Blondie Shoes

No your eyes do not decieve you, these are Blondie shoes, or Debroah Harry shoes rather. I am freaking out about them and want a pair so bad my heart hurts. Apparently they are sold in some store in London, thank God I am going next month. They probably cost like a bazillion dollars and I could never afford them. A girl can dream right.

The guy who wrote Alf and his addiction to heroin.

Yesterday my mom sent me an email letting me know that she had seen an article on the Austin Craft Mafia in a new sewing magazine called Cutting Edge. I of course ran out to the Borders down the road and snagged a copy, by golly she was right. Check out the article here and take a peak at Cutting Edge Magazine here.

The rest of the night was uneventful. Permanent Midnight was the Netflix of the night. Ben Stiller playing the guy who wrote Alf and his addiction to heroin. As Jesse poetically pointed out to me this weekend “You watch a lot of movies”. I guess it is true.

Grilling hamburgers and adding new jewelry.

Whoo-hoo I finally got a chance to upload some new goodies to Naughty Secretary Club. Ya know why? Because I had my dates all wrong and I don't go to Atlanta until next Monday so I spent today grilling hamburgers and adding new jewelry.

The earrings seen here are Mod Bouquets and can be found in Nostalgic Notions Earrings. Updates were also made in: Nostalgic Notions Necklaces, Revamped Vintage Rings and Hair Goodies.

Ok I need to go make sure Chris is not burning the burgers.

Cherry Creek Catfish has gone wireless!

Last night on my way home from Chia’s bachlorette party I passed by the Cherry Creek Catfish down the street from my house. By the glow of the street lights I read a huge vinyl banner on the side of the building exclaiming: “We have gone wireless”. Now really, who patronizes Cherry Creek Catfish with their laptops? Hush puppies and wi-fi just do not go hand in hand to me. I could be really wrong. Hell maybe some time I will cruise down there and do some internet surfing for lunch and just try desperately not to get tarter sauce on my key board.

BETA VALENTINE

3 Chances to see Beta Valentine play this week in San Antonio and Austin....

Date: Friday, February 24
Time: 9:00pm
Place: Sanctuary
Address: 1818 N. Main, San Antonio, TX 78212
Other bands: Ledaswan, Forever is Never
Cost: $5.00 (all ages)
Notes: First Amendment Records showcase. (Playtime=9:30pm).

Date: Saturday, February 25
Time: 9:00pm
Place: Velvet Spade
Address: 912 Red River, Austin, TX 78701
Other bands: Mad Vega, Original Blackouts, Secular End, Cry Blood Apache plus DJ's Bigface, Ram-z, RyRy, Reli
Cost: $5.00 (18+)
Notes: Whoopsy Magazine Nite. Please come out and support a great local rag. (Playtime=12:30am).

Date: Wednesday, March 1
Time: 9:00pm
Place: EMO'S
Address: 603 Red River, Austin, TX 78701
Other bands: The Paper South (ex-Winslow), Cue
Cost: $4-$5? (all ages)
Notes: This is our first Emo's show. (Playtime=10:00pm)

I think my sister and childhood best friend would be sure to tell me if I was awful.

Last night Erin and Hope came over and I showed them an episode of Craft Lab, my first time to show anyone besides Chris. I think my sister and childhood best friend would be sure to tell me if I was awful. This picture of Vickie, Jen and I is actually from Stylelicious.

Speaking of awful I have a photo shoot with Tribeza today and have a huge fever blister. The photographer has sworn to me that photoshop miracles will happen. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Secretary Research

I am doing some research and am curious, when I say secretary what comes to mind?

I am looking for other words for secretaries. Administrative Assistant, Pencil Pusher, Pink collar, etc.

Maybe something the receptionist at your office does every day like where tennis shoes and eat tuna sandwiches.

6 letter words relating to secretaries, offices, answering phones ect.

Songs or movies about secretaries and bosses (9 to 5).

Anything you can think of even vaguely related to the topic like “Oh I think of pin up girls with horned rimmed glasses and pencils in their hair typing 150 words a minute”.

