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.

Anyone who follows my photostream knows that I collect beautiful and vintage pieces of haberdashery. I usually focus on Dewhurst’s Sylko spools, but I also have spools from many other manufacturers which have interesting and beautiful graphics on their heads. For this photograph I have a spool of Glista silk substitute machine twist from the 1930s and a spool of Cozilka machine twist from the 1920s. Some time 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 beautiful hand dyed pale blue pleated wool crêpe which I have used to accessorise my two spools and two lovely cobalt blue glass Art Deco buttons from the 1920s.

The theme for “Smile on Saturday” for the 17th of May is “ton sur ton”. “Ton sur ton” is a French expression that we can translate as “tone on tone”; that's when there are two (or more) assembled items of the same colour, but not the same shade (tint, hue). In this example, the spools and the buttons are all shades of blue, but the shades are darker than that of the pale blue crêpe background. I hope you like my choice of subject for this week’s theme, and that it makes you smile!

I could find very little about Glista Bright Machine Twist other than an advertisement from an English Du Barry patterns magazine from 1939. The advertisement says: “Be sure and sew with Glista, the best machine twist for woollens or cotton fabrics – strong and silky – works perfectly for machine or hand sewing. 100-yard reels – look for the name on the reels.” I know Glista Bright Machine Twist was produced in Britain, and I know it was sold through F. W. Woolworth & Co.

Cozilka was a brand produced by B. N. & H. Ltd. B. N. & H. Ltd. were Brough, Nicholson and Hall of Leek, Staffordshire. The company was founded in 1812 as a silk and artificial silk thread producer. They became famous throughout the textile world as very high quality silk fabric and thread manufacturers. Cozilka is probably either silk or artificial silk, and the name was created to be a imitation of Dewhurst's Sylko trade name.

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.

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

For all their wonderful range of bright colours, Dewhurt's also put our a fantastic array of more subtle shades too. This shade, I feel falls in between the two, and has the most delightful names: "Reseda". The name Reseda derives from the colour of the leaves of Reseda odorata, commonly known as mignonette.

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 three of my Dewhurst's Sylko Reseda reels of cotton which date from between 1938 and 1954. The three spools sit on some antique lace which is Reseda in colour. The spools are also accesorised by two clear glass buttons, a silver and Bakelite button where the Bakeline is dyed Reseda, a dainty Victorian double ended crochet hook made out of mother-of-pearl, a floral sterling silver thimble made by Henry Griffith and Sons in 1897, a French sterling silver étui with Art Nouveau patterns from 1912, and a beautiful German Art Deco half-doll accented with Reseda which I acquired recently from a curios and collectables shop.

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 Eighteenth Century outfit, a fan clutched to her breast and a high powdered wig. I imagine that she would have been made for a lady’s boudoir and was most likely the topper for a powder puff, as she is only two inches in height. 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.

The theme for “Smile on Saturday” for the 26th of April is “presented on a plate”, where the presentation of a plate and its contents are the main theme of the image, and the rule is that it can be anything except food. The other day, a dear friend gave me the sweetest little slipper pincushion as a gift, because they know that I collect vintage haberdashery, and it was that shoe pincushion that gave me the thought of presenting some of my sewing bits and pieces on a plate. Thus the slipper pincushion is presented with a Dewhurst’s Sylko Red salmon reel of cotton which date from between 1938 and 1954 from my private collection, as well as a spool of vintage embroidered ribbon. The plate they are presented on is a Paragon “Wallflower” patterned tea plate with a single Royal Warrant, indicating it comes from somewhere between 1920 and 1936. I felt with its pink and gold colourings, it was perfect to present these pieces from my vintage haberdashery collection. I do hope you like my subject for this week’s theme, and that it makes you smile!

The Paragon China Company was a British manufacturer of bone china from 1919 to 1960, based in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, previously known as the Star China Company, and more recently part of the Royal Doulton group. Paragon was noted for producing high quality teaware and tableware, and was granted royal warrants of appointment by several members of the British Royal Family.

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. Recently 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 accessorised with a Dewhurst's Radiant Blue reel of cotton which dates from between 1938 and 1954 and a matching smaller spool of blue cotton from J. P. Coats. Both spools match the fabric perfectly!

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.

