Honestly, when I came to work this morning I had NO idea what to blog about today. But as I walked into my office after lunch, something on my desk caught my eye. The "advanced copy fairy" had paid a visit to my inbox, and dropped off one of the first copies of Vintage Style Jewelry (a Bead&Button special issue) to come back from the printers. Yay, blog topic found!

 
I perused it intently, loving the cohesive visual look of the pages, and little "vintage-y" details that the Art Department added in just the right places. They really outdid themselves with this beauty. I was so tickled to finally see the physical object of everyone's hard work – it felt like pure excitement manifested.

And it's not just a looker. There's a lot of information in this 97-page booklet. I mean I helped work on it, yet I didn't fully realize the extent of knowledge, research, and creativity loaded into these pages. It's size, layout, and scope definitely make it feel more like a softcover book rather than simply a special magazine issue with a theme. I can definitley see myself shelving this one with my books to keep as a reference.

 
Here's a look at the special two-sided pull-out at the center of the magazine. It's a jewelry timeline that Bead&Button Associate Editor Lynne Soto compiled, complete with photos and the whys and hows of jewelry trends throught the years.

And while the historical and reference stuff is great, at it's core it's still a how-to magazine. There are 22 brand new projects designed exclusively for this special issue. Since it's from Bead&Button there are, of course, plenty of beading and stitching projects. But there are also projects incorporating chain, wire, filigree components, and one of my favorites: metal clay.

 
You can see the first pages of my metal clay project here. I love the lead photo: the open metal clay locket holds snapshots of my Grandma Mildred and Grandfather Harold taken on their honeymoon.

 
If you haven't already pre-ordered it, look for Vintage Style Jewelry to hit store shelves in a week or two. And after you've gotten your own chance to look it over, write me (akidd@artjewelrymag.com) or any of the editors over at Bead&Button (editor@beadandbutton.com) to let us know what you think of it. We'd love to hear your feedback.