The Flickr Englishsewingcottonco Image Generatr

When it was my birthday two years 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.

Those wonderful gifts are what has inspired me to create this series of "Embroider my World" images featuring examples from my vintage bobbin collection. In this case I am using two of my Dewhurst's Sylko Flame reels of cotton which date from between 1938 and 1954. The spool sits on a vibrant orange silk Kurta from India which has been machine embroidered. The spools are accessorised by two dainty pieces of Latvian lace which came from one of those three tins of haberdashery that Christmas several years ago now.

The theme for for "Looking Close… on Friday" for Friday 16th of May is "the colour orange", and I could think of no better a subject than some of my cotton spools and another entry to my growing "Embroider my World" series. This makes for a bright image – one which I hope you will like, and I hope makes you smile!

A Kurta is a knee length tunic shirt with long sleeves and a buttoned placket. It is worn as a casual garment on its own or with sleeveless jackets, for formal occasions.

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.

When it was my birthday two years 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.

Those wonderful gifts are what has inspired me to create this series of "Embroider my World" images featuring my vintage bobbin collection. In this case I am using two of my Dewhurst's Sylko Light Pomegranate reels of cotton which date from between 1938 and 1954. The two spools sit on some vintage pale pink satin and are interwoven with some antique ribbon embroidred with pink three week clover leaves. The spools are also accesorised by a dusky pink satin rose and a beautiful German Art Deco half-doll.

The "half-doll" is a dainty porcelain or bisque figurine, fashionable in the early Twentieth Century with an upper body, head, arms, but no legs. These dolls were produced in the thousands at the height of their popularity by German factories such as Dressel and Kister, Heubach, Goebel and Kestner. Later they were produced in France, America and later still, in Japan. They commonly served as handles and toppers for fabric covers made for powder boxes on ladies’ dressing tables and small brushes, however they were also made for jewellery boxes, pincushions, tea cosies and other covers. In this case, my German half-doll has a bare torso and is holding a fan, so she would have been made for a lady’s boudoir and was most likely the topper for a jewellery box or powder bowl. She stands at one and three-quarter inches in height and has been hand painted. When I bought her, she was covered in a rather sticky layer of dust, probably accumulated over many years, however a lovely soak in a soapy bath and a soft toothbrush scrub quickly removed the grime and brought back her pale, gleaming beauty.

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.

When it was my birthday two years 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.

Those wonderful gifts are what has inspired me to create this series of "Embroider my World" images featuring my vintage bobbin collection. In this case I am using two of my Dewhurst's Sylko Dark Lilac reels of cotton which date from between 1938 and 1954. The two spools sit on some antique lace which has been embroidered with lilac and pink floral details. Although ecru now, the lace has probably changed colour from white due to age. The spools are also accesorised by some lilac coloured satin roses, a floral sterling silver thimble made by Henry Griffith and Sons in 1897, a pair of silver sewing scissors, an unusual German sterling silver pincushion which is narrow with a band of green velvet and features a cherub with pet doves tied with ribbons on either side, and a beautiful German Art Deco half-doll.

The "half-doll" is a dainty porcelain or bisque figurine, fashionable in the early Twentieth Century with an upper body, head, arms, but no legs. These dolls were produced in the thousands at the height of their popularity by German factories such as Dressel and Kister, Heubach, Goebel and Kestner. Later they were produced in France, America and later still, in Japan. They commonly served as handles and toppers for fabric covers made for powder boxes on ladies’ dressing tables and small brushes, however they were also made for jewellery boxes, pincushions, tea cosies and other covers. In this case, my German half-doll has romantic long blonde curls, but her hair is dressed with a fashionable contemporary (for the time) Art Deco style bandeau. I imagine that she would have been made for a lady’s boudoir and was most likely the topper for a powder bowl or even a powder puff. She has been hand painted.

