primitives Archives - Primitive Folk Art by Old World Primitives

Spooky Halloween Tree Primitive Doll

Meet my newest original design – a spooky primitive tree doll for Halloween or every day! When I was a little girl, my Mom would put up paper Halloween decorations in the kitchen of our 1771 farmhouse every year. One of them featured a creepy old house with a spooky tree behind it and trick-or-treaters approaching the door. I was so scared of that tree! Memories of that old decoration inspired me to create this doll.

primitive Halloween tree doll

This Halloween tree can be displayed standing propped up as a shelf sitter or as part of a primitive display, or hanging on a wall or door.

primitive Halloween tree

Antique Show Find – German Sheep

I found a new treasure to take home with me at the 26th annual Antiques in Long Valley show today – an 1890s German putz sheep. He had such a unique face, I couldn’t pass him up. It has more of a chalkware look than the typical composition face look.

1890s German antique putz sheep

Primitive Halloween Folk Art

Time got away from me this busy holiday season, and I never got a chance to post all of my newest designs for fall and Halloween before it was time to start working on orders for them. So now that I have already started working on Christmas versions of the two primitive dolls below, I figured I should finally post their Halloween versions first.

This is a reclining primitive Halloween cat doll, dressed in a black witch hat and a black cheesecloth scarf. Look for her in a Santa hat in my Etsy shop later this week.

And this is primitive Halloween moon wall decoration wearing a black witch hat. I envisioned him as a Halloween man in the moon, but some think he looks like an old crone, which I can see too. S/he will also be in my Etsy shop wearing a Santa hat later this week.

Primitive Cat Dolls

I have been working on a new series of primitive cat dolls this spring. Here is the herd, so far.

I am having a lot of fun with these cat dolls, so there will be more to come throughout the year – including Halloween cats and Christmas cats.

Roderick Cattingham Selects His Buttons

Roderick Cattingham is almost ready to meet his public – he just has to select the perfect antique shirt buttons to match his pants first.

primitive folk art cat doll

Mr. Cattingham decides to enlist the help of Frederick Bunworth, who is known for his impeccable taste. Mr. Bunworth helped pick out an outfit for Horatio Hopkins too, and Horatio has since hopped off to his new home.

primitive cat doll

Roderick will be all dressed and ready to present himself in the Old World Primitives Etsy shop tomorrow. Two new spun cotton Easter bunny ornaments are looking forward to his arrival.

Of Primitive Rabbits and Springy Things

Meet Frederick Bunworth.

Frederick is my newest design, a primitive folk art rabbit doll. He has a cloth body and a paper + chipboard head and neck. Frederick is demurely awaiting spring.

Frederick has joined the gaggle of spun cotton and chenille ornaments in my Old World Primitives Etsy shop.

spun cotton ornaments on a peg rack

More new designs are in the works this week!

Prudence, a New Primitive Doll

Prudence is the newest primitive doll in the Old World Primitives Etsy shop this week. She is a one-of-a-kind doll that I fully hand painted and dressed in a 19th century style dress that I made with tan calico fabric and antique lace trim. Her body is made of stuffed muslin, and her head is sculpted from Paperclay.

primitive doll

primitive folk art cloth and clay doll

I thought you might also enjoy a peek at what she looked like as a work in progress.

primitive doll work in progress

A New Primitive Doll Emerges

I have found my way back into doll land this week and I am pleased to introduce my newest creation, a new primitive doll named Leticia. She is a good witch made of cloth with a sculpted Paperclay face. She is entirely hand painted and antiqued. Her skirt is made of lightly stained olive calico fabric with a tan flannel waistband. She wears a matching tan flannel witch hat and has two tiny black seed bead buttons on her hand painted shirt. She is available in my Old World Primitives Etsy shop now.

primitive folk art cloth and clay doll

I have also been making some new spun cotton ornaments since my last post… more will be on the way soon, too. Below are my newest designs – the two cat ornaments are available, and the angel ornament is sold.

spun cotton ornament

And now I am off to work on balancing the time I spend making dolls and ornaments more equitably… and to get working on my Izannah Walker workshop doll! I have my enormous booklet of instructions all printed out, and, brushing off any feelings of intimidation, I am going to get started on my doll today. I will try not to let all of the ideas that I have for new creations distract me too much (paper dolls will be in the works soon…).

Spun Cotton Ornaments and a Cozy Kitty

Due to wonderfully encouraging customer response, I have been busily working on more spun cotton ornaments since my last post (as my doll parts still sit patiently waiting). Below are pictures of my latest spun cotton creations – all except the bunny holding the Easter basket sold before I got the chance to post them here (some traveling as far as South Korea… that was exciting!). If you see one that you like but missed, custom order inquiries are welcome.

spun cotton ornament

I had fun doing some shopping on Etsy last week as well. My little Trooper has been happily snuggled up in a cozy new cat bed that I bought for him from mimi0201.

Trooper in his cat bed

Trooper is the baby of the family, and he likes to have his very own bed in each room of the house. Until last week, the living room was the final room he was missing a bed in… and I knew that he needed one there when my husband set his empty backpack down on the rug, and Trooper snuggled up on it like it was a bed. He seems very pleased with the switch to his cushy, fleecy new spot.

And speaking of needing… or shall I say kneading… I also picked up this adorable card from Pet Scribbles for my hubby for Valentine’s Day. I absolutely love it, and her customer service was amazing!

Pet Scribbles handmade greeting card

A Primitive Doll Named Emily

I have managed to complete one of the work in progress dolls that I posted about last week, and get her added to my Old World Primitives Etsy shop yesterday. Her name is Emily, and she decided that she wanted to wear an outfit with a bit of a festive feel to it for the holidays. Here she is below, after her paint had dried, but before she was antiqued, getting ready to get dressed. Her skirt is made from reproduction mid 1800s fabric. primitive folk art cloth and clay doll

Here is Emily all completