Storque articles by NaughtySecretaryClub

Beyond Homes for Gnomes: A Terrarium Round Up With Naughty Secretary Club

2009-06-05T14:48:00-05:00

Jennifer Perkins is the woman behind the blog, book, and jewelry website Naughty Secretary Club. What you probably don't know about Jennifer is that she has a small fetish for terrariums — so much so that she dedicated an entire week on her blog to the homes for gnomes. Check out her blog to learn about the top 10 terrarium tutorials of the web, a journey back in terrarium time, how to make a wedding themed terrarium, and a terrarium shopping guide. Here's Jennifer.

My love for terrariums began as a centerpiece. Several years ago one of my fellow Austin Craft Mafia members was getting hitched, and in true crafty style, she asked our little group to whip up the centerpieces for her wedding, in lieu of buying a gift to celebrate her nuptials. As I sat looking at my collection of vintage wedding cake toppers, it dawned on me that a wedding themed terrarium would be perfect. Terrariums are no longer just homes for gnomes: they are centerpieces, home décor, jewelry and more.

shroom terrarium. (brooch)

AlasMyDear is my kinda Etsian, making a terrarium wearable. $14.

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Terrarium print

Geninne has whipped up a terrarium that does not need a lick of sunlight. $25.

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Terrarium Print

Most terrariums have a gnome residing, but not theblackapple's version: a cute little pair of love birds call her terrarium home. $18.

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Vintage House Plant Water Garden and Terraiums Books

This book is a must if you are thinking of planting a terrarium. From Gopherella, $14.

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Terrarium Plush

Have you ever wanted to rest your sleepy head on a terrarium? Prettylilthings and her plushies have now made it possible. $38.

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SALE - REDUCED Rare Kitsch - Faux Terrarium Inflatable Footstool

When your dogs are barking, take a load off with erratichabits' vintage inflatable terrarium footstool. $60.

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Vintage 1973 The Terrarium Book Illustrated

Vintagejunque has just the book to get you started on your first terrarium. $5.50.

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Giant Terrarium - PRINT

emmaklingbeil has a fun array of terrarium prints. $13.

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habitat no. 1

Prefer your terrariums subtle and sweet? doodleandhoob have just the print for you. $20.

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Terrarium Kit with Vintage Gnome and Deer

Check out my line of Crafty Curios to find the perfect terrarium accoutrements. By NaughtySecretaryClub, $10.

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Hanging Orbs - card set

Send your friends a terrarium-gram with one of these blank cards by bestiaryink. $10.

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House Plants For The Purple Thumb Book

No need to fret about making your terrarium! storybookcharm has a book that will hold your hand through the entire process. $7.

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Check out terrarium week on the Naughty Secretary Club Blog, and look at all the pretty terrarium pictures on Flickr!

View More Terrarium Posts | Search for Terrariums | View More Posts from Naughty Secretary Club

Etsy Finds: Jennifer Perkins of Naughty Secretary Club

2008-09-23T08:00:00-05:00

I've often wondered how Jennifer Perkins does it: original Austin Craft Mafia member, Naughty Secretary Club founder, DIY's Craft Lab host, and now, jewelry book author — she's been making her awesomely over-the-top, charm-encrusted designs since before cupcakes were kitsch. Well wonder no more, (at least for the jewelry) she's ready to spill her secret sources for some of the coolest baubles around. (I'll give you a hint: Etsy.)

...Ooh, and if you missed Friday's how-to with Jennifer, get your free Hanky Panky bracelet project download here.

You would think that as a jewelry designer there would be a lot of beads in my world. (Ya, you would think.) Actually, I can't remember the last time I included a bead in my jewelry. That being the case, I am on the constant lookout for the perfect kitschy cutie that can be transformed into a piece of jewelry. Sometimes that is a piece of dollhouse furniture, other times it is a cupcake topper. When I was writing my new book, The Naughty Secretary Club: The Working Girls Guide to Handmade Jewelry, I knew I had to have the perfect supplies for wearable office-themed awesomeness and Etsy was the perfect place for me to start my search. I picked a few favorites that are used in 10 of the 50 fun projects you can find inside the book. Remember, there is nothing that says a jewelry designer is restricted to just beads. I live by the mantra that if it will sit still long enough, I will eventually find a way to make it into a piece of jewelry.

