Ahem. I have won an award.

You may remember that a few months ago I told you that Company magazine had written to tell me that I'd been nominated for one of their Style Blogger 2012 Awards. It was a lovely surprise for me personally, as well as making me feel rather delighted that the perception of sewing and craft in general has shifted to such an extent that it would now merit a category within a very fashion-focused magazine's awards pertaining to style.

This month's issue features Florence and the Machine (of the Florence Welch variety: machine unspecified)...it also has a little picture of me in it (my own machine isn't pictured, but is a Pfaff Classic Homestyle 1529 sewing machine) as I was lucky enough to win my category: Best Blog for Crafty Girls. Last week I went to the awards ceremony in London. It was very odd to be out of my computer in blogger capacity (I do venture out from it often, but normally only in mummy/wife/friend/daughter/me-just-being-me capacity) and even odder still to land at some style awards where the other bloggers were all there because they genuinely do blog about style and fashion (rather than about sewing). It was interesting seeing the way people were dressed, the adorable plaited hairstyles, how beautifully their faces were made up and how smoothly they worked a camera - suddenly positioning faces and legs to be at just the right angle for a flattering photo. I'd anticipated that I may feel a little out-of-place and quite old. And I did. But here I am grinning like a loon and I've realised only in retrospect that grinning is so not what one is meant to do when faced with a camera at such an event, even if it's your own sister pointing it at you. Note the award in my hands: it is actually satisfyingly weighty and made my arms ache carrying it.

Thank you to everyone who voted for me - I really appreciate it. And thank you to the girls at Company magazine, who seemed such a friendly and genuinely lovely group of people and who made me feel most welcome.

Florence x