The Naughty Secretary Club: The Working Girls Guide to Handmade Jewelry by Jennifer Perkins
I will preface this by being completely honest – its real hard to be unbiased when reviewing a book when A: the author is a friend and B: you have a love for the subject matter that rivals the people on InFANity. So I’ll “keep it real” like as I always do. I have one word for this SQUEEE!!!!!!!!!!!! Jennifer is also Craft Gossip’s Craft Artist Life editor. You should visit her section & read all the cool interviews she has up over there.
I got the package as I was going out the door with my dog. I quickly ripped it open as I was walking and it was love at first sight. How can you NOT love it?? The colors, the laughing mannequin with perfect red cat eye glasses-SQUEE!!!! But hang on, there is more to love, trust me. This first glance is just the tip of the color saturated iceburg that awaits you inside its glossy covers-so much so, my dog and I made an emergency pitstop at Starbucks so I could sit and go thru this book right there and then.
Open it up and be prepared for a full blown blast of colors, kitsch and cleverness. This is not a book for the shy or conservative jewelry maker. Jennifer 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 I really feel this book will appeal to just about everyone. Even if you can’t imagine wearing little plastic deer in your ear (hey, I’m a poet and didn’t know it!), you will get a ton of inspiration and tricks in the book that you can use with whatever your style is.
The book begins an introduction, supplies, tools and the definition of the skill levels of the projects. Remember because this is all about using found objects you are not limited by what you have or don’t have at home. This book is ALL about being creative and having fun. The projects are broken up into 3 sections: A case of the Mondays, Hump Day and TGIF with 30 projects total and unlimited ways to expand upon them. While its hard to nail it down to just a FEW, I’ll pick three of the top ones that I love especially: Thank you for Calling bangle (I love those purses too!), Tied Down Brooch and the Specs Appeal Necklace (super clever). Sprinkled through out are little “take a memo” sidebars with fun info, trivia and tips.
Its a great book for beginners as well the experienced jewelrymaker who wants to expand their boundaries and push outside their boxes. Its a delight to look at and read.
