So long October

I went searching for the last signs of floral colour in a hidden secret garden, and I was lucky enough to find them in the form of endless hazy rows of lavender, lavishly decorated pansies, dahlias, sweet peas and spindly bouquets of forget-me-not. The trees were already nearly bare of their amber leaves, but a colour injection was more than welcome with the frosty days and darker evenings, which have already arrived. I'm already waiting patiently for the return of spring and summer, when I can begin my botanical pressing once again. 

Autumn at Kilruddery

One of my favourite past times is to venture off into the beautiful neighbouring county of Wicklow. Known as the 'Garden of Ireland', Wicklow has many delights to offer those who possess a sense of constant wanderlust. 

Kilruddery House in Bray, is one of those places that pulls you back to a forgotten time. The estate features an imposing 17th century mansion and rolling vistas, which plunge deep into the distant mountainous abyss. After a stroll around the estate, the enchanting tea rooms offer a restorative fix in the form of sweet treats and hot cups of frothy cappuccinos. The pretty little vases of flowers on each table were the icing on the cake (or should I say almond cookie). The gardens in high summer are a blissful place, but autumn too has its own sense of magic.

The last traces of summer are evident with the yarrow, roses and cosmos peaking through the fallen shrubbery. The floral specimens are peculiarly juxtaposed with tumbling amber toned leaves, scattered acorns, and mushrooms protruding from the soft manicured lawns. The overall feel is one of beautiful unbridled transition, and reaffirms my love for nature and the curious and intriguing changes it manifests. 

Flower foraging in the garden

The days are long and busy in the Lost Forest studio, so any opportunity to escape into the sunny garden for a breath of sweet summer air is essential to restore calm and ease the mind. Today, I gathered a pretty selection of blooms that were tumbling out of their pots and were prime for picking. 

I snipped tiny bouquets of Forget-me-not (Myosotis arvensis), its larger counterpart; Chinese Forget-me-not (Cynoglossum amiable), beautiful fluffy umbels of chocolate Queen Anne's Lace (Dara ammi) and purple corn cockles (Agrostemma githago).  I always find this stage of the process in my jewellery making to be the most relaxing and therapeutic. It certainly beats the sanding stage; the less said about that the better! I could happily pick and press flowers all day long.

Hydrangea Love

Summer isn't summer without bountiful bundles of hydrangeas lining the garden verges. There are over 75 different types of Hydrangea. Hydrangea macrophylla or Bigleaf Hydrangea is the most common type. Within this familial group are varieties such as Mophead (Photo 2) and Lacecap (photo 1). Hydrangea have long been associated with gratitude and honesty, and despite their weighty abundance of billowy blooms, they are symbolic of remaining humble in times of prosperity.

Shunned in medicinal practices due to trace elements of cyanide in their leaves and flowers, they are solely used for decorative purposes. They are ideal for flower arranging, bouquets and ornamental gardening. They have always fascinated me, and it's my dream someday to have a garden border of every type of hydrangea I can possibly source. 

One of my very first eco resin pendants contained a single blue hydrangea flower I had pressed in a book. The elegant simplicity of the petals were showcased beautifully in the resin, and to this day I love to use them in my work. The piece below was a very early piece in my collection using a single pink hydrangea. I discovered this necklace while cleaning out my studio, nearly forgotten about, resting at the back of a drawer. It's the very last one of a batch I made a few years ago, and it is still as luminous as ever. It's currently on sale in store, and you can read more about it below:

 'Pretty in Pink' is a stunning eco resin pebble that has trapped a single vibrant pink Hydrangea flower. The delicate bloom was picked by me from my garden during the Summer months and pressed over several weeks to preserve its fragile beauty and beautiful colour. 

The flower is suspended within the organic shaped pendant and is surrounded by tiny speckles of glittering 24k gold leaf to add a subtle touch of glamour and sparkle.

This pretty handcrafted gem makes the perfect gift for any nature lover who admires the ethereal wonder of natures botanical creations.

Wild Irish Rose

One of my all time favourite flowers are roses; they hold such elegance, vibrant colour, and wonderful heady aromas. 'My dear rose' is a piece inspired by their eternal beauty.

It is one-of-a-kind piece, created just for you to treasure and wear close to your heart. The bottle pendant was skilfully cast by myself using a handmade mold of a vintage Chanel No.5 perfume bottle. An original concept I devised a few years ago. The pendant was then constructed in natural resin using my advanced casting technique to ensure a premium crystal clear finish. Within the lightweight resin bottle are three deep pink rose buds suspended in eternal motion. The buds were picked from my garden last summer and have been preserved to showcase their fragile form and delicate details.

A fine scattering of 24k gold leaf speckles float amongst this miniature scene, along with romantic swirls of pink dye, which enrapture the roses and accentuate their lively colour. You can almost imagine the sweet floral scent trapped forever within this wonderfully tactile bottle. It's only available at this link. 

While wandering through the rose gardens at Powerscourt, I snapped my 'Wild Irish heart' necklace against the rose lined walled garden. This piece is available in the Design Loft in Powerscourt House and also in store now. It's such a pretty and romantic piece, and I adore how the heather buds dance within the bottle with every step you take. A truly dynamic and intriguing piece of botanical art.