Interesting effect. It looks like they took something like a ball bearing and sewed it into the fabric. As for the fabric, polyester charmeuse might work. Or a polished cotton.

You can buy fabric (by the yard) that already has this kind of buttons design. I've seen it in silk, and also faux silk.

This is what it looks like in silk.

http://www.hyenaproductions.com/button_silk_dupioni.aspx

and in faux-silk

http://www.hyenaproductions.com/button-taffeta.aspx

The price quoted here is a bit high. I remembered seeing it at a lot less before.
HTH

Wow, that is pretty... one thought I had was to somewhat duplicate the look with covered buttons. They are easy to do, and a covered button kit is very inexpensive at Joann's or a similar place. You could play around with it anyway and see what you think. Are you trying to make a duvet or just a cover?

EASY but tedious! Take your yardage and mark where you want the buttons. Make a small circle of gathering stitches at the mark and gather it about half way. Then firmly pack it with batting and draw up the gathers as tight as you can. then make the comforter or curtains.

EASIER - Sew buttons onto a plain, extra-puffy comforter, sewing through the entire thickness, as if you were tufting a quilt.

Thank you, it's nice to know what to call it -- "buttoned silk" brought up lots of hits. The taffeta might be too crispy, like hey, i think i'll go to sleep while wearing a bridesmaid's dress every night ;)
I would like to make a comforter, I'll check into the polished cotton and the polyester charmeuse. I have quilted and done needlework some, so I'm not above sewing and stuffing all the little circles. (sounds a lot like a yo-yo quilt pillow shams i once made for a friend)
i like the gathered like a star look more than i like the actual buttons, so i'm don't think sewing buttons on would give me the look that i want.
thank you so much for the help!

Target has a similar one on sale right now:

Here is a link that might be useful: Target comforter

Zgallerie has something similar -- and a lot cheaper. I saw it at the store today -- they come in different colors. The white one is cotton, but they also have shiny ones (polyester charmeuse).

Here is a link that might be useful: zgallerie sophia bedding

wow! thank you! the target one in slate grey is just $99! and includes two shams. i also like the zgallerie one in platinum and also really like the one in white!

i am planning on ordering a wrought iron bed, and it's crazy to me to spend close to as much on the comforter as on the bed :) we are in the process of buying a house and if the structural inspection goes well on tuesday then i shall soon have a house and a bed and a comforter all in one swoop!! (this would be nice since we're currently crammed into a 2 bedroom apartment and full bed while transitioning)

thank you all!

This one has buttons instead of the balls but it's machine washable and even comes with shams and bedskirt....

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.target.com/Home-Magic-Kissing-Pleat-Comforter/dp/B001L72ZMW/ref=sc_ri_3

LOL, I'm right with you kiki! I fell in LOVE with that comforter, so decided to make it myself. Wow, was it ever WORK! I bought my fabric from fashionfabricsclub, after getting lots of samples. It's a washable silk charmeuse. To make the tufts, I just stitched a circle, reinforcing with felt, then stuffing with a little round tuft I got from the craft store, cinched the circle, then sewed around it like crazy from the backside. The effect is beautiful, but I'd never in a million years do it again. That silk charmeuse is terrible to work with - 17 yards of stretch and slink = nightmare to cut!

Here's a picture of the finished comforter. That quilt is also from GH, in Copper. It washes wonderfully!

{{gwi:1540625}}
notice I edited out the treadmill in the picture. ;-)

I should also mention that I made it in a duvet style, so I could wash it at home....

jojogirl11.....EXCELLENT!!! That turned out like the original! GOOD JOB!!! I'd "never" seen this exact type of smocking or button tufting. The one from Target is an exaggerated version, but the exaggeration makes a bigger statement! I like jojogirls duvet version.

Not only the two shams ...You also get the 3 decorative pillows and the bedskirt...no to mention free shipping....

forboys - thank you for posting that one too - it is a great deal, and i like the steel blue and hte white very much but they don't make it in a large enough size - they say the queen is skimpy and there is no king size but i do appreciate the suggestion!

jojo - you are me! except you finish projects! which are lovely, not just creative&odd like mine -
and the editing out of the treadmill makes me laugh - there's a blur remaining like *jojo has dashed from the scene, leaving a whoosh of displaced air!*
i now covet both the GH comforter and your comforter and i really like your room!

i am optimistic now that i can either buy or make something instead of just moping over a catalog
thanks all!

Sigh. If you have little kids, you might considering waiting just a while on a silk comforter. My 3 year old surreptitiously took scissors to the one I made (above), creating a big snowflake out of it. :-( waaaaaaahhhhh

Noooooooooooooooh! That is tragic! And it was so much work too! Gotta love the little guys and their 'creativity'!

Oh no!!!!!
"snowflake" sounds pretty irreparable?

In a guest room with twin beds, my cousin once cut a circle out of the bedspread. His sister said "AAAAAHH you are going to get in sooooo much trouble!" So, he carefully cut a circle out of the second bedspread to conceal the hole in the first!!