The Carrotbox

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

Alice Matsumoto · Vancouver, BC

While the shop is metal-free, the blog is not! Links are never repeated so there's always something new.

I post only what interests me. No ads, no paid promos.

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Blog > December 2010

Thursday, December 22, 2010


I'm taking a break for the holidays so this will be my final post of 2010! I hope you all have a great holiday — thanks for reading!


When it comes to these rings, the bow goes inside the box.

Top: trio of gift-bow rings by Sweden's Caroline Grohp.
Ribbon rings, all from Japan unless otherwise noted (L-R): row 1 by Aqua, Mikey Jewellery (UK) and Tiny Masters (Sweden); row 2 by Hirondelle, Sparklethots (Singapore) and Padou; row 3 by Snow Angel, Vendome and Mignons; and row 4 by Chic Alors! (France), Hakka Avenue and Mikia.

If you missed yesterday's post, be sure to check it out, as I included a large number of jewellers to explore over the break. Happy New Year, everybody!


Bonus link: not only are these rings tied up with a bow, they even box themselves. From the "Surprise" collection by Italian jeweller Ninetto Terzano.

Even more jewellery:

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Sleeping children, Christmas trees and rooftop chimneys — it's coming up on Santa Claus time! Tomorrow will be my last post of the year so, in order to leave you with lots to explore over the break, here's an extravaganza of Random Pluckings from My Bookmarks!


Above: facial trimmings and a nose by Japan's Dicokick, who also made the Christmasy rings up top.


Bread-tag ring by UK artist Ahna Adair.



Teddy bears and bunnies by seasonally-named SandyClause of Japan, who also make jewellery shaped like gingerbread men.


"Sirene" golden fishscale rings by Italy's Pomellato.


Metal lace by Scotland's Ebba Goring.


3D-printed rings by Finnish designer Pekka Salokannel.


Leather strap ring by Mode en Module of the UK.


"Wave Particle Loop" by Ohio's Lisa Wilson.


Simple enamel by Japan's Kenichi Kondo.


Plastic ring with gold price tag from a conceptual series by Switzerland-based designers Big-Game.

Even more jewellery:

Monday, December 20, 2010

Recognizing the value of seeing things from a new perspective, Israel's Osnat Har-Noy made these "slice" rings by imagining cross-sections of her apartment (the kitchen bar, the bathroom and the dining room, from the looks of it).


Bonus link: here's another architectural ring, though this one is decidedly more 3D. This buliding ring by Australia's Hammer & Blonde (Ingrid Lockley) is based on one of her grandfather's architectural designs.

Even more jewellery:

Friday, December 17, 2010

When it's cold outside, you gotta bundle up. Wool rings wrapped in textiles and thread by Belgium's Ria Lins.


Mohair's also a fine choice when you're trying not to succumb to hypothermia. Rings by New York's Knock Knock Studio.


Bonus link: Romania's On Skin (Fillis-Andra Seitisleam) has a lot more textile crochet jewellery in cotton, including this "beehive" ring.

Even more jewellery:

Thursday, December 16, 2010

This moody ring is straight out of a Grimm's fairy tale. And it makes me want a slice of Black Forest cake. "House Ring" in sterling and bone by San Francisco's Lindsey K. Eisentraut.

Above, her rings (and bracelets) made from motherboard components.


Bonus link: around these parts, I may have better luck getting a slice of Nanaimo Bar instead. For now, here's a ring that looks like one, by Danish ceramicist Lea-Mi Engholm.

Even more jewellery:

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

A crisp collar...

...a neat bow...

...and a clean shirt cuff. Should I be embarrassed that a piece of jewellery is better-dressed than I am?


All rings above by Japan's Tortue.


Bonus link:
I can't give you cuffs without also giving you sleeves! Pictured is a knit metal "finger sleeve" ring by Australian jeweller Sandra L. Brown.

Even more jewellery:

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

"Not cats, but cat masks. Also, rabbits." Too specific for a theme? Nah. Above, rings from French jeweller Charlotte Martyr. Below, rings from Paris-based Culoyon (Yoshiko Parise).