Feel free to comment here or just email me info@naughtysecretaryclub.com

Oh and the record jacket purse was made custom for me by the fabulous people at Not Without My Handbag.

Are you in the market for some kitty bling?

There is a new cool and exciting web zine out called Indie Quarter. They were nice enough to mention Naughty Secretary Club in their recent article on Kitty bling. Read all about it here. Are you in the market for some kitty bling? Well may I suggest a few things...

Red Headed Step Kitty Earrings are seen here.

Indie Quarter featured the Kitty Kitty Meow Meow Necklace and Prrrr Earrings.

In the purse department there is the Miss Kitty Purse as well as a Miss Kitty Change Purse.

See all kinds of fun kitty stuff. Ok I am off to work on my book proposal. This morning already I have made travel plans to Atlanta for business next week, been to the gym and done an interview for a book called Gridhopping. I feel so industrious and it's not even noon. Whoo-hoo!

He dug his dead friends chili more than hers.

This weekend was spent being really lazy. I had my father-in-law and brother-in-law here visiting to attend a funeral. The weather here in Austin has been cold and rainy all weekend so everyone has been trapped inside. What to do but watch movies?

The Door in Floor. This was a kind of an odd movie with Jeff Bridges and Kim Basinger. It is about their dysfunctional marriage and a family secret that is eating away at them. My father-in-law was very excited to see a full frontal nudity shot of Mi-mi Rogers.

The Brood. This was an awesome David Cronenberg movie, so you know it was slightly disturbing. There is the hunky dad, the little girl who looks like Carol Ann from Poltergeist, the mom in the institution who looks way older than her husband and then Oliver Reed who every time I see I get angry that Ken Russell’s The Devils is not on Netflix. Anyway murders start happening in and around this family and somehow mom and her “brood” are to blame.

Jagged Edge. Jeff Bridges again only much younger and thinner. Glen Close is Jeff’s lawyer as well as lover, so things get complicated. Jeff is accused of murdering his wife, but Glen the kick ass lawyer gets him off so they can get jiggy with it and ride horses 24/7. But is this a good thing?

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Almost embarrassed I had never seen this movie. The only thing by Tennessee Williams I am really familiar with is the Glass Menagerie which I had to read in High School. A Southern family with money and issues trying to work things out. Paul Newman for some reason won’t touch his wife Elizabeth Taylor with a 10 foot pole and my guess is that it has something to do with the fact that he dug his dead friends chili more than hers.

Oh and in other news, I think I have finally figured out how to tie my book together and now the proposal is flowing out of me!

Animated ladies with apparently soft poo.

You know what commercial really bothers me for some reason? The Dulcolax stool softener commercials. There is something about the soft whispery edges of the animated ladies with apparently soft poo that grates on my nerves. V8 has a new ad campaign running that I have a sneaking suspicion is using the same artist. It's not that the artist isn't talented or that I have a vendetta against either company, I can't really explain the basis for my annoyance. It is just one of those things I guess.

FLICKER

1. FLICKER 5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY SCREENING: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16th: 7:00pm

WHERE: Alamo Downtown (4th and Colorado)
HOW MUCH: $5.00 (advanced tickets)

As usual, we'll have tons of great shorts for your viewing pleasure, as well as a fabulous band...KING TEARS! They'll rock your socks off while you enjoy our raffle and intermission giveaways! WE'LL ALSO BE REVEALING OUR NUMBER ONE VOTED AUDIENCE FAVORITES FROM 2005!

The first 200 people through the door will receive a complimentary Flicker KOOZIE, as well as a free raffle ticket!

Giveaways include:

-tickets to the PARAMOUNT movie series,

-10% recording/duplication at THE STILL recording studio

-goodies from SPARKLECRAFT

- gift certificate from IDENTITY CRISIS CLOTHING

- passes to the Alamo Downtown

- gift certificates to I Love Video, Vulcan Video, Guero's and Hill's Cafe

- wine glasses from Enwraptured

-and SO MUCH MORE!!!

We'll also be running a one-night-only merch special: ALL DVDs and T-SHIRTS will be only $10!!!

