Joanne MacFadyen

Long overdue update!

2011-06-19T07:34:00.000-07:00

Hi! I have let the blogging slip again, but for valid reasons this time! I have been really busy over the past few months working on my next steps, and, as scary as it is saying it out loud(well typing it!) thinking seriously and planning my future! I have decided to apply to go back to university to study the masters of fine art at Dundee. I am still waiting to hear if i have got a place but hopefully i will know soon. I have also been busy putting funding proposals together for it, because as much as i want to do it, masters don't come cheap. I feel i have given myself my best shot of getting some help, i now just need to hope its all going to be enough and something will come through for me. I am a great believer in fate though and if i am meant to do it, it will all work out. So fingers crossed!

The other proposal i was working on earlier this year was relating to teaching night classes at Dundee uni. I found out a while ago that my proposal was successful and i will be running a class teaching jewellery making with Precious Metal Clay in October. Now i just have to hope that people want to do it! I'm really looking forward to this, i love being around people and the chance to help them develop new skills and make beautiful things will be such a treat! Teaching is something i would like to continue to do throughout my career and this is a great first place to get some experience. I know how important it is to have a good teacher, especially as a creative person, it can be scary and good support and guidance from a tutor can mean a huge amount, so hopefully one day i can offer that sort of support to my students.

I hadn't really managed to focus on much more than getting the all this applying done though! Now that its pretty much all done I'm back to making, which is nice, i had really started to miss it! I am working on a collection for The Black Box Boutique in Edinburgh. Opening in July and owned by the extremely talented Hannah Livingston its a real pleasure to be stocking with them. Make sure you have a look next time you are in Edinburgh, it going to be a gem of a shop!

The other project i have on the go at the moment is a website. I am currently trying to get that built, its a bit of a long process. I am certainly being a little over meticulous about it,but i think its better to try and get it as close to right the first time! I will be giving my blog a little overhaul too just before the site launches to help tie it all in. I am actually really enjoying doing it, feels very satisfying doing it myself. I am keen to get my online presence more established this year, through the website and possibly Etsy or Big Cartel.

The key thing to me is to keep developing my work, as I'm using precious metal clay mainly, i am still learning and getting better with it all the time, and as a result my ideas are always evolving. Its a great product and it has really allowed me to create my own personal style which i love! There are a few other moves i want to make but i am going to move when I'm ready, and feel my work is ready. Again, i think that if its supposed to be it will, and when i feel i am ready and my work is ready its the right time to do it. I am in no rush though, and i don't mean that in a way to sound like i don't care or i am not motivated. I love what i do, and i am passionate about building a business with it, but i think you need to allow things to grow organically and flourish that way, i think if you push something, before its ready that's the biggest mistake you make, life isn't all about profit! Its about the journey, sustaining your art and being happy.

I guess a year since finishing uni is a good time to reflect, i am happy with the way things have gone, I've built up a base of stockists and continue to do so, and by taking it slowly i have allowed myself space to develop as a creative, and i think my work has benefited from that. Going into the MFA will allow me to develop further and i am really looking forward to pushing myself( If i get in!!) It feels like the right next step for me, i have a lot of creative ideas and also a lot of areas i want to look into further in an academic setting, much coming from my final year dissertation. Have a read on here and tell me your thoughts!

Well enough for now, back to the website building. I have some nice pictures to post soon of some sunny evenings :) nothing insightful about them, just pretty :)

Take care and ill be back soon xxx

My last Amsterdam post........ I promise!

2011-04-17T10:04:00.000-07:00

So I have done a fair bit of gushing about my little holiday last weekend, so this, i promise, is the last one! I wanted to just post some pictures of where we stayed, not your bog standard room photos though, although the room was beautiful!

We stayed at the stunning 5 star Sofitel Legend Amsterdam, The Grand. I wont go into the vast history of the building but lets just say it is steeped in history. Needless to say the whole place was beautiful, but it was more than just well presented decor. The Grand boasts some truly stunning artwork and this is what i want to concentrate on.

Firstly i was awe struck by the huge panels of stained glass in the main stairwell, everyday as was beautifully sunny and they just looked amazing, i vowed, no matter how nuts it may have looked, that i was going to get some pictures of them before i left. So follow are some of them, many are close ups of detail i liked but you can still get a sense of how lovely they are.