Bonus link:
Here's a bunny chasing its own tail (considering the length of its torso, maybe it's more of an Ourobunny). Ring by Japan's NOJESS.

Even more jewellery:

Monday, December 13, 2010

This UK jeweller was never a city planner...

...nor an ornithologist...

...but she did used to make furniture, making wood a natural choice for her quirky rings. Visit Fliss Quick for more, including a series using materials found in the office environment.


Bonus link: for more wood, see Chicago metalsmith Gillion Carrara, who makes impressive, sculptural pieces in materials such as ebony, crystal and stainless steel.

Even more jewellery:

Friday, December 10, 2010


These rings are just so so.

Just so, so cute, that is. Japan's J Pearl is your source for all things sweet, sparkly and precious.


Bonus link:
Here's another bunny ring from Japan, minus the pastels. Texturized silver rabbit by Kasane (Toshie Sakamoto), creator of charming, organic pieces.

Even more jewellery:

Thursday, December 9, 2010

As someone who is perpetually cold and sits with a hot water bottle in her lap from October through March, I find this ring very appealing. "Flame Ring (Tribute to Yves Klein)" featuring a gas lighter, scooby tube, cotton and copper by Black Trumpet (Ross Plowright, a British artist now based in Australia).


Australia must be colder than I think it is, because here's another designer from that country with flames on the mind. "Light My Fire" match rings by Taë Schmeisser, whose urban-themed jewellery you won't want to miss — think utility poles and garbage bins!


Bonus link:
Here's another match ring from Korean fashion designer Ha Sang Beg, available in his shop, Bebe Fatal. Also comes with a lime green head.

Even more jewellery:

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

It's perfect weather...

...for baking...

...and reading. Rings in ice, parchment paper and newsprint by Germany's Sabine Amtsberg.


Bonus link: nobody combines coziness and baking better than California's Enna Design, who crochets these adorable amigurumi cake rings.

Even more jewellery:

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

I've never re-gifted but I have recycled. And so has the Czech Republic's Luckywaste, who made these recycled glass bottle rings.


Above, rings with bits of recovered plastic from I Am Flo, an Argentinian designer living in Australia.


Bonus link:
Here's more recycled plastic from New York student Jessica Chia-I Lee, who creates flower rings using plastic shopping bags.

Even more jewellery:

Monday, December 6, 2010

No diamond?

That's a nice understatement.

"No Diamond" ring by Finnish jeweller Sanna Nuutinen and "Understatement" ring by Germany's Goldprodukt (Susanne Stauch).


Bonus link:
To choose from even more engraved phrases on silver, gold and rose gold, visit London's Laura Lee Jewellery.

Even more jewellery:

Friday, December 3, 2010

It's a good thing glass is a legal substance, because I am totally addicted. Amazing rings by Singing Glass (Japan's Mika Aoki).


Bonus link: this clear ring is acrylic but, as embedding that diamond is such a complicated process, the ring alone costs more than the diamond itself! By Germany's David Bizer.

Even more jewellery:

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Did you ever ask for a pony for Christmas? Did you ever actually get one? If so, Australia's Kimberley Williams can create a custom ring for you, using your horse's tail-hair. Visit Hairlooms for more.


Bonus link: if you like horsehair with a touch of the Manic Panic, turn to South America, where many artists weave brightly coloured manes. Case in point: Chilean jewellers Claudia Betancourt & Ricardo Pulga of Walka.

Even more jewellery:

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Go bold, go gold. Resembling a slab of honeycomb (as in the candy, not bees) is this "Cracking" ring by the UK's Therese Morch-Jorgensen.


More bold gold rings reminiscent of honeycombs (as in bees, not candy) by French jeweller Lara Melchior.


Bonus link:
No honeycombs here — just hive. This gold and diamond piece is the "bee house" ring by Italian jeweller Maria Oliva, the designer behind Sisti Gioielli.

Even more jewellery:

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