Gabrielle Desmarais / Molly Gabbard / Rebecca Vigers / Uhuru / Manuela Jimenez

The word "protuberance" perturbs me. Nevertheless, here's a protuberance edition of Five in a Flash, inspired by this ring with sticking-out sticks. Ring above by Montreal's Gabrielle Desmarais (I like her gallery of art pieces that are all about balancing shapes).

"Tied" ring in soapstone and fox hair by Indiana's Molly Gabbard.

"Sword" ring by UK jeweller Rebecca Vigers.

"Milo" bar ring from Brooklyn furniture designers Uhuru.

Silver "lace" ring by Colombia's Manuela Jimenez.

Anya Almira / John Iversen

One look through this jeweller's gallery and you'll have your head in the clouds — right alongside that castle. Visit Singapore's Anya Almira, who takes her best childhood memories and turns them into wearable art.

Bonus link: my own childhood memories definitely include playing jacks (mostly because I loved those bouncy balls). I guess New York metalsmith John Iversen can say the same; pictured is a ring from his "Jacks" collection.

Even more jewellery:

• Anne Dumont (Belgium) - lego necklaces
• Xiao Liu (China) - rice & metal
• Marie Laure Chamorel (France) - chain fringe

Heather McDermott / Lucie Hunter

Is there a dreamier-sounding place than Isle of Skye? (It's like "Land of Nod," minus the unpleasant Biblical backstory.) These rings were inspired by jeweller Heather McDermott's dual Scottish surroundings of Skye and Edinburgh. Don't nod off and miss the rest of her gallery!

Bonus link: Lucie Hunter is another UK jeweller who was inspired by the Scottish Isles (Iona and Staffa, to be precise). Her aim is "to help people re-connect with the land they live on."

Even more jewellery:

• Lilac Millie (UK) - Scottish seaglass
• Nhat-vu Dang (Netherlands) - conceptual & interactive
• Leah Ball (Illinois) - organic bronze

Evgeniya Tsancova / Elisabeth Engstrand Sparring

My favourite kind of pencil crayon art!

Check out Bulgarian jeweller Evgeniya Tsancova for the rest of the collection, as well as other pieces like the "Tied" rings, above, made of rope and anodized aluminum.

Bonus link:
Here's a rope ring that's let loose a little — or a lot. The frayed piece is the "Party Rooster" by Swedish jeweller/print designer Elisabeth Engstrand Sparring.

Even more jewellery:

• Ivanne Binetruy (Toronto) - silver & pencil crayons
• Haruko Sugawara (Japan) - woven metal
• Calinka (Sweden) - heart charms

Mizuko Yamada / Mima Pejoska

Some people can't abide the feel of jewellery on their bodies. Japan's Mizuko Yamada, it would seem, is not one of them.

Check out her gallery for more of her "Tactile" series, as well as other work, like the watering can rings above.

Bonus link:
Macedonian artist Mima Pejoska also explores tactile jewellery with her "Haptics" collection. Pictured here is the "Press It" ring.

Even more jewellery:

• Mauricio Guajardo Touché (Mexico) - porcelain butterflies
• Antonella Giomarelli (UK) - jet knots
• Min Pin (Australia) - cute critters

Alex Diaz / Psyche Jewelry

In "Ring for Specific Elicitation," Tokyo-born designer Alex Diaz created a piece "that would synthesize [his] knowledge in neuroscience with architecture." The brass ring "elicit[s] specific nerves to trigger emotions by poking specific parts of the palm and the ear." It tickles my fancy, at least.

Bonus link: do more poking with this spike ring from Brooklyn's Psyche Jewelry (Nina Berenato). Also pictured is her "Ego" ring, designed to point outward (as a reminder of others) or inward (to reflect internally).

Even more jewellery:

• Gillian Steinhardt (New York) - spikes & folds
• Carla García (Spain) - metal & wood
• Nicoline van Boven (Netherlands) - contemporary silver

Emelie Westerlund / mazar be Bracha

Please pass the soy sauce.

"You must first turn it sideways by 90 degrees, then make it inverted by twisting your wrist and dip it from the side..." So begins the sushi-eating instructions that were the inspiration for these rings. That's right — not mountains, not sunsets, but table manners. I like the way this person thinks. For more, check out the UK's Emelie Westerlund.

