create pieces entirely from eco-friendly materials, including walrus and woolly mammoth ivory, 100% recycled gold and conflict-free diamonds. Pictured here are the Mayac stackable ivory rings (US$1,000) and the Holgate 4-carat rutile ring (US$2,500) but my favourite might be the Mirage Olanna ivory bracelet (US$14,000). She donates 10% of the profits to the Alaska Native Arts Foundation. Be sure to visit her site and view the entire collection, which is truly stunning!
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Even more jewellery:
- Spell Designs (Australia) - brass & charms
- Shona Fidgett (Scotland) - simple twotone
- Pretti Vacant (California) - acrylic shapes
Monday, January 14, 2008
Antidotum is where Polish jeweller Alina Tyro-Niezgoda showcases her large and varied body of work. I had to go with her happy Lego rings (sorry about the watermarks) but there's tons more to see on her site!
Antidotum also hosts some other artists, like Sylwia Całus, whose acrylic rings are below:
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Even more jewellery:
- Birgit Laken (Netherlands) - scalloped brooches
- Vinnie Day (London) - metal & charms
- Arielle de Pinto (Montreal) - crochet chains
Friday, January 11, 2008
Saskia Noël and Sogol Shirazi of Germany's Immerdein create sweet little pieces in silver, enamel and coral. I'm hoping these bright blooms will magically chase away the grey, rainy weekend that's in store here.
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Even more jewellery:
- Penny Gray (UK) - recycled glitz
- Winifred Grace (Chicago) - oxidized chains
- Barbara Heinrich (Pittsford, NY) - classic gold
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Do you see the baseball influence? Before her career in jewellery, Amsterdam's Hilde Foks was a pitcher on the Dutch national baseball team. Now, inspired by the corkscrew movement of her pitches, she weaves steel, nylon and wool into pliable, springy, spiral-themed pieces. How playful.
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Even more jewellery:
- Olivia Lowe (UK) - metal & flowers
- Adha Zelma (Brooklyn) - long earrings
- Oculus Jewelry (Portmouth, NH) - wooden cuffs
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Chaos? Meet structure. Maud Traon, a French RCA grad now based in London, raises the organized mess to an art form. Her rings are sculptural piles of copper, silver, fimo clay, wax, beads, synthetic stones, plastic toys, varnish and found objects. (Sorry, I checked, but your keys weren't in there.)
Also, just because yesterday's fur ring looks a little lonely, here are some more this time, from Finnish designer Mari Isopahkala, using reindeer fur. I guess Donner and Blitzen finally had some time for a haircut.
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Even more jewellery:
- Min-Ji Cho (London) - rubber gloves
- Hisano Takei (Gardena, CA) - wool neckpieces
- Amy Reeves (Washington State) - enamel & copper
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
I love the understated originality, if that makes sense, of these rings by Israel's Dalia Gefen. They're not ordinary, but they're also not jumping up and down, waving their arms and screaming, "LOOK AT ME, I'M DIFFERENT!" If that makes sense, too. (I know, that last sentence makes no sense.) Lots more to see on her site!
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Even more jewellery:
- Nicole Landaw (Brooklyn) - gold & diamonds
- Karalee Designs (Massachusetts) - cute & kitschy
- Ciara Creates (Philippines) - colourful clusters
Monday, January 7, 2008
Happy 2008! I've awakened from my winter snooze; the shop and the blog are both back in business! What better way to kick off the year than with a new favourite of mine: clear boro glass rings by Japanese designer Banri Miyashita, who designs as the label Lima 7192.
These and other pieces are available for ¥8,925-10,500 (roughly US$80-100) at Japanese webshop Kök (Swedish for "kitchen").
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Even more jewellery:
- Jennifer Fisher (New York) - charm necklaces
- Iosselliani (Italy) - modern luxe
- Louise Ashton Designs (UK) - dichroic glass