Tuesday 28 February 2012

Gone Smocking!

On a recent trip to Saumur we noticed a quaint old shop selling a mixture of children's clothes, haberdashery, embroidery and collectable thimbles.

What caught my eye was the price of the little girl's smocked dresses. (The first one is 138 euros and the second 122 euros).

I've recently taken to doing a bit of smocking just for amusement and I've several pieces of fabric, smocked and ready to make up into something or other.. in fact, probably little girl's dresses...
 
After seeing these....




I think I might just show a little more respect to the work I've done:


And get it made up and on sale!

8 comments:

Jean said...

Beautiful work Elizabeth. You should definitely make them up into something special.

Susan said...

The prices don't seem too outrageous to me - go for it, I think you'll make a sale. Do you have an Etsy account or do you want to sell locally?

GaynorB said...

Lovely pieces of work Elizabeth. They could make beautiful Christening outfits. I think people are prepared to pay for such special occasions.

Colin and Elizabeth said...

Thanks, Jean. I've found some old patterns for little girls dresses so I'll use those to make up the smocked fabric.

Colin's mum gave me the lovely white fabric, which has a jacquard pattern in the weave. She has had it in a drawer for at least fifty years, so I think it's time it saw the light of day!

Colin and Elizabeth said...

Yes, Susan, I've started an Etsy account which I'll make "live" over the next few days. It's a chance to 'suck it and see' really. If I don't try, I'll never know. Perhaps in the better weather I'll get a stall at one of the brocantes locally.

By the way, it's thanks to you I've got onto Etsy. I'd never heard of it until you mentioned it in a comment a while back!

Colin and Elizabeth said...

Thank you Gaynor. You've had the same thoughts as me! I'm going to make them into christening gowns. I've found a pattern I can adapt so I'll let you know how it goes!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful smocking! My mum used to make dresses for children - she made some gorgeous things. I think people pay a high price because they know they're not for usual experiences. Mind you, I do think France has some very odd pricing!

About Paris said...

Hi Elizabeth, it really is beautiful. I think there is always a market for anything as unusual, and hand crafted. The 50 year old fabric just adds to the unique qualities. I am familiar with this shop in Saumur and have bought gifts on the odd occassion. At the very least, I like to browse. There is a similar shop in Loches. By the way we both loved the reflective images of Saumur.
Pauline C