The floral thimble is sterling silver and was made by silversmiths Henry Griffith and Sons in Birmingham in 1897. Henry Griffith and Sons commenced in 1850, was continued as Henry Griffith & Sons (until 1898) and later as Henry Griffith & Sons Ltd. They were well known for their manufacture of silver thimbles, and later for their silver and gold jewellery. They closed their doors in 1982. Thimble making was part of the Griffith family heritage. The father of Henry Griffith was a thimble maker and was put in charge of the thimbles departments at the beginning of his son's activity. The Griffiths became one of the leading producers of silver thimbles and were one of the only silversmiths who marked some of their thimbles with 'Sterling Silver' instead of having them hallmarked.

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.

When it was my birthday two years agp, 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.

Those wonderful gifts are what has inspired me to create this series of "Embroider my World" images featuring my vintage bobbin collection. In this case I am using three of my Dewhurst's Sylko Emerald Green reels of cotton which date from between 1938 and 1954. The three spools sit atop a beautiful complete boxed Victorian era étui from 1865. featuring sterling silver implements with mother-of-pearl handles and a sterling silver thimble which has been gilded and enamelled. The whole set sits neatly in its own emerald green velvet and satin lined box which is affixed with a fine brass clip.

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.

When it was my birthday two years agp, 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.

Those wonderful gifts are what has inspired me to create this series of "Embroider my World" images featuring my vintage bobbin collection. In this case I am using three of my Dewhurst's Sylko Lotus Blue reels of cotton: the larger of which, on the darker wooden spool with the black and gold label, dates from between 1909 and 1938, and the smaller two featuring the name as well as the shade number which date from between 1938 and 1954. The three spools sit atop some pale blue floral patterned lace and are accessorised by some vintage floral appliques, some vintage embroidered floral ribbon, an Art Deco glass button, a sterling silver thimble with an enamelled cap from 1930 and a beautiful German Art Deco half-doll with bobbed hair dressed in blue.

The "half-doll" is a dainty porcelain or bisque figurine, fashionable in the early Twentieth Century with an upper body, head, arms, but no legs. These dolls were produced in the thousands at the height of their popularity by German factories such as Dressel and Kister, Heubach, Goebel and Kestner. Later they were produced in France, America and later still, in Japan. They commonly served as handles and toppers for fabric covers made for powder boxes on ladies’ dressing tables and small brushes, however they were also made for jewellery boxes, pincushions, tea cosies and other covers. In this case, my German half-doll is decorated in fashionable contemporary (for the time) Art Deco style dress with an Eaton Crop hairdo. I imagine that she would have been made for a lady’s boudoir and was most likely the topper for a powder bowl or even a powder puff. She has been hand painted.

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.

“The tones of grey, pale turquoise and pink will prevail.” – Christian Dior (French fashion designer).

The theme for "Looking Close on Friday" for the 10th of January is "objects in pastel colours". When it was my birthday last year 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 last year. That has sent me down the rabbit hole of adding to and expanding my collection of vintage notions quite substantially. Thus when the theme was announced, I had no difficulty in finding an interesting assortment of items to create a pale pink still life as a submission for the theme. I hope you like my choice for this week’s theme and that it makes you smile!

This still life consists of an interesting assortment of items which include:

A half-doll still in situ in her original pincushion. The "half-doll" is a dainty porcelain or bisque figurine, fashionable in the early Twentieth Century with an upper body, head, arms, but no legs. These dolls were produced in the thousands at the height of their popularity by German factories such as Dressel and Kister, Heubach, Goebel and Kestner. Later they were produced in France, America and later still, in Japan. They commonly served as handles and toppers for fabric covers made for powder boxes on ladies’ dressing tables and small brushes, however they were also made for jewellery boxes, pincushions, tea cosies and other covers. In this case, my German half-doll is still attached to her original pincushion. She has been hand painted.

A small 1920s Art Deco Roger and Gallet “Bouquet Nouveau” face powder, made in Paris and sold through the most exclusive and fashionable department store Melbourne ever saw: George’s of Collins Street.

A pastel pink 1930s Art Deco Bakelite buckle.

Two spools of Sylko Pale Pink Salmon cotton and one spool of Sylko Orchid cotton, all dating from between 1938 and 1954. 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.

