Jurassic jewels.

Love these bold, playful pieces from Australian based jewelry (and homeware) designers, Dinosaur Designs. Especially digging the recent Bones collection.

Tobias Wong. His awesome killer ring. & his passing.

In a year of seemingly endless celebrity deaths, it is always hardest to embrace those of great talents who pass too, too young. Tobias Wong, the Canadian-born, New York-based artist and designer, passed away on Sunday morning. Wong’s brief body of work was overwhelmed by creativity, innovative design, and twists on tradition.

Wong’s ‘Killer Diamond Engagement Ring’ (pictured left) is my favorite example of Wong’s subversive style. To take a romantic icon and turn it on its head–literally–to create a piece so much more interesting and inspiring than the original–genius.

I used to think this was the ring I'd want should some poor guy ever propose to me. He'd be poorer for having me cut him in his sleep though.

[This post originally appeared on Curated.]

Design Dish: Ninaki Jewelry

Remember those icebreaker games when you were a child during which the line of questioning would always, undoubtedly lead to an inquiry about your 'talents?' I used to answer this question with a detailed description [and often a demo] of my human pretzel. Looking back, I must have been an extreme disappointment to my mother who paid oodles along the way for dance classes, acting lessons, and karate--all in the hopes of instilling me with a a 'real' talent.

Now that I am older and not even flexible enough to boast a human pretzel any longer, I am even more impressed by folks who do have real talents. And always excited when those folks happen to be my friends.

One of my very talented pals, who may or may not be able to perform a human pretzel for you, is the designer of NINAKI, jewelry that is, simply put, to die for. The pieces are bold and beautifully sculpted [and will look amazing on me as soon as I can afford them].

This ring is one of my favorites...

Now, imagine it on my hand instead of on a wood dummy. Spectacular, right?

So, though I didn't make it to the Broadway stage, perhaps my mother can be proud at least of my good taste.

View Ninaki's collection here.

Blast from the past: Cabbage Patch darlings

In doing some research for a current writing assignment, I've come across these fab vintage rings celebrating all that were Cabbage Patch Kid dolls. They're straight out of the 80's, an awesome homage to the button nosed, cloth faces many of us came to love. And with "gold" plating to boot? Fantastic.

Find these gems and other vintage finds from the '50s through the '80s on Hullabaloo.