(EMAILWIRE.COM, August 22, 2024 ) Denver, CO and Louisville, KY and Cincinnati, OH and Indianapolis, IN Bill Smith was an award-winning jewelry designer whose life and designs are showcased in a new comprehensive guide, Visionary Designs by Bill Smith t.j., compiled by JoAnne M. Spiller and published by Outskirts Pressthe fastest-growing, full-service self-publishing and book marketing company. This full-color book traces Bills journey from humble beginnings to bright star to relative obscurityand will hopefully reignite an appreciation of his incredible designs.
William F. Bill Smith, from small-town Madison, Indiana, became a much-sought-after designer of fine and costume jewelry, with a career spanning more than 40 years. Bill had his own experimental design firm, Smith St. Jacques, beginning in the mid-1950s. His bold, colorful designs were soon displayed on socialites, entertainers and fashion critics. The first Black vice president of costume jewelry house Richelieu, Bill had a contract to sign his name to his couture collectiona first in the industry. Thus, Bill Smith, t.j. (so as not to be confused with the clothing designer) was born.
In 1968, Bill became famous for his outrageous clothing, comprised of strings of faux pearls, chains or faux coins worn over body stockings. During his career, Bill won multiple design awards including the coveted Coty in 1970. His work can be found in the permanent collections of several art museums, including The MET in New York City and The History and Art Museum in Madison, Indiana. Visionary Designs pays homage to this extraordinary artist and features a catalog of his work.
Learn more about the author at outskirtspress/VisionaryDesignsByBillSmith.
At 240 pages, Visionary Designs by Bill Smith t.j. is available online through Outskirts Press. It will also be sold through Amazon and Barnes and Noble for a maximum trade discount in quantities of 10 or more and is being aggressively promoted to appropriate markets with a focus on the non-fiction category.
ISBN: 978-1-9772-7242-3 Format: 8.5 x 8.5 color paperback Retail: $45.95 eBook: $9.99
Genre: BIOGRAPHY / Design
About the Author: JoAnne M. Spiller has been the Director of Education at the Jefferson County (IN) History and Art Center since 2000, developing and teaching programs on local history. She curated the permanent collection and the traveling exhibit of Bill’s jewelry for the Center. This book has been a work of “heart” for more than four years. She and her husband, Doug, love to travel the world and visit their children, Jenna and Kendall.
About Outskirts Press, Inc.: Outskirts Press offers full-service, custom self-publishing and book marketing services for authors seeking a cost-effective, fast, and flexible way to publish and distribute their books worldwide while retaining all their rights and full creative control. Available for authors globally at www.outskirtspress.com and located on the outskirts of Denver, Colorado, Outskirts Press, Inc. represents the future of book publishing, today.
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