&#9734;Sharon's Sunlit Memories&#9734;

Sharon's Little Sunbeam is my own personal 'no strings attached' award. It is my way of thanking some of the wonderful people who enrich my blogging experience. The recipient is introduced in a post like this one and a link to their blog remains on my sidebar for a week. There are no conditions attached to the award. The recipient does not need to answer any questions, pass the award on or even acknowledge that they have received it. All they need to do is bask in my little sunbeam and enjoy it!

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Sharon's Little Sunbeam Award - Week 7

This week Sharon's Little Sunbeam shines on Megan at:

Storybook Love Affair

Why have I chosen Megans blog? . . .

- Fabulous book reviews. If Megan can't tempt you to read something, nobody can.

- Beautiful photographs and pictures from Pinterest.

- Delightful glimpses into Megan's life - I particularly loved her Birthday Weekend in Melbourne

As everyone who is familiar with my Little Sunbeam Award already knows, the person behind the blog is as important to me as its content. Megan's warm and sunny personality shines through all her posts and the comments she leaves on mine are equally thoughtful and friendly.

My choice of pictures today probably seems a bit strange - no fairies or princesses!

Last week Megan included a post on Home Office Inspiration. Her dream office is very different to my study in design - all white furniture, pale elegance and a hint of La Belle Epoque. What we have in common though is the idea of a sanctuary - a cherished personal space where inspiration and ideas can take flight. My wish for Megan is that one day her dream will come true and she will have a special place like this of her own to enjoy..

Megan's blog makes me want to curl up with a good book, a nice cup of tea and a box of decadent chocolates. Sheer bliss!

Pictures were originally featured in the post Snow in April!

Past recipients of Sharon's Little Sunbeam Award:

Darlene Foster's Blog

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Sharon's Little Sunbeam Award - Week 6

This week Sharon's Little Sunbeam shines on

Darlene Foster's Blog

Darlene is a published writer and her blog features excerpts from her world, heart warming stories, and of course posts on writing and books.

The beauty of Darlene's personality shines through her writing - that to me is always as appealing as the content itself. I always appreciate her friendly comments (and the encouragement last week on my own scribbles was very heartening!)

Once again have decided to link to specific posts and this week I have chosen two. The first features a book called Every Child is Entitled to Innocence - Darlene wrote one of the stories included in it. Profits from the sale of the book go to Childline International. I think it is a wonderful cause. Unfortunately I don't own a kindle and was so sorry as a result that I am not able to buy it.

The other post is A Few of My Favourite Things in which Darlene gives a wonderful insight into her world. Some people have said they would like to copy my sunbeam award idea but I think they feel hesitant about doing so. Just to show you I have no qualms about borrowing ideas myself - I like the idea of 'My Favourite Things' so much that I think I will be doing a version of it soon myself.

Darlene enjoys travelling to interesting and exotic places - her favourite animal is a camel and she drinks rooibos tea (as a S African that impressed me no end.) I don't have any pictures of either so instead I've chosen these two illustrations that conjure up the magical world of The Arabian Nights.

Both come from the same story (Silia the Dancing Girl) and were previously featured in two separate posts
Perfect Princesses and Handsome Heroes

Past recipients of Sharon's Little Sunbeam Award:

Believe in Yourself

Lucy Violet Vintage

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Sharon's Little Sunbeam Award - Week 5

Sharon's Little Sunbeam Week 5 shines on Donna at:

Believe in Yourself

I have a number of reasons for choosing Donna's blog:

Her posts are a wonderful mix - inspirational, thought provoking, entertaining and fun. Everything from Puppy Rescue to Trifle Recipes!
Donna is one of the most caring and friendly people I have met so far in my bloggy world.
Her kindness has extended to inviting me to become a member of her tribe (triberr.com). This has allowed me to meet some other great bloggers and enjoy the contents of posts I would otherwise not have known were out there.

So this week its a big Thank You to Donna just for being herself - I hope anyone who is not familiar with her blog will stop by and pay her a visit.

Each week I've chosen pictures from past posts when putting together my sunbeam awards. These lovely little fairies were previously included in my Birthday Thoughts post. I chose them because I wanted to feature a rose and I've always liked this particular illustration.

