Dukno Yoon / Daniela Villegas

I just flabbered my gast. Or, rather, Korean metalsmith Dukno Yoon did. I didn't want to blow up your browser with animated gifs so I've restrained myself to just one from his awesome "Wings" series; however, I command (please) that you visit his site post-haste to view the rest of them for yourself.

Bonus link:
For a feather ring a bit better suited for everyday wear, there's the "Wind" ring by Mexican-born, Los Angeles-based jeweller Daniela Villegas.

Even more jewellery:

• Astali (New York) - bullets & feathers


• Lauren Manoogian (Pennsylvania) - colourful triangles


• Julie Linn (UK) - buckles & fasteners


• Pat Falcão (Brazil) - religious outlines


• Inbar Bareket (Israel) - contemporary metal

Anne Perbet / China Baroque

Where are the great trios? History has given us many a fabulous duo, but the trios have been average at best. The Stooges? The Musketeers? Snap, Crackle and Pop?* Let's just say I don't own any of their posters. Well, French jeweller Anne Perbet is here to change all that with her rings made of porcelain, paper and glass — oh my. There's a trio that works beautifully together.

* According to Mental Floss, in the '50s, there was a fourth elf named "Pow" who was "supposed to represent Rice Krispies' explosive nutritional value." Chew on that. And then, for extra nerdiness, check out the Wikipedia list of Snap, Crackle and Pop's names in other countries.

Bonus link: for more porcelain rings, see Houston's China Baroque, who takes hand-cut china and sets it in silver. Maybe there's a former cereal bowl in there somewhere, too.

Even more jewellery:

• Kirsten Spuijbroek (Netherlands) - mourning porcelain


• Stephanie Hensle (Germany) - jewels in meat


• Christina Kazakia (Pennsylvania) - cork beads


• Melody Rodgers (New York) - new & vintage


• Jennifer Murphy (UK) - silver & china

Jhana Millers / My Ugly Kitty

Here's a great first anniversary (traditionally the "paper" anniverary) gift for your irony-loving spouse. In her "We Propose a Gift" series, New Zealand-based Australian jeweller Jhana Millers questions consumerism and luxury by creating rings using the pages of a Michael Hill Jewellers catalogue. Don't miss the rest of her portfolio, especially the mini debit-card sculptures!

Bonus link: catalogues aren't the only junk mail that you can recycle into jewellery! Maryland's My Ugly Kitty takes advantage of patterned security envelopes, showcasing them in her resin and pewter rings.

Even more jewellery:

• Robayre (Illinois) - paper & silver


• Elena Ruebel (Germany) - broken jewellery


• Katie Hillier (UK) - animal doodles


• Ginger Meek Allen (North Carolina) - contemporary metal


• Amanda Rudey (New York) - briolettes & chains

Ellie Murphy / Bandada (Ana María Ramírez & Adriana Díaz)

Taking jewellery to another dimension — the second one, to be exact. England's Ellie Murphy takes the familiar facets of a cut diamond and squashes them flat, creating fun rings (in silver and inlaid enamel) with a graphic punch.

Bonus link: getting back to faceted silver rings of the 3D variety is this piece from the "cubeoctahedron" collection by Bandada, a collaboration between Spain's Ana María Ramírez and Adriana Díaz.

Even more jewellery:

• Danielle Vroemen (Netherlands) - faceted metal


• House of Mani (UK) - bold bangles


• Mabel Pena (Argentina) - contemporary silver


• Nicholas Landon (Texas) - pearls on cords


• Zachary Pryor (California) - feathers & chains

Claire Requa / Naturaleza

If the Mayans don't have a symbol for "acrylic ring," they do now. These vaguely hieroglyhpic pieces are by American/Jamaican designer Claire Requa, the woman behind Denmark-based home accessories company Accent. Known for her acrylic chandeliers, mirrors and other furniture, she's recently branched out into jewellery with her "Clairely" collection.

Bonus link: Nicaraguan jeweller Marlon Obando Solano of Naturaleza creates eco-conscious jewellery from wood and seed. This band (in silver with black coyol seed) is inlaid with the Mayan symbol for "zero."

