Like most of us a few days before the New Year, I'm thinking back over 2006. I'm going start with some of my favorite jewelry designers (and yours) I've posted about over the last year.

As I've expressed before, I'm no expert. I joke that I'm a "jewelry journalist," but honestly, I'm a writer (and, yes, big difference between writer and journalist!), a jewelry designer myself, and a person who appreciates the craft of creating jewelry. I write my thoughts on a topic I enjoy. That's it. Some can take it, and some can leave it. Luckily, I have found over the past year (plus) that most of my readers are like I am and enjoy my thoughts on jewelry.

Okay, here you go, some of my favs from 2006, in no particular order:

• Jennifer "JJ" Singh from Matisse Designs- The necklace pictured is an example of her unique metal work.
• Kenneth Fron - Heavy on the bead and the passion - he obviously loves his work.
• Laura James - An up and coming jewelry designer, Laura is beginning to incorporate more metal into her gemstone beaded designs. It will be interesting to see her design skills develop over the next year.
• Yummi Glass designer Allison Overbeke shows us what can be done with glass of all things for creating beautiful and colorful jewelry.
• Karin Collins from Spoonfed Art - Another unique approach to using materials not often seen in jewelry, and she helps out a cause at the same time.
• Sonya Ooten - Not everyone can pull off crochet wire jewelry, but she does.
• Pallavi Dudeja Foley - She will continue to be a jewelry trend setter, no doubt.
• Jenifer Altman of Juniper Designs - She hit it big with the vintage slash mixed media look. What will she bring us in 2007?
• Juliet Renee Williams, owner of JulRe Designs - Managing to give us chunky, funky, and still something you could wear to work, this designer always seems to be ahead of the trends.
• Designer Vincenzo Taormina - Will he continue to please us with his clean lines and contemporary jewelry designs? I hope so!
• Jewelry designer, Lulu Frost - Who will forget her number necklaces and watch earring?
• Meredith Miller - She's another jewelry designer who turned to mix media techniques with her poker chip jewelry.