The Naughty Secretary Club: The Working Girl's Guide to Handmade Jewelry [Paperback]

Jennifer Perkins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 11, 2008

Join The Naughty Secretary Club!

If you prefer your jewelry subtle and serious, you might want to go ahead and set this book back on the shelf. However, if kitschy accessories made with a wink and a smile are your cup of tea, this book will have you on the edge of your chair.

The Naughty Secretary Club is packed with more than 50 kitschy-secretary-themed jewelry projects, plus lots of quirky sidebars covering hot topics such as office romance and the best secretary theme songs to listen to on your lunch break. You?ll learn how to use your office supplies in a whole new way - did you know standard office fare, like binder folders and shredded junk mail, makes craftalicious jewelry? Plus, author Jennifer Perkins will teach you how to turn almost anything into a charm, including plastic gnome cake toppers, doll furniture and cast-off hotel keys.

Whatever your day job, you can be a Naughty Secretary in spirit - and in style. So cancel your afternoon meetings, take a break from watching the clock and send yourself a memo to whip up a new paperclip necklace just in time for happy hour!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jennifer Perkins left her job as a secretary to return to her childhood love of jewelry-making. Her Naughty Secretary Club jewelry has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Teen Vogue, The New York Times, Elle Girl, Alternative Press, Bust, Seventeen and more. Jennifer is the host of Craft Lab and Stylelicious (both on the DIY network) and has been a guest on Craft Corner Death Match and Knitty Gritty. She has a pronounced craft following in addition to a highly visted blog and Web site, www.naughtysecretaryclub.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: North Light Books; . edition (August 11, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1600611168
• ISBN-13: 978-1600611162
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #679,100 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jennifer Perkins can see decorative possibilities in almost anything. No matter the size, if it will sit still long enough she will figure out a way to make it into a piece of jewelry. She got her start selling earrings made from fishing lures at family garage sales in her home town of McKinney, TX. Today she has moved on from garage sales and now has an online shopping site called Naughty Secretary Club.

Jennifer graduated from South West Texas State University with a BA in psychology and a minor in philosophy. With this lofty degree in hand, Jennifer set out to conquer the business world. Straight out of college her one and only job was as a secretary. A secretary who never had much to do. With lots of time on her hands, she decided to return to her childhood passion- jewelry making and her occupation at the time became the inspiration behind the company name. Jennifer combines all of her fave things: music, pop culture and vintage goodies in her kitschy line of jewelry and accessories. They are sold at stores throughout the US and Canada as well as online at www.NaughtySecretaryClub.com.

Jennifer and Naughty Secretary Club have been featured in magazines and newspapers such as Lucky, The Wall Street Journal, Teen Vogue, New York Times, Elle Accessories, Alternative Press, Seventeen, Marie Claire and more. Her jewelry has also been featured on such TV programs as Knitty Gritty, #1 Single and Craft Corner Death Match. Naughty Secretary Club jewelry can be seen on the big screen in the Bad News Bears and Idiocracy.

From time to time if you turn on your television you might see Jennifer smiling back at you. Her first appearance was on HGTV's Crafters Coast to Coast now called That's Clever. Jennifer and the Austin Craft Mafia host a program for the DIY Network called Stylelicious. The episodes are all about whipping up your own wearables. Jennifer also hosts her own program for the DIY Network called Craft Lab. Each episode of Craft Lab Jennifer has a different guest on the show and a new adventure. From flaming tiki cocktail garnishes and high speed photography to Lucha Libre and Fused Glass. Jennifer has also filmed various specials for the DIY Network.

As mentioned Jennifer is a member of the now infamous Austin Craft Mafia. Along with other ACM members Jennifer has branched out into other business ventures. The Stitch Fashion Show and Craft Bazaar is brought to you each fall by Jennifer and 3 other ACM members. 2008 saw the show at the Austin Convention Center with over 3,000 people in attendance. Craft Out Loud is a consulting company that Jennifer runs with ACM member Vickie Howell.

The Naughty Secretary Club: The Working Girls Guide to Jewelry is Jennifer's new how-to jewelry book coming out on North Light. The kitschy book has over 50 jewelry projects including necklaces made from garden gnome cupcake toppers and children's eyeglasses to bracelets made from telephone cording and buttons. Jennifer has also had projects in books such as Tees: 50 Things to Do With a T-Shirt, Not Another Teen Knitting Book, Bead Simple and Making Designer Mixed-Media and Memory Jewelry. Jennifer has been profiled in books like Handmade Nation, Grindhopping and Buying In. When she is not writing for a book you can find her daily ramblings on her blog www.naughtysecretaryclub.blogspot.com

When Jennifer is not working (which is not often) she enjoys spending time with her husband, dogs and cat in their aqua, red and yellow South Austin home. She never met a flea market she didn't like and actually planned her wedding around one so that it would not be missed due to the nuptials. Jennifer's life long goal is to go on a VH1 show about the 50 worst metal bands of all time or most awesomely bad backup dancer moments and make snarky comments.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Totally Inspired!, August 29, 2008

By 

margot potter "margot potter" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Naughty Secretary Club: The Working Girl's Guide to Handmade Jewelry (Paperback)

The Naughty Secretary Club- The Working Girl's Guide to Handmade Jewelry
Jennifer Perkins
North Light Books
August 2008

I've been a fan of Ms. Perkin's whimsically wonderful jewelry for quite some time. We both worship freely at the Temple of Kitsch, have a passion for collecting vintage and a deep appreciation for the thrift store aesthetic and repurposing of unexpected materials. I've been anxiously anticipating the debut of her new book The Naughty Secretary Club since I first found out she was creating it. It absolutely does not disappoint and showcases all of the ideas that make Jennifer such an extraordinary designer and even serves up more than a few surprises.

The striking cover opens up to a deliciously designed book with scrumptious photos of her fascinating creations. A `naughty' secretary who preferred turning head pins to taking dictation, Ms. Perkins thankfully escaped from the land of water coolers and cubicles and began building a jewelry empire. She's got a unique ability to spot and interpret trend while maintaining her own signature style and her wry, witty writing style makes reading the copy as fun as it is to follow the instructions.

This is a book for folks who like to dance on the edge of good taste without diving completely into tacky town and the designs are definitely not for the faint of heart. They're playful and funky and filled with personality just like the author herself. Some of the highlights include the Jot `Em Down earrings that use tiny pencils as dangles from festive polka dotted hoops, the wickedly clever Bling Folder necklace that is made from sheer textured plastic folders, the amazing Tied Down brooch made from vintage ties and my personal favorite Whistle While You Work necklace that features garden gnome cake toppers in a totally over the top design. Ms. Perkins explores drilling, resin casting, UTEE mold and pour, sewing, metal cutting and cold connections and uses a host of clever materials including a vintage child's toy typewriter, plastic doll furniture, vintage hotel key fobs, old eyeglasses, paper clips and more.

The Perkins family is apparently brimming with talent as Jennifer's sister Hope created some adorable illustrations for the projects in the books. Jennifer provides a great source list and some of her favorite places for inspiration in the back of the book and she guides you effortlessly through over 50 fabulous design ideas. This is a must add book to every jewelry maker's collection and I heartily recommend it.

Margot Potter
Author
The Impatient Beader Series, Beyond the Bead, Bead and Wire Jewelry Exposed

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everyone loves being a bit Naughty, August 17, 2008

By 

Barbe K. Saint John (Wheeling) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Naughty Secretary Club: The Working Girl's Guide to Handmade Jewelry (Paperback)

How can you NOT love this book for the title and cover art ALONE?? I did when I quickly ripped open my package-but oh, the best was yet to come. Trust me, but that this first glance is just the tip of the color saturated iceburg.

Open it up and be prepared for a full blown blast of colors, kitsch and cleverness. Ms. Perkins wears her heart on her sleeve, a watch on her head and pencils in her ears-and she'll make you want too as well!

Packed with ideas, tips and tricks on how to turn vintage junque into wearable art this book will appeal to just about everyone. Even if you aren't as daring as Jennifer and wear large deer in your ear (hey, I'm a poet and didn't know it!), you will get a ton of inspiration and tricks on with this book. If you are a bit shy about being too flamboyant, you won't be after reading this- you'll gain the confidence to create or expand your own personal style statement.

So go ahead, let yourself be a little naughty and make something fun JUST because!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Something totally different!, August 15, 2008

By 

Kathy Cano-Murillo "The Crafty Chica" (Phoenix, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Naughty Secretary Club: The Working Girl's Guide to Handmade Jewelry (Paperback)

This is a jewelry book like no other! It is a blast of pop culture fun, with bangles and dangly earrings to match. Jennifer Perkins, a celebrated designer and TV personality, shares her trademark secrets of making her wild one-of-a-kind jewelry creations all dedicated to the working girl. There are ideas galore, detailed instructions, and all kinds of other little tidbits of fun! The designs are cohesive, attractive, they all have catchy themes, and the color combos are bright and cheery. Jennifer knows her signature style inside and out and serves it up fresh in her new book! Yay for all of us!