These stained glass windows are the work of R. N. Roland Holst (1868-1938). I was not aware of his work previous to seeing these but i am now on a mission to find out more about him, in brief, he was a visual artist, creating stained glass, paintings, writing amongst other things and heavily influenced by William Morris.

The next part of The Grand I want to talk about is the marriage chamber, stunning is not the word! I asked to see it to take some pictures and was taken along to see it, its simply breathtaking! The marriage chamber was created by Chris Lebeau(1878 - 1945) who was a prominent Dutch artisan. I have only just started to read about him but from what i have read he had a wealth of practical skills from being a graphic designer to designing ceramics, stained glass, wallpaper and nearly everything else in between. He was also a vocal socialist and sadly was arrested during the 2nd world war and later died in the Dachau concentration camp.

Some of these images are my own and some from other sources as mine are mainly close ups and i thought it would be a shame not to let you see the full room.

The Girl holds a Lilly to depict her purity. The image portrays the girl uninterested in the trappings of vanity and luxuries such as jewels or money

The Boy holds an Owl to represent is wisdom

The marriage ceremony

The art work in the marriage chamber tells the story of love. Boy meets girl, they fall in love, get married and have children. It also depicts the 12 signs of the zodiac on the ceiling. It is beautifully portrayed and would be a truly magical place to be married in..........I know where i want to get married anyway, now i just need to be asked! I am so happy i asked to see it and so pleased we picked The Grand to stay in. If we hadn't i would never have know the marriage chamber existed, and i wouldn't now have two new artist to be inspired by.

If you would like to read more about The Grand and its history go here

If you ever go to Amsterdam the The Grand is a must see, if for just seeing the beautiful work by these two artist.

I had a wonderful weekend and have come back refreshed and inspired if not pining a little for my holiday! Hopefully one of many to come though! :)

That's all for now but lots more to come soon :)

xxxx

A stroll through Amsterdam

2011-04-16T07:58:00.000-07:00

This is a little selection of pictures taken while I was in Amsterdam last weekend........ The weather was beautiful, the company was exceptional and the beautiful sights, were never ending. I had a really wonderful time, i have been to Amsterdam once before, about 6 or 7 years ago, but it was with college, so we ended up doing the more touristy things and i didn't really get to see the real Amsterdam.

This time was different, and well i guess i am different too. I wasn't really interested in staying on the beaten track with the tourists, i was there this time to try a soak up some of Amsterdam's culture and charm. Amsterdam is a really beautiful place and when you get away from all the madness of the tourists its idyllic. I wandered about taking pictures and dreaming of living on a house boat..........one day maybe!

I did do some of the touristy things, like go on a canal cruise and wander around the red light district......I've seen it before, and it didn't bother me then......this time it did, its just bizarre to be honest and i really felt for the girls............men have a lot to answer for........but that's a whole other blog post!!!

So this time last week i was heading back to Amsterdam from the antiques fair in Utrect.....i will be posting some pictures of the goodies i picked up there in the next couple of days. I wish i was still there.............I miss the hotel the most i think, a whole blog dedicated to that next! I just had such a lovely time, partly because Amsterdam is so nice and the hotel was amazing, but also because i was there with my boyfriend Barry. We are always both so busy so it was really nice to be able to spend some time together relaxing with someone else doing the housework!

Next blog about the Sofitel Legend Amsterdam The Grand coming soon!

Bye for now xxxx

Sukha Amsterdam

2011-04-15T09:55:00.000-07:00

Ceramics By Jeanine Eek Keizer

I stumbled upon Sukha while in Amsterdam last weekend and was captivated the moment I walked in. It is a simply beautiful place, not only is everything in the shop stunning, the shop itself is lovely too and has a great feel about it. Sukha is owned by Irene Mertens who makes much of what is in the shop, but also stocks work by other makers including the jeweller Eva Schreuder and ceramicist Jeanine Eek Keizer.

The shop has only been open for about 7 weeks, but Irene told me that its been doing well. To be honest I'm not surprised at this, its light and airy atmosphere coupled with the plethora of beautiful handmade things makes it an awe inspiring place. If it hadn't been doing well, then the there is something seriously wrong with the world! The emphasis is on all things handmade, which as an artisan myself I believe in with all my heart and you can tell just by talking to Irene that she does too.