Two tiny three millimetre 1920s Art Deco shell glove buttons etched with stylised roses.

An Edwardian carved ivory handled button hook.

A 1940s fabric rose corsage.

When it was last my birthday, 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.

Those wonderful gifts are what has inspired me to create this series of "Embroider my World" images featuring my vintage bobbin collection. I went fabric shopping a few months ago at a specialist shop that has a particularly wonderful range of unusual fabrics that they sell by the quarter metre (just enough for my purposes). Amongst other pieces I bought this beautiful and heavily beaded orange organza, which matches my two spools of Dewhurst's Sylko Iced Orange perfectly! The reel of cotton dates from between 1938 and 1954.

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.

As well as having any number of delightful shades and colours, Dewhurst's Sylko have an equally wonderful range of names to accompany them. As I embarked on my "Embroider my World" project, I think I fell in love with the names of the Sylko colours as much as the colours themselves. This lovely shade of mid red is called "Chrysant Red", named after the common garden flower chrysanthemum: although there is nothing common about this beautiful shade.

When it was my birthday last year, 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.

Those wonderful gifts are what has inspired me to create this series of "Embroider my World" images featuring my vintage bobbin collection. In this case my Dewhurst's Sylko Chysant Red reel of cotton which dates from between 1938 and 1954 sits atop some pink and red floral appliqués. The spool is accessorised by some woven silk mid red ribbon and red satin roses, whilst in the background stands a sweet little half-doll with red hair, dressed in pink.

The "half-doll" is a dainty porcelain or bisque figurine, fashionable in the early Twentieth Century with an upper body, head, arms, but no legs. These dolls were produced in the thousands at the height of their popularity by German factories such as Dressel and Kister, Heubach, Goebel and Kestner. Later they were produced in France, America and later still, in Japan. They commonly served as handles and toppers for fabric covers made for powder boxes on ladies’ dressing tables and small brushes, however they were also made for jewellery boxes, pincushions, tea cosies and other covers. In this case, my German half-doll is has a coquettish look as she tilts the hat on her head. She is one of the smallest of my half-dolls, standing only one and a half inches in height, so I imagine that she would have been made for a lady’s boudoir and was most likely the topper for a small powder bowl or even a powder puff. She has been hand painted.

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.

As well as having any number of delightful shades and colours, Dewhurst's Sylko have an equally wonderful range of names to accompany them. As I embarked on my "Embroider my World" project, I think I fell in love with the names of the Sylko colours as much as the colours themselves. This lovely shade of dusky pink is called "Biskara", named after Biskra, the capital city of Biskra Province in Algeria.

When it was my birthday last year, 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.

Those wonderful gifts are what has inspired me to create this series of "Embroider my World" images featuring my vintage bobbin collection. In this case my Dewhurst's Sylko Biskara reel of cotton which dates from between 1938 and 1954 sits atop some creamy ecru lace which has gained its colour after more than one and half centuries of life, as it is from the 1850s. The spool is accessorised by two Victorian glass bead tassels, sparking in the morning light, and an Art Deco pearl and rhinestone appliqué.

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.

As well as having any number of delightful soft shades, Dewhurst's have a wonderful range of bright colours in their range of sewing cottons like this reel of very dark blue, which is almost, but not quite navy. It been blessed with the delightful name of "Dark Lido Blue", and is one of the rarer Sylko shades to find. Drawing inspiration from the famed Lido beach in Venice, this deep indigo blue filled with warm hues and lush purple undertones is a homage to the vibrant and enchanting colours found along the Lido beach's shores.

When it was last my birthday, 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.

Those wonderful gifts are what has inspired me to create this series of "Embroider my World" images featuring my vintage bobbin collection. A little while ago I went fabric shopping at a specialist shop that has a particularly wonderful range of unusual fabrics that they sell by the quarter metre (just enough for my purposes). Amongst other pieces I bought this brilliantly blue pleated wool crepe which I have seemed the perfect way to accessorise my Dewhurst's Sylko Dark Lido Blue reel of cotton which dates from between 1938 and 1954 and a slightly smaller spool of matching Dark Lido Blue cotton from a company called the Telegraph Machine Silk Company (of which I can find no trace). Both spools go so well with the fabric. I hope you agree.

