Floor Mommersteeg / Natalie Jane Harris

There are hearts where my pupils used to be — should I consult a doctor? Nah, I'd rather spend more time staring at these gorgeous rings (shown with brooches) by Dutch jeweller Floor Mommersteeg.

Bonus link:
If you like those quiet colours but are looking for a more traditional ring, see UK jeweller Natalie Jane Harris, who uses a lot of pretty, muted stones in her work.

Even more jewellery:

• Andrea Auer (Austria) - white plastic


• Tamé (Montreal) - drips & knots


• Peligro (Washington State) - rocks & scrimshaw


• Noriko Okamoto (Japan) - silver petals


• Stephanie Johnson (UK) - simple & contemporary

Niamh Spain / Claudio Tacchi

Can you guess the inspiration?

Filmstrip, maybe?

Guess again.

Visit Ireland's Niamh Spain for a collection of architecturally-inspired pieces in powder-coated silver.

Bonus link:
For more architectural rings, check out Italian jeweller Claudio Tacchi. While I've featured a few house rings before, I think this might be my first garage ring!

Even more jewellery:

• Maria Moreno (Argentina) - architect-inspired


• Nicole Fendel (Australia) - modern metal


• Wing Paris (France) - cool hexagons


• Akino Tsuchiya (Japan) - jewellery & cars


• Dianne Reilly (Massachusetts) - enamel maps

Spacer Ring Week: Laura Pregger / Julia Fujita

Closing up Spacer Ring Week is, fittingly, a ring made of something you use to close things up! Clustered button ring by Switzerland's Laura Pregger.

Bonus link:
For more (regular, non-spacer) button rings, visit Julia Fujita, a jeweller and artist who grew up in Argentina but who now calls Australia home.

Even more jewellery:

• Studio MHL (Netherlands) - buttons & porcelain


• Heaven Tanudiredja (Belgium) - super glam


• Ritva-Liisa Pohjalainen (Finland) - contemporary metal


• Akkena (France) - silver & briolettes


• That Old Blue House (Illinois) - quilts & lace

Spacer Ring Week: Runa Vethal Stølen / Pitipú

For the penultimate day of Spacer Ring Week, I bring you these T-bar rings in silver and steel by Norwegian jeweller Runa Vethal Stølen.

Bonus link: here's another T-bar spacer ring, though this "T" has slightly curved ends (perhaps those are serifs). It's just one of many from Italy's Pitipú (Roberto Abheeru Berruti & Asya Dawn Jaya).

Even more jewellery:

• Tonky Designs (New York) - alphabet necklaces


• Iris YuChing Huang (UK) - zipper flowers


• AuroraGran (Japan) - dainty gold


• Maryam Keyhani (France) - textile neckpieces


• Jörg Heinz (Germany) - pavé balls

Spacer Ring Week: Heather Bayless / Anne von Waechter

Spacer Ring Week continues. Warm up your purring muscles, because you'll be droning in awe at the beautiful organic creations of Kansas-based jeweller Heather Bayless. (She's married to equally talented metalsmith Dukno Yoon, whom I blogged in March.)

Bonus link: while I love the organic lacuna-like holes in those spacer rings, symmetrically-patterned perforations are cool, too, like those found in the work of Germany's Anne von Waechter.

Even more jewellery:

• Nat Frasca (Massachusetts) - organic metal


• Holly Lee (Pennsylvania) - perforated silver


• Winnie Chai (New York) - black & gold


• Keren Cornelius (UK) - thread chains


• deTiTi (Japan) - bright gems

Spacer Ring Week: Tetrahedron (Agnieszka Fijałkowska) / Alison Jackson

Continuing with Spacer Ring Week, these futuristic swoops in anodized aluminum are the "personal tuning" rings by Polish product designer Tetrahedron (Agnieszka Fijałkowska).

Bonus link:
For more anodized aluminum (like the "tumble" rings shown here) and clean, modern, "folded" silver, visit Australia's Alison Jackson.

Even more jewellery:

• Anna M Williams (Australia) - photo-printed aluminum


• Laura Brannon (UK) - grotesque rubber


• Lisa Kuschmann (Germany) - art jewellery


• Ashley Childs (California) - clustered chains


• Hazel Cox (Oregon) - bold earrings

Spacer Ring Week: Linda van Niekerk / Biane Motta

Slot, gap, blank, margin, interval, in-between, midway and cleft — all words I considered when I decided I need a way to describe those between-the-finger rings. In the end, I decided to go simple with "spacer ring." These pieces rest in the in-between space and do separate the digits like a spacer (while "space" without the "r" makes me think of outer space) so... spacer ring, it is! And I hope you like them, because that'll be my theme all week long!

