What I did on my holidays...

I have recently come back from my my second visit of the year with my little family to the Bluestones resort in Pembrokeshire.  If you have little kids and like being outside but also like a private good hot shower and a comfy bed, I really recommend it! 

Last time we never left the resort but this time we did a bit of sight seeing and exploring and this is what I came home with!!

We visited Tenby and found some lovely shells on the beach.  We also found a gorgeous jewellery supplies and bric a brac shop in Brychan Yard on Upper Frog Street, the name of which I have forgotten but I could have spent hours in there! I bought the butterfly, turquoise and orange coloured beads and leaf shaped clasp you can see in the photo below from there along with the gorgeous wooden plate/stand everything is displayed on. The plate is from France according to the shop owner and I completely love it, it is perfect for on my desk, putting my ongoing projects into and displaying pieces. 

I also bought some fossils for some wire wrapping from Solva and some handmade Welsh slate buttons from the Solva Woollen Mill which is worth a visit for the lovely gift shop which also sells excellent Christmas cards made from sheep poo! 

The acorns and oak leaves I am going to do something with, possibly involving a silicon mould. I got these along with some lovely bits of bluestone (that gives the National Park it's name) from the woods near an Iron Age Hill Fort. Interestingly this is the same bluestone that Stonehenge is made from, though there are many theories on how it travelled all the way to the Stonehenge site. 

Here are all my holiday bits minus some stones and shells I was cleaning, all boxed up, ready for the muse to strike and make many fabulous things that remind me of my adventures :)

We also visited St David's and popped into an exhibition of the Pembrokeshire Craft Makers. Which was both humbling and inspiring. All the work displayed was superb and beautifully crafted with amazing attention to detail.  But the display by Annette Gardener of Kittywake Enamels blew my mind, completely gorgeous, detailed exquisite work. I am thinking of saving up to buy one of her pieces. I particularly loved her Seascape jewellery. Very inspiring stuff!