IF YOU OR YOUR BUSINESS IS INTERESTED IN DONATING ANY ITEMS TO OUR RAFFLE, OR FOOD TO OUR PARTY, IT'S NOT TOO LATE! EMAIL FLICKER@FLICKERAUSTIN.COM !!!

2. FLICKER 5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY AFTER-PARTY: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16th: 8:30-10:30pm

WHERE: LIGHT BAR (4th and Congress)

HOW MUCH: FREE

After the screening around 8:30PM, come join us for a short one block walk to the for our after-party celebration of our 5 year anniversary!

JUST ADDED: THE SUPER SONIC SOUL SQUAD DANCE TEAM WILL PERFORM 2 EXTRA SPECIAL BOOGIES FOR YOU BEGINNING AT 10PM!

Kelly Knowles will be playing on the outside balcony stage, while DJ FM/AM will be inside spinning tunes for your dancing pleasure, FREE FOOD, HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS, and free drink tickets for the first 75 people through the door who say the magic word... "FLICKER"… Come help us celebrate in style!

Knit 1

Better late than never on today’s blog post right? Yesterday Vickie and I went to lunch and then over to the book store to grab the latest issue of Knit 1 magazine. Seriously cute stuff, makes me wanna learn to knit. This issue has gobs of Naughty Secretary Club jewelry Shanghai Earrings on Pg. 32, Mesh Mama Earrings on Pg. 34, Mastodon Earrings and Safari Chain Necklace on Pg. 35, Bombay Bracelet and Nouveau Ring on Pg. 36. Whoa Nelly! Speaking of Vickie be sure be and check out her interview with the band Thrice. One of the dudes knits!

In other press news check out the article on Stitch in the current issue of Rockpile.

So today was spent making jewelry, going to the dentist and talking on the phone to various business associates. First I made jewelry all day for stylist Lori Goldstein and Cosmo Girl Magazine. Ran off to Fed Ex to overnight my packages and came home to an email from Elle Girl for more jewelry so I had to turn around and go right back out the door to kinkos again. Tonight I am cooking the Valentines Day enchiladas I never got around to making and hopefully watching Hustle and Flow.

Crafty Chica's Art de la Soul : Glittery Ideas to Liven Up Your Life

Happy Valentines Day Everyone, whoo-hoo. Hope you are doing something romantic and wonderful today, not like me and going to the dentist for 2 hours. Oh well I am cooking Chris enchiladas with Green chili sour cream sauce for dinner tonight so that should be fun.

Are you looking for a last minute romantic gift for that crafty someone in your life? Then you should race right out and pick up Kathy Cano Murillo’s new book “Crafty Chica's Art de la Soul : Glittery Ideas to Liven Up Your Life”. Kathy gave me a copy at the CHA convention and I was smitten from the first flip through. I am getting ready to redo my back yard and there is a project for a Flamin’ Firepot I can’t wait to conquer. Not just any fire pot, this one is made with an enameled washing machine tub! Super cute with that kinda retro yet industrial chic look. If you have not discovered the awesome glittery power that is Crafty Chica then you are missing out. Check out her crafty podcasts, crafty website and new crafty book.

Oh and here is a special Valentines Day IMIX I made. On my computer it is 58 songs, on ITUNES there is only 32 songs. Hmmm.

GAME SHOW TONIGHT!

You’ve heard the rumblings from the underground talking about Austin’s very own GAME SHOW. Hosted by Austin’s funniest dude (and Stitch MC) Matt Bearden. Well tonight’s game show will have prizes supplied by yours truly. That’s right kids, just in time for Valentines Day you could win some free Naughty Secretary Club Bling.

WHAT: Game Show! Austin’s only live action game show with host Matt Bearden.
WHERE: Flamingo Cantina
WHEN: Monday Feb 13th
TIME: Doors open at 9:30 game starts at 10:30 CASH PRIZES right off the bat so be on time.
COST: $5 and 18 and up welcome.
WHAT MAKES THIS WEEKS GAME SHOW SPECIAL: Prizes by Naughty Secretary Club.