The other striking thing about this wonderful little find, is in the name..... I forgot to ask Irene what it meant, so i looked it up and the minute i did, i had a flash of memory. Sukha means happiness in Sanskrit, not just a happiness from outside factors, or the fleeting kind, but one that is from the inside, a fulfilling, pure and enlightened kind of happiness. Why is this so striking to me, and why did i have a flash of memory when i found the meaning........ My honors year paper was all about happiness, our quest for it and its different manifestations. This in itself is a little bit of an interesting coincidence, but not only is the shops name the type of happiness i was trying to advocate in my paper, I actually wrote about Sukkha(same word different spelling) and the importance of that kind of happiness over one fuelled by a materialistic desire.

The moral of this story........... Firstly, if you are ever in Amsterdam, get away from the madness of the Damrack and red light district, take a walk down Harrlemmerstraat and stop at number 110 and take a big deep breath and relax in the beauty that is Sukha.

But don't just revel in the nice new things you have bought, think..........What is happiness, will that top/phone/necklace make you truly happy? There is more to it than that...... If your lucky enough to be like Irene Mertens, making beautiful handmade things, working hard in your stunning shop and sharing your creativity with others, that's the sort of happiness you want....one that you create and sustain, not one that you need someone or something else to fuel it.

Id like to thank Irene for letting me take the images of her shop and for giving me her time, and for reminding whats important in life!

All that insight....and a beautiful tea cup and saucer by Jeanine Eek Keizer, not bad for a little wander!

Joanne xx

Behind the scenes

2011-04-07T09:46:00.000-07:00

Some new work...........

2011-04-07T09:02:00.001-07:00

This is a selection of the work i have made so far this year. Its a bit of a mix between work i have created for YSP in Wakefield and for The Tayberry Gallery in Perth.

The difference between men & women

2011-03-12T09:16:00.000-08:00

Now I'm not really going to comment on this.......because i don't want to start a war! Here are a couple of images i came across that illustrate the point :)

Happy New Year!!! (only 3 months late!)

2011-03-10T09:10:00.000-08:00

So i feel it is about time i did my 1st proper 2011 post. I had thought the dust would have settled from the madness of the festive season by now to allow this sooner, and to a point it has, but I still feel like i am chasing my tail a bit. I have been working on producing collections for various shops and galleries and although each collection is a development, i am having to stick to what i know to insure the work is to the standards expected. I would really love the luxury to take a step back and get the chance to experiment again, but time and money wont allow.

This is the new post graduation challenge. first came the fear that no one would want to stock anything i made and thankfully that fear has been overcome. The new challenge, nearly a year (!) after graduating is staying fresh and creatively inspired. The day to day of life for me has a nasty habit of beating that out of me, and i feel that once the daily tasks are done, there is no time for anything else. I haven't lost all creative drive or my love for making things, but i am struggling with the work life balance, all i do is work and therefore have no life! Well that's possibly a little over the top but the fundamentals of surviving financially and making a living from your dream are hard.

I guess this is the point, nothing really worth having is easy to get. It makes you appreciate it more when you do get it. I just don't quite have it yet, and well, I'm an impatient soul. But i wouldn't want it any other way (OK well if i could win the lottery and get it that way, i wouldn't turn it down! I would still make things though) I know deep down that one day i will look back fondly at this time and think about how glad i am that i just gritted my teeth and got on with it. I may not be the most organised, motivated or even most talented person, but god am i stubborn and determined when i want to be!

2011 feels like the year for change, not in my chosen profession or my relationships (because they are both great!) but in me, i am the only one who holds myself back and that needs to stop. So its onwards and upwards, time to believe in myself and my dreams and make them happen! (sorry a little cliche i know!)

So here's to the new year, new possibilities & new attitudes, with my new mantra ringing in my ears...........

These are the inspired words inscribed on a little box Barry surprised me with last week.......

"What would you do, if you knew nothing was impossible?"

Think about it..........because its true! :)

Bye for now & happy dreaming :) xxx

A quick update!