Sometimes Donna treats us to excerpts from her own writing. My favourites when she does are her poetry and one poem for me has always stood out - it is called 'Give Me But a Rose'. I don't usually include links to a specific post in these awards but this week I am making an exception. The poem can be found at Poetry Refined

So a special rose as well as a Little Ray of Sunshine for Donna as the recipient of this weeks Sunbeam Award!

Past recipients of Sharon's Little Sunbeam Award:

Lucy Violet Vintage

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Sharon's Little Sunbeam Award - Week 4

Timing (as they say), is everything.

I decided this week that my little sunbeam would shine on Kylie at:

Lucy Violet Vintage

After last week's recipient (Garden of Daisies), Kylie is my longest standing blog friend. I stumbled across her blog early on by accident looking for something (I can't remember what now) and was instantly drawn into her inviting and interesting world. I love Kylie's sense of style and her warm Australian friendliness and enthusiasm.

Now for my reference to timing.

I had just decided to shine my little sunbeam on Kylie when a parcel arrived in the post from her. It was a present for my birthday, a lovely vintage book called 'Ballet' by Arnold Haskell published in 1959.

So this post gives me an opportunity to both thank Kylie for being such a great blog friend and for her sweet thoughtfulness in sending me such a lovely gift. It also gives me a chance to show off my new treasure - I've included the cover and one of my favourites photographs from inside.

Margot Fonteyn and Michael Somes in Giselle

Anya Linden in Les Sylphides

I do have a recollection of this book from my childhood. It is a long time since I last saw it though, so it is wonderful to have it in my collection.

In all the 'Sharon's Little Sunbeam' Awards I've been re-using pictures featured in earlier posts. This week is no exception, but the two images I've chosen were not selected at random. Both are from my Ladybird Books post. Kylie is a collector of vintage Ladybird Books and is hoping to find all the titles that were published. I thought this made these two images particularly appropriate! (I also think the first one of Little Jumping Joan is the best illustration for the sunbeam award that I have found so far.)

Past recipients of Sharon's Little Sunbeam Award:

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Sharon's Little Sunbeam Award - Week 3

When I first started my blog I initially felt as though I was functioning in a vacuum. I would put together my little posts, set them free, then watch as they floated out gently and silently into cyberspace. It was rather like self-consciously talking to myself!

Then Gayle popped up as my first follower. (For quite some time she was my only follower.) I started following her blog as well. I would add my small comments to the many others she received on her lovely posts. And despite the fact that she has hundreds of followers and many other blogs she could choose to look at, Gayle came to visit my blog each week, leaving a friendly message and comment in return.

As a big thank you to Gayle for her early kindness and encouragement, Sharon's Little Sunbeam Week 3 will shine on:

Garden of Daisies

Besides my personal reason's for recommending Gayle's beautiful and creative blog it is well worth visiting in its own right and I hope anyone who sees this post will pop in and say hello.

Past recipients of Sharon's Little Sunbeam Award:

A big thank you also for all the lovely comments and wishes left on my Birthday Thoughts post. I'm glad the other 'April girls' enjoyed the poem and could copy it for themselves.

All pictures shown here are the work of Ron Embleton (1930-1988) and were previously included in a post called Here be Dragons

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Sharon's Little Sunbeam Award - Week 2

Last week I introduced Sharon's Little Sunbeam Award

I was thrilled at the response and comments I received and that Diane from Always Crave Cute enjoyed being the first recipient.

Some of the comments mentioned copying the idea. If anyone else wants to introduce something similar I'd take it as a compliment. And after all (as I said in response) I 'borrowed' the original concept myself - and that is what I think blogging is all about - sharing great ideas!

A few of the replies I received to the question of whether I should notify the recipient thought it was a good idea so I will adopt that practice (although I don't want to labour the process).

I also thought it would be nice to include a short post every week introducing each blog and explaining why I chose it. My initial dilemma is how to pick the first few recipients as there are a number of people I hold in equal esteem and I'm finding it impossible to place them in any order!

However, a choice had to be made, and so Sharon's Little Sunbeam - Week 2 will shine on: