Clinton News-Record, 1987-02-18, Page 34Arfax„,,b. 0,4
Her enthusiasm hasn't dwndIed 25 years
Page IC Showcase '37
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BY ANNE NAREJKO
With 25 years experience under her belt,
she's sewn just about every type of wed-
ding gown and bridesmaid dress in the
books. So by this time, one would think her
enthusiasm has dwindled somewhat. But
Muriel Elliott is bubbling with enthusiasm
when she discusses the many dresses she
has made to help make many a bride ra-
di.att on that special day.
Mrs. Elliott began sewing dresses for
weddings as a hobby but her hobby quickly
turned into a full. time job.
Her first job was at McDonald's Bridal
Boutique where she stayed for seven
years. After the owners sold the business,
she was hired by Dave Dunlop of Listowel
Textile where she was also employed for a
seven year period.
Mr. Dunlop sold the store and Mrs.
Elliott then began to sew through Mary's
Sewing Centre in Clinton. Presently, Mrs.
Elliott does all of her sewing out of her
home in Bluevale but acquires all of
material through Mary's and also gets
many customers through the Clinton shop.
People travel great distances to have a
wedding gown or their bridesmaids'
dresses made by the expert hands of Mrs
Elliott.
"People come from Owen Sound, Sarnia,
Hamilton, Toronto and Kitchener to have
their dresses made," said Mrs. Elliott.
She explained that she made a wedding
dress for a woman who was living in
Calgary. The bride-to-be was visiting
relatives in.Seaforth when she was told
about Mrs. Elliott's talents. The following
morning, she picked up the phone and ask -
fl
ed if Mrs. Elliott had time to fit her into
her busy schedule.
ABOUT 235 DRESSES A YEAR
For the past two years, Mrs. Elliott
estimates she has made 235 dresses each
year. Of this amount, 35 of the dresses
were wedding gowns and 200 were
bridesmaid dresses.
"They don't take a long time to make,
but sometimes I'll have 30 or 40 dresses
ahead of their's," explain Mrs. Elliott,
warning one must book her talents a fair
time ahead.
So far this year, she has put together 10
bridesmaids' dresses a week.
So what is Mrs. Elliott's favorite type of
dress to sew'
••All wedding gowns are beautiful and
each one is a challenge...but the more ex-
clusive they are, the more I enjoy it," she
explained.
Her interest in sewing wedding gowns
and dresses for the women in the wedding
party began when she was in high school.
Mrs. Elliott's talents and love for her work
grew so much that she doesn't even need a
pattern to construct a dress. She simply
takes.a look at a picture, which is given to
her by the bride, and works from.that.
When making the dresses from pictures,
Mrs. Elliott finds the bride likes to make a
few alterations. For example, she wants to
change the neckline a little and make the
sleeves a touch longer. If the wedding par-
ty were to buy the dress off the rack in a
store, these options would not be open to
them, however, Mrs. Elliott willingly
obliges.
Turn to page 14
128 Albert Street
CLINTON .18213871
By Appointment i)nI'
103 \ftam Street
EXETER 235-2310
Open kiIonday-Saturday 9.30 am -5 30 pm
Muriel Elliott has been sewing wedding gowns and bridesmaids' dresses for 25 years and
has two dresses es the d a same ao nd plans her enthusiasm
on continue sewig. Mrs. Elliott says ng for many years to he has never come. I Anne Naree-
jko photo)
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