Dahlia - isn't that a delightful name for this vibrant shade of magenta? For all their dizzying array of colours produced on the past, Dewhurst's also managed to provide a delightful array of wonderful names. Who could resist something, even a patch, stitched with Dewhurst's Sylko Dahlia cotton?

When it was my birthday six 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.

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 wonderfully creamy vintage lace from the 1930s comes from my own collection of antique notions, as does the French satin rose and the net flower in the background. The purple lace flower in the foreground was part of my Christmas gift from my dear friend. It was made and dyed in Latvia. I have accessorised them on a 1930s embroidered tablecloth with a Dewhurst's Sylko Dahlia 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 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.

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 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.

For all their wonderful range of bright colours, Dewhurt's also put out an interesting array of rather drab shades too, reflecting some of the more dour colours worn before the Second World War. However dour the colours might be, they are often given the most wonderful names, like this one, which has the most delightful name, "Leaf Mould".

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 one of my Dewhurst's Sylko Leaf Mould reels of cotton which date from between 1938 and 1954. The spool sits on some wonderful Victorian era floral embroidered trim in cream and copper coloured silk. It is accessorised by an Art Nouveau leather needle book with the gilt saying "a stitch in time, saves nine" embossed upon it, two packets of needles, 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, a sterling silver beehive thimble made by silversmith James Fenton and Company, 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.

The beehive thimble is sterling silver and was made by silversmith James Fenton and Company in Birmingham in 1902. 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.

Pearsall’s is and English company, with a long history, dating back to 1795 when James Pearsall founded the company in London. In 1816, they established a facility in Taunton, initially processing silk for the lace trade. Originally manufacturing silk cottons, they also made needles, and even fishing line silk! During the 1970s, the company shifted its focus to manufacturing medical devices, specifically suture material. This transition was facilitated by their core competencies of twisting, braiding, dyeing, and coating, which were well-suited for medical applications. Pearsalls Ltd (now Surgical Specialties Taunton, but trading as Pearsalls Ltd) still exists to this day.

Although Dewhurst's Sylko spools are the main focus of my collection of vintage cotton reels, I do also have some other brands that have pretty graphics on the spool heads, like this Victorian example. Spooled with vibrant red cotton, it features a label printed in gold. It's made by the Steamer Machine Silk Company, and has a Victorian packet steamer in its centre. Aside from being in Great Britain, which I picked up from the label, I can find no information about the Steamer Machine Silk Company.

I went fabric shopping a few days ago, back to 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 ravishing, heavily embroidered red oriental satin featuring a wavy pattern. The reverse of this fabric contains wonderful shades of green and gold. It seemed the perfect fabric to show off this wonderful and mysterious Steamer Machine Silk cotton spool.

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.

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.

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 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.

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. This time the bobbin, satin ribbon and vintage 1930s embroidered Art Deco floral ribbon were already mine. However, the pretty and rather funny Art Deco graphic of two birds carrying away a wee turtle is the top of a French button card featuring four blue Bakelite buttons, and that came from my friend at Christmas time. I have accessorised them on a 1930s embroidered doily with a Dewhurst's Sylko Bitter Lime green reel of cotton which dates from between 1938 and 1954 and a matching lime green reel from J. P. Coats.

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.

For all their wonderful range of bright and subtle colours, Dewhurt's also have a fantastic array of delightful names, like this reel of cotton which is called "Mid Gobelin". Gobelin blue is a dark, grey, orchid blue with a violet undertone.

When it was my birthday six 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.

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 wonderfully creamy vintage lace from the 1930s and the 1950s lace threded with Gobelin Blue come from my own collection of antique notions. As the name reminded me of goblins (little manikins of faerie lore), I decided to pair the reel of Gobelin Blue cotton with two treasures worthy of a goblin's collection, a buckle and a brooch studded with pretty paste diamonds that sparkle and wink in the light. The Dewhurst's Sylko Mid Gobelin Blue 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.

The theme for “Smile on Saturday” for the 27th of April is “double exposure with objects”. When it was my birthday six 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. Those wonderful gifts inspired me to create a series of "Embroider my World" images featuring my vintage bobbin collection. I decided to use two such images to create a double exposure. I chose one Dewhurst's Sylko Deep Slate Grey Blue reel of cotton which dates from between 1938 and 1954 and an Edwardian Anchor peach coloured cotton spool facing in the opposite direction. The cross over of the reels makes for an interesting focal point. In both cases, the original images featured a lace background, which has melded together quite nicely, I think. I hope you like my choice for today’s theme, and that it makes you smile.

