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Section Two Ancient Art of Smocking Being Kept Alive by Local Woman L' P. k' w > r * * ' '-aV iv ;< y ' ; -'** ^ * .V- ,x. Y A> vf 1 >, -Y f : >*V / J "t. y ;/ y, / s ' •' - •« X . . .. ; - '■: ■ " /">. *7VV '^V ' • /.' ':. ,- ; > . T> ■ :'<■■ "K 2 " -Va - ; y YM*' W¥^ ,A l&CVj; A.V i\S / .. 1-. The close-up above shows the gathered material and smocking. u embroidery work design . v y constituting The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, July 20,1983 11 CLOCA Warns Residents Their Gardens Encroach On Authority Property Residents with land adjacent adjacent to the Bowmanville Creek could be asked to stop using the valley as part of their gardens, members of council were told Monday. Monday. Newcastle Mayor Garnet Rickard gave councillors a letter from the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority Authority which stated that 20 homeowners on the west side of the valley are being asked to refrain from using CLOCA property. The residents would be asked not to plant gardens on CLOCA property next year, and in addition they would be asked to remove fences and sheds from the Authority's property. The properties in question are on Cole, Lawrence, Little and Strike Avenues. The lands now controlled by CLOCA were previously owned by the Town of Newcastle. Newcastle. They were given to the conservation authority by the municipality so that the Bowmanville Creek Valley conservation area could be developed. Commenting on the letter received by Mayor Rickard from CLOCA, Councillor Ann Cowman said the Authority's Authority's action was "heavy handed". She said she would prefer to see CLOCA lease the lands on the edge of the valley back to property property owners for a small fee. Councillor Marie Hubbard, Hubbard, a representative of the Town of Newcastle on the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority, said she believes the action being taken has been initiated initiated by staff and does not represent a decision of the full Authority. Councillor Hubbard promised to look into the matter and to report backto council. The Canadian Statesman Advertising Deadlines Display • Tues. 4:00 p.m. Classified- Tues. 12:00 noon V.. * Helen Francis is a member of a dwindling breed of women who are keeping the art of smocking alive. A handicraft which originated in early England, smocking is a hobby Helen has been pursuing for more than 30 years. She sells many of the items she smocks at her upstairs tailoring shop at the corners of Church and Silver Streets. SPECIAL r "so: ALL TV SERVICE CALLS WITH THISAD ONLY 12 FÂLCONTV 426 Simcoe St. S. 723-0011 1 Guarantee on all parts and service r The ' 'gathering' ' machine in the photo above has been a boon to smocking enthusiasts. It gathers the material automatically and cuts out much of the painstaking work associated with the original art. "Gathering" machines have only become more accessible to consumers in the past few years. > BY DONNA FAIREY - The art of smocking is a .handcraft talent which has ^suffered a drastic decline C since the days in early England when it was at the •peak of its popularity. ' ' ig, a decorative candlelight. Next, they applied a decorative smocking before stitching the piece of utilitarian wearing apparel together. The early designs often depicted scenes from nature like leaves, flowers, animals, and butter churns. in Smocking, -needlework for holding cloth Peasant smocks varied " gathers in place,.was original- color according to district, ly a peasant craft whic on- ,;ginat"ed in England. During ■'the early 1700s there was ! scarcely an English peasant ; who didn't possess a smocked 4 shirt or shift. v Peasant women traditional- - ly grew flax, processed it into linen and cut out garments by- The practice of smocking has survived for hundreds of years although the art has been pursued with less and less enthusiasm each decade. Every so often an interest in smocking enjoys a minor upsurge upsurge but the nature of the rise is relatively insignificant. There is a small group, nonetheless, nonetheless, who strive to keep the art alive today. One of them is Helen Francis of Helen's Tailor Shop, located at the corners of Church and Silver Streets. Helen developed an interest in smocking in the late 1940s and took a'series of lessons in order to master the technique involved. For more than 30 years she has been turning out a variety of smocked garments garments which she has recently begun retailing at her second storey tailor shop. To the inexperienced, smocking appears to - be a SIDEWALK SALE 50% OFF complicated process. However, However, Helen maintains it is really one of the simplest forms of neçdlecraft once the rudimentary rules of preparation preparation are understood. Without interruptions, Helen claims she can whip up a smocked dress in a single day. However, she concedes that a relatively new "gathering" "gathering" machine has been a boon to the art, drastically reducing the amount of time once needed to complete a garment. The "gathering" machine, which has become more readily available to the consumer consumer in the past few years, pleats material in a single process. All that remains aftef gathering is the decorative application of the embroidery thread pattern. The "gathering" "gathering" machine, in actuality, replaces the old "dot" system whereby the pleating was done by hand. Using the original original "dot" system, Helen says it would not be possible to complete a smocked garment in less than three days. She contends that smocking is a craft which is very exacting exacting and requires a good deal of concentration. Despite this admission, Helen says that smocking is her leisure time hobby even though she sells the finished product in her tailoring shop. ■ If the demand became sufficient, sufficient, Helen says she would be keen to start a smocking instruction instruction , group. People frequently frequently admire the beauty of the smocked items in her shop, she explained, but never seem to have the time to learn how to do it themselves. Helen says she is aware of few women in the area who know how to smock and of the smattering who do) the large majority are middle age women who have revived the ability. The opportunities for smocking applications are endless, claims Helen. The art can be applied to blouses, children's dresses, aprons, pillow covers, baby clothing and indeed just about any material item. It's unlikely after all these years that the craft will die out altogether. Smocking, like a number of heritage arts, will continue to be preserved by a few like Helen Francis. The Canadian Statesman Advertising Deadlines Display - Tues. 4:00 p.m., Classified • Tues. 12:00 noon Wool -- Glassware and Crystal Leather Goods Stationery Items and Much, Much More! 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