2011-03-05T09:05:00.000-08:00

Well hello everyone! Sorry it has been so long! This is just a quick hello as I'm on a mission to try and figure out how twitter works and join some other useful internety things! I feel i am lagging behind and letting myself be left behind by the online community, so time to get that sorted!!! Lots to update on so i will do that soon i promise and get some new pictures up too! But for now I'm off into cyber space to see what i can find!! If you can point me in any good directions please let me know! :)

2010-11-26T10:35:00.000-08:00

Just posting these because i think these are really beautiful.........Not your everyday piece obviously but they really caught my eye, something very whimsical about them, Fairytale princess in a snowy forest springs to mind. Maybe Snow white,but not a horrible Disney version, something with a little more style and substance. Anyway whatever it is i love them! If i have a winter wedding I'm getting one..................OK more like if i have a wedding!!! Think id look out of place if i just wore it in the centre of Dundee!!!xxx

Here's the link to her Etsy page

The Sketchbook Project

2010-11-20T10:28:00.000-08:00

I am so excited about this........You get a Moleskine sketchbook sent to you, you pick a theme from a list..............You make a lovely sketchbook.....................post it back to them......................and then your sketchbook goes on a big adventure all around the USA! Once its done its tour its kept in the Brooklyn library and digitalised so that its available online :) Can't wait till my sketchbook arrives and start doodling! :)

New work.....

2010-11-13T05:13:00.000-08:00

Here are some images of the new work i have been making over the past while. I have really enjoyed developing my work since graduating. I think in the run up to degree show and graduation it is easy to look at the work you are creating as the end of something, Which to some extent it is, but it is easy to become obsessed with this and to get sidetracked with the thought that your chance to really be free creatively and take creative risks is coming to an end! I was worried about this, i felt as though i hadn't quite cracked it at uni and that although i was pleased with the direction my graduate collection had taken, i felt as though it certainly wasn't an end but more of the initial stages of something. I felt as though the work really needed to be developed and the techniques refined further. I thought that finishing uni, with a body of work that needed refined was the beginning of the end, and that i had lost my chance to truly develop my creative voice. I am glad to say that all this doom and gloom was for nothing and i feel that the opposite has happened to me. I feel that working with the materials that i had begun to explore in my final year, in a more commercial sense has really allowed me to develop my skills, especially with precious metal clay. I do however have a few ideas that i would like to develop but feel at the moment they will need to go on the back burner as they aren't my bread and butter work(which to be honest I'm still developing too, while i test work in galleries and at fairs to see what sells) This is why i feel like i may benefit from doing some post grad study, something that due to possible rises in tuition fees may also be on the back burner for now. The challenges of working for yourself and staying true to your creative voice are something that I'm really reveling in just now, and long may it continue............maybe with a little holiday at some point though! :) xxx

Made in Scotland

2010-11-02T06:26:00.000-07:00

I am taking part in Lorraine Laws 'Made in Scotland' exhibition. This post is a little late as the show launches tonight but officially opens tomorrow and runs until 13th of November. The show consists of 15 Scottish jewellers, some established and some newly graduated and I'm sure it will show the strength of creative talent Scotland has to offer. I'm really looking forward to the launch tonight as its a chance for me to catch up with a few of my classmates. For more information see the Made in Scotland Website. Hope to see you all there :) x

Pretty things on my wish list....

2010-10-24T07:07:00.000-07:00

Well the list is getting bigger by the second! One of my earlier posts about my dream home has got me thinking...........i need lovely things for this lovely (imaginary) dream home! So here we go...... This all started with a little trip to the blog of Abigail*Rya n........... I adore their printed cushions and tea towels, the drawings are so beautiful! So that's top of my list for my dream home.........actually I'm not sure i can wait that long! so maybe for my humble abode :) The next place Ive come across is Antropologie. They have a lovely collection of stuff for your home, all of which i want!

Here are some images from the Antropologie website.......... Enjoy xxxx

Vanilla Ink.....

2010-10-24T04:26:00.000-07:00

After the lovely words about me from Vanilla Ink I thought it only fair that i give her some recognition too! :)

Vanilla Ink is a contemporary jewellery initiative founded by fellow Duncan of Jordanstone graduate Kate Pickering. Kate is nothing short of inspirational and that's not just her beautiful jewellery I'm talking about! After gaining her masters in 2009 she founded the Vanilla Ink initiative which aims to empower graduates, helping to build the confidence and skills needed to develop from graduate to polished professional.

I really admire Kate's foresight and determination and as a recent graduate myself I think Vanilla Ink is a great idea. I am sure it will be a huge success and I look forward to watching the concept grow.

