Edited highlights

Roses: a gift from my mother, with rain droplets & favourite cashmere jumper in shot.

Goodness, I can't tell you quite how wonderful it was to have all those links and suggestions left in the comments on my last post. Thank you very much indeed! I have added numerous new-to-me blogs to my feed reader and seen a great many exciting and interesting things. Perhaps you found the time to read through all the comments and suggestions too, but if not then here are my edited highlights:

• Firstly, Mirjam told me about Citronille, a french pattern house which produces patterns for Women, children, babies and dolls. I've fallen in love with many of the women's patterns - they are adorable, and I'm wondering if, being French, they may offer a good fit for a more petite frame too. Do go and take a look and see what you think of them. Mirjam also left a link to this blog, where users of Citronille patterns post their finished garment pictures, which is so useful for getting a better idea of how it might fit. The patterns seem reasonably priced at around 10 euros and I believe they post internationally, but I'd love it if these were available in England too - the fact that they're written in French seems like a very small stumbling block as they will certainly be easier to translate than the Japanese patterns that so many of us are used to.  Thank you, Mirjam!

Next were a couple of new-to-me blogs that have been added straight to my feed reader.

• Margiwarg recommended Nettevivante, which I'd seen before but somehow forgotten about. Margiwarg left a link directly to Nette's Candy Dress, which is stunning and I think our wardrobes would all be happier places with one of these in there. Nette has written a free pattern for the dress and you'll find a link to it in the aforementioned blog post.
• Both Third Margaret and Amy suggested that I might like a blog called Nana Company - they were right - it's beautiful.
• Jacquie suggested the website Spincushion, which is quirky and original and has a wonderful regular feature called 'If a quilt lived here...' where a beautiful room is featured and some quilt fabrics and a pattern are picked out to complement it.
• Kirsty told of a Hollywood Glamour exhibition that's currently on at the National Portrait Gallery that I'd love to get along to.
• And finally, my first comment was from Nicky who gave a link to this explorer bag tutorial - I'd love to make one of these for my daughter - it looks grown-up enough for her to approve of it (a theory borne out by the fact that 36 year old Nicky wants one for herself). I also think it would make a nice change to a rucksack. When my daughter and I went up to London last weekend, she carried her rucksack everywhere with her (even at the ballet) and reminded me and my sister of an adorable cross between Dora the Explorer, Wanda of Where's Wally and a ladybird.

Anyway, to answer a few questions - yes, the Go, Baby! giveaway is open internationally (the machine will arrive with you direct from Accuquilt and they're happy to post anywhere) and entry will close later in the week, so you still have a few more days to enter here if you wish.

Florence x