The beehive thimble is sterling silver and was made by silversmith James Fenton and Company in Birmingham in 1905. James Fenton and Company was in operation between 1854 and 1956. They were well known for their manufacture of silver and gold thimbles, and later for their silver and enamel jewellery.

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.

Dewhurst's have a wonderful range of bright colours in their range of sewing cottons like this reel of very vibrant pink, which has been blessed with the delightful name of "Frivolous Pink".

When it was last my birthday, 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.

Those wonderful gifts are what has inspired me to create this series of "Embroider my World" images featuring my vintage bobbin collection. I happened to be at a garage sale of a former milliner and dressmaker last Sunday and came across this beautiful piece of oriental brocade. It seemed appropriate to use it as a backdrop to my Dewhurst's Sylko "Frivolous Pink" reel of cotton from my collection because it matched it so perfectly! The bobbin of Frivolous Pink dates from between 1938 and 1954.

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

“Sewing is as addictive as a drug, twice as expensive, with no rehab, legal and gets you hooked in an instant” – anonymous.

Well, I don’t know about sewing, but I know that collecting Sylko cotton spools is! What started for me as a collection of about a dozen brightly coloured spools has quickly escalated into a collection of several hundred in a multitude of colours (both bright and pastel), and is still growing! In spite of my best intentions of not letting it get out of hand, the number of spools that arrive on a nearly daily basis at the moment is really rather ridiculous even for me, and my partner despairs, as I pursue some of the rarer coloured spools! However I cannot help myself. I just adore all the wide and varying shades and their wonderful names!

The theme for "Looking Close on Friday" for the 13th of September is "multicoloured collection", and as you may well know, I am a collector of many things. This meant the hardest part of this theme for me was choosing a collection that was brightly coloured enough for this week! I ended up settling upon pieces from my vintage spool collection, choosing an array of brightly coloured cottons including “coral” “gay kingfisher” “yellow” “oriental poppy” and “radiant blue”. I hope you like my choice for the theme this week, and that it makes you smile!

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.

In 1802 James Coats set up a weaving business in Paisley. In 1826 he opened a cotton mill at Ferguslie to produce his own thread and, when he retired in 1830, his sons, James & Peter, took up the business under the name of J. & P. Coats. In 1952 J. & P. Coats and the Clark Thread Co. merged to become Coats & Clark's. Today, the business is known as the Coats Group.

The Anchor brand can trace its history back to 1866 when the Clark family adopted the Anchor brand for their embroidery threads manufactured in Paisley, Scotland. Embroidery threads came into being circa 1812 when supplies of silk became unobtainable in the UK due to a blockade by Napoleon. Two weavers, James and Patrick Clark, turned their attention to cotton and managed to produce yarn which was sufficiently fine, smooth and strong to be used instead of silk for weaving. Sewing thread was primarily silk or linen at the time and the Clark brothers developed their cotton yarn into the first cotton sewing thread.

When it was my birthday last year, 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. Those wonderful gifts have inspired me to create a series of still life images showcasing them along with spools of brightly coloured cottons from my vintage bobbin collection entitled “Embroider my World”. If you are interested, you can see the series here: www.flickr.com/photos/40262251@N03/albums/72177720314094967/

In this case, I have chosen two Dewhurst's Sylko Turkey Red Shade spools of cotton, which date from between 1938 and 1954. I have placed them on a 1930s red and black floral embroidered doily and accessorised them with some delicate ruched red satin ribbon and lacy red and white trim, both of which are Victorian pieces from my collection. When you look at black and white photographs of the Victorian era, you don’t imagine it to be such a colourful place, do you?

The shade of Turkey red comes from a dyeing method that was widely used to give cotton a distinctive bright red colour in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries. It was made using the root of the rubia (madder) plant, through a long and laborious process which originated in the historical Levant region, namely being developed in India and China. Turkey red was brought to Europe in the 1740s and in France was known as Rouge d'Andrinople.

