Fie von Krogh / Abigail Connell

Can you guess what these flowers are made of?

What has both a metallic glint and a flexible quality?

It's my new favourite thing in the world: gilded plastic! As plastic is created from precious oil, Norway's Fie von Krogh wonders if "perhaps we should regard plastic as one of the most precious materials that we have." Expanding on this idea, she covers plastic in gold- and silver-leaf to create "a synergy of gilded plastic" (a reversal of her early jewellery, which featured laminated metal). Visit her site for more gorgeously pleated work!

Bonus link: for rings with gold leaf and real flowers — and even real dirt — check out Ontario jeweller Abigail Connell, who uses a wide range of materials in her work.

Even more jewellery:

• Dana Noble (Iowa) - botanical metal


• Maria Apostolou (Greece) - modern silver


• Christy Feaver (Whistler, BC) - clustered circles


• Cement (Toronto) - charm necklaces


• Octopus Parlour (New Mexico) - plastic & pin cushions