Bonus link: many think sushi is defined by the raw fish, but the term really refers to the vinegared rice. Japan's mazar be Bracha has a series dedicated to this humble grain (available in their shop).

Even more jewellery:

• Lila Rice (New York) - modern metal
• Hina Himuka (Japan) - plants & jellyfish
• Mischa Vos (Netherlands) - animal necklaces

Samantha Nania / Colin Zannoni

If Geppetto were re-born as a modern American woman, maybe she'd be a jeweller. Using wood scraps from furniture-making, Connecticut native Samantha Nania "combines sharp angles and subtle arcs in order to convey the ballerina in motion." More graceful than Pinocchio, for sure.

Bonus link:
For more wooden rings, visit California's Colin Zannoni, who does a lot of 3D modelling in his design work.

Even more jewellery:

• Chang-Ting Tsai (Taiwan) - repurposed wood
• Chelsea Fay (New York) - folds & granules
• Ingrid Adriaenssens (Belgium) - contemporary metal

Aimee Petkus / Lux Divine

"For many years," says Georgia's Aimee Petkus, "I've tried to understand why art and science are viewed so separately, and how I could bring them together." She finds her answer in jewellery, which involves both the science of geology and the art of adornment. Check out her awesome organic pieces featuring raw crystals, metal and electroforming.

Bonus link:
For plenty more quartz, check out Los Angeles jeweller Lux Divine, who also has a wide array of arrowhead rings made by electroforming agate.

Even more jewellery:

• giantLION (DC) - metal & quartz
• Hanne Schoofs (Belgium) - silver buttons
• Gabriele Frantzen (Germany) - statement necklaces

Valentina Brugnatelli / Eometrie

Super colourful, chunky, translucent resin with slabs of agate... would describe this designer's cuffs. The rings, as you can see, tend toward the neutral and monochromatic; shown here are pieces in brass, resin and crystal. No matter what the palette, however, Italian jeweller Valentina Brugnatelli's creations are striking and fabulous.

Bonus link:
Also alternating between brass and colour is Virginia's Eometrie (Emily Sullivan), who has a nice array of triangular designs.

Even more jewellery:

• Son of a Sailor (Texas) - brass & pastel
• Aime Bijoux (France) - modern gold
• Jessica Mobley (UK) - gems & flowers

Studio YCYC / Emma Bugg

A church, a temple, a street crossing: just some of the things encountered by Yu-Chiao Wang and Yuan-Chi Tseng while "Wandering in a City," that city being Tainan, in their native Taiwan. Together, they are Studio YCYC.

Bonus link: Emma Bugg also infuses her jewellery with a sense of place. She uses concrete that's been mixed with found bits from around Tasmania, like old brick or fragments from demolition sites.

Even more jewellery:

• Penny Larsen (Minnesota) - state outlines
• Panacea Designs (Hawaii) - bullets & quills
• Joseph Jackson (UK) - metal mesh

Sun Kyoung Kim / Gina Stewart Cox

Unconventional beauties from Illinois' Sun Kyoung Kim.

Bonus link: speaking of unconventional, London jeweller Gina Stewart Cox offers the unusual pairing of coloured cord and fine gems in her diamond and sapphire rings.

Even more jewellery:

• Eva Dueñas (Spain) - brass & rope
• Vivienne Kelly (New York) - bold & colourful
• Ofir Galili (Israel) - petals & braids

Amedeo Scognamiglio / Arte Napoletana

Speaking, as we were yesterday, of portraits: while the cameo is a classic form of portraiture, Amedeo Scognamiglio doesn't restrict himself to classic motifs. Check out the New York jeweller's array of carved animals, from the three wise monkeys to dress-donning ducks. (He also has lots of skulls and more traditional figures.)

Bonus link:
Also offering a mix of contemporary — like this teddy bear and cat — and more classical cameos is Japan's Arte Napoletana.

Even more jewellery:

• Yolaine Giret (France) - cameos & porcelain
• Yaiza Alemany & Eva Girbes (Spain) - interesting shapes
• Sweet Pea (UK) - gold & gems

Joo Hyung Park / Elizabeth Berdann

In "Portrait of the artist as a young jeweller," South Korea's Joo Hyung Park wears her precious memories on her fingers. "It is not about interrupting the memory," she states, "but making it closer to my hands." She chose to cut out her own image rather than disturb those of her family.