When it was my birthday six 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. Those wonderful gifts are what has inspired me to create a series called "Embroider my World" which features images featuring my vintage bobbin collection www.flickr.com/photos/40262251@N03/albums/72177720314094967/.

The theme for "Looking Close on Friday" for the 14th of June is "spools of cotton ", so I have decided to use one intended for the series that I have yet to upload, for this week. In this case, the wonderful pieces of golden vintage lace from the 1920s and 1930s come from my own collection of antique notions, as do the 1950s French satin roses. I have accessorised them on a 1930s embroidered tablecloth with a Dewhurst's Sylko Dahlia reel of cotton which dates from between 1938 and 1954. For all their wonderful range of bright and subtle colours, Dewhurt's also have a fantastic array of delightful names, like this reel of cotton which is called "Sugar Cane". I hope you like my choice of this week’s theme, 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.

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.

For all their wonderful range of bright colours, Dewhurt's also put our a fantastic array of subtle shades too, and often with the most delightful names, like this extremely pale shade of creamy yellow, which has been blessed with the delightful name of "Straw".

When it was my birthday six 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.

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 wonderfully creamy vintage lace from the 1930s comes from my own collection of antique notions, as does the French wooden bobbin. The pretty crocheted daisies were amongst the gifts I was given at Christmas time, and they were made in Latvia. I have accessorised them on a 1930s embroidered tablecloth with a Dewhurst's Sylko Straw 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 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.

This then inspired me to create the current series of bobbins, of which this is the latest one. However this time the bobbin, antique lace and vintage 1930s embroidered Art Deco floral ribbon were already mine. I have accessorised them on a 1930s embroidered doily with a Dewhurst's Sylko Forget-Me-Not 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.

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.

The theme for "Looking Close on Friday" on the 5th of April is "pink on a white background", and I immediately thought of my bobbins of pink cotton in various shades. In this case, the wonderfully rich pink vintage grosgrain ribbon used in the image comes from my own collection of antique notions and dates from the early Twentieth Century. I have accessorised it on a 1930s white embroidered lace table runner with a selection of Dewhurst's Sylko reels of cotton in shades of Rose Pink, Pale Pink, Salmon Pink and Light Pink which date from between 1938 and 1954 and an Edwardian miniature reel of multicoloured pink cotton from Coats. I hope you like my choice for the theme, 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.

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.

“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.

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 yellow and pale orange embroidered daisies and some Estonian hand dyed lace, which I have set up on the back terrace against a wonderful burnt orange silk sari with gold appliqués, and accessorised with two spools: one Dewhurst's Sylko Bright Orange cotton which dates from the 1960s and one Anchor pale yellow cotton which is Edwardian.

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 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.

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 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 beautful Japanese quilted ribbon, embroidered with stylised chrysanthemums which I have accessorised with two spools: one Dewhurst's Sylko Sandalwood cotton which dates from between 1954 and 1958 and one unmarked bobbin of toffee coloured cotton which is Edwardian.

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 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 this pretty ribbon of lilac and white embroidered daisies, some lilac and lavender 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 a spool of Dewhurst's Sylko lavender cotton which dates from the 1960s.

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 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 this pretty ribbon of aqua and white embroidered daisies, and some hand crocheted flowers from Poland, which I have set up on the back terrace against one of my antique embroidered Art Deco doilies from the 1930s, and accessorised with a bobbin of Dewhurst's Sylko light blue cotton, which date from between 1954 and 1958.

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 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.

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 rich vintage grosgrain ribbons come from my own collection of antique ribbons. Both are French and are wound around their original labeled spools: the one in the midground even has its original paper layered between every layer of ribbon on the spool. Both spools are Edwardian. I have accessorised them on a 1930s lace tablecloth with a Dewhurst's Sylko Beech reel of cotton which dates from between 1938 and 1954. Shades of brown are not hues I am particularly enamoured with usually, however in this case I will make an exception.

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 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 this pretty ribbon of yellow and white embroidered daisies which I have set up on the back terrace with my garden as a backdrop against one of my antique embroidered Art Deco doilies from the 1930s, and accessorised with two spools of Dewhurst's Sylko lemon yellow cotton, which date from between 1954 and 1958.

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 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.