Kate as a jeweller creates works that are laced with emotion, expressing the relationship that jewellery plays in enhancing memories. Kate's work investigates the relationship between the piece and the wearer, exploring the links between jewellery, story telling and narratives to create beautiful and touching work.

A great example of Kate's work is her Blood, Sweat & Tears series. Each piece is beautiful and interesting and as someone who has just gone through their final year of uni as a jeweller I can completely relate to the theme! I just wasn't smart enough to bottle it! :)

Kate will go far, her down to earth and friendly personality mixed with her intelligence and ambition are a sure fire mixture for great things! One to watch is an understatement! :) xx

Some of my inspiration......

2010-10-16T07:57:00.000-07:00

Winter is coming.....

2010-10-16T04:13:00.001-07:00

Some pictures I've taken over the past couple of years. Most were taken when i was at home over Christmas last year, and some were taken in New York at the start of 2009. Ive always loved the snow, and I'm really fascinated by the formations of snow and ice crystals, i think it has a very magical and beautiful quality and it certainly was an inspiration to my graduate collection and continues to inspire my work today......

Home sweet home..............

2010-10-15T09:01:00.000-07:00

Ive been finding myself fantasysing about my perfect home and drooling over pictures of cushions and kitchens! This actually isnt a new thing for me, infact i think most of us women do it too.....Why do we get excited about the thought of doing up a house! Ok well actually its pretty obvious.......dare i say it, i may be nesting! Im far off having my dream home, or my nest for that matter, but its ok to dream! Here are some images that have inspired me :) xxxx

New Collection

2010-10-10T10:35:00.000-07:00

Some images of a recent collection for the Franny & Filer Gallery in Manchester

Some more drawing....

2010-07-23T16:16:00.000-07:00

My Degree show collection

2010-05-30T09:42:00.000-07:00

The concept........

My work is inspired initially by the sentiment captured by the intricate images created by a kaleidoscope. The opulent, fanciful and rose tinted perspective it provides the viewer with, through its capriciously created images, is a feeling that I have aimed to evoke within my work. My jewellery has evolved from drawings inspired by these images, using whimsical line and subtle colour to encapsulate the elaborate aesthetic and other worldly quality of the kaleidoscope. My work incorporates various materials to harness a nostalgic grandeur. Silver and precious metal clay is used alongside semi precious stones and porcelain, which through a development of unconventional techniques intends to enhance a free flowing, unrestrained & subdued decadence to each piece in this collection.

“Paper and pen creating capricious line,

A nostalgic sentiment captured within the boundaries of time.

A whimsical opulence crafted by hand,

The scene set in a different land.”

Inspiration & Development........

Photography......

The above images were taken by me from a kaleidoscope that I put together myself. The parts that’s have created these are reflections of a mix of oxidised silver precious metal clay with semi precious stones including Tourmaline, green Amethysts and Cubic Zirconium.

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Drawings.....

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Degree show space & collection.....

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Earrings....

Oxidised Sterling Silver with Silver precious metal clay, green Amethyst and enamel displayed on hand drawn canvases....

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Series of porcelain brooches.....

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Headpieces.....

Oxidised Sterling Silver chain, with a mixture of porcelain, oxidised silver precious metal clay, mother of pearl and green amethysts....

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Large statement neckpieces.....

Oxidised Sterling Silver chain & Silver precious metal clay with green Amethyst and Amazonite beads....

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Oxidised Sterling Silver chain & Silver precious metal clay with green Amethyst.....

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Silver precious metal clay detail......

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Oxidised Sterling Silver chain & Silver precious metal clay with rock crystal pendant bead and glass cabochons...
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Thanks for taking a look & I hope you liked it!!! :) xxxx

Jewellery Degree show 2010

2010-05-28T13:11:00.000-07:00

Its now 1 week since the degree show opened to the public and there has been a steady flow of traffic through the jewelley space with loads of really impressed people with lots of nice things to say which is always good! As a class we have all done really well, we have certainly made the most of the space we have all been given, so i think we should all be really proud of ourselves! There were certainly some people who weren't sure we could pull it off but i always knew we would! How could it not look amazing with a class of 18 amazingly talented and lovely girls!I So well done us! If you haven't been lucky enough to come and see our show here are some photos to give you a taster!