7 Garden Gnome Cupcake Toppers

These little dudes will come in handy while making the Whistle at Work Necklace. By LayerCakeShop, $3.75.

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basic black vintage cat eye glasses

WickedPen has you covered for making the Specs Appeal Necklace, and who knows? That might be your prescription! By wickedpen, $45.

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Fiesta Bright 40s Vintage Telephone Coil Cord Purse Bag

Start your own collection of Vintage Telephone Cord Purses, then make your own Thank You for Calling Bangle to match. By MaryMod, $30.

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Eazy Sailing

My sister Hope Perkins, who goes by the name Hot Pink Pistol on Etsy, is the mastermind behind all the secretary illustrations in the book like Phoning Flo! $360.

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Wooden Typewriter Keys - Beautiful Antique Ivory Keys

Porkchopshow has you covered with reproduction typewriter keys perfect for making shoe clips! By porkchopshow, $6.25.

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Over The Rainbow Vintage Plastic Flowers (140) Free Beads

Vintagerecreations is your one stop shop for all the fun and colorful plastic flowers found on projects throughout the book, like the Secretary's Day Bouquet Bracelet and Hotel Key Necklace. By vintagerecreations, $12.95.

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These Are Discontinued - Get Them While You Can - Deer Novelty Cupcake Toppers Set of 6

You can spot a pair of earrings I made with these adorable little deer right on the cover of the book! By sweetpoppy, $5.95.

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Vintage .. '80s Goldtone with Black Watch Faces

You will need a few men's watch faces to whip yourself up one of the Quitting Time Headbands. Look for ladies' watches to make the Clock Watchers Necklace. By dibabeads, $14.

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Vintage Beau Clip Bowtie Clip Style... Pale Yellow with Black Lines

An array of vintage bow ties, like the ones in TimelessTotes' Etsy shop, are crucial when making yourself a Bowtie Hair Comb or Necklace. $4.

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Vintage White Blue Polka Dot Beads (8)

Polka-dotted beads will always come in handy when recreating a design from The Naughty Secretary Club. By BlueLadore, $4.

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Vintage Circle Tin with AIRPLANE Picture PANAMA

If you want to make your own Typewriter Ribbon Tin Necklace, the best place to start is by scoring yourself the tin of your dreams! By estatesaletreasures, $3.99.

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Lot of 4 Vintage Princess Phone Charms

From Office Hanky Panky Earrings to Secretary's Day Bouquet Charm Bracelets, a girl needs her princess phone charms. By Chigal, $8.50.

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Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:

More Jewelry How-tos | Plastic Jewelry | Supplies tagged "kitsch"

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Jewelry How-to: Naughty Secretary Club Bracelet

2008-09-19T16:41:00-05:00

This goes out to all you office girls (and guys), slaving away out there in a stuffy cubicle, working for the man... all the while surreptitiously reading this here blog, and looking oh so busy... (how do you do it?) Ah, we joke, we joke. Take heart, it's Friday! ...And the Naughty Secretary herself, Ms. Jennifer Perkins, has a special treat — a free project download! Plus lots of other ideas for all of those office supplies you "borrowed" in her new book, The Naughty Secretary Club: The Working Girls Guide to Handmade Jewelry. Now get to work and make yourself this sweet bracelet!

Office Hanky-Panky Bracelet

(Download complete instructions here.)

Stuff You'll Need:
1 hanky or other thin vintage fabric scraps; 3 vintage clip-on earrings; silver bracelet blank; button-covering kit; chain-nose pliers; wire cutters; scissors; Liquid Fusion Glue

STEP 1: Gather your materials
Choose a hanky or thin piece of material with an office theme. Gather your stray clip earrings, bracelet blank, glue, scissors and button covering kit. Make sure that the size of the kit you choose corresponds with the size of the blank on your bracelet.

STEP 2: Cover the Button

Using the circle template provided in the button-covering kit, cut out a circle from your hanky, making sure the part of the image you want to show is in the center of the circle. Hold the fabric circle right side down and center the top half of the button on top of it.

STEP 3: Arrange Covered Button Inside Cup

Insert the fabric with the top half of the button on top into the larger plastic cup. Fold all of the extra fabric edges on top of the button. Push the back of the button into the plastic cup, making sure all of the fabric edges are tucked under it.