Even more jewellery:

• Michal Rocheli Kadim (Israel) - archaeological gold


• Arca Jewelry (Florida) - antique coins


• Chuchart Sarunnayawatsin (UK) - wood blocks


• Maidstone (New York) - metal & stones


• Zuhma (Mexico) - silver & beads

Sh! (Suzanne Harbinson) / Hélène Marcoux

"Growth from decay" makes me think of pollution-induced mutations (like the boy with 16 toes) — but here's Suzanne Harbinson's interpretation. The UK jeweller, whose collection draws inspiration from stones and pebbles, created the sprouting rings above. See more on her site, Sh! Jewellery.

Bonus link:
Here's another sprouting ring (silver flowers, in this case). From the "Parapluies" collection by Quebec's Hélène Marcoux.

Even more jewellery:

• KFD Jewellery (UK) - botanical silver


• Cast of Vices (New York) - pills & cigarettes


• Beatrice Brovia (Sweden) - art jewellery


• Charlotte Bjorlin D'Elia (California) - antique gems


• Chelsey Radabaugh (Indiana) - enamel & sugar

Better Late Than Never (Sara Dudzinsky) / By Mary Jane

Small but not dainty, pretty but not precious — Portland, Oregon's Better Late Than Never (Sara Dudzinsky) collects vintage parts and turns them into rings that are juuuust right.

Bonus link: if you like that combination of brass and crystal, what about crystal cast in brass? That's what New York's Mary Jane Hunter of By Mary Jane did with this fabulous ring.

Even more jewellery:

• Nicole Romano (New York) - bold brass


• Red Sofa (Montreal) - silver & quartz


• One:of:One (Australia) - paper & resin


• Rock 'n Rose (UK) - vintage style


• Kathy Lo Rocks (San Francisco) - photo jewellery

Katharina Moch / Loop (Danny Sheiner)

I hope Katharina Moch won't mind that her work doesn't repulse me. In her own words, the German jeweller creates "flamboyant, sculptural and wearable pieces that combine ambivalent aspects of appeal and repulsion." Well, for me, it's all "appeal" when it comes to her eclectic mix of precious gems and glow-in-the-dark plastic.

Bonus link:
For synthetic rings in a much simpler — if not the simplest — form, check out the resin jewellery of Australia's Loop (label of former architect Danny Sheiner).

Even more jewellery:

• Ivana Bacura (Croatia) - resin & silver


• Rauni Higson (UK) - organic folds


• Round Designs (Los Angeles) - simple & modern


• Mary Lu Wason (New Jersey) - collage pendants


• Erin McDermott (Virginia) - semiprecious beads

Hana Lin / Liz Kain

Hana Lin's rings aren't just conversation pieces — they're entire stories! The UK-based artist tells many tales through her humorous, playful jewellery (with disembodied parts as a major theme). This portfolio is a definite page-turner.

Bonus link: perhaps you prefer to read the classics. Toronto's Liz Kain offers a "Shakespeare" collection engraved with a number of the Bard's famous quotations (like "to thine own self be true," pictured here).

Even more jewellery:

• INK (Italy) - words on metal


• Max Steiner (New York) - cement & glass


• Penny Warren (UK) - anodized aluminum


• Kristi Roshau (Minnesota) - stamped & rustic


• PanStyle by Hui-Mei Pan (Taiwan) - silver & stones

Jim Cotter / Brittany Isenberg / Melissa Fourrier / Mezereem

Rock.

Paper.

Scissors.

Did I win?

Rings above by Colorado's Jim Cotter (rock), North Carolina's Brittany Isenberg (paper) and France's Melissa Fourrier (scissors).

Bonus link:
If you'd rather settle things with a round of "one potato, two potato," this "Potato" ring by Amsterdam's Mezereem (Daphne van der Meulen) could help you out.

Even more jewellery:

• Continuum (New Zealand) - rocks & paua


• Lydia Hirte (Germany) - sculpted paper


• Returntome (UK) - diy embroidery


• Stonehouse Studio (Massachusetts) - polymer clay


• Beth Orduna (Los Angeles) - metal & charms

Calourette / Fairytales and Hidden Notes

Lucky rabbit's paw for us...

...and human paws for them. It's only fair.

French jeweller Calourette (Marianne Rautureau) is about to brighten your day with her rabbits, donuts, gymnasts and more.

Bonus link: do the white rabbit and toadstools above (not to mention a certain movie) have you in an Alice mood? Then you'll want to check out the UK's Fairytales and Hidden Notes for pieces like this "Curiouser & Curiouser" ring.

