I Won! All The Details of the Amara Interior Blog Awards 2016 Where I Took Home An Award!!
Posing with my award after my win. Photo by John Nassari.
If you follow my social media feeds you may well have seen that on Thursday night, at the Ham Yard Hotel in London, I won an Amara Interior Blog Award for Best DIY & Crafts Blog!
Earlier in the year Amara opened up nominations for this annual celebration of interior bloggers, and this blog got nominated for the Best DIY & Crafts Blog Award, along with around 30 other blogs. The next part was the voting stage, so I campaigned furiously to try and get into the final 5 blogs that would be shortlisted to attend the ceremony and be assessed by the very capable judges who are at the top of their game within the interiors industry. Completely and honestly, I thought I had no chance of getting shortlisted as my blog had only been going a few months back then and I was still learning. I was still only halfway through my No Bull Blog School course to learn how to blog properly! Being shortlisted was huge for me, and the opportunity to go to a glitzy awards ceremony alongside respected and established bloggers was just incredible!
Just a selection of the vast amount of celebratory drinks I downed after I won! Photo by John Nassari.
The ceremony was held at the Kit Kemp designed Ham Yard Hotel in Soho. This venue was perfect for the awards as it was glamorous, modern and stylish. I loved the neon signs and red walls.
The awards bar at the Ham Yard Hotel. Photo by John Nassari.
After a few welcome (*cough* Dutch courage) drinks we were escorted into the presentation room where the beautiful awards, designed and made by Cutture, were lined up on the stage. When I saw those I whispered to my guest about how nice they were - and how I'd love one - but then guided her to a seat at the back of the room, convinced it wouldn't be me making the walk up to the stage to collect one.
The Amara awards, designed and made by Cutture. Photo by John Nassari.
The awards were really enjoyable to watch, the lovely host Sophie Robinson seemed to really enjoy being there and presenting the awards.
The presentation room in all its blue and orange glory. Photo by John Nassari.
I was really pleased that Jenny from Seasons In Colour took home the Best Colour Inspiration Blog Award, as I love reading her blog and she works so hard on it.
Jenny of Seasons In Colour with presenter Sophie Robinson and Farrow & Ball sponsor and judge Charlotte Cosby. Photo by John Nassari.
Then it was time for my category - Best DIY & Crafts Blog Award! I really thought that Kimberly from Swoon Worthy would take home the award as her blog is so established, a fantastic read, and she is so good at what she does. As Sophie announced a 'highly commended' accolade for Style Made Simple (very well deserved!) I was all ready to clap the winner when MY NAME WAS ANNOUNCED!! If you've seen the You Tube footage from the night you'll see how absolutely shocked and delighted I was. I totally had no cool about me as I crawled onstage and bear hugged Amara Creative Director Sam Hood.
Me, my award, and judge and design & interiors journalist Claudia Baillie. Photo by John Nassari.
The award meant so much to me as I'd never won anything before! Let alone a proper, proper award for something I love doing, I'd created all on my own and was completely passionate about!
All the winners onstage at the end of the ceremony, with Amara's Sam Hood. Photo by John Nassari.
I really want to thank Amara for hosting these awards and the Amara team for working so hard and making it such a special event. I'd love to thank the judges for picking little old me in my category! I'd like to say sorry to host Sophie Robinson for smearing lipstick all over her face, but also thank you for presenting my award! Also, Cutture for sponsoring the Best DIY & Craft Award and presenting it to me. Thanks to the Ham Yard Hotel for all your lovely drinks and thank you to all the lovely bloggers that I met on the night whose shortlist nominations were all so well deserved!!
Of course, I'd most like to thank YOU! MY LOVELY READERS!!! Without your vote I never would have been able to attend this amazing night and even be in with a chance of winning this prestigious award, so thank you!! You've made one DIY blogger very happy indeed. Maybe I should get a trophy cabinet to house my achievements!
* Oh, and I've been asked loads about my dress and hair since the event! The dress is by Gina Bacconi that I bought in John Lewis (on sale 50% off, and it's still available online!) My vintage hair was done by Zekana salon in Chingford E4, who are fab at vintage up-do's and are really reasonably priced.