First up is this giant ball of pine from Australia's Linda van Niekerk. The large spherical shape is ideal for nestling between, rather than on, the fingers.

Bonus link:
Love the wooden ball but need something on a slightly smaller scale? Here's a double-ball ring on a shank that loops between the fingers by Brazil's Biane Motta.

Even more jewellery:

• Lourdes Carmelo (Spain) - raw wood


• Minna Karhu (Finland) - plastic orchids


• Tryst (Ontario) - vintage style


• Coqumeomi (Japan) - dainty gold


• Ruth Ball (UK) - contemporary enamel

What's New at The Carrotbox

See what's new this week in the shop!

Stephanie Voegele / Mr. Kate

Because you never know when...

...you might need a disguise. Check out Georgia's Stephanie Voegele, who gives you plenty to explore over the weekend.

Bonus link: when your mustache is this great, they call you Mister. Mr. Kate, that is. Check out this Los Angeles jeweller for playful pieces like this mustache with gemstone.

Even more jewellery:

• Bitching & Junkfood (UK) - human hair


• Nancy Worden (Seattle) - tribal neckpieces


• Pamela Wilson (Sweden) - metal & mesh


• Riley Burnett (Australia) - bright colours


• Natalie Lucas (Minnesota) - vintage beads

Jinju Kim / FuturoRemoto (Gianni De Benedittis)

Nobody panic! I've been to an IKEA!

There. (I'm pretty sure that one piece is supposed to stick out.) Assembled ring by UK-based Korean jeweller Jinju Kim, most of whose work centers around beading and pierced metal.

Bonus link:
Here's a ring anybody could handle, no matter what his or her construction skills: one nut, one screw. Kinetic ring by Italy's FuturoRemoto (Gianni De Benedittis).

Even more jewellery:

• Organikx (Saskatchewan) - hammered & oxidized


• Hannah Stockham (UK) - modern metal


• VerdeRocks (Oregon) - vintage parts


• Taru Tonder (Finland) - contemporary silver


• Joao Vaz (Australia) - mixed materials

Farrah Al-Dujaili / Allover Art

UK artist Farrah Al-Dujaili considers drawing an important part of her design process — so much so that her drawing materials are incorporated right into her metalwork. These copper rings are coated not just in enamel but also pencil and watercolour.

Bonus link:
Drawings are also important to North Carolina's Allover Art (Ruth Jones), whose jewellery is decorated with her own colourful hand-painted illustrations.

Even more jewellery:

• Miriam Rowe (UK) - decorative art


• Motti Jewellery (Australia) - silver & colour


• Patty Nelson (California) - etched silver


• BrooklynSoul (New York) - brass & verdigris


• Oz and Toad (Michigan) - bronze charms

Li-Chu Wu / Lisette Colijn

While some people risk their lives tornado-chasing, I get my thrills from the safety of my chair, admiring these tornado-like paper rings by UK-based Taiwanese jeweller Li-Chu Wu.

Bonus link:
If you do crave a little danger, Dutch jeweller Lisette Colijn has a collection filled with glass shards and metal spikes (like this silver ring with an inward spike).

Even more jewellery:

• Titaantovenaar (Netherlands) - paper & titanium


• Vicky Saragouda (UK) - ruffles & chains


• Wunderwurks (New York) - bright bangles


• Studio Jungfruhuset (Sweden) - contemporary metal


• Rezon (Japan) - diamonds & blades

Saori Kita / Kristin Coffin

I'm no botanist, but I'm pretty sure gemstones grow on trees. At least, that's what Australia's Saori Kita has me convinced of, with these stones budding from cast metal twigs.

Bonus link:
For more twig rings in gold and silver, both with and without gems, check out California jeweller Kristin Coffin.

Even more jewellery:

• Sami Zeira (New York) - twigs & gems


• Kashen (Australia) - glass & brass


• Rebecca Macomber (Vermont) - simple silver


• Maia Kennedy (UK) - coil necklaces


• Gianluca Staffolani (Italy) - contemporary metal

What's New at The Carrotbox

See what's new this week in the shop!

Jinsun Eo / MelanyBE

It's not just jewellery, it's "zooelry!" This awesome anthropomorphic herd — as well as the rings from Wednesday and Thursday of this week — created by... drumroll, please... South Korea's Jinsun Eo. For much, much more from this artist, visit Popcraft (navigation hint: once you click on one of the subpages via the folders on the right, easily page through the site by clicking the numbers at the bottom of the page).