STEP 4: Secure Button Back

Use the blue cap provided in the kit to push the button back down into the plastic cup, securing the fabric under the button back. Simply pop the covered button out of the plastic cup.

STEP 5: Remove Button Shank

Use chain-nosed pliers to remove the shank from the back of the covered button.

STEP 6: Remove Backs from Clip-on Earrings

Use chain-nosed pliers and wire cutters to remove the backs of the vintage clip-on earrings. Occasionally a Dremel tool with a sanding attachment will be needed to smooth rough edges for a better gluing surface.

STEP 7: Adhere Covered Buttons and Earrings to Bracelet

Use your favorite glue to attach alternating earrings and covered buttons to your bracelet. Let everything dry overnight and wear to work!

Can't get enough of this naughty secretary? Be sure to catch Tuesday's Etsy Finds, where Jennifer shares some of her key sources for jewelry-making supplies — right here on Etsy. (And we're talking way more than beads!)

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Etsy Finds: Two Heads Are Better than One with Jennifer Perkins

2008-06-03T10:14:00-05:00

Jennifer Perkins lives in a perky little aqua colored house on the south side of Austin, TX, where she makes jewelry for Naughty Secretary Club, plays with her Mastiff puppy Ella, listens to her husband play drums and finds herself spending way too much time on Etsy.

Etsy is synonymous to most people with crafts. A place you might go to look for a new necklace or to buy your sister an appliquéd purse for her birthday. Etsy is also a wondermous place for people to buy original artwork, and for those of us not rolling in the dough, prints. Artists from all over the world showcase their work on Etsy — and take it from someone who has scoured the internet looking for interesting prints, the best selection is here. As I was perusing, I started noticing reoccurring themes in the art. For instance, pictures of chairs kept coming up again and again. Baroque, Jonathan Adler would love it, style chairs. There were all the chicks with things like big sailboats perched in their coifs.

The other theme I was drawn to was that of twins. After several hours of procrastin-etsying, I kept seeing more and more — especially conjoined twins. Something about it caught my attention, and I started hitting the favorites button like there was no tomorrow. Maybe it is the fact that I am a Libra and always feel like there are two Jens in there debating the pros and cons, so I relate. The inner Jens both agreed that when it comes to art, two heads are better than one.

The New Double Sided Vivienne print

Cute mods with MPD (Multiple Personality Disorder). Mr. Matte Stephens has 3 different wonderful twin prints to choose from that would match any mid-century modern décor to a T. By Matte Art, $35.

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Sister ACEO Print

Signed and numbered sullen sisters. Lauren teaches at RISD, so you know her art is going to be good! By Lauren Minco, $5.

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Sisters – Giclee Print

These beauties come all the way from the land down under. I love that they have different colored eyes. By Gala House shop, $24.

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Original Paintings 2 Scoops

If you can’t afford the painting, Jenny Bird also has an amazing black and white letter press print of conjoined cuties. $425.

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Two Heads are Better Than One

To quote the artist herself about the piece: “Illustrates two different mindsets of one person." As a Libra, I feel like that pretty much all the time. By Heidi Burton, $8.

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The Twins Mini Print

It was a tough choice between this print and "Strung together like pearls," but the flaccid swan won me over. By eekdesign, $10.

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I Always Blink in Photos

Triplets and twins galore in color or black and white. By Amy Blackwell, $16.

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Gemini

Twins and polka dots are like a two for one special. By Elsita, $20.
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Siamese Twin Girl Art Box

These girls look not at all pleased about having to spend the rest of their lives together. By Black Stitch Art Studio, $20.

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Trends: South West Style

2007-10-02T08:00:00-05:00

Jennifer Perkins resides in Austin, TX where she runs her jewelry company Naughty Secretary Club out of a room in her house. Not just any jewelry mind you, kitschy revamped jewelry made with a wink and a smile. She recently came to the realization she had more jewelry supplies than she did space and that is where her line of Crafty Curios on Etsy came about. Jennifer also co-produces a fashion show and craft bazaar called Stitch with a few of her fellow Austin Craft Mafia friends. Oh and if you want to see her in crafty action tune in week days to DIY Network and catch an episode of Craft Lab.