Linsey Mcgregor

Linsey showed us all that you don't need to use expensive metals and stones to create beautiful pieces of jewellery. You do however need the patience of a saint! Linsey spent hours folding paper while the rest of the class watched in amazement! Truly astounding work!

Lisa Murphy

Lisa has created her collection using CAD, Rapid prototyping and casting. I take my hat off to her as i certainly could not have achieved what she has! A very strong collection which has taken the skill of not only hands on making at the workbench but also hours in front of a computer to create the files needed to have elements cast. Really well done Lisa, i am incredibly proud of you for everything you have achieved this year! x

Leah Mackay

Leah mixed silver with dyed acetate beautifully, i really love this bracelet! The amount of samples she had for assessment was unreal! really lovely work Leah! well done! x

Holly Wilcox

I really love Holly's collection, and its possibly some of my favourite in the show! Her work is so delicate and beautifully made. All of her pieces are amazing but i really love her series of rings. Well done holly u should be really proud of your work its stunning! Watch out jewellers, i think this girl might be running the show soon! x

Lucy Politowski

Lucy's collection was based around medals covering many different topics. I especially like this medal because if the political connotations. A lovely and relevant contribution to many different areas of life. Well done and all the best for the future! x

Maria Maclennan

Maria has created a lovey wee collection, tiny boxes with delicate detailing definitely catch the eye! It was hard to pick what boxes to show actually because i love them all! A very talented and lovely girl, watch this space,I'm sure there is more to come! x

Kellie Leighton

Kellie's work is extraordinary! I really like the mix of metal and wooden stands. The pictures just don't do it justice! Be very pround of yourself! amazingly crafted work and a big well done! x

Rhiannon MacGillivray

One of many of the pieces i loved from Rhiannon's show, I really like this piece because of the mix between wood and silver. I have to say though that my favourite piece is my silver peg made for me by Rhiannon for my birthday, its amazing and i wear it everyday! I'm determined everyone should have a peg, I'm going to start a trend!!! x

Anne Sutherland

I really love these lockets! So beautifully made and probably some of my favourite pieces in the show. Anne is a hugley talented designer and maker and im sure she will go far! :) x

Elizabeth Humble

I really like the detail in this piece, reminds me of some forgotten city in the sky! Another girl that will go far! :) x

Joanna Bletcher

Joanna joined us at the beginning of 4th year from Cardonald college and quickly showed us all how it should be done! I really like the concept behind Jos work, and the way she has used the process of turning rusty metal into beautiful pieces of jewellery. Our workbenches were next to each other and I witnessed some weird and wonderful chemicals and processes happening daily! Jo also created some lovely etched steel plates, one of which my dad is purchasing, very much sharing the same sentiment as me about how something so everyday and normally potentially ugly can actually be beautiful. Another very talented girl! :) x

Kim Mitchell

Kims work is really lovely, very femine and well finished. The gold really adds to each piece. I paticularly love this piece and really liked the way she used shadows in her display. well done! :)
x

Nicola Wyllie

Nicola's show was based around quotes from famous poetry combined with bone. By using various images, including Banksy iconic image of the girl watching her ballon fly away each piece represents something different. A lovely collection of simple & mysterious pieces. Well done! x

Nicola Reed

Nicola has created a beautiful and clever collection inspired by vanity. Alongside her lovely pieces runs a hard hitting message about the rigmaoral of the female beauty routine. A very well crafted and inspired collection! Another girl who we have not heard the last of im sure! x

Lauren Leiper

Lauren's work is really cute, capturing fleeting moments in time with a subtle elegance. I love this brooch with the teddy bear! so sweet! well done Lauren! x

There are a couple of girls i have missed out due to a lack of images! Mainly Kirsty Stevens whos work was based around her experience of MS. It is an inspired and brave collection which shows ms in an innovative and reflective manor using laser cut perspex to capture various symptoms she has experienced. Another really strong collection from a talented and great girl! x

So a huge well done to all of the class of 2010! I also need to say how much i have enjoyed my time with you all, i have made some amazing girls at DoJ and will really miss spending everyday with you all! you have made my time at DoJ an unforgettable experience and i will really miss you all!

Lots and lots of love to you all and all the best for your future in whatever path you choose! always remember how well you have all done!! I have total faith in you all, you are an extraordiary bunch of girls who i am honoured to have studied alongside.

xxxxxxxxxxx

As 4th year comes to a close......

