Goodbye...

My Blog has now moved over to my website . If you'd like to continue to follow my journey, you can check out my posts there!

'Always and forever'- memorial jewellery

This beautiful crystal was created for a wonderfully brave woman facing a tragic burden no one should ever have to experience.

Her equally courageous husband asked me to design her a special piece to honour their precious little boy. I created my signature 'rainbow crystal', a name I bestowed on it due to the tiny rainbows formed from the sharp facets of the crystal when the sun beams bounce of its contours. The pine resin crystal is an exact replica of a quartz crystal from my own personal collection. When I received the flowers an idea immediately formed in my mind as to how the design would work. I sketched the arrangement, and then made a silicone mold of the original crystal. The process to create this special piece had begun.

The resin crystal would hold blooms from her wedding bouquet. The colours of the masterwort were a little faded, so I used my colour restoration technique to rejuvenate their original plum hue. At the base of the crystal, I created a little garden of tiny pressed daisies he picked especially for his mom. I hand gilded the tip in my original style; fragmented 24k gold leaf. The delicate strands of his hair embrace the scene, creating a frame around the botanicals. I then added a plum toned watercolour swirl, which magically glows from within. Strength, beauty, hope, enduring memories and stories are eternally preserved within a bespoke piece of jewellery she can cherish close to her heart forever.

Handmade with love

Some good news to brighten up these unexpected snowy days! A large selection of the Lost Forest collection is now on sale in my new Etsy store. You can choose your favourite sparkly jewel by clicking here. All of these items will not be made again, so it's you're very last chance to purchase a unique piece of botanical art. I also have a small selection still available on my main website here. These pieces will also not be created again after they have sold. 

Thank you to everyone so far this year who has purchased a Lost Forest piece. Supporting small business is vital for them to survive in an increasingly manufactured 'fast fashion' world. Every sale, every recommendation and share on social media is the lifeblood to a handmade business, and will allow the artist to continue to produce their craft. 

A day in February

The past few days have been sprinkled with dusting's of snow and biting winds snaking up my spine, resulting in me perched over the radiator in the studio. However, when I gaze out the window I'm met with a visual paradox; sunshine beaming through bottle blue skies. It could almost tempt you into thinking it was a pleasant warm spring day outside. 

I couldn't resist anymore, so I wrapped up in several layers and braved the elements and enjoyed the February sunshine at my local park. I was joined by a flock of alabaster mute swans and a sweet pilgrim goose. I was also momentarily in the company of a buzzard hawk (too camera shy!), who faced the wrath of squawking magpies who sent him on his way. My trophy from my outing was a renewed burst of energy, creativity and a miniature bouquet of crocuses to brighten up my studio. 

'The Floral Queen'

A new addition to the Lost Forest collection is this beautiful handcrafted necklace 'The Floral Queen', which is influenced by my original 'Bouquet for Anne' earrings. 

The necklace is inspired by the Victorian's love of the Language of Flowers. The Victorian's communicated with clandestine lovers or friends using their own secret language in the form of floral brooches, necklaces and earrings. Each flower was imbued with a hidden message and meaning, symbolic of love, desire or mourning. Queen Anne's Lace was emblematic of sanctuary. Its delicate sprays of ivory toned blooms evoke a miniature birds nest, offering protection and safety.

This pretty necklace is an ode to these long lost traditions. A fragile bouquet of Queen Anne's Lace is adorned on top of a lustrous layer of onyx black. Speckles of shimmering 24k gold dust dance around the blooms. The pendant has been sealed with a thick glossy layer of crystal clear pine resin. The overall look is one of ethereal beauty with a story to be told to those who wonder. The delightful botanical scene is embraced by a handmade  24k gold plated ring, which creates a glamorous and unique look. This necklace would be the perfect accessory for a summer garden party, wedding or as a gift for your bridesmaids. Available in limited amounts now here.

Images and designs are copyright © Lost Forest Jewellery 2018. All rights reserved.

Wedding bouquet keepsake

My original pine resin crystals are synonymous with elegance and a touch of Lost Forest magic. They have become a popular choice for brides who ask me to create a wearable keepsake of their wedding day. This crystal was commissioned by a client of mine who wanted to save a small portion of her bridal bouquet. I designed and created this beautiful crystal for her with delicate sprigs of Limonium or 'Sea Lavender' and my signature watercolour swirl and 24k gold leaf gilding. The rich tone of the purple dye with the gold leaf creates a beautifully stylish piece of jewellery. The Limonium's elongated form majestically drift within the natural pine resin. 

The result is a fashionable and sentimental piece of jewellery that will be cherished forever. If you'd like your own keepsake of your big day, you can send me an enquiry here.

All images and designs are copyright © Lost Forest Jewellery 2018. All rights reserved.

The Summer Tea Party Collection

I created The Summer Tea Party collection in 2016 as an ode to my long lasting admiration for vintage china tea sets. My grannies on both sides of the family collected tea sets, adorned with exquisitely painted botanicals and exuberantly stylised birds and flourishes. Each piece in The Tea Party Collection echoes the tradition and beauty of these cherished heirlooms; bringing real elements of nature into the design, and once again creating a new handcrafted memento to be loved and worn by you and generations to follow. Every pine resin pebble is named after a specific freshly brewed tea; from Early Grey, to Darjeeling Exotic.

A handful of these special edition treasures are currently available now.

Images and designs are copyright © Lost Forest Jewellery 2018. All rights reserved.

Love, love me do...bridal jewellery

A beautiful way to preserve your wedding bouquet is within a sparkling Lost Forest pine resin jewel. This 'bouquet bangle' was made for a lovely customer of mine who wanted me to create a special memento of her big day. I always love to make wedding keepsakes; they hold precious memories and symbolism for the couple, and will become treasured heirlooms to be passed down through the generations.

This organic shaped bangle encapsulated a portion of her bouquet. Ivory toned roses, woodland ferns and tiny botanic elements from her husbands boutonnière danced within the crystal clear resin. The other half of the band featured a piece of Irish birch bark; an eternal reminder of her connection to her husbands Irish ancestry. I then added some glittering shards of 24k gold leaf to complete this stunning and unique bangle. 

Images and designs are copyright © Lost Forest Jewellery 2018. All rights reserved.

Winter on the farm

The last month has been a busy one, hence the lack of blogging. I'm now back and fully recharged after the Christmas break. The Lost Forest studio is at full steam ahead once again, and I'm slowly getting my wedding preparations ticked off the list (it seems like a never ending task at times!). 

As I mentioned last year, I've been working on a new direction for Lost Forest. The new look and concept will be unveiled in another few months. As I design everything from inception, it is a long and arduous process, and requires fresh eyes every few weeks to revaluate and tweak little details. I'm looking forward to showing my new creations, but also very nervous!

A break on my husband-to-be's farm is always a welcome boost to my creativity, and clears my head for a bustling few months ahead. The glowing winter sunsets, fresh crisp air that tickles your nose and fingers, inquisitive bovine and feline friends, and ghostly silhouettes of the ancient trees are some of the delights that rural Ireland has to offer. There is an innate awareness of nature and our affinity with the changing seasons. You can't help but feel invigorated by this little corner of the world.

A lost treasure

A new year in the Lost Forest studio marks a new beginning in my business. All will be revealed in another few months! For now, I have a little treat in the form of a special edition piece in the Lost Forest collection; a magical woodland talisman- 'My Little World'.

I cast this piece from an authentic shard of quartz crystal, and created a pine resin replica that holds treasures from the enchanted woodlands of the Dublin mountains. Real tendrils of lichen still cling to a delicate pine branch, gathered from the forest floor after an autumn storm. The sculptural meandering forms of the lichen are showcased within the crystal clear resin. When you gaze at the crystal, you discover a new hidden detail every time, creating an endless sense of intrigue. 24k gold leaf has been hand gilded sporadically along the facets to add a touch of sparkle to this bewitching crystal. 

I created the crystal as a talisman you can carry with you wherever you may be. Place it in your hand, gaze into it, and feel like you are connecting with the natural world; a world not always accessible to everyone. Instantly, you will feel a sense of calm and inner peace, and ponder over the good things that life has to offer. The crystal can also sit upon your desk and offer a spark of inspiration to your day. Only one has been made and it is exclusively available here. 

Memento jewellery

Last year I created a very special piece for a wonderfully talented lady who suffered a tragic loss. We worked together on creating diminutive pine resin pebbles that would encapsulate delicate strands of her baby's hair. She wanted a tangible memento to hold onto forever, and to comfort her during a very difficult time ahead. 

I made a trio of pebbles and raindrops; each one holding their precious treasures. I also added sparkling 24k gold leaf and swirls of pink dye, floating upwards through the crystal clear resin. 

The next stage of the project was handed over to the highly skilled Irish goldsmith, Helena Malone. She fashioned a gold frame to hold the pebble; creating an eternal protective embrace. A tiny pink diamond was mounted to echo the pink in the pebble. The outcome was a beautifully unique, elegant and enduringly sentimental piece of jewellery she could wear close to her heart forever.