My Roots

Welcome to the Lost Forest. I’m Gillian Corcoran, a Dublin born artist, and founder and designer of the award-winning Lost Forest; the seminal Irish botanical jewellery. Each and every piece in the Lost Forest collection is delicately handmade by myself in my little log cabin studio, situated on the family farm in the ancient hidden heartlands of Ireland. I am a one- woman business, proudly running all aspects of my business independently. This adds an endearing personal connection to my loyal Lost Forest customers all around the world. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to share my creative imagination with those who hold the same passion and curiosity for nature, and appreciation of craftsmanship as myself. I am forever grateful to my local and international customers who continue to support my creativity.

Lost Forest is an ode to Irish folklore and Mother Nature's enduring artistry, and a lasting testament to the fine details, patterns and solitary characteristics in nature that often go unnoticed in today's fast-paced society. A miniature replica of Ireland is discovered in everything I create; resulting in an endlessly fascinating tiny world one longs to spend time in. I make dried flower artworks in golden looking glasses, and fine silver necklaces made from real botanical curiosities I foraged myself.

My most notable creations are my Looking Glass™ necklaces. I named them ‘Looking Glasses,’ as they are inspired by my love of Alice Through The Looking Glass, and the tiny worlds Alice discovered by peering very closely at the life beneath her feet. I have always been fascinated by nature and the magic that can be imagined within it. As a child, my love of reading and craft spurred my already highly active imagination. I would also collect beautiful flowers from family trips around Ireland, and preserve them within the pages of my favourite books. These dried floral memories are forever preserved in a story, and this concept has also inspired me to create my tiny botanical narratives, captured within a protective gilded Looking Glass™.

When I established my business in 2011, I reminisced my childhood memories and began to discover a unique story to build a product from. In a well-thumbed notebook, I wrote and sketched my ideas of an original concept involving a magical lost forest filled with gleaming treasures – which can only be discovered by those who seek it. The seeds of an idea were planted, and my inimitable miniature wildflower landscapes grew from my distinctive creative vision. I added a sprinkling of gold leaf to every piece, and my magical signature style was born.

I handpick all the natural inclusions myself; foraged from my farm surroundings, and the hills, forests and seashores which I visit on my walks and rambles. These inclusions are my artistic ‘medium,’ which I compose to create miniature landscapes which are gracefully veiled under clear panes of glass. I ‘paint’ with my trusty tweezers, delicately arranging the scenes from my ‘paintbox’ of foraged finds. I ‘paint with nature,’ and the result is a picturesque piece of Irish wearable art. 

I care deeply about the world around us, and I endeavour to use earth-friendly alternatives in both my jewellery pieces and packaging. I collect all the organic inclusions from my local surroundings in a sustainable manner. It is also a priority for me to plant new seeds to help the local ecology thrive and survive. I am a cruelty-free business, and all organic matter such as bees, wasps and starfish have been collected responsibly, and only when they have naturally expired.

My packaging is reusable and kept to a minimum. My printed materials are FSC-certified and printed locally. I am proud to be a plastic-free business, and I always use biodegradable substitutes.

My reputation for exceptional craftsmanship has been internationally recognised. Lost Forest has been widely exhibited in Ireland, Spain, USA, Germany and France. I have been featured in notable publications, such as Vogue, Tatler, RTE Lifestyle and Image magazine. Lost Forest is a multi-award nominated brand, achieving recognition at the 'Irish Made Awards' by Irish Country Magazine, and a finalist in the 'Fashion and Textiles' category at The Institute of Designers in Ireland (IDI) Awards in 2017. I also won a highly acclaimed commendation award at the IDI Awards in 2018 for my signature Looking Glass™ necklaces. I love what I create, and I hope you do too. Thank you for supporting a small Irish business.