2010-05-19T15:20:00.000-07:00

With only two days till the grand opening of my degree show, I thought it was about time to update the blog. To say its development has been somewhat stunted by the pressures of 4th year is an understatement!Its been a tough year but thankfully it has been a success and i can honestly say i am happy with the outcome. The collection is by no means the end of the line, with it very much feeling like a body of work that needs to be allowed to grow further and thus just the first step of something very exciting and inspiring.

The Journey to this point has been a long one, six years in the making beginning with an NC in Applied Art at Anniesland College, An HND in Jewellery and Metalwork at Cardonald College and finally three years at DoJ. As i look back from graduate hill :) which I'm about to go over, reflecting on what inspired me throughout this journey and how it has developed i feel is maybe as valuable as gaining an honours degree. Moving on from one course to another it becomes very easy to be caught up in each one individually without recognising the links. What is interesting is that although each course has produced very individual pieces of work, there has been a very direct and unintentional link between the inspiration and materials used in the infancy of my journey and in particular in the midst of my final year at DoJ. During 4th year my work has developed very naturally, almost with what felt like a life of its own. Materials i had never during my time at DoJ showed an interest in such as porcelain, seemed to become a natural progression. Within the creative freedom offered by a honors year i feel i have refined my creative voice,and with this freedom came a regained appreciation for materials and visual inspiration that i once had a strong but partially forgotten drawing towards, and discovered new products and techniques including precious metal clay. Experimentation with familiar and unfamiliar materials coupled with a strong aesthetic, developed from imagery and drawing have expressed themselves through a body of work that i am incredibly proud of and encouraged by.

Much more to come!

The Class of 2010 collaborative charm bracelet

2009-12-06T14:20:00.000-08:00

This stunning bracelet is the final outcome of all the hard work of the 17 final year DoJ jewellery girls. Each of us have contributed a charm towards it and i must admit i think we have done a great job! They all work really well with each other and we are all really pleased with the final income. The bracelet will be raffled off on the 15th of December to raise money for our degree show. Tickets will be available during our Christmas sale and from any of the jewellery girls, however if you can't make it to the sale or the art school, you can also get tickets digitally by contacting us through our blogs, facebook events page and email, all relevant details for contact can be found below. Tickets are an incredibly low price at just 50p a ticket or just £2 for a row of 5!!! So don't miss you chance to own this wonderful piece of jewellery for yourself, or as a special gift for someone! The more you buy the bigger chance you have of winning it!! :) I would like to also thank Maria who took all these wonderful pictures. Hope to see you all on Thursday evening for our Christmas sale opening!!

Bye for now!

Jo xx

Christmas Sale!!

2009-12-06T13:37:00.000-08:00

Its getting close to Christmas, shopping needs to be done, and what would make a better present than a handmade piece of utterly stunning jewellery! Well get down to the final year DoJ jewellery sale!! The opening night is this Thursday and it is sure to be a great night!! With a special 10% discount for one night only!! You will also have the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets, that will give you the chance to win the beautiful class of 2010 charm bracelet. Tickets are available from the 4th year design studio at the art school, during the sale or digitally by contacting any of the jewellery girls online, through blogs, email (Joanne_macfadyen@hotmail.com) or through out facebook events page. See you all there!!!

Bye

Jo xx

Well hello!!!

2009-10-12T13:19:00.000-07:00

Ok so it has been far to long since I last posted something! It has been a pretty hectic year, since NYC I had to hit the floor running and came down to reality with a bit of a bump. 3rd year was nothing short of a steep learning curve, with a lot of important lessons to be learned. I was privileged enough to have work in the spring exhibition at the Flour store Gallery in Strathaven, which was a great opportunity but a lot of work to add to my already overflowing schedule! In the end I got it all done and I felt by the end of 3rd year I had produced a body of work that I genuinely found inspiring,however in hindsight I really should have been more on top of things as the madness of it all did nothing for my creativity or sanity. So as I'm sure we all know hindsight is a wonderful thing, and I have had the summer to take heed of the lessons I learned previously......I am by no means perfect, but who is.......well actually I could name a few......and they are all in my class!! xxx :) But I have the words of people I have a lot of respect for ringing in my ears for my final year and I am determined to do my best. So now for the fun stuff.....I am genuinely excited about my studio work this year as its an idea I have wanted to develop for a long time, since my days as a beginner back at Cardonald. Its a real luxury to be getting to follow it through now.....one of the things it is easy to take advantage of as an art school student is the fact that you are getting the opportunity to really explore yourself creatively and do something you love everyday.......well ok maybe not the dissertation days.....but needs must and I appreciate the value of that too. So it is onwards and upwards.....the speed at which the days are ticking by is a little unsettling but thats life! But the thought of graduating certainly makes you reflect on the bigger picture.....i still haven't decided what i will do after i leave DoJ but i am looking forward to whatever life throws at me....although i really will be sad to leave......so on that note, time to make the most of the time I have left!! back to the sketchbook for me!! some pictures of my 3rd year and summer work will be up as soon as i can justify another break!! so watch this space, I promise to be more blog proactive!