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 wonderfully delicate salmon pink vintage lace comes from my own collection of antique notions, and the beautifully embroidered ribbon from India with sequin embellishments comes from the same aforementioned friend, but was given to me as a gift by her several years ago. I have accessorised them on a 1930s embroidered doily with a Dewhurst's Sylko Red Salmon reel of cotton which dates from between 1938 and 1954 and an Edwardian miniature reel of Salmon Pink cotton from Coats.

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.

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.

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 wonderfully delicate vintage lace come from my own collection of antique notions, and the beautifully embroidered scalloped ribbon from India comes from the same aforementioned friend, but was given to me as a gift by her several years ago. I have accessorised them on a 1930s embroidered doily with two Dewhurst's Sylko Geranium coloured reels of cotton which date 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 my birthday six 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.

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 wonderfully embroidered olive green Victorian or early Edwardian ribbon adorned with sequin covered paisley patterns from the Edwardian era comes from my own collection of antique notions. I have accessorised it on a 1930s embroidered tablecloth with a Dewhurst's Sylko Olive 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 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 this pretty ribbon of yellow and rose pink embroidered daisies, some 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 with my garden as a backdrop against one of my antique embroidered Art Deco doilies from the 1930s, and accessorised with two spools: one Dewhurst's Sylko Fiesta Pink cotton which dates from the 1960s and one Anchor pale pink cotton which is Edwardian.

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 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 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 this pretty button decorated with the Willow Pattern, some beautiful embroidered and printed ribbons, an Edwardian French Blue buckle, some Estonian hand dyed lace including a butterfly, 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 two spools of Dewhurst's Sylko cotton, in French blue and pale blue which date from between 1954 and 1958.

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.

Still life

Yes, as you can see, "Bedford Drab" really was the name of a Dewhurst Sylko Cotton thread. Only the British could make drab sound so elegant!

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.

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 wonderfully delicate vintage laces from the 1930s comes from my own collection of antique notions. I have accessorised them on a 1930s embroidered tablecloth with a Dewhurst's Sylko Sand reel of cotton and a Bedford Drab reel of cotton which date 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.

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.

Yes, "Filbert" really is the name of this Dewhurst Sylko Cotton thread shade: quite possibly named for the hazelnut, which is also known as cobnuts or filberts according to species. Only the British could make a shade of brown sound so elegant!

When it was my birthday six 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.

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 wonderfully delicate chocolate brown vintage lace from the 1930s comes from my own collection of antique notions, as does the Filbert shaded satin ribbon. The brown and white fabric pompom and the vintage Bakelite light brown buttons from the 1930s came from a slow stitch kit I recently acquired from E-Bay. I have accessorised them on a 1930s embroidered tablecloth with a Dewhurst's Sylko Filbert 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 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.

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 wonderful vintage embroidered ribbon is one from India that I bought, so it comes from my own collection of antique notions. I have accessorised it on a 1930s lace tablecloth with a Dewhurst's Sylko Myrtle Green reel of cotton which dates from between 1938 and 1954, a small myrtle green metal étui made by Thiriez and Carter-Bresson and a pair of Edwardian silver sewing scissors.

An étui is a small ornamental case for holding needles, cosmetics, and other articles. In this case, the étui contains two small spools of thread (one white on display and one black), a brass tube that runs through the centre of the spools which is used to house needles, and its lid doubles as a thimble. This Thiriez and Carter-Bresson example is complete, and in excellent condition considering that it dates from the late Nineteenth or early Twentieth Century. Thiriez and Carter-Bresson was a textiles, clothing and sewing thread company established in Lille, in France. In 1961, it merged with the business Dollfus-Mieg et Compagnie (abbreviated as DMC), an Alsatian textile company.

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.

I'm not sure if she is meant to be a Duchess, but she looks like a painting of the Duchess of Devonshire. My collection of half dolls (also known as pincushion dolls or topper dolls) seems to be expanding. This particular doll is about 4¼" high, which makes her one of the largest. She dates from the 1920s and she appealed to me because I think she's been nicely painted.

To the side of the half doll is an antique sewing aid, which would have been attached to a belt. It dates from the 1900s and the Dewhurst's bobbin is probably from the same era. The smaller (Sylko) cotton reel is from the late 1930s-early 1950s. Everything is sitting on antique lace.

Taken with Lensbaby Velvet 56.