Visit her site for more, like these "Cracked" rings in acrylic, silver and coloured pencil.

Bonus link: you can also keep your family close with a ring from New York artist Elizabeth Berdann, who's known for her detailed miniature portraits.

Even more jewellery:

• Barking Dog Creations (Florida) - pet portraits
• Julia Parry-Jones (UK) - birds & balls
• Laëtitia Andrighetto (France) - glass & silver

Jennifer Merchant / Pearce Morgan

Make a statement with rings in layered acrylic and corian by Minnesota's Jennifer Merchant. Even if that statement is just, "I really like layered acrylic and corian."

Bonus link:
If you want acrylic jewellery that makes a political statement, check out this layered "Equality" ring by Australian designer Pearce Morgan.

Even more jewellery:

• Rachel Stewart (North Carolina) - African acrylic
• Wild Acre (UK) - silver leaves
• Tatsuo Nagahata (Japan) - antique style

Emma Francesconi / Androgyny Jewelry

If only I could screw up as well as Emma Francesconi. In the Italian jeweller's hands, hardware is transformed (be sure to check out her online brochures, particularly for the bracelets). She explains: "I take handfuls of screws and washers and play around with them, attaching them in a multitude of ways, creating new shapes, going back and trying again until I find equilibrium of shape and overall smoothness."

Bonus link:
For more hardware, check out California's Androgyny Jewelry, who has nail rings in various metals — with or without crystals on the heads.

Even more jewellery:

• Knight & Hammer (New Jersey) - flora & fauna
• Selina Woulfe (New Zealand) - body piercings
• Jasmine-Thomas-Girvan (Jamaica) - sculptural metal

Fillyjonk / Yolanda Benitez

Wish you could just sit...

...in a treehouse...

...at a lakeside cabin? Let Japan's Fillyjonk whisk you away for the weekend.

Bonus link:
"Inside Out" is another tree & house ring, but this one is comprised of three pieces that can be separated into rings and pendants. By UK jeweller Yolanda Benitez.

Even more jewellery:

• Eva Burton (Spain) - chairs & shapes
• Frieda and Nellie (New York) - colour & crystals
• Hannah Fewtrell-Bolton (UK) - art necklaces

Chris Jump / Gitte Bjørn

Dollnatomy: while the title says it all, the pictures say it better, so go check out UK jeweller Chris Jump.

Bonus link:
Here's a little befooted eggnatomy. For lots of unusual metalwork, visit the gallery of Denmark's Gitte Bjørn, who describes her work as being "closely linked to the body."

Even more jewellery:

• Zoomorf (Netherlands) - conceptual bodywear
• Marianna Hadass (UK) - silver & perspex
• Gabriel Ofiesh (Virginia) - weaving & diamonds

Birgit Okulla / Merve Kahraman

Like a good dessert, these glass bottle rings feature various toppings and fillings — but you can have as many as you want without risk of a sugar coma, which is a nice bonus. To see more, visit Germany's Birgit Okulla.

Bonus link:
You've got the bottle — now all you need is a glass. UK industrial designer Merve Kahraman has you covered, in style, with the "Seduction Series."

Even more jewellery:

• Anaïs Beard (France) - recycled bottlecaps
• Brooklyn Heavy Metal (New York) - rocky metal
• Ginny Puzey (UK) - folded squares

Un (Tomoyo Yoshida) / Laonato

Now that school's back in session, a little math:

top hat + top hat = ?

Bowtie, of course. It's not just math, it's math class.

For more playful pieces, as well as modern classics like the ring above, visit Japan's Un (Tomoyo Yoshida). [If you can't access the site, try their old blog.]

Bonus link:
For more classy (and mustachioed) top hats in silver- or gold-plated brass, head on over to South Korean jewellery shop Laonato.

Even more jewellery:

• Gilbert Riedelbauch (Australia) - mathematical metal
• Jennifer Theokary (Pennsylvania) - sculptural resin
• Begoña Prats (Spain) - copper & wood

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