Bye for now xx

Must stop eating into the american dream!!

2009-01-15T18:21:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone, OK so I've been in the USA for just under a week and I have just weighed myself! I need to stop eating muffins before the shape of my body starts to resemble one! So depressing! I have also decided I'm giving up smoking but at this precise moment after the muffin bombshell how id love one! Time for some major will power and a gym membership! I'm not a happy bunny! New mantra, Must not eat muffins!!!So this is my public proclamation that I am on a diet!! I will not be blueberry muffin shaped by the time I get back to the UK!!So on that note I think some major retail therapy is called for and a walk the lenght of Manhatten! Bye for now! xx

Something to think about.............

2009-01-05T16:33:00.000-08:00

The Revolution will not be televised
Click above to watch video
I saw this video about 2 years ago, so its slightly dated. I'm posting it because i feel it still strikes a chord. It certainly does with me anyway, possibly more so with my imminent trip to the land of the free. Its an interesting look into the potential that humankind has for tangible action when pushed, and then in direct conflict, the manipulation of this by the powers that be. In the grand scheme of things it feels rather ambiguous, not only in the instance of Venezuela but worldwide. Have we caught ourselves in a trap? Are we all brainwashed and constrained so much by our modern lives, that the lines between right and wrong have been blurred. Can we no longer see the difference between the right for the freedom to achieve ones goals be it individually, corporately or nationally and the social and cultural costs?? Especially when these seem to have a complete disregard for the possible damage that could be caused.

NYC here we come!!!!

2009-01-05T15:40:00.000-08:00

The Days have flown by and its very nearly time to go on our mini adventure! To say i was excited is an ever so slight understatement! Not very organised, the bags aren't packed, the moneys not been changed but i have just made myself a new denim skirt so at least I'm concentrating on the important stuff! :) I think it may be time to start making some lists! I have a few very busy days ahead of me! So bye for now, a girl needs to get some sleep!
xx

Some winter sun

2009-01-04T10:09:00.000-08:00

Baby Bella!!!

2008-11-25T17:07:00.000-08:00

This is Bella,the 3rd member of the Wyllie-Macfadyen family. She was about 6 weeks old when these pictures were taken. Shes incredibly cute and has an eye for design! or maybe she just likes sparkly things! anyway she has also been known to be an absolute nutcase, usually at about 4am and swinging from my curtains, trying to catch holes in my ceiling!!

2nd year stuff

2008-11-25T15:39:00.000-08:00

The DoJ Massive take on Munich!

2008-11-25T15:09:00.000-08:00

I love this picture! Just one example of the hilarity that was had in Munich! we are off to NYC next year, i cant even imagine the fun thats going to be had there!!!!!

xx

At the beginning.... in to the present......

2008-11-25T13:55:00.000-08:00

Here are a few of my first bits and bobs from my HND at Cardonald, I had a great time there and learnt a lot! Felt very much thrown in at the deep end at first! And it was all a bit rough around the edges!! Couldn't have got through it without the expertise of the lovely Nicola, who i now live and study with at DoJ. I know everyone probably says this about their class but my class is amazing! The Banter is second to none! I'm now half way through 3rd year and its flying in! The smell of dissertation is in the air! I have a LOT of reading to do to do it justice!!I feel i might bite off more than i can chew, but ill give it my best shot!

Bye for now! :o )

Lots more to come! :D

xx

Looking Forward

2008-11-17T07:55:00.000-08:00

Happy 21st Mcsporan! oh i feel old!!! xxx