Final Post of 2010 // Oodles of Bows!

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:

• Kaori Kamiori (Japan) - bows & lace


• Melissa Lo (UK) - modern classics


• PeaceImages (California) - brass & feathers


• Silversong Jewelry (North Carolina) - silver & stones


• Martine Harraca (France) - crystals on resin

Dicokick / Ahna Adair / SandyClause / Pomellato/ Ebba Goring/ Pekka Salokannel / Mode en Module / Lisa Wilson / Kenichi Kondo/ Big-Game

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:

• Chic Sick Chic (France) - playful charms


• Michelle Freer (Australia) - acrylic snowflakes


• Jack Galactic (Germany) - toys & leather


• Manolya Konuk (France) - silk & steel


• Clare Bridge (Nova Scotia) - organic silver

Osnat Har-Noy / Hammer & Blonde

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:

• Joshua DeMonte (Pennsylvania) - amazing architecture


• John Paul Designs (Oregon) - contemporary metal


• Suzanne Golden (New York) - plastic beads


• Muru (UK) - silver charms


• Kwanta Kosayothin (Spain) - gems & quartz

Ria Lins / Knock Knock Studio / On Skin

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:

• Kylea Borges (California) - white wool


• Enfants Perdus (Toronto/NY) - gothic metal


• Cath Dearsley (New Zealand) - felted animals


• Hafsteinn Júlíusson (Iceland) - live plants


• Modello (UK) - silver fingerprints

Lindsey K. Eisentraut / Lea-Mi Engholm

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:

• Cherry Dot (California) - miniature sweets


• 3squares (North Carolina) - inlaid fabric


• Jane Bowring (Australia) - knit metal


• Itali Lambertini (Washington State) - classical gold


• Melanie Muir (UK) - polymer clay

tortue / Sandra L. Brown

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:

• Elmon Pekmez (Turkey) - clothing shapes


• Catherine Hills (UK) - contemporary metal


• Bijou R.I. (Japan) - simple gold


• Ron Dotson (California) - urban charms


• Mari Syrén (Finland) - silver & beads

Charlotte Martyr / Culoyon / NOJESS

"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:

• Katharina Schreck (Germany) - animal silhouettes


• Emue Couleur (Japan) - clustered gems


• K. Amato (Illinois) - gold & stones


• Anna Clark (Rossland, BC) - clean enamel


• Claire Danielle (UK) - simple silver

Fliss Quick / Gillion Carrara

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:

• Nadia Gallini (Ukraine) - wooden beads


• Lena Hasibether (Germany) - cool & geometric


• Natasha Cox (UK) - distressed discs


• j.Crane Jewelry (Pennsylvania) - enamel & silver


• Juan Carlos Gutiérrez (Spain) - liquid metal

J Pearl / Kasane (Toshie Sakamoto)

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:

• Amejica (Japan) - silver animals


• Satomi Kawakita (New York) - modern classics


• Taher Chemirik (France) - big links


• Nicola Hinrichsen (Germany) - leather & metal


• Aamaya by Priyanka (UK) - gold & stones

Black Trumpet (Ross Plowright) / Taë Schmeisser / Ha Sang Beg - Bebe Fatal

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:

• Lizzie Williams (UK) - smoke-fired ceramic


• Bosquez (Texas) - raw crystals


• Rimantas Brusokas (Lithuania) - swooping metal


• Orange Avocado (Edmonton) - simple & organic


• Beata Dirycz (California) - feather earrings

Sabine Amtsberg / Enna Design

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:

• Alice Visin (Italy) - newspaper beads


• Lorena Pestana (Peru) - metal crochet


• Maniamania (Australia) - silver & brass


• Kali Butterfly (Illinois) - leaves & chainmail


• Quirkycat (UK) - polymer clay

Luckywaste / I Am Flo / Jessica Chia-I Lee

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:

• Adaptive Reuse (Texas) - recycled tins


• Irene C Studio (New York) - simple silver


• Nadreli Design (Calgary) - pods & domes


• Laura Brubaker (Illinois) - contemporary metal


• Chapter 42 (Belgium) - beaded necklaces

Sanna Nuutinen / Goldprodukt (Susanne Stauch) / Laura Lee Jewellery

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:

• Mark Pawson (UK) - words on signs


• phD3 studios (Norway) - wearable plugs


• Viola Schwalm (Germany) - metal & pearls


• Patricia Gallucci (Argentina) - silver & cabs


• Joan Hornig (New York) - 100% charity