Days Out - top beaches, Porthminster, Cornwall

You could be forgiven for being mistaken that you were in the Caribbean, but in fact this is Porthminster Beach in Cornwall.

They say the light in St Ives is quite unique and the reason that so many artists are drawn to the area and it's not difficult to see why.

Porthminster Beach features in our top ten of British Beaches.  It's more sheltered than St Ives' other main beach and with soft golden sand, it's perfect for families.

A highly rated cafe is nearby so there are ice-creams and other snacks easily to hand.

Meet the Maker - Cornish Bird in the Sticks

 

I love most things Cornish and Cornish Bird in the Sticks sums the place up perfectly.

As well as cards, prints, mugs, coasters and placements, you can buy compact mirrors and phone covers. 

The woman responsible for these vibrant and quirky designs is Kaitlyn Pearson who lives near Redruth with her boyfriend and 11 dogs ( which she insists isn’t a typo, saying "they are all small so if you stuck them together it would be like having one big dog….sort of!").

Kaitlyn studied Graphic Design at Falmouth School of Art and Design but despite having always been creative she didn’t feel confident to pursue it as a career and instead chose to go and work in an accounts office for 15 years.

However fate intervened and following a commission to design a logo incorporating the docks, a new career emerged.  She began to design other Cornwall inspired themes, fishing, harbours, mackerel, tin mines and beaches and soon realised the list was endless.  She has since gone on to produce animals and other themed ranges.

Having started out by selling at craft fairs and online, Kaitlyn has taken the plunge and opened a shop which I think is in the Carnon Downs Garden Centre, Falmouth where she sells her own and others’ artwork and gifts.

Trivial Pursuits - Building Blocks, Cornwall

If only every town had a place like this. If you fancy trying out a new craft, then surely this is the place for you.

Based in St Austell, Building Blocks caters for all ages and tastes. With such a diverse variety of workshops on offer there's bound to be something to suit everyone.

Applique, basic cross-stitch, T-shirt printing, felting, button bouquets, Waldorf story dolls and 'Getting to know your sewing machine' have all been on offer.

The venue is the brainchild of Jeni Carson and Gill Birchall whose aim is to bring beautiful handcrafted Work at Home products to the high street and provide somewhere for mums to share and build their creative skills.

The Kids' and Afternoon Craft Clubs are proving popular and it's easy to see why.  I hope the idea spreads throughout Britain.

Do you have somewhere like this near you? Let us know about it.