Come and say hello!

Xo,
Jen

Kitty Beans

It's hard for you to get the full effect of just how big this can of beans actually is. This picture does not do it justice. My cat Georgie, seen here weighs 11 pounds. The ginormous can of beans weighs 6 pounds. I am talking one of those big I came from Sams or Costco cans and there is enough for everyone at the institution to have beans for dinner tonight. We could have soaked hard beans with the ham bone overnight, but why when you can buy the econo can o’ beans? Did you ever take Home Economics classes when you were in Jr. High? In 7th grade we had to do this thing where we had "flour babies". To teach us the perils of teenage pregnancy we had to carry around a big bag of flour for a few weeks to teach us responsibility. Carrying that can of beans around the grocery store yesterday in my arms like a newborn baby reminded me of this experiment. I was sad the label on the can was paper and not painted on there, this would have made an awesome planter.

A 24 hour process with beans sounds like more trouble than it is worth to me.

Chris and I watched Gangs of New York last night after a day of running errands. It was actually better than I thought it would be. I'm not saying race out and rent it, but if it was on you don't have to reach for the remote.

Today Chris is communicating with my mother via email about how to slow cool pinto beans incorporating in this hambone we have had since christmas. That thing has been up in our freezer for over a month and it is time to make some magic happen with that bad boy or throw it away. A 24 hour process with beans sounds like more trouble than it is worth to me, but what do I know.

Remember the other day when I told you about all the new goodies I added to Naughty Secretary Club, well I have added even more. New additions to the sections I previously mentioned and then fresh baubles in places like Revamped Vintage Rings and Nouveau Necklaces.

Look for even more new goodies coming today and throughout this coming week.

Ok off to work. Today I am taking pictures for 512 Magazines, adding new nouveau earrings and putting together packages for Valentines Day orders :)

Looking for some fun Valentines Day gifts?

If you live in Austin and are looking for some fun Valentines Day gifts might I recommend the studio sale at Sparkle Craft Studios this weekend. Naughty Secretary Club goodies and more.

I also just restocked Flipnotics on Barton Spring today so head over there and tell em I sent you.

Last night Chris-e-Poo surprised me with an early Valentines Day. He had a room for us at the infamous Austin Motel on Congress. We started off with drinks at the San Jose, had a sushi dinner at Kyoto and then ended up at the Gingerman. Super duper fun.

Speaking of Sparkle Craft I wore my heart covered belt the whole night to keep it in theme!

Well you gotta act quick around these parts!

I finally found the time to add some new goodies to Naughty Secretary Club! There are new Nostalgic Notions Earrings, Revamped Vintage Earrings, Revamped Vintage Necklaces, Nostalgic Notions Necklaces and Revamped Vintage Bracelets. Whoo-hoo. As you know the items in all these categories are either one of a kind of super limited supply. People keep complaining that I am always sold out of stuff. Well you gotta act quick around these parts!

So in other news my second assistant Ginger started yesterday. Hence why I had some time to add some new stuff to the web site. She and Jasmine worked like busy little bees all day and I am starting to really feel like we are going to be ahead in a jiffy.

Last night Chris and I watched Bananas the Woody Allen flick, which I only found mildly amusing. Not my favorite of his films. Chris damn him bought Ice Cream made with Girl Scout Cookies, how could I not try it? The hour and a half I spent at the gym yesterday was in vein. I also made some new and exciting tiaras and head bands with doll heads, foam, cupcake toppers, rhinestone earrings – pretty much anything that would sit still long enough. I will take a picture tomorrow before I ship them off to New York.

Craft Lab and Stylelicious Websites

Wow Susann and her keen eyes just pointed out that there is a Stylelicious website! Which then led me to discover there is also a Craft Lab website. Who knew? Not me. How exciting.

Last night we had the most productive Austin Craft Mafia meeting of all time. We are about to be a serious force to be reckoned with! Books, Deals, TV shows – we have all kinds of things coming this year. After the meeting Karly and Tina came over to my casa for a Stitch meeting. The planning for 2006 has already begun!

