Jewelry Designer Chrissy Cook

Continuing with the jewelry theme we’d like to extend a hearty handshake and congrats to Reading, Pa jewelry designer Chrissy Cook for her 2010 Niche Award nomination. She has been nominated in the professional category of fashion jewelry for her Three Dome Ring (pictured above). And in case you aren’t familiar with the the Niche Awards, the awards’ site explains:

The NICHE Awards program began in 1990 to celebrate excellence and innovation in American and Canadian fine craft.  Artists are recognized in professional and student divisions.

The professional division of the 2010 NICHE Awards was judged by a distinguished panel: gallery owners Bruni Obriecht, Kelly Richard, Diane and Madis Sulg and Susie Wilber; arts advocates Clemmer and David Montague and Emma Quin, who was aided by associates Mark Lewis and Sara Washbush; and tradeshow representative Rebecca Mercado.

The winners of the 2010 Niche Awards will be announced Feb. 12, 2010.

Cook has some rather innovative ring designs that make better use of the space between your fingers than the space on top of your fingers. I like to think of the ring below as the brass knuckles of the fashion world. Can you imagine the shiner one of these would leave?

The bracelet below consists of garnets, citrine and smokey quartz set in a railroad-track-esque chain of sterling silver rectangles. It kind of looks like it would be at home in a Piet Mondrian painting or in a piece of Frank Lloyd Wright stained glass.

And looking like it would be equally comfortable in the world of abstract art is this Curve Oval Pendant necklace and Curve Oval Onyx ring. All of Cook’s jewelry is available for purchase on her web site.

Tis the Season for Cocktail Rings

It’s the holiday season which means parties and when it comes to planning what you are going to wear to the 10 events you are attending between now and January 1st it can feel a bit daunting. One way to simplify is to pull out that “when in doubt” little black dress every lady has (or should have!) in their closet and add a little class and sass by adorning a finger with a cocktail or “statement” ring. Quick, simple and oftentimes a forgotten accessory, the cocktail ring is a classic that should not be overlooked. So here’s a few to whet your holiday party-wear whistle. And they are all under $100!

The Carribbean Blue Opal by KlaatuCollection, based in Philadelphia, is a cluster of Swarovski Crystals and copper. It’s a nice twist on the classic single stone cocktail ring and comes in at $45.

If a statement is what you really want to make, then may I suggest  Lucid New York’s Frog Cocktail Ring. It has already been praised by The New York Times for it’s big personality and small price tag and now we’re jumping on board the fan bus too! You can have this amphibian buddy perched on your finger all night long for $40.

This multicolored Robert Dodd ring ($75) is a great option for people who might not be able to wear metal and appreciate vintage finds. It’s made from celluloid and mimics the look of a classic cocktail ring but is more playful and chunky. Alice, over at The Carrot Box, a ring fanatic with a metal allergy, has a great collection of non-metal rings that can dress up any holiday outfit.

Now here’s a ring that appears to be a classic single stone cocktail ring but actually is quite the opposite. The Michael Kors Very Hollywood Solid Perfume Cocktail Ring hides a solid perfume beneath the stone so you can easily refresh throughout the evening. And at $40 you don’t have to let out the secret that it’s a solid perfume from Sephora, but instead can flaunt around that champagne stone and say “it’s by Michael Kors” all night long and not even be lying.

If you prefer the vintage look, Free People has this great round antique-looking ring without the vintage pricetag. I love the way it hangs over the fingers on either side of it the finger it’s actually being worn on. How’s that for bigger is better? Plus, it goes for just $34. Who knew Free People sold items under $100? I sure did not.

This emerald green glass cocktail ring by Phuze Designs ($62) is another great non-traditional option using a non-traditional material and comes in five other colors. Each ring is unique and has a slightly different shape.

Okay, it’s not a cocktail ring and I’m not suggesting you wear it to your company holiday cocktail party at Le Bec Fin, but I thought this Pac Man ring over at the Craftzine blog was pretty smart and hilarious (even if their hand model could use a bar of soap and a nail brush…).

Turkey Lurkey Loo

Courtesy of Baraskit.se

Facials sound like a luxe, indulgent experience, but sometimes when you’re getting your pores cleared out it HURTS. This Rice Facial at Moko that Daily Candy found sounds like a nice alternative. Ingredients used in a facial from Moko include basmati rice, ghee (clarified butter), milk, cardamom and cinnamon. Mmm. Sounds like you should stop here for dessert after Thanksgiving weekend. Also featured in Daily Candy is Jimmie the Psychic, who sounds like a good stop this weekend as well  — aside from all the Black Friday sales obviously.

While Black Friday has offers on big things like flat screen TV’s and laptops, Marie Claire and Glamour have lists of little things that will make those on your shopping list happy.

Marie Claire also has tips on how to get hair like our girl crush Blake Lively, as well the best beauty products of 2009. They just don’t have pictures of creative rings – but this blog seems to have it covered.

Keepin’ It Real

Keeping with the theme of keeping it real…as far as representation of women in magazines, that is…German magazine Brigitte is banning models from the pages of it’s bimonthly. Maybe things are really starting to shift.

Glamour.com has compiled a list of five things that you can thank Coco Chanel for, including the new film, Coco Before Chanel, set to be released at the Ritz Five later this week.

Coco would probably be a fan of what I Heart Daily highlights today – rings with lockets. A bit different with just the right amount of je ne sais quoi that Coco would approve of.

Keeping with the Chanel theme, the New York Times highlights Chanel’s show as well as provides commentary.

Lastly, Clutch points the way to beauty sets priced lower than the individual items. The Dior set in particular caught our eye, as we love the mascara, and the beauty set which includes mascara and shadow comes at the same price as it usually is to just get the mascara. Nice.