Even more jewellery:

• Tartx (Colorado) - Alice & artists


• Bjørg (Germany) - Victorian style


• HAL 1 Design (Netherlands) - contemporary metal


• Jenny Gutierrez (UK) - opals & briolettes


• Stephanie Gorski (New York) - pebbles & silver

Shun Okubo / Gloria Wasserman

We know the devil wears Prada. Now, if Prada wants to return the favour, he can do so thanks to Japan's Shun Okubo.

More of his rhodium-plated rings above, this time with creatures who reside north of Hades.

Bonus link: "Sympathy for the Devil" ring by Chile's Gloria Wasserman (who, happily, seems to be safe after the recent quakes). It was inspired by a certain song by her favourite group, The Rolling Stones.

Even more jewellery:

• Anita Münz (Austria) - chunky horn


• Melanie Nützel (Germany) - enamel & metal


• Mannin (Los Angeles) - gold links


• Kerri Strachan (UK) - silver cuffs


• Mardi Studio (New Hampshire) - briolette clusters

Anika Smulovitz / Escribà

In her "Herbarium Specimen" series, Idaho artist Anika Smulovitz explores "the human desire to label and collect all aspects of our surroundings." Each ring features a sampling from her garden and is scientifically labelled underneath.

There's lots more to discover on her site, like the interesting "Lip Liner" series, which ties in nicely with her chocolate-wrapper rings made of foil from Ferrero Rocher and other bonbons (above).

Bonus link: speaking of bonbons and lips, Spanish superbakery Escribà, in addition to amazing cakes (like this birthday ring), also makes Candy Glam rings like the lip-shaped one at left.

Even more jewellery:

• Tiny Hands (Wisconsin) - scented sweets


• Linda Darty (North Carolina) - botanical enamel


• Sarah Myatt (UK) - fused glass


• Francesca Romana Diana (Portugal) - chunky & colourful


• Linda Read (Vancouver) - contemporary silver

Haldis Scheicher / Tim McClelland

It's the weekend and Haldis Scheicher is here to play!

From ping pong and penguins (above) to comic books and spinning propellors (not pictured), the Austrian jeweller's collection is all fun and whimsy.

Bonus link: another humorous ring, this time from an unexpected source. The "Cheapskate" solitaire is by Tim McClelland of McTeigue & McClelland, who normally deal in fine jewellery. Find more fun in his "Lighter Side" collection.

Even more jewellery:

• Takanori & Chiyo Kitamura (Japan) - cute dinos


• Cathalijne Postma (Belgium/Netherlands) - modern silver


• Amanda Dowd (Australia) - contemporary metal


• Antigoni (Greece) - gold & gems


• Francesca Antonello (Italy) - playful pendants

Abaffy Klára / Ros Coope

On one hand, she has you worshipping bright colour...

...while on the other, it's neutrals and nothing but. Building a great case for both sides is Hungary's Abaffy Klára, whose collection is filled with sleek, modern pieces featuring leaf-shaped cutouts.

Bonus link:
For more silver with bright shots of resin (like the mod target ring pictured here), as well as more leaf shapes, see the contemporary jewellery of Britain's Ros Coope.

Even more jewellery:

• Kleine Ursachen (Germany) - metal & colour


• Dawn Mckelvie (UK) - bright leather


• Lori Leavitt (Ohio) - vintage parts


• Gaia Jewlery (North Carolina) - fossils & stones


• Clara Lievano (Costa Rica) - contemporary silver

Stephen Saracino / Florian Buddeberg

Violence becomes art in the hands of Stephen Saracino. Drawing on events such as the Columbine massacre and the Lockerbie bombing, the Buffalo metalsmith creates work that is both visually and thematically heavy. Shown above is his "Third World Civilian" ring; below, his "Airport Terror" ring:

Bonus link:
On a lighter note, let's shed the terror luggage from above and carry our clothes on our rings instead. Golden cube ring with shirts and socks by Germany's Florian Buddeberg.

Even more jewellery:

• Baptiste Viry (France) - menswear-inspired


• Discreet Charm (New York) - antelope horns


• Bea Jareno (UK) - links & quills


• Sb Collections (Pennsylvania) - beads on chains


• Angeles Janza & Flor Fiszman (Argentina) - aluminum

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