The theme for "Looking Close on Friday" for the 6th of September is "two of a kind", and I thought this lovely pair of Dewhurst's Sylko Turkey Red Shade spools of cotton perfect for the theme this week. I hope you like my choice, and that it makes you smile!

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.

Dewhurst's have a wonderful range of bright colours in their range of sewing cottons like this reel of dark green, which has been blessed with the delightful name of "Hunters Green". The name wasn’t created by Dewhurst’s, but existed long before they were established as a business. Hunters green is a beautiful dusky tone of green that carries an undertone of yellow, giving it an earthy, woodland feel. The colour name was inspired by the Nineteenth Century camouflage worn by English hunters before olive drab took precedence in the Second World War.

When it was last my birthday, 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.

Those wonderful gifts are what has inspired me to create this series of "Embroider my World" images featuring my vintage bobbin collection. In this case, the beautiful Dewhurst's Sylko Hunters Green spool of cotton, which dates from between 1938 and 1954, is accessorised with a vintage embroidered ribbon from India that I bought. You will also notice another piece from my curios collection at the bottom of the image. It is the head of an Eighteenth Century French scratching stick. The stick itself is made of light bamboo, whilst the head, shaped like a hunting dog, is made of polished quartz with black jet eyes. It seems an appropriate accessory to accompany this spool of hunters green cotton: a hunter and his faithful hunting dog!

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.

When it was last my birthday, 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.

Those wonderful gifts are what has inspired me to create this series of "Embroider my World" images featuring my vintage bobbin collection. For something slightly different, in this case, my Dewhurst's Sylko Light Old Gold reel of cotton, which dates from between 1938 and 1954 and and a matching smaller spool of golden coloured cotton from J. P. Coats, have been accessorised with some pieces of Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century French ormolu. A bold golden yellow oriental satin embossed with cranes has been used as a backdrop.

Ormolu is a gold-coloured alloy of copper, zinc, and tin used in decorating furniture and making ornaments. The term originally referred to a process in which powdered gold was mixed with mercury and used to gild metal, a technique that was banned in the Nineteenth Century on account of its toxicity.

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.

In 1802 James Coats set up a weaving business in Paisley. In 1826 he opened a cotton mill at Ferguslie to produce his own thread and, when he retired in 1830, his sons, James & Peter, took up the business under the name of J. & P. Coats. In 1952 J. & P. Coats and the Clark Thread Co. merged to become Coats & Clark's. Today, the business is known as the Coats Group.

Dewhurst's have a wonderful range of bright colours in their range of sewing cottons like this reel of vibrant pink, which has been blessed with the delightful name of "Heliotrope". The colour Heliotrope, is a light purple with an overlay of magenta named after the Heliotropium flower. The color heliotrope is the vivid complement to softer hues of purple inspired by flowers, like orchid, lavender, and lilac. The magenta influence in heliotrope color is what gives it its vivacity.

When it was last my birthday, 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.

Those wonderful gifts are what has inspired me to create this series of "Embroider my World" images featuring my vintage bobbin collection. I happened to be out antiques and curio shopping with that same friend a few weeks ago when I came across some beautiful Heliotrope coloured vintage lace appliqués of roses and a tiny 1920s German half-doll wearing a Heliotrope coloured blouse. It seemed appropriate to use these items together with a Dewhurst's Sylko "Heliotrope" reel of cotton from my collection. It dates from between 1938 and 1954.

The "half-doll" is a dainty porcelain or bisque figurine, fashionable in the early Twentieth Century with an upper body, head, arms, but no legs. These dolls were produced in the thousands at the height of their popularity by German factories such as Dressel and Kister, Heubach, Goebel and Kestner. Later they were produced in France, America and later still, in Japan. They commonly served as handles and toppers for fabric covers made for powder boxes on ladies’ dressing tables and small brushes, however they were also made for jewellery boxes, pincushions, tea cosies and other covers. In this case, my German half-doll is decorated in fashionable contemporary (for the time) Art Deco style dress with an Eaton Crop hairdo. She is the smallest of my half-dolls, standing only one and a half inches in height, so I imagine that she would have been made for a lady’s boudoir and was most likely the topper for a small powder bowl or even a powder puff. She has been hand painted.

