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. 

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.

Lost Forest Sale & Christmas Wishes

As a thank you to those who support my little business, I have launched a huge sale in store! Most items are heavily discounted. The majority are one-of-a-kind pieces, and once they're gone, they will be gone for good. If you have had your eye on a particular treasure, please don't wait. You can browse and purchase the collection here.

Lost Forest will remain open for business over the Christmas holidays, and any sales from the 21st of December will be shipped from January 3rd when postal deliveries will resume as normal once again. 

The current Lost Forest collection will not be made again, as I will be embarking on a new chapter in Lost Forest's story in 2018. As an artist who thrives on original concepts, it's imperative that I challenge myself and keep learning new skills and delving further into my imagination for unique ideas. I have an exciting new vision for my business, and I'm looking forward to sharing it with those who will continue to support and love what I do. It is my loyal customers who allow me to do what I am most passionate about in life; without you, my dream would never be able to prosper and evolve. A simple 'thank you' never seems enough!

Finally, I'd like to finally wish all of you a very happy and sparkly Christmas and a wonderful New Year full of hope, promise and new adventures! - Gillian x 

A winter engagement

I always love to work on custom projects, and this piece was another highlight for me; a floral engagement ring. My client wanted to surprise her partner with a truly bespoke and whimsical ring that hold precious sentimental memories for them both. 

The handcrafted gemstone encapsulated cut flowers from their beloved garden; luminous lily petals, in vibrant purple tones and rich orange hues cast from begonia petals. Illuminated by the daylight, the stone evokes the effect of sun beams coursing through the resplendent panes of a stained glass window. Speckles of silver leaf were sprinkled into the resin to create an intriguing sparkle. 

What makes this ring even more special is the inclusion of their cherished pets. I weaved strands of cat and dog hair, which delicately embraced the petals. The effect is subtle, but on further inspection it adds a wonderful element of curiosity and sentimentality to a very unique ring. 

Crystal statement necklace

Time for another custom piece I worked on during the spring. I was asked by a new bride to create a magnificent statement necklace with vanda orchids from her wedding bouquet. She wanted the orchids to be juxtaposed next to a woodland scene with lichen and Irish moss; creating a contrasting purple and green colour palette. She chose large amethyst crystals I had in my collection to create a prominent piece that would sit along the neckline. We worked together on creating a very unique piece of wearable art over the course of a month.

My design board below shows some of the 'brainstorming' process I undertake for custom orders; filled with test casts, sketches and notes. This helps as a visual aid for the customer, and also for myself; refining little details and solving technical challenges. Any changes can also be made at this stage, as once the resin is poured, there's no going back! The result was a really stunning bespoke piece of jewellery that is endlessly intriguing and glamorous.

Wedding memento necklace

Over the remaining weeks of 2017, I'll be showcasing a few of the custom projects I've worked on during the past year. The majority of requests were bridal memento necklaces, bangles and Puddle Plates. They are a beautiful reminder that you can keep long after the special day has passed. I've been making wedding memento jewellery since the early days of my career in 2012, and hopefully it will continue into 2018 with a new selection of happy brides (one of which will be myself!).

I always welcome a challenge, something a little out of the ordinary. As an artist it's what I thrive on; new, exciting ideas to turn the cogs in the creative brain. I had a long term client approach me with a project she had in mind for her friend who recently got married. Unfortunately, the flowers she had dried had succumbed to moisture damage and caused mold to set-in. This can be a devastating moment to discover after the long patient wait for the flowers to dry. 

However, when I received the blooms, I put my thinking hat firmly on and decided to create something special out of a bad situation. There was one petal which had survived most of the damage, it was starting to turn to the dark side, so I salvaged it and applied my Lost Forest 'secret rescuing solution' to bring it back to life! I then set the petal into a 24k gold framed pendant tray, adding tiny speckles of 24k gold leaf to the base to add some more sparkle. As the light passed through the sheer petal, it resembled a miniature floral stained glass window, and enhanced its delicate beauty further. The result was a pretty and elegant necklace that was the perfect every day accessory, with added hidden sentiment for its new owner.

Christmas treasures from the Lost Forest

Christmas is just around the corner, and I'm here to help with any shopping dilemmas that may occur at this time of the year! 

Why not treat a loved one or indeed yourself to a unique treasure from the Lost Forest. You'll receive a beautiful handcrafted and one-of-a-kind eco resin jewel, gift wrapped and ready for under the tree. You will also be supporting a small business, and it can all be done from the comfort of your home. What's not to like?!

I've picked my favourite festive creations below; each glittering gem will certainly catch many admiring glances this season. Choose from a gold gilded acer leaf pendant, my unique sparkling confetti glitter earrings in a dazzling array of colours, a statement ruby floral crystal, a magical macaw quartz gilded with 24k rose gold leaf, and a matching macaw Puddle Plate to showcase your new treasure.

Which one will you choose? Final postal dates can be found here.

