Inspiration from Cornwall

Four weeks ago I was on my summer holidays in Cornwall, a place that I will forever love!
There is such a wonderful laid back and artistic vibe down there that I really feel at home whenever I visit. There is also so many beautiful and inspiring things to see....

St Michael's Mount

St Michael's Mount is a stunning small tidal island, during low tide you can walk the causeway to get to the island but during mid to high tide you can only access the island by boat.
The island is seeped in history stretching back millennia, with discoveries of flint arrow heads to a Bronze Age hoard and many wonderful legends.

Views from the Castle

The Island partly owned by the Nation Trust and run by the St Aubyn family (who still live in a portion of the castle), has its own harbour, a handful of houses, a church, an underground tram line that runs from the harbour to the castle (that is closed to the public because it is so steep), a cafe, a few lovely little gift shops, and wonderful and exotic gardens that thrive in the Islands micro climate, to name but a few of the attractions.

Maps and Models

The side of one of the houses had the most beautiful old map painted on it, and then among the treasures of the castle (which included a mummified cat and a samurai suit) there was this beautiful ornate map above. These photo's make me want to make resin and map jewellery components! 

The Giant's Heart

Legend has it that the Island was once home to Cormoran an 18ft giant who lived there in a cave, He was said to eat cattle and small children and terrorised the local people until Jack a young farmers son trapped him in a concealed pit and brought his ax down upon his head. Jack was henceforth known as "Jack the Giant Killer" and the Giant's stone heart was set into the path way leading to the castle! 

Stained Glass Featuring St Michael's Mount

The Castle even has its own built in church, with breathtakingly beautiful stained glass windows. The one above even features St Michael's Mount in the background.

St Ives Beach

Then there is St Ives! My all time favourite place. The beaches are crystal clear and there is so many art galleries (real artist galleries not those ones that just sell mass produced prints) many of them are also working studio's so you can go and talk to the artists and watch them working, they have every kind of art you can imagine ranging from raku ceramic clocks, amazing glass sculptures to very beautiful paintings and mixed media pieces. I wish I had taken photo's of the studios but I was in somewhat of a daze (think small child in a sweet shop)!

Sea Glass Glore

We have even found the best little beach for sea glass, I don't know if you can see from the photo but there is just so much of it and it is the nice well worn without sharp edges stuff too!

Light House and Boats

Every time we visit we are always drawn to the light house and I intend to use this as inspiration for a necklace I plan on making.

A Shop Full of Treasures

I don't know about you (I guess a lot of you do this too) but when I go some where I always keep my eye out (and some times check with google) for bead/crystal shops as there are none close to where I live. So I always make a point of visiting this little shop that is just off the high street in St Ives, and the best thing is that it is open this 8.30 so you don't have to hurry!

"Emjems is a family run shop that has been selling jewellery, crystals, fossils, incense, singing bowls, stones and more unusual treasures for over 40 years!"

Crystals and fossils make me very happy and here are a few of the treasures I have managed to take home with me from Emjems (looking at the photo's I really wish I had brought that stone green man he would have been perfect for the September theme challenge!)....

Treasures From St Ives

Mostly due for wire wrapping except that piece of turquoise that will go into my light house piece.

Sun Setting Over St Ives

It is hard not to be inspired by a place as beautiful as this, the colours, the scenery and the wonderful calm and peaceful feeling it gives you....

Carn Brea Castle

Carn Brea Castle can be traced back as far as 1379. The stone twin towered fortress was built by the Bassett family and is built on the remains of a Iron Age hillfort that has been restored and extended over the years and now looks somewhat like a folly. It is truly stunning and really worth googling just to see more photo's of this amazing place that is currently used as a very unique middle eastern restaurant it is however a bookings only venue or we would have been tempted to try it!

The View 

The spectacular views from the castle even left the most talkative amongst us (pictured above) stunned into silence!

Falmouth

And then of course there is Falmouth, this photo just makes me smile! With it's beautiful rolling hills full of patchwork fields and clusters of trees, stunning blue sea and the adorable little boats. Whats not to love!

Found Treasure

Plus there is all of those new beach find/treasures to add to my over flowing hoard!