Gifted- The Contemporary Craft & Design Fair 2017

Last week Lost Forest attended 'Gifted- The Contemporary Craft & Design Fair' in Dublin's RDS. The hugely popular national event showcases the best in Irish design and craft, allowing small businesses to sell and interact with new and old customers. 

It was my second time exhibiting at the show, and I was excited to show lots of unique sparkly treasures to the world. I was also delighted to have one of my pieces chosen for the 'Selected Gifts' display with the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland. 'My Wild Irish Heart' was exhibited amongst other Irish designers in the main hall. A little proud moment for me!

My stand design was slightly different to the previous year, and required a re-think due to a dual entrance. On the night of set-up we were limited for time, so we created a design that we thought best utilised the space. However, the next morning (after a sleepless night of procrastinations), we decided to create a new and improved layout. The 'Lost Forest' wall was moved to partially cover one entrance, and to protect the side of the till. The two tables sat next to each other in one corner, creating a little shop space that made it easier to greet and chat with customers. I was finally happy with the end result, and my little shop was open for business.

The show was a great success, and it was so heartwarming to see the twinkle in people'e eye when their gaze encountered my work. To have the opportunity to explain my process and inspirations was also a real treat, as I'm normally hidden away in the studio for most of the year. 

After a busy show, and a very busy week in the Lost Forest shop, it's definitely time for some relaxation, movies, cuddles with Billie the furbaby and my fiancé, and of course plenty of chocolate. It's nearly Christmas after all, and calories don't count at Christmas!

Getting ready for Gifted

The Lost Forest studio is buzzing in anticipation for this years big craft fair- Gifted, at the RDS, Dublin. There's only two weeks left before kick-off day on Friday the 8th of December. Billie and I are currently busy boxing, stamping, wrapping and organising lots of treasures, and building props (she's not so good at that part of the process). 

Here's a selection of photos from last years show, which saw my debut at the largest event I've participated in so far. Hopefully this year should be bigger and better than ever. My new stand will be a little different than before; a more streamlined version to make assembly easier, and a few tweaks to the arrangement. However, the stars of the show; my upcycled farm tables will be back!

You can still buy tickets for the event here. I'll be at Stand C20 Friday 8th- Sunday 10th. It should be a great show, and is always a cosy 'Christmassy' event perfect for all the family. I'll have a blog post after the fair to show the new and improved Lost Forest miniature shop. For now, it's back to work and I'll continue trying to teach Billie how to use a hammer. Having no thumbs is not a valid excuse, it it?! 

All the leaves are golden

November marks a very busy period me, as I'm currently preparing for the Gifted craft and design fair in December. When I have a spare moment in the day, my concentration shifts to a task involving 'show prep'. Today, I made some time to work on a leaf garland for my stand. These beautiful intricate paper leaves will form the basis for my design. I decided to gild each one in a sumptuously sparkling layer of gold metallic paint. I love to use Finetec paints, as they have a stunning shimmer and rich tone that is highly reflective.  

I chose to give the leaves a golden glow to evoke the style of my jewellery. One of my main design traits is using 24k gold leaf. It's a material I've worked with since the very beginning of my resin making journey, and it quickly became my trademark. It is a design feature I hold dear to my heart, and it will always endure in my work. These little leaves are my ode to that glistening beautiful material that shines through in all of my Lost Forest creations. Stay tuned for the finished garland in a few weeks time.

Gifted Fair, RDS, Dublin

I'm excited to announce that Lost Forest will be attending 'Gifted- The Contemporary Craft & Design Fair' in the RDS (formerly known as the National Craft & Design Fair). The show has undergone many changes, and is now bigger and better than ever; showcasing the best of Irish design. It is a wonderful event and allows you to shop for Christmas gifts all under the one roof.

The show is now a 6 day event from the 5th to the 10th of December. Lost Forest will be attending from Friday the 8th until Sunday the 10th only, and we will be at stand C20. Do pop along to see us, and hopefully some sparkling treasures will catch your eye! There's a huge range to choose from, and of course we will be throwing in some extra goodies with your purchases.