Bonus link:
Speaking of "zooelry," here's a plated metal rhino ring from Brooklyn's MelanyBE. The jeweller has a cool collection incorporating leather, lace and chains.

Even more jewellery:

• Kester Black (Australia) - silver animals


• Shirli Matatia (Israel) - metal & plastic


• Norwegian Wood (Montreal) - fringe necklaces


• Motyle (Poland) - chunky gems


• Sophie Hulme (UK) - whistles & brass

Mystery Jeweller (to be revealed Friday!) / PUR Atelier (Hans Hermann Lingenbrinck)

I suddenly understand the appeal of trainspotting. Continuing with this week's mystery jeweller, here are some fabulous kinetic rings.

Bonus link: for sleek, streamlined kinetic rings with bright pops of colour, check out Germany's PUR Atelier (Hans Hermann Lingenbrinck), whose "Swivel" rings feature flexible, interchangeable tops.

Even more jewellery:

• Spinning Jewelry (Denmark) - stackable rings


• Billy Bride (Australia) - raw quartz


• Finn Jewelry (New York) - fine charms


• Machiko Ozeki (Japan) - fluid silver


• EM Jewellery (UK) - contemporary metal

Mystery Jeweller (to be revealed Friday!) / Yum Yum Pendants

I saw this...

...which made me go like this.

I love this jeweller so much, I just have to post pictures through Friday (sorry, queue!), at which point I'll reveal who it is!

Bonus link: if you want a robot ring for everyday wear, this fabric-covered button ring will do the trick. "Retro Robot" ring from Texas shop Yum Yum Pendants, which specializes in Scrabble tile pendants.

Even more jewellery:

• Dominic Elvin (UK) - cybernetic bodywear


• JME Merge (California) - kanji-like words


• Lotte De Mey (Belgium) - organic metal


• Kimberley Price (Toronto) - bead work


• Lunatica Bijoux (Italy) - contemporary silver

Janet Theresa Miller / Lunarrastar

Continuing from yesterday, here are some more gnarly plant limbs — this time, it's Janet Theresa Miller of Victoria, BC. While they are lovely, something about them has triggered terrifying flashbacks to Disney's "The Watcher in the Woods." If you need me, I'll be cowering in a corner, trying not to think of mirrors and blindfolds.

Bonus link: of course, a more famous Disney mirror would be the one from "Snow White." Get this "Fairest of Them All" ring from UK shop Lunarrastar, where you'll also find pieces inspired by Alice and Oz.

Even more jewellery:

• Melissa Caron (Victoria, BC) - leaves & tendrils


• Little Lamb (Australia) - children's jewellery


• Adara Designs (Georgia) - wavy lines


• Tabitha Frost (UK) - simple silver


• Sissy Yates Designs (New York) - gold & briolettes

Rebecca Barton / Marcelle Lawson-Smith

Rebecca Barton shows us the roots of her inspiration — literally. The Illinois artist, inspired by plant life, explores everything from the leaves to the oft-ignored roots.

Bonus link:
For a ring with tree roots, check out UK jeweller Marcelle Lawson-Smith. The Brazil native is known for her dramatic, narrative jewellery.

Even more jewellery:

• Katharine Yelland (UK) - botanical silver


• Brook & Lyn (New York) - ropes & geodes


• David K. Chatt (Seattle) - seed beads


• Corrado de Meo (Italy) - metal bars


• BB Jeweled (Maryland) - morse code

Branca Cuvier / Stephanie Schroder

Well, I guess this is one way you could carry some cash without having to bring your entire purse.

On the other hand, there's this "Money Stick" option (as long as the bartender doesn't mind getting paid in strips). Be sure to check out all the interesting work in the portfolio of Branca Cuvier, a Portuguese artist based in Amsterdam.

Bonus link:
California's Stephanie Schroder specializes in rings that really are purses. Her sconce-shaped evening bags adored with gemstones and feathers are chained to sterling silver rings.

Even more jewellery:

• Bags 2 Riches (UK) - recycled bags


• Amira Mednick (Oregon) - canvas & macramé


• Juju by Sarah (California) - metal & stones


• Carolina Barbieri (New York) - briolettes & gold


• Mariush Fatyga (Poland) - contemporary silver

If this page is missing posts from the first few days of this month, it's because I've reached my Blogger page limit! To read all posts, see the full monthly archives at TheCarrotbox.com