'Who lives in a cabin like this?' The Lost Forest Studio Tour

The Lost Forest studio is actually where the magic happens. My lovely wooden cabin is the place where I conjure-up my ideas, and create my miniature pine resin worlds. It was built back in September 2018, and resides next to our stone farmhouse. It overlooks the front garden; a garden that’s always expanding and evolving with the seasons. It will soon be full of beautiful blooms, which I use in my jewellery.

My neighbours are 4 legged ladies, who sport black and white ensembles, and love the auld grass. The cabin comprises of two rooms; the front larger room is the studio, which you will be touring around today. The second smaller room is the work room, where all the messy jobs are carried out; resin mixing and pouring, sanding, drilling etc. I’ll show you around that room another day. The outside of the studio is painted in the ‘Lost Forest green’, which blends harmoniously with the surroundings. I’ve added little whimsical touches, such as fairy lights, and a handmade wooden arch, which will soon be festooned with clematis. There’s also a repurposed bird cage that houses two little faux birdies. A little summery yellow bird house sits beneath the roof overhang, and a feeder sits below. A perfect residence for a feathered family.

So let’s now take a look inside…

My wrap-around desk is where I do a lot of the finishing of my jewellery. It’s made from Ikea kitchen tops, mounted onto trestle legs. Simple, yet effective. It’s great to have lots of space, and it usually gets completely filled, and messy, but that’s just part of the process of work. I always make sure afterwards to tidy my studio, and dust and hoover on a regular basis to keep it clean and looking its best. I hate clutter, mess and dirt, so it’s important for me to work in an environment that doesn’t cloud my mind. I also feel very lucky to have this studio, and it was a big investment for me, so I make sure to care for it and appreciate it.

My main shelf holds a selection of treasures…

Right to left; my drawing-aid man I’ve had since school. He may have eyeshadow and eyelashes now, but he likes to hang out here and rest against my speaker. Next, are three glass and brass trinket boxes I bought at the Dublin Flea Market a number of years ago, and often use as props in my photos. Beside that is a little love potion bottle I bought from Etsy several years ago.

A small crab apple branch that fell from a tree, shows off its blooms in a vase, and emits the most beautiful scent in the studio. Next, is a tin biscuit box filled with wildflower seeds yet to be planted. The wooden light box above was actually a Christmas decoration from Woodies. It reminded me of my Looking Glasses, so up on the wall it went. The wall-mounted pull-out card was a gift from my sister. I’m really starting to see a bird theme here in my studio.

This part of my shelf displays an old stoneware vessel I found in a field on the farm. I cleaned it up, painted it, and added the Lost Forest wax seal to create a beautiful potion bottle. I usually add a seasonal flower from the garden into it, and today’s offering is a bonny bluebell. Beside it is an eternal candle, which glows at night once the studio is locked up. The green glass pot holds my selection of washi tapes. The ‘G’ is a simple MDF cut-out I got from an art store, and I added an ombre of green glitters, as I can never have enough sparkle in the studio.

It’s often tough and challenging being in business, and this quote by my talented sister Rachel, reminds me to keep my head up and keep going. Below, is a sparkly glitter heart I’ve had since I was about 13. It came with the Jean Paul Gautier ‘Fragile’ perfume I used to wear, and I just thought it was the prettiest thing. It was meant to be ironed onto a t-shirt, but I kept it all these years. I framed it for my studio as reminder that it costs nothing to be kind, yet it enriches our lives more than anything. Being kind is something very close to my heart, as we never know what struggles a person is going through.

To the left is an old botanical illustration I bought in an antique book store in Bilbao in February; framed in my favourite double glass panel brass frame from Next.

The inspiration behind my Looking Glass collection - my magnifying glasses hang proudly in one corner of my studio. Above is my clock, gifted by my mom; and a little embroidered bird is perched on top; a gift from my friend in Australia.

The back wall of my studio room. My little stove heater is out of action during these warmer months, but it still looks beautiful as a piece of furniture. To the right is an old table I found on the farm. My dad and I completely renovated and repaired it. I used to take it with me to shows, but now it lives in my studio, and has a more daily purpose. The knobs were made by me; featuring a selection of wildflowers within resin globes. It’s one of my favourite restoration projects, and has become part of the Lost Forest story.

Below the table are boxes for my gift boxes, and an old creamery crate to store flowers that are currently drying out. On top of the table is my wonderful antique pine cabinet, a former pharmacists shop display cabinet. I restored this also to its former glory, and every time I look at it I smile. It is one of my favourite purchases from our local auction house. I use it to house bits and bobs, and pieces I use in my other creative outlets - I have many. Next to it is my old faithful Ikea mini storage unit (the knobs are my own addition). This has been with me since the very beginning in 2012, and sat on my tiny desk in my old apartment in the Dublin docklands, when I could only dream of having my own studio someday in the countryside. It is proof that dreams do come true if you put the work in, and have a gift to share with the world.

I love the height of the ceiling in this room. When I bow my head to enter, I get a feeling of being secure, yet also of a soaring expansive height. It’s such a lovely place to work, especially in the summer months. The sweet smell of the pine wood, and the warmth within wraps around you as the sun heats up its wooden bones. Currently, I have a few fallen crab apple branches in the studio, and this large one looks quite spectacular as it stretches up towards the ceiling. Above it I have a small flower-drying hanger, which is usually abundant during the late summer months, and is a visual and aromatic treat.

My most used tools; a small embroidery scissors, and my tweezers. A painter will revere their brushes and tubes of paint, but these are my beloved essentials that I work with. As I create miniature worlds , I need very precise tools to complete my work. Above these, is a lovely mushroom print by Lamblittle. Tiny mushrooms in resin jewellery are what I’m most known for over the years, so I purchased the print in honour of my fungi friends.

My miniature Lost Forest studio made by my sister. One of my most treasured possessions, its little details are too adorable. You can read more about it here. It sits proudly on top of my beautiful antique pine cabinet.

I hope you all enjoyed my little tour around the Lost Forest studio. Feel free to leave a comment below. I’d love to hear from you. - Gillian x