In the last 24 hours I have…

*Gotten pulled over for not having my stickers up to date on my car.
*Been to the airport.
*Counted every piece of jewelry in my studio.
*Realized my entire house does not have a phone jack that I can find to plug in the new phone I bought.
*Emailed with this super cool dude J who you should check out.
*Gone to lunch with Cory at Joe’s.
*Restocked my shelf at Parts and Labour.
*Took 15 bags of clothing to the Salvation Army.
*Found out that my sister is going to have clothing in a NYC fashion show and is letting me do the matching jewelry.

Creative Juice

Meet my new friends Cathie Filian and Steve Piacenza. They are the hosts of Creative Juice which is a new show on the DIY Network premiering tonight! That’s right kids Monday February 6th 10:00 pm eastern 7:00 pm & 10pm pacific. Not sure what that means for those of us in the central time zone, but that is what TV guide is for right!

So be sure to check the show out. There is going to be lot’s of cool projects and fun stuff. As Cathie and Steve say: Make it bake it cocktail shake it. So the show should have a little bit of everything.

Weiner or wiener - it’s not how you spell it, it’s what ya do with it!

It is currently 6 in the morning, but I have been up since 4 - I am not always the best sleeper in the world. People might call me a little high strung, wound up, a wee bit on the anxious side. Oh well. Waking up at the butt crack of dawn has allowed me to scan in my latest press tidbits.

First up the March issue of Elle Girl came in the mail yesterday and there are 4 pages with Naughty Secretary Club jewelry. Look for True Love Earrings, White Puff Bracelet, White Triangle Earrings and Sail Boat Earrings. Awesome Possum!

Next up is a new little online zine called Killer Cotton. These guys were nice enough to write up a smashing review of Naughty Secretary Club. Be sure to go check them out, I am expecting great things in their future.

Last, but far from least is the February issue of Playgirl. I have a scrabble bracelet featured as a necklace on a blow up doll! There is some debate about how to spell weiner. Apparently I may have spelled it wrong, but you know what I say…weiner or wiener - it’s not how you spell it, it’s what ya do with it!

Holy Moly is this going to be a long one.

I just got back last night from my trip to Las Vegas. I am poopersnickled and will be taking a break from all activities involving late nights, crafts and gambling for quite awhile. Ok so who am I kidding, just the gambling part will be kicked to the curb. My trip was so fun and amazing, I am sad it is over. I wanted to give you daily blow by blow details, but my internet would not work in the hotel. Plus there was never anytime to write anyway.

So let’s start with Sunday. I flew in with Vickie and her latest boy toy Nils. Upon arrival I got word that my friend Lisa Sichi who I was staying with was delayed and still in Burbank. This being the case I snuggled into an airport chair and played Tetris on my cell phone until she arrived. I was so happy to see Lisa, she was my producer on Craft Lab and Stylelicious. From here we made our way to our hotel, The Stratosphere. A bit off the strip, and nothing luxurious, but it was cheap. We spent the evening wandering around the hotel finding a bar, talking to a sweet cocktail waitress about her invention and having some quesadillas. My friend Traci Bautista, who was a guest on Craft Lab, called and invited us out. Lisa and I got gussied up and went over to the Hard Rock Hotel. Traci met us there and since she is a rock star crafter she got us ushered to the front of the line and into the hotel club Body English. Flavor Flav was there too! Inside the club we just kind of listened to the techno music and looked around. Traci also had us on the list for a club called Light at Bellagio so we headed there next. More dance music but this place had chicks pole dancing which was amusing and seemed so “Vegas”. Both hotels were awesome looking and fun was had by all. About 5am Texas time I crawled into bed.

