As with their hardcopy magazine, Modern Jeweler tends to be forever on the cutting edge of what's hip and new in the jewelry world, and that's also true with their blog, a fairly recent addition to their media options. Not all corporate blogs seem to "get it" when it comes to being part of the blogosphere, but I think this attempt at mixing corporate brand with jewelry world is working.

One topic they mentioned recently was that of the affect of crafts on jewelry trends. From "Trendy Crafts & Crafty Trends:"

Trendy crafts may seem like an oxymoron, but one of the strongest trends in the urban scene is DIY handmade items. Knitting is coming back as a pastime. Hand decoration of shoes, shirts, and walls, with its aura of personalization, is replacing logos and brands as a signifier of taste. This influence is spreading into mainstream design as well, of course. In jewelry, hand finishes and organic-looking shapes that show the mark of the craftsman's hand are a very strong trend. Those who don't want to actually do-it-themselves represent a growing market for crafty entrepreneurs with an urban edge.

I find this a refreshing point of view from a group that normally focuses on fine jewelry. So many times (and too many), the craft of jewelry is dismissed.