Through The Looking Glass
It’s a real honour to share this post with you today. It’s a jewellery line that I’m very fond of, and one which is very close to my heart. Lost Forest is run by my twin sister Gillian. I’ve mentioned her brand in a few previous posts, but now it’s time for it to have its own special spotlight.
Gillian created her unique vision back in 2012 after going through quite a traumatic time in her life. It was her therapy; her shining light at the end of a very dark tunnel. She worked incredibly hard at developing a concept that’s truly her own. Eight years later and I’m super proud of all that she has achieved. Her designs are genuinely original and absolutely breathtaking to see in the flesh. She handpicks and preserves all the natural inclusions found within her jewellery. These range from teeny tiny mushrooms, leaves, flowers, mosses and lichens - which are all foraged from her farm and local surroundings. These inclusions are her artistic ‘medium,’ which she composes to create miniature landscapes which are delicately veiled under crystal clear layers of pine resin. Gillian imaginatively calls her necklaces ‘looking glasses,’ which are inspired by her love of ‘Alice Through The Looking Glass,’ and the tiny worlds Alice discovered by looking very closely at the life beneath her feet.
I’m really in awe, as a designer myself, at how she’s able to create such beautiful and tiny pieces of natural art. I have amassed quite a collection of Lost Forest pieces over the years, and I’m sharing some of my favourites below. By the way, all her pieces arrive in an exquisite vintage-style green velvet box - I have it displayed on my vanity unit with all my other vintage knick-knacks! ~ Rachel x
A selection of Lost Forest looking glasses - how pretty! Inclusions such as butterfly wings and bees are all ethically sourced, as Gillian uses only naturally expired insects. She finds a lot of these in dusty farm sheds and old window sills. What a lovely way to honour such marvelous and delicate creatures - forever ‘alive’ and beautiful within a looking glass.
Gillian ‘paints’ with her trusty tweezers, meticulously composing the scenes from a personal library of foraged botanicals. I just love the curling and twisting wisps of the moss tendrils. The gold specks are added to mimic the swirling pollen particles caught on a breeze - how lovely is that - such meaningful concept within each piece.
This is my most recent purchase. It’s titled ‘Anne of Avonlea’ (each piece has its own unique title, just like a story book). I absolutely love the Anne of Green Gables series, and I just jumped at the chance to add this ‘pixie’ looking glass (how cute!) to my collection. It features tiny yellow gyp with a backdrop of a pale aqua colour. It even matches my treasured Folio Society copy of ‘Anne of Avonlea.’
And here is the pixie looking glass sitting within its gorgeously green velvet box. I get so many compliments when I wear this piece, and its small delicate size means it looks lovely with another necklace resting below it. It’s a conversation piece, as people can’t quite believe they are real flowers inside!
I’m so glad I live in a world where there is Lost Forest.