Monday was the first day of the CHA Craft Convention, my main reason for going to Las Vegas. This place is HUGE and there are miles of vendors. One day Lisa wore her pedometer and she covered over 3 miles. I pretty much spent the entire day walking around and trying to take everything in. I met some really cool people from different companies like Duct Tape and Ranger Inks. Lisa introduced me to her good friend Tim Holtz who is a total doll and amazingly talented dude. He had the crafters lined up to get a sneaky peekie of his demos. Super Cool. That night Sterling Books was throwing a party for Vickie and several other knitters at The Venetian. Lisa, Traci and I all went over for free cocktails and appetizers. Very swanky. I got my picture taken with Kitty Bartholomew and met Cathie and Steve from Creative Juices (airs this Monday on DIY – tune in!) they were super duper sweet. After the reception Traci, Lisa and I went downstairs to Tao and had dinner.

Tuesday was day number two of the convention. The morning started off with Vickie and I having a meeting with a company there that might be working with the Austin Craft Mafia on some exciting new stuff. You heard it here first folks, we will keep you posted on all late breaking developments. Also that day there was a reception at the F&W Books booth. Traci was showing how to make one of her amazing collages and my other friend Claudine Hellmuth was there. Then as if it was not cool enough my friend Kathy Cano Murillo from Crafty Chica comes over. It was a crafter party complete with wine and cheese. The other good news is my good friend and producer Kate Turnipseed arrived. Kate works on That’s Clever and had to arrive at the convention a wee bit later than Lisa and I. That night Kate, Lisa and I went over to the Palms for dinner. We ate at some Mexican food restaurant there in the lobby that was good. We also got to see Hart and Huntington tattoo parlor from the A&E show Inked. I did not see any of the stars and luckily opted against a crafting tattoo. We met up with Traci later and we all went to the Ghost Bar which is on the roof of the Palms. There is even a spot with a glass floor that you can see down. Amazing view. Traci has a friend that works at The Palms so we even got a table. Did you know in some cities like Los Angeles and Las Vegas it costs like $300 to have a table to sit at. Then you have to pay bottle service at that table, another couple hundred. Thank God Traci was there.

Wednesday was the last day of the convention and I was determined to go up and down every aisle of the general crafts room (there was also a scrap booking room). Oh and we did. I met some super nice ladies from Polyform. Syndee Holt one of their amazing designers gave me the bracelet right off her wrist! They have some new super light weight clay I can’t wait to play with. I also got to meet Mary Benagh O'Neil from Hot Potatos so that was cool too. By today my energy level was fading and all the booths were starting to blur together a bit. We ducked out a touch early and headed back to the pool and more importantly the hot tub. After a good long soak we started getting dressed for our last night in town. The three of us decided a stroll down the strip was the way to go. We started at Treasure Island where we got to see the show with the pirate ships and such. The three of us had dinner at a restaurant there called Kahunaville where older people with a lot to drink dance around on stage to MC Hammer. Oh I have video footage. We also bought matching eye patches here. Next stop was The Mirage. Here we just had a cocktail, played a few slots and I had some guy tell me I had a nice butt. Time to move down the street to Caesars Palace. This place was swanky looking with lots of marble and statues of naked people. We had a few drinks here and listened to a piano bar. After this stop we crossed the street and headed to The Flamingo. I have seen enough Rat Pack movies to know I had to at least stop by. Not the swankiest hotel on the strip. However, there was a nice quiet bar where the 3 of us got to catch up and I did win $27 on the slot machines here!

Thursday I flew home. Parting is such sweet sorrow. I am worn out from the trip, but I miss Lisa and Kate and since they live in Los Angeles I don’t get to see them very often. Chris and I went and had noodle bowls for dinner and I was in bed by 8 with my jammies on, Forensic Files pumping on the TV and checking email. The Stratosphere did not have internet connection as I mentioned so I had a ton of email to check. I capped the night off by watching the rest of a sad movie called Gods and Monsters. I started watching it on the plane, but my battery went out.

Today I have been emailing and playing catch up. I found out I am going to have pieces in the April issue of Elle Accessories. I am working on some pieces for a Vera Wang ad and Teen Vogue needs baubles. Plus there are all the people I met in Vegas I need to email and follow up with. Free lance writing gigs and more. I will be a busy bee for several days to come. Thank God my second assistant is starting next week. The main thing I learned in Las Vegas is I need to get on finishing up my book proposal, like pronto.

Whoa, I told you this was a long one.