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.

For all their wonderful range of bright colours, Dewhurt's also put our a fantastic array of more subtle shades too. Now, if you know me well, you will know that I am no great fan of the colour brown, however with the most delightful name of "Mid Seal Brown", this rather rare bobbin's shade is far more palatable.

When it was last my birthday, 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.

Those wonderful gifts are what has inspired me to create this series of "Embroider my World" images featuring my vintage bobbin collection. Being no great fan of brown as a colour, I find when paired with other shades, it can look more appealing. In this case in have offset the brown with a delicate shade of green by way of a vintage embroidered ribbon from India that I bought. It comes from my own collection of antique notions along with the two wonderful Edwardian brown leather buttons and the smaller 1930s brown Bakelite one. In their midst sits a rare and unpierced Dewhurst's Sylko "Mid Seal Brown" reel of cotton which dates from between 1938 and 1954.

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.

When it was last my birthday, 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.

Those wonderful gifts are what has inspired me to create this series of "Embroider my World" images featuring my vintage bobbin collection. In this case, the beautifully delicate buttery yellow lace and the antique yellow grosgrain ribbon come from my vintage notions collection. I have accessorised them on a 1930s embroidered doily with an Edwardian Anchor spool of yellow thread, and a Dewhurst's Sylko mid yellow reel of cotton, which dates from between 1938 and 1954. In addition I am featuring my yellow painted German made half-doll, who is a recent addition to my panoply of interesting curios.

The "half-doll" is a dainty porcelain or bisque figurine, fashionable in the early Twentieth Century with an upper body, head, arms, but no legs. These dolls were produced in the thousands at the height of their popularity by German factories such as Dressel and Kister, Heubach, Goebel and Kestner. Later they were produced in France, America and later still, in Japan. They commonly served as handles and toppers for fabric covers made for powder boxes on ladies’ dressing tables and small brushes, however they were also made for jewellery boxes, pincushions, tea cosies and other covers. In this case, my German half-doll is decorated in Eighteenth Century style dress, so she would have been made for a lady’s boudoir and was most likely the topper for a powder bowl. She stands at two inches in height and has been hand painted.

The Anchor brand can trace its history back to 1866 when the Clark family adopted the Anchor brand for their embroidery threads manufactured in Paisley, Scotland. Embroidery threads came into being circa 1812 when supplies of silk became unobtainable in the UK due to a blockade by Napoleon. Two weavers, James and Patrick Clark, turned their attention to cotton and managed to produce yarn which was sufficiently fine, smooth and strong to be used instead of silk for weaving. Sewing thread was primarily silk or linen at the time and the Clark brothers developed their cotton yarn into the first cotton sewing thread.

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.

When it was last my birthday, 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.

Those wonderful gifts are what has inspired me to create this series of "Embroider my World" images featuring my vintage bobbin collection. I went fabric shopping a few months ago at a specialist shop that has a particularly wonderful range of unusual fabrics that they sell by the quarter metre (just enough for my purposes). Amongst other pieces I bought this beautiful greysh blue pleated wool crepe which I have accessorised with a Dewhurst's Mid Slate Grey reel of cotton which dates from between 1938 and 1954. The pleats in the fabric and they way it fell rather reminded me of the ocean on a stormy day, and thus the inspiration for the name of this image.

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.

When it was my birthday last year, 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.

Those wonderful gifts are what has inspired me to create this series of "Embroider my World" images featuring my vintage bobbin collection. In this case, the beautifully embroidered floral ribbon with sequin detailing was acquired from an up-market design shop, whilst the large wooden droplets wound in beautiful two-tone silk cord are taken from an antique Victorian curtain. I have accessorised it on a 1930s embroidered doily with a Dewhurst's Sylko Solent Blue reel of cotton, which dates from between 1938 and 1954.

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.