Solange Azagury-Partridge

In the Smarties vs. M&Ms debate, I'm wholly in the M&Ms camp. This is punishable by law in Canada, where we are weirdly protective of Smarties (despite their being from the UK) and ketchup chips (because they are so totally awesome). If you ask me, though, this "Smartie Mother" ring is the closest that chocolate will ever get to being tasty. It's all about the candy shell, people — that, and M&Ms come in peanut butter. Ring by London's Solange Azagury-Partridge.

Kristin Lora

Someone should tell Paris Hilton (and half the people in my neighbourhood) that this is how you wear a tiny dog as an accessory: wrapped around your finger, not stuffed into your purse. Santa Fe metalsmith Kristin Lora has fourteen jewellery collections, ranging from the whimsical (e.g. the glass tube necklace containing a woman wearing hot pants) to the geometrical (e.g. her circle and square pieces) to the animal (e.g. the Jack Russell pictured here). Be sure to check out her cool music boxes as well!

Elizabeth Galton

The orchid is the most diverse flowering plant on earth, with anywhere from 25,000 to 30,000 species in existence (you may have even tasted one at lunch; the vanilla that goes in your coke is an orchid). London artist Elizabeth Galton has at least a small portion of those covered with her lovely collection of rings, earrings, necklaces and brooches modelled after different varieties of the flower. Pictured here is the "Midas Touch" ring, sterling silver plated in 22k gold (£110).

Bonus link for the weekend: trompe l'oeil ring

Angela Fung

Angela Fung is a UK designer who produces jewellery using a combination of industrial materials and semi-precious stones. Her pieces are modern and kinetic; her "quiver" collection, for instance, features quartz spheres balanced on thin sterling spokes so that the stones bobble as you move. The titanium "slide" ring pictured here (£112), with a tourmaline that moves along the tracks, is reminiscent of a pink vehicle zipping along futuristic skyways — like something out of The Fifth Element.

Douglas Rosin

This cool slice of gold and jade is a vintage piece from the '70s. When I look at it, I think of grasshoppers, space helmets and green aliens. And maybe key lime pie. Available at the Douglas Rosin Decorative Arts & Antiques gallery in Chicago.

Hovey Lee

Pretty rings are a dime a dozen. Of course, that's speaking figuratively. Literally speaking, they're more like a few thousand dimes a dozen, which is why I've always admired the pretty and affordable jewellery of Hovey Lee (she's also on my links page). The Hong Kong native, now in San Francisco, designed this cute "Knottie" ring — stamped copper metal tied with genuine red leather, only US$32.

Twisted Twee

I was about to write about these knit rings. But then I saw these sit rings and I was all, "knit rings who?" Given that it is currently late 2006, it's just too bad they're supposed to be available by early 2005. Designer: Suzi Warren of London's Twisted Twee.

Andreas Zidek

I made clear my feelings on bugs a few posts down (a summary, in case you missed it: "ew") but even I can appreciate this cool insect ring by German designer Andreas Zidek. His site is a bit of a navigational mishmash, but poke around and you'll find many interesting pieces (not all of them entomological). This post has been brought to you by the Foundation for the Betterment of Bug-Related Karma.

Neshka

The Hudson's Bay Company (aka "The Bay"), a chain of department stores here in Canada, is known for being one of the world's oldest corporations and the oldest in North America, having been established in the 1600s. So it's somewhat fitting that The Bay is where I found Calgary-based Neshka, who specializes in another thing famous for being old — 40 to 90 million years, in this case: amber. The jewellery, however? Not old. Rather, it is sleek and geometric with a touch of mod, if mod had embraced a palette of browns and yellows.

Rcyclia - Dunja Karabaic

Leave your shirt-tag showing all day — on purpose — with this ring by Dunja Karabaic of Rcyclia. The German artist works with recycled bits like twist ties, birdfood bags, dishcloths and, as pictured here, old shirts. Be sure to click every ring; behind each is a mini slide show of more whimsical pieces. Among my faves: "Oleander," the water balloon/plastic bag/hairtie ring pictured at far right.

Mette T. Jensen

This piece reminds me of Vancouver's famed "Coaster" rollercoaster — not so much because it's loopy (which the Coaster isn't, really; if you want loops, you want the Corkscrew), but because of its construction material: wood! Inspired by bent wood furniture, London-based Mette T. Jensen plies wood in ways you wouldn't think possible to create gorgeous, sculptural jewellery.

Karin Seufert

This ring series by German designer Karin Seufert is like the product of a Project Runway challenge: what can you do with only a white ball and circle? (And will Michael Kors think it's "farty"?) The stark white rings are hardly representative of the artist's wild, colourful, experimental art jewellery, so be sure to visit her site!

Julia Parkes

Julia Parkes' jewellery reminds me of macaroni craft art all grown up (in a good way). The English designer's resin pieces contain pasta-like plated curved wires meant to convey the idea of movement. Or, in my case, the idea of carbonara.

Sandström DeWit

Sandström DeWit are Margareth Sandström and Peter De Wit, two artists working out of the high-tech town (and Saab homebase) of Linköping, Sweden. While Peter likes shapes with corners (I love his flat square ring with balancing cube), Margareth favours elliptical forms (the handiwork pictured here is hers; the hand, unknown). Faced with such an impressive display, it's oddly comforting to view their studio photos and see that their workshop contains IKEA furniture; I mean, if I can't share their talent, I can at least share their taste in affordable storage units.

Blanche Tilden

Australia's Blanche Tilden creates modern jewellery using bike chains but also dabbles in strong, minimal rings like the glass and titanium "U-Rings" pictured here (AUD$180). Note: site doesn't work properly in Firefox, so you'll need to load IE.

Yoko Izawa

Lycra and nylon: for some, the ingredients of an unfortunate jazzercize outfit. But in the hands of Japanese artist Yoko Izawa, these fabrics become essential components of some insanely gorgeous jewellery. Her etheral "veiled" rings, like the one pictured here, speak to her interest in "containing, covering, or wrapping things" — they're made by stretching woven fabric over glass or lucite. Of course, with my luck, I'll need to carry a spare in my purse or I'll get a run in my ring the minute I step out the door.

Hadar Jacobson

If you think this ring is cute, wait 'til you see the rest of Hadar Jacobson's tiny wearable sculptures. Pictured here is a "village ring" from her architectural series but there are urban pieces, too, in case you're more of a city mouse than a country mouse. Beyond the small-scale buildings, the Berkeley artist also has a pictoral series (like miniature bas relief in sterling), a mechanical series (with pint-sized gears and pulleys) and many other pieces ranging from complex textures to more smooth and modern styles. Visit her "old gallery" for photos and her "new gallery" to shop!

Barbara Uderzo

Don't you just hate it when you get your favourite teacup stuck in your bubble gum? (Let me tell you, peanut butter did not help to get it out.) This peculiar piece of silver and plastic is from the "blob" series by Italian artist Barbara Uderzo. Her blob rings are "created through experiments on material, by restyling casual shapes and inserting traces of everyday life, relics and curiosities." Which is great, as everyday life, relics and curiosities are three of my favourite things. Visit her site for more experimental jewellery, including the flammable candle rings, edible chocolate rings and miniature cactus rings.

Lisbeth Warming

Denmark's Lisbeth Warming is another artist with some pretty, bumpy bands in her collection. I especially like the flat, brushed gold one with repeating hearts (click "vielsesringe" to view more). In case you're sick of seeing or hearing me blab on about bumpy bands, pictured here are three of her botanical pod rings; I like how the organic shapes contrast with the high polish of the metal.

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