You can read more about the event, and buy tickets here. I'll also be doing a giveaway closer to the event to win some tickets to the show. Hope to see you there!

IDI Awards 2017

I am thrilled to announce that my little business Lost Forest has been shortlisted as a finalist for the prestigious IDI (The Institute of Designers in Ireland) awards 2017. Lost Forest was selected along with 70 other professional Irish designers and design houses out of over 400 entries. I submitted my signature piece; 'The Magical Mottlegill Woodland' Necklace. This little piece of art was chosen to be a finalist in the 'Accessories' category. I am beyond happy as it is an overwhelming achievement after the many years I have devoted to my craft.

Lost Forest began in a tiny corner in a Dublin city apartment in 2012. It was a hobby at first, a creative outlet away from my office job, where I dreamt up a unique concept that was all my own. I was always fascinated by nature, especially leaves caught under glass-like puddles, and sun-shimmering dewdrops delicately resting on leaves. I sought about translating these inspirations into something that was wearable, fashionable and permanent. The concept of foraging in the magical Irish forests and finding hidden lost treasures from Mother Nature is one which is the basis of my business (as captured in the name), and one which is originally mine. 

It is so fulfilling to have my unique designs and skills to be recognised and awarded by the largest and oldest association of design professionals in Ireland. Looking past 2012, Lost Forest is now my job, my career, my income, and my life. It is a sustainable business with an eco conscience. Everything is made by myself in Dublin (now in much more magical surroundings than that tiny apartment all those years ago!). It’s a business I have made all by myself, and I’m so proud of what I’ve achieved. Thank you to everyone who supports my business and helps it to grow each year. I am truly thankful for all the likes, follows and shares, all the sales and heart warming feedback. I hope many more people will fall in love with Lost Forest over the next few years, as it is an exciting journey for us all, and one I'm happy to share with each and every one of my wonderful customers and supporters. Gillian x 

Bee Brave

When I first set up my business I chose the symbol of the bee to bestow upon Lost Forest; my new adventure and passion. It represents a wealth of attributes that I endeavour to meet with my little business; industrious, dedicated, brave, and an unwavering commitment to fine craftsmanship, seen in the endless complex and beautiful honeycomb structures they construct. 

Today, while picking flowers in the garden I came across one such determined bumble bee, and I was reminded that although running my own business is an arduous and often daunting task, it fills my life with purpose, happiness and the determination to 'bee' the best in what I do. We could all learn a thing or two from such a charming little creature.

Lost Forest arrives at the Design Loft

Lost Forest is now available to purchase at the Design Loft in the stunningly beautiful Powerscourt Estate. It is a great privilege to showcase my work in such an esteemed shop and location. 

Powerscourt is a place I've visited since I was a young child and it holds an abundance of happy memories. It's still a regular escape for me away from the studio, and the spectacular formal gardens always boost my creative inspirations. Now Lost Forest sits at home in these sumptuous surroundings, tempting and enchanting passing visitors to this magical place. 

The Design Loft lies upstairs in Powerscourt House and is a little treasure trove of Irish craft and design; rotating artists every few months to allow everyone a chance to present their products and passions to the world. 

Over the last few weeks, I've been very busy preparing all my stock for the 1st of July deadline: boxing, stamping, polishing, pricing, painting and even some building. My wonderful and creative dad built my stepped display stand, which we painted in my signature duck egg blue to match the Puddle Plate display box. I also included natural elements into the arrangement, such as cut wooden stumps from my boyfriend's farm, and mosses, shells and wild grasses making the nature theme more emphatic and reinforcing that all the inclusions within the resin are real and picked straight from the Irish landscape. 

I was extremely happy and proud of the result; a very unique display for a very unique product. So, of course we had to mark the occasion in the sunny garden cafe with some early morning celebratory carrot cake and a frothy mug of coffee. A job well done. I'll be at the Design Loft until August.