Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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

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!

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!

I don't understand anyone giving this book 5 stars or even 4. The only reason I gave 2 stars is because it does have some basic jewelry techniques that can be used. However, there is a difference between fun and just tacky. This is tacky jewelry. Tacky! Ugly! There is a paperclip necklace, a dollhouse miniature vanity necklace, and a cut up plastic folder necklace. If that is your taste, then this book is for you. If you are looking for different, fun and classy then I would suggest Sherry Haab's books or and Interweave Books. This was a complete waste of money and and 4 year old could've created this junk I have no idea how her jewelry became so popular on her website, but I guess there is a market for everyone. I am sorry to be so rude, it is just this was so dissapointing and money is so hard to come by to be wasting it on this. Although I hate her designs, I admire her story.

Bought this on a whim. Has some really cute projects in it--most I wouldn't wear now, but I probably would have loved to about 8 years ago when I was in college or even back in high school. Very funky and fun--I love to look at the pictures! Would definitely recommend this for people with a taste for bright, spunky, and super kawaii projects.

Yes, I said it -- right in the title of this review! You'll shed your "secretary status" and be the boss if you want to be, by using the fantastic ideas offered in this cool book, The Naughty Secretary Club, The Working Girls Guide to Handmade Jewelry, by the sassy, funny and talented Jennifer Perkins.

Everyone hanging out at the water cooler will be gawking at your stylish and unique accessories, which you will have learned to make from this inventive, cool, and (take a note on this next thing, cause it's a great boon for all of us in these tough times!) economical jewelry crafting book.
The introduction explains what to expect from the author and why she happened to develop the sort of fun and funky jewelry designs at which she excels. This book was meant to be! Even as a grade school kid, Jennifer Perkins was designing in her head and also actually creating her amazingly fun style of jewelry. She has a great sense of humor and every piece reflects this.

This book is very well laid out.

Following the introduction, you will note that the projects are all marked for levels of ability. When I read a jewelry design book, especially one which uses items I am not in the habit of using myself, I find this very helpful. The neophyte would be categorized as "First Day on the Job". The intermediate jewelry designer would be comfortable making Jennifer's "You Deserve a Raise" projects. The most sophisticated of designers or crafters, familiar with jewelry making in a variety of ways, and already knowledgeable about most aspects of it, get to be "Running the Show".

After that explanatory section comes a listing of supplies and tools of the traditional jewelry making sort. Then we have some pages of "office potluck", which are all sorts of things which have office themes and will be used in the projects.
Then comes a list of basic tools which will be needed, such as glues and pliers and so on.

When a "hot tip" is noted in the book, it's in a little white post-it type square, and it's sealed with a lipstick red smoochy kiss. Look for those to add to your education concerning what Jennifer is discussing right on that page.

Of course we all know you must go to Secretary School before you can be a secretary, right? This section shows some of the jewelry making techniques you will be using.
Finally, before the projects begin, there is a page concerning drilling, and lots of cool things you can do with a drill. I liked that and found it short, sweet and to the point. All of these sections which I have just discussed are illustrated with excellent clear photos.

Now we get to the very substantial chapters:
Chapter one is called A Case of the Mondays, Chapter two is Hump Day, and Chapter three is TGIF. I loved this inventive, amusing set of labels. How perfect!
When you are done with the projects and finished with the final chapter, there is also a great list of patterns and pictures, a selection of blogs to check out, resources, unlikely sources (very useful) and the index.

The Naughty Secretary Club, which is subtitled "the Working Girl's Guide to Handmade Jewelry", uses a lot of inexpensive materials in tons of ingenious ways.

Even if you have never been a secretary for a single day in your life, if you are a curious and crafty type who loves new styles, and colorful handmade jewelry, this is the book for you. You will save tons of money making these projects as well...one of my favorites, for example, has fabulous high fashion and yet it is made from shredded junk mail ( see the "Shredded Junk Mail" necklace, with a bonus project of "Shredded Junk Mail" earrings I am crazy about)!

As you can see from that project I just mentioned, the secretary theme truly is embraced, with many of the jewelry pieces using transformed office supplies in clever and appealing ways
Paper clips, typewriter keys, scrapbook paper, binder clips and more make their appearance in this unique, completely fun book.

I really enjoyed all the colorful repurposed items the authors uses in her projects. An example of this is "Quitting Time" headband. It is an adorable leopard print felt headband you create and then decorate with a green grosgrain ribbon running through a watch jauntily adorning it. Totally cute!
A necklace which I found fascinating and very pretty was the "Binder Folder Bling" necklace, billed as one of the easier projects. It is as chic as it gets, and it has matching earrings. I adore the "Paper Clip" necklace too, which is a kind of a colorful "Y" or fringey style necklace with tons of color, both in the paper clips and in the paper you use to cover the paper clips! Very cool!

The author uses so many materials in so many eye popping ways! You will be encouraged to look around at any supply store you happen to be in, in a whole new light! Her book, The Naughty Secretary Club, The Working Girl's Guide to Handmade Jewelry, deserves more than just a glance from the reader. Get it, read it, and love it! You will be able to wow your friends with your crafting abilities after creating any one of these projects. Go ahead! Play and then have fun wearing these pieces yourself, and/or giving them to pals. You can't go wrong with this hip jewelry crafting book!

Jennifer Perkins is a fun & talented crafty chick. Her style shines through in this beautifully printed, high-quality book. The introduction to tools & supplies was especially helpful since I am new to jewelry making. The book is jam-packed with awesome projects that include step-by-step, easy to understand directions. [...]

Jennifer Perkins hits a home run with her Working Girl's Guide to Handmade Jewelry. If you love to collect little bits of junk and don't ever throw out a pair of prescription glasses, here's the jewelry book for you. Jenn's book is chock full of techniques, from using a high speed drill to embroidery to sewing, each technique is used all to make the funky jewelry projects. I love the tips throughout the book that will give your projects a polished look.

Even if you don't have a Naughty Secretary style (although you should seriously reconsider if you don't), you can use all the tips, techniques and your own bits and pieces to make unique jewelry that expresses who you are. The book lists for under $20, which means you can't go wrong - it's got style and kitsch that will make you smile!

I bought this book in order to support the crafty cause of Jennifer Perkins and other crafty ladies (and of course the naughty secretaries) worldwide and was so thrilled when I started reading it! I have been making jewelry for years, but this book has presented me with techniques and tricks that I have never even imagined!

The instructions are laid out in a simple to follow manner with lots of photos so that it makes it really easy to take her projects and create them exactly as presented or take the idea and run with it! I feel like I could read this book cover to cover over and over again and still find something new that I hadn't seen before - it is literally full of inspiration! Her helpful hints in the back of the book are equally inspiring and useful. Way to go Jennifer!

The jewelry looks ridiculous. Paper-clip necklace??? Come on, that's for children.
The good thing about this book is that there are some basic techniques which you can use for grown-up jewelry.