Last year when my younger sister Hope Perkins of Hot Pink Pistol (hotpinkpistol) fame started painting her infamous series of Dead Rappers in Native American Headdresses I thought she had officially inhaled too much glitter and fabric paint.

Fast forward a few months and I am out jewelry shopping for myself and find myself picking up huge beaded necklaces in the turquoise and red color combination.

Next thing I know fellow Austin Craft Mafia member Karly Hand (and next door neighbor to Hope) comes home from a trip to Vegas with shoulder dusting suede leather and feather earrings and it dawns on me: we are on to something here. Before I know it I am commissioning Horses in Headdresses to be painted on my jumpers and pining away for a pair of brown fringed moccasins.

Every where I looked all I could see was the South West coming back. For years I had mocked fashion involving dream catchers and coyotes howling at the moon, and suddenly I loved it. Just this weekend I went to a wedding where a Choctaw blessing was bestowed upon the bride and groom. It was clearly a sign.

Like any fashion trend, I am not saying it is wise to rawk this look from head to toe. No style or trend looks good when overdone; you end up looking themed or in costume. I have found that incorporating bits and pieces of my new love of the South West into everyday wear works best. Trends are best when finessed with subtlety. Here are a few suggestions from Etsy and beyond…

Let me start by saying that I LOVE big earrings. The bigger the better. When they are big enough to also double as a Christmas ornament and shaped like a Native American Headdress, this makes me extra happy. Not only are these earrings made by a dude (BeadedArt) but look closely the Headdresses are made with bead covered safety pins. I want them so bad it hurts and they sell necklaces too!

So you say you don’t have pierced ears? Well first of all, that is hard for me to wrap my brain around, but don’t you worry your pretty little head, because you should be sporting ear cuffs instead. Cuffs? Who? What? You heard me right. I can’t believe I am saying it out loud even, but I think ear cuffs have come full circle and are officially ok to wear again. When they are in rainbow colors with mismatched feathers like the ones made by dystructiondesigns they are even better! I think I am going to wear mine some gold chains, ala Mr. T style! Um please also note the cute model's turquoise Native American flair necklace.

Moving on in the jewelry department let us not forget our necks. As mentioned earlier I started dabbling in the big necklaces earlier this year. Well who are we kidding — I’ve always worn big necklaces. Let me rephrase that: I started dabbling in big necklaces with a South West feel to them. Here is a picture of a friend and I from this past spring at SXSW where I was feeling the big beaded necklaces. Please also note my handpainted horse in a headdress jumper.

Somehow I dream of even bigger necklaces. I want my jewelry super-sized at all times. Bear with me on this next one … I just know that a breastplate by tandscreations would look awesome on top of a white men’s tank top with a jean skirt and boots. Sure it’s not Peta approved, being made of 68 coyote foot bones, but I suppose if you were crafty you could whip yourself up your own vegan version. I love the fringe on the sides, they would match my moccasin booties perfectly!

If the breastplates are a little too much for you, maybe you should look into the designs of pipertree. Her large chunky necklaces still have the feel of a breastplate without being quite so obvious about the effect you are going for. Notice the subtle feather charms on the first example. pipertree also reminds me of another hot trend I am seeing more and more of and wanting for myself: the color gray.

Another look I love is clothing that appears to have jewelry on it. Several of my friends and fellow Stitch producers here in Austin have been going crazy for an Etsy designer named Avalove. They are smitten on her silk-screened T-shirts and dresses which have feathers on them. The Southwest flair of these tops is understated and obvious at the same time. Again notice the gray, but also take a peeksie at both models' belts, not just any belts but variations on the traditional Concho Belt!

Here are a handful of more obvious nods to the look by Etsy sellers crostini, Ahpeele, begonia44.

Other trends I am hot for right now include…

I must have a yellow purse, the larger the better and preferably in more of a mustard shade. I am also smitten on purses that have straps that go across your chest like a messenger bag or satchel. Royal Blue Crocheted tights — I can’t wait until Austin gets cool enough for me to wear my pair. What I am really keeping my trendspotting-eye on is the fact that my sister has now started painting past presidents like JFK and George Washington onto clothing. All I know is the Abe Lincoln jewelry on Naughty Secretary Club sells like hot cakes and she was right about this Southwest thing so I am stocking up on anything that bares a resemblance to our founding fathers. The presidential look is going to be hot in 2008. Trust me.