Donna MacKay Jewellery Designs

Update

2009-02-24T04:19:00.000-08:00

I haven't been making as much jewellery as I would of liked to recently. I have found it difficult to push myself to do it. I think since leaving uni, and having a goal like the degree show to work towards really put the pressure on, and i generally work well under pressure. Leaving uni I felt a bit lost and demotivated, a bit of an anti climax really, and I didn't really know which goals to work towards. :( I have figured out now what I'm doing with myself and am steadily getting back into the swing of things! I have a comission that im working on, so i just need to go for it!

Kitchen

2009-02-23T12:18:00.000-08:00

Georgia O'keeffe

2009-02-23T12:09:00.000-08:00

I have always loved Georgia O'Keeffe's work. I looked into it at school for my higher work. I might pull out my old essays!

Stonehaven

2009-02-23T11:55:00.000-08:00

In my shed

2009-02-23T10:54:00.001-08:00

Spangly new jewellery shed!

2009-02-23T10:42:00.000-08:00

From this... to this! VOILA

well not technically new, but lovely all the same. No more spiders! still lots of slaters. I'm going to have to try so hard to keep it neat, but I know it's just not going to work like that! I love it, its really cosy now, I have a wee fan heater.
It took so long to get it like this. Me and my boyfriend James started painting and then my mum got involved, it took 3 days just to paint it! I have to mention my dad too, as he had numerous trips to the skip with all the junk that my family hoards!

Looking for Inspiration...

2009-02-23T10:29:00.000-08:00

beach in Uig

Snowy Days

2008-12-03T08:47:00.000-08:00

Everything looks better under a blanket of snow!

bits and pieces

2008-11-12T11:44:00.000-08:00

2008-11-12T07:32:00.000-08:00

After gross negligence of my jewellery and my blog i have returned! i have cut down my hours and am now on a part time contract giving me time to realise what it is i want from life! The phrase i keep telling myself is to work to live, not live to work. My jewellery workshop has come a long way, from the sorry state it was at the begining of summer (as you can see above). There is still major work to be done, but this will have to be next summers project...plastering, re-roofing, painting etc. this is not best done in winter weather. but thats fine with me as i quite like it in its rough and ready state!

garden snaps

2008-11-12T07:18:00.000-08:00

Ruth and Daniel's Wedding

2008-11-12T06:09:00.000-08:00

My big sister ruth got married to her lovely fiance daniel on november the first in edinburgh castle, it was a gorgeous winters day. I had the very scary task of making their wedding rings...no pressure! hehe but it all went smoothly (eventually). and I felt so proud to be able to make their day even more special. Ruths ring was a platinum band with 5 diamonds gypsy set, and daniel's was a plain 18ct white gold band. I'll try get a photo of the rings and upload them onto blogger when they come back from their honeymoon!

2008-09-06T03:19:00.000-07:00

Mixed Media neckpiece.
Silver, Gold-Leaf, Photograps, Skeleton Leaf.

Reticulated Silver and Ceramic Brooch
Gold Plated Buds

Silver and Mixed Media Brooch
Twisted and Forged Wire
Skeleton leaf

My Degree Show Space

2008-06-09T09:03:00.000-07:00

Sketch Books and Images

Work

Summer is here!

2008-06-09T06:52:00.000-07:00

Burnt Shoulders and BBQ's! I am no longer a student and now officially unemployed! Time to get serious! Graduation is next week and New Designers soon after.

http://www.newdesigners.com/

I have moved out of my student flat and come home to Aberdeen, my summer is going to be busy, hopefully get my pieces into galleries and make up a website.
I have an immense project of converting my parent's spider infested tool shed into a semi decent jewellery workshop of sorts! I think it will take longer than i can imagine. Weekends so far have been spent with my dad trying to haul all the bits and pieces (everything which has been dumped in the shed since we have lived in this house) down to the bottom of the garden and into the garage. it is a MAJOR and on-going project! but one i will enjoy.

Degree Show

2008-05-21T05:15:00.000-07:00

Silver, Gold leaf and Skeleton leaf Neckpiece

Silver and Felt Brooches with Bud Details
Oxidised finish, Gold leaf Finish

Mechanical Brooch

Silver and Felt
Oxidised finish

Silver and Stamp Neckpiece

Silver Forged Stem and Bud Neckpiece

Gold plated, Oxidised Finishes

Silver Brooch Collection

Gold Plated, Oxidised and Gold leaf

The degree show is about half way through now, its been a strange week. i dont want it to end! i want to be a student forever! if you havent made it come along it finishes at 2 this saturday. here are some of the latest images of my work with my twin sister aimi modelling....

2008-04-17T02:50:00.000-07:00

2008-04-17T02:49:00.001-07:00

2008-04-17T02:48:00.001-07:00

Box Rings

2008-04-17T02:46:00.000-07:00

photo etched silver and felt.

Photo Etched Silver

2008-04-17T02:44:00.000-07:00

wallpaper print

2008-04-17T02:42:00.000-07:00

my walk into uni

2008-04-17T02:40:00.000-07:00

Skeleton Leaf Brooch

2008-04-17T02:36:00.000-07:00

Silver brooch with forged stem with buds.
Twisted wire and skeleton leaf.

my very messy workbench!

2008-04-17T02:32:00.000-07:00

hehe this is where the magic happens!

Ring Collection

2008-03-24T03:32:00.000-07:00

This is my first collection of rings for my degree show. This series of seven explores my theme for giving pieces different finishes and textures. I love the contrast of highly polished pieces against rough. I kept these pieces mono chrome and oxidized certain features, highlighting areas. My pieces are always inspired by nature. This image was used for my postcard. I love the feel of this collection as every piece is slightly different. Eveyone has a different favourite! as the stems are forged none can be the exact same, giving them a different character, the pieces all grew organically like all my work. Working with what gives the piece the right balance and most pleasing to the eye.