
When I joined Flickr, it was so I could enter a photographic competition. I never imagined, fifteen years later that I would have so many followers, have shared so many images, or have made some of the best friends I have (even ones whom I have never physically met but have connected with emotionally and spiritually). Thanks to Flickr, and the exposure it has given my work, my images have appeared in books, journals and magazines around the world, I appear on numerous websites, and I have three postage stamps all featuring my images. The world of social media can be ruthless, yet here on Flickr, I have found a kind, friendly and receptive community of like minded people ready to embrace other members. I have much to be grateful about, thanks to Flickr.
So, happy twentieth birthday, Flickr! Thank you for everything you are, and all that you do. I am paying tribute to this wonderful platform by using the Flickr livery of bright blue and hot pink in a still life using my latest obsession, cotton spools.
When it was my birthday a few months ago, a very dear friend who enjoys photography as much as I do, and knows that I collect beautiful and vintage pieces, gave me a wonderful selection of antique ribbons, buttons, buckles, lace and other fine notions. She also gave me three follow up tins of similar delightful gifts for Christmas.
Amongst the gifts was a pretty ribbon of vibrant blue and white embroidered daisies, some blue, magenta and pink crocheted daisies from Poland, some Estonian hand dyed lace and some tiny segments of crochet, all of which I have set up on the back terrace against one of my antique embroidered Art Deco doilies from the 1930s, and accessorised with some peacock blue silver and enamel buttons from Birmingham, hallmarked 1910, some tiny Japanese cloisonné vest buttons from the 1880s, some pink rose buttons from the 1960s, a Victorian spool of W. and J. Knox peacock blue linen thread and a spool of Dewhurst's Sylko Rose Pink cotton which dates from between 1938 and 1954.
W. and J. Knox Ltd was first established over two centuries ago when the Knox family set up a small textile mill in Kilbirnie to spin the locally-grown flax fibre and to manufacture linen thread. It was first registered as a company in 1778 then subsequently named W. and J. Knox in the 1800s by the sons of the founder. The Knox family was involved with the company for the first 200 years, with ownership passing through the generations, and agents being set up all over the world. Hearsay places an agent in New Zealand only ten years after Captain Cook’s discovery, and written records show trade agreements in place in the early 1800s in Canada. Cosalt plc purchased the company from Linndustries in the 1970s, with ownership passing to the local management team in 2004, following an MBO. Two centuries after opening, Knox is still based in the same Ayrshire town, and is now owned by the local management team, following an MBO from Cosalt plc in 2004.
Belle Vue Mill, commonly known as Dewhurst’s, was built by Thomas Dewhurst in 1828. It opened in 1829 as John Dewhurst & Sons and was one of Skipton’s largest spinning and weaving mills. The mill’s position next to the Leeds Liverpool Canal meant that raw cotton could be shipped in by boats from Liverpool. Finished goods would then be sent back the same way ready for distribution. Coal to power the machine’s steam engines was also delivered by barge. In 1897 Dewhurst’s was bought by the English Sewing Cotton Co. It continued to produce Sylko, one of the mill’s most famous products. It was produced in over 500 colours and sold throughout the world. Sylko cottons are still available at haberdashers today.