Estefânia Rodrigues de Almeida / Gretchen Hillhouse

Ending the week with some lovely art jewellery from Portugal's Estefânia Rodrigues de Almeida (my favourites are her works with paper tags). Shown above: "Cuts & Sews" paper and resin rings (top) and porcelain "Structure" rings (bottom).

Bonus link:
For more porcelain, visit Australian ceramicist Gretchen Hillhouse. Pictured is the "Peridot" ring with a grey wash, from her "Bavaria" collection.

Even more jewellery:

• Trinidad Contreras (Spain) - perforated porcelain


• Efrat Cassouto (Israel) - romantic & glam


• Tula (California) - organic & simple

Ines Alonso / Joanna Dahdah

I like what Spain's Ines Alonso has done with just a few golden circles. I think I count four bent ones in the first ring and five straight ones in the second, but I'm not sure because staring at those circles for too long makes me dizzy. (Apparently, it takes me quite a while to count to five.)

Bonus link:
As for how many golden circles are in this ring, I'm afraid I'll have to leave the counting to you. "Hollow" ring by UK-based Lebanese jeweller Joanna Dahdah.

Even more jewellery:

• Mecha Mendez Balestra (Argentina) - threaded circles


• Jayce Wong (UK) - metal & gems


• Susan Blake (New Jersey) - gold & diamonds

FancySexyMe / RottenFresh

If "Damn the Man" is too antiestablishmentarian for your liking, you may want to steer clear of New York's FancySexyMe, as that's about as polite as it gets... but then you'd be missing out on a tempting collection of sleek multi-finger rings with the perfect amount of detailing.

Bonus link: speaking of antiestablish- mentarianism, here's the "Anti" ring from UK/Denmark clothing design duo RottenFresh, from a collection inspired by Lars von Trier's film Antichrist.

Even more jewellery:

• Dylan Mortimer (New York) - brass blasphemy


• Pipe Dreams by Nicole Kai (UK) - pipes & chains


• Clara DS (France) - rocker chic

Prediletto / Anna M. Nadal

Book nerds, it's your turn today. From New York-based Prediletto comes this enamelled gold "Encyclopedia" ring! For those of you born in the '90s, an "encyclopedia" is from the funny olden times when there was no Google and information was stored on "paper" and people had to do "research" in a "library" and cite "sources" and oh it was so hilarious.

Above, they show their non-bookish side with some bikini rings.

Bonus link:
The "Alexandria" rings by Spanish jeweller Anna M. Nadal remind me of stacks of paper or splayed book pages.

Even more jewellery:

• A Likely Story (New York) - books & charms


• Elvira Sazesh (UK) - fringe & fabric


• Monica Cecchi (Italy) - recycled tin

Lala Be You (Laura González Sanz) / Awake & Dreaming

Number nerds, this one's for you. Pictured above are pieces from the "Sudoku" series by Spain's Lala Be You (Laura González Sanz).

Above, the jeweller's rings with photos taken by Rocío Fueyo, an art director from Madrid.

Bonus link:
Are you a numbers nerd who likes it totally old style? Here are some abacus rings from Toronto artist Amanda Schoppel's jewellery line, Awake & Dreaming.

Even more jewellery:

• Vladimir Bulatov (Oregon) - mathematical sculptures


• Olula (Spain) - wooden brooches


• Linda Blumel (Arizona) - cabs & agate

Diana Torcoletti / Graciela Di Mónaco / Birthe Häusgen / ADIF Design / LAS Jewelry

It's been a while since I've done Random Pluckings from My Bookmarks, so let's do that now, starting with Argentina's Diana Torcoletti. She's got you ready for playtime with these pencil crayon and Lego rings.

False eyelashes ring by Argentina's Graciela Di Mónaco.

Sprouting tulips from Germany's Birthe Häusgen.

Extruded rubber, customized for you, by Italy's ADIF Design (Simone Alessandrini).

"Deep Sea Fish" in bronze by LAS Jewelry (Lisa Soltis) of Los Angeles.

Bonus link:
Back to the pencil crayons... perhaps the most prolific pencil crayon jeweller is Italy's MCB Jewellery (Maria Cristina Bellucci), who's known for pieces like the ring pictured here.

Even more jewellery:

• Filip Vanas (Ireland) - clean & minimal


• Henri Lou (California) - leather & metal


• Emily Orfebre (Chile) - silver & colour

Gabriela Muñiz / Sally von Bargen

Peer through the window into the world of Gabriela Muñiz and you'll find an imaginary scene collaged from the artist's own photographs. These framed miniature art pieces are from the Spanish jeweller's "Pocket Dreams" collection. (And to think all I have in my pocket is chapstick.)

Bonus link: Seattle's Sally von Bargen also uses photo prints in her jewellery, as in this "Diamond with Eight Carrots" ring. Visit her site for interesting work, some with political messages.

Even more jewellery:

• Lauren Elizabeth Wethers (UK) - silver windows


• Carmine (Japan) - photo jewellery


• Cat Hammill (Australia) - coins & seals

Concrete Polish Studio / Alexandra Dodds / Jody Candrian

Do you feel that pyrite punching you in the eye? You've just been minerally massacred! Philadelphia's Concrete Polish Studio (Angela Monaco) brings you these fierce "Mineral Massacre" rings in plated bronze.

Above, more metallic mineral clusters from New Zealand's Alexandra Dodds.

Bonus link:
Here's another wallop of minerals! This "Quincy" ring is one of many raw, rocky, chunky quartz rings from Arizona's Jody Candrian.

Even more jewellery:

• Nu Bambu (New York) - raw minerals


• Kyla Vitek (Ontario) - botanical silver


• Amber Leppard (Australia) - crystals & mother-of-pearl

Kirsty Sumerling / Francesca Kippax

Perhaps I've given up too much brainspace to David Simon but these pieces remind me of abandoned city buildings. I see torn shutters, faded paint and remnants of wooden siding. Jewellery by Edinburgh's Kirsty Sumerling who, in her own words, "combin[es] shards of decay with contemporary structure."

Bonus link: here's another combination of "shards and contemporary structure." Ring with fragments of slate and oak on top of a clean silver square by UK jeweller Francesca Kippax.

Even more jewellery:

• Lamplighter Studio (Wisconsin) - pottery shards


• 2 by Lyn and Tony (Australia) - fringe necklaces


• Grace Note (Japan) - vintage style

Ornamenta / Bones and Feathers Collective

As rare as a scissor, a pyjama or a congratulation is the singular sequin. Italy's Ornamenta takes that sequin and blows it up, giving one sequin more impact than a hundred little ones all sewn together.

Above, the jeweller's brass "origami" ring.

Bonus link: for more bold brass, see Los Angeles duo Nat Mauro & Cole Morrall of Bones and Feathers Collective, who use wax molds of fox vertebrae and recycled brass bullet casings in their work.

Even more jewellery:

• Giovanna Torrico (California) - vintage sequins


• Iacoli & McAllister (Seattle) - brass & suede


• Michelle Jank (Australia) - ornate neckpieces

Chiara Scarpitti / Enrique Muthuan

Mixing modern techniques with classical imagery, Italy's Chiara Scarpitti creates timeless objects of beauty.

Bonus link: for more rings with classical motifs, see these handmade pieces from Argentinian lawyer-turned-jeweller Enrique Muthuan, now in New York.

Even more jewellery:

• Marie Todd (California) - modern classics


• Ingeborg de Groot (Netherlands) - art jewellery


• Enasoluna (Japan) - delicate crosses

Charlotte Reid / Holly R. Dobkin

Yep, these are definitely some city rings. (The lack of barns is a dead giveaway.)

And here are some citizens. All rings above by London's Charlotte Reid.

Bonus link: here are some more miniature people rings, featuring couples in various poses, from Philadelphia's Holly R. Dobkin. While she doesn't make skyscrapers, she does have townhouses in her collection.

Even more jewellery:

• Suzanne Beautyman (Italy) - architectural brooches


• Marianne Casmose (Denmark) - art jewellery


• Elizabete Ludviks (Toronto) - contemporary silver

Ventana Violeta / Aimee San

There isn't enough room on the internet to hold all of Nelly Vázquez's resin creations! For a rainbow explosion of disco, polkadots, bananas and more, check out the Mexican artist on her site, Ventana Violeta.

Bonus link: speaking of rainbow explosions, check out the cute "multi-color firecracker cocktail ring" by Massachusetts jeweller Aimee San (though the site seems under maintenance at the moment).

Even more jewellery:

• BlackIvory (Singapore) - resin & shell


• Cheap Industry (Italy) - bold & bright


• Heejin Hwang (Wisconsin) - metal art

Pernille Mouritzen / Vaune Mason

I don't know what it is exactly — the colours? the abundance? — but this ring absolutely epitomizes "joy." I mean, it looks like a castle made of candy and pixie dust, and what is more joyous than candy and pixie dust?

Above, more from the jeweller, Denmark's Pernille Mouritzen.

Bonus link: here's another ring that looks like a castle (or turret). It's actually a cathedral ring by New Zealand jeweller Vaune Mason, who — speaking of pixie dust — also worked as a fairy (children's entertainer) for 13 years.

Even more jewellery:

• Francesca Villa (Italy) - gems & fairytales


• Audrey Jeanne (France) - illustrated pendants


• Las Katz (Argentina) - colourful intaglios

Verné Egon / Selen Bayrak

These rings deliver a lot of look with a lot of empty space. Creating something out of nothing (with a little metal thrown in) is Italy's Verné Egon (Stenia Scarselli and Susanna Baldacci).

Bonus link:
Here are some more distinctive metal pieces, this time in pewter, from Turkish-born New York designer Selen Bayrak.

Even more jewellery:

• Teo Legido (Spain) - cubes & tubes


• Oli + Me (California) - simple classics


• Tamara (Israel) - gems & fabric

Heather Rathbun / Rubygirl

Whether it's a Radio Flyer wagon, an Etch A Sketch or Elmo, every generation seems to have its iconic red toy. Toronto's Heather Rathbun was inspired by the classic red View-Master, using vintage Alice in Wonderland slides to create this set of stereoscopic jewellery — including that fabulous Queen of Hearts ring (squint and you can make out some soldiers from the Queen's card army).

Bonus link:
Here's a red toy ring from the aptly-named Rubygirl Jewelry. This flower ring is one of many Lego pieces by Portland, Oregon's Shannon Conrad.

Even more jewellery:

• Brickistic (Australia) - lego jewellery


• Christelle dit Christensen (France) - colour & gold


• Fili Plaza (Spain) - contemporary metal

Young Hunting / Caitlyn Rose

Are you after that Lord of the Flies look? With names like "dagger," "spike" and "lava," these rings are like artifacts from some bygone, violent island civilization. They're from the "Fata Morgana" collection by Australia's Young Hunting.

Bonus link:
Here's a similarly jagged metal ring inspired by the rugged outdoors. It's the "Mountain Range" ring from Halifax's Caitlyn Rose Jewellery (Caitlyn Purcell).

Even more jewellery:

• Jennifer Kahn (Vermont) - modern relics


• Louise Frances Evans (UK) - family & domesticity


• 1974 by Albino Riganello (Italy) - ornate necklaces

Sakdidet Road / SHO Fine Jewellery

It's a mixing of cultures: origami rings from Thailand in a shop run by two Danes! Visit Phuket's Sakdidet Road, where Sofie Lund and Noah Frydendahl share their finds.

Bonus link:
Here's another "Origami" ring from Sarah Ho of SHO Fine Jewellery, whose own roots are also a mixing of cultures (she was born in Hong Kong and raised in England).

Even more jewellery:

• Loligami (France) - origami cranes


• Any NY (New York) - modern metal


• Sunna Blaedel (Denmark) - flowers & frogs

Gigi Mariani / Amie Plante

While you may have spent the long weekend blackening things on the grill, Italy's Gigi Mariani was probably blackening silver in his studio. Visit his site for gorgeous work, mainly in oxidized silver.

Bonus link:
For more oxidized silver, like this amazing sculptural piece made of tiny little ivy leaves combined in a dome shape, see Rhode Island jeweller Amie Plante.

Even more jewellery:

• Oxide Studio (Michigan) - silver & mokumegane


• Page Sargisson (New York) - modern classics


• Stine Rønsch (Denmark) - knit flowers

Maria Mamkaeva / Janine Whitling

Many of you south of the border are celebrating Fourth of July, perhaps enjoying some watermelon at a picnic. For the rest of us, here's a cool ring in watermelon colours by Maria Mamkaeva.

More from the Russian jeweller/microbiologist above.

Bonus link:
Here's a "watermelon" ring in translucent resin from Australia's Janine Whitling. In addition to resin rings, she also creates art on paper and canvas.

Even more jewellery:

• The Brown Banana (California) - recycled cutlery


• Fable & Fury (Seattle) - famous silhouettes


• Christina P (Illinois) - simple & modern

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