Buttercup crystal

Today we witness the return of the Buttercup Crystal necklace in store. My original design of a double terminated eco resin crystal with a botanical surprise is a beautiful statement piece of jewellery. I have one in my own personal collection (perks of the job) and it's my go to necklace as yellow and gold is a colour that brightens up any outfit and any time of the year. There's only one available now in store here. You can read more about this beauty below.

The wild beauty of an Irish summer meadow has been lovingly encased within a beautiful quartz crystal pendant. The crystal has been meticulously created using natural pine resin, formed in a mold I made of an authentic double terminated quartz. The natural resin is wonderfully clear due to the highly refined techniques I use, and showcases the inclusions in all their intricate detail.

A single real buttercup is eternally suspended within the resin. The buttercup was picked from a wildflower meadow and preserved over several weeks to retain its beautiful colour and tiny details. Swirls of buttery yellow dye have been carefully threaded through the resin by hand. They subtly embrace the elegant bloom and magically glow when the daylight passes through the crystal. Glittering speckles of 24k gold leaf have been hand gilded onto the base of the crystal to add another touch of glamour to this stunning piece.

The sharp facets of the crystal point create a bewitching prism effect. A spectrum of colours bounce off its contours to create miniature rainbows trapped inside, further emphasising its intriguing beauty.

The resin quartz has been fed onto a handmade high quality 14k gold fill chain in a 20" length. Only one has been made and is a completely unique piece of art for you to enjoy for many years.

It's a small world after all

The Lost Forest collection just got a little boost today with these new Looking Glass pendants. My tiny mushroom worlds are inspired by my original and award nominated piece 'The Magical Mottlegill Mushroom' necklace. Since then, I've had a lot of fun creating variations of that design.

I love conjuring up miniature natural worlds using foraged finds from my local woodlands. The main focus in every pendant are tiny mushrooms, which I've collected and preserved over several weeks. Their spindly whimsical forms are reminiscent of tiny forest gnomes hiding amongst a lush blanket of moss. Each inclusion has been handpicked from the same location in the forest to ensure that the natural symbiotic relationship of the finds continue on together in their next adventure; sparkling eco resin jewels. 

The first looking glass, 'The Woodland of the Elfin Wishes'  features a secret little wonderland; inhabited by diminutive elves who flutter amongst the fallen autumn leaves strewn upon the forest floor. Tiny real Mottlegill mushrooms spring up from a layer of Irish moss. Sprigs of delicate purple tipped Elfin herb embrace the bewitching scene. A secret hidden dandelion seed sits beneath the cap of a mushroom, offering a hint of luck to the wearer of this beautiful piece. Glittering 24k gold leaf speckles float in the clear resin to create an added touch of intrigue.

The second pendant, 'Dream in the Floral Forest'  features a beautiful floral forest; settled by mischievous flower faeries who flutter through the enchanted woods. Delicate real Mottlegill mushrooms spring up from knotted tendrils of real Irish moss. Elongated vines of pale blue water Forget-me-not dance within the celestial scene. Vibrant yellow buttercups are caught in an eternal breeze; their fragile beauty captured forever. Shimmering speckles of 24k gold leaf dance within the clear resin to create an added touch of glamour.

Wish upon a dandelion

'Wish upon a raindrop' is the latest eco resin treasure in the Lost Forest collection. It's inspired by dazzling raindrops that have fallen upon the leafy forest floor. The delicate raindrop holds a bewitching surprise; tiny real dandelion seeds. They gently dance within the crystal clear eco resin, their fragile beauty captured forever in a timelessly elegant piece. A magical dusting of 24k gold leaf swirls around the seeds, glittering with every movement you make. 

This piece is beautifully timeless and wearable, and is now my firm favourite for my everyday wear. It adds a wonderful touch of glamour to any outfit, and always catches people's eye. To complete the look, my 'Make a wish' drop earrings are an ideal accompaniment.

Dandelion's hold such a poignant and hopeful message for many people.  Their ethereal ghostly structure has always fascinated me, and from the very beginnings of my resin making journey, I love to capture them in their simplest form. This necklace seems to be the perfect way to remind you everyday to keep hope alive and always strive forward.

Head for the hills of heather

September always marks the heather season for me, and I'm usually found high in the mountains searching amongst the beautiful purple haze to find the best sprigs for my botanical collection. Bell heather is my favourite type due to its rich and vibrant colour and dainty bell-shaped blooms. 

Heather thrives in dry acidic soils, and grows in profusion on moorlands and mountain sides. Over the centuries it has been used in numerous ways; from bedding, brooms, basketry to roof thatching. It's aromatic buds were also used to flavour beer and provide a sweet floral aroma to honey. For me, it is a much loved staple of my collection and is used in two core pieces; My Wild Irish Heart necklace and earrings. Both pieces capture the wild and natural beauty of the Irish landscape at this magical time of the year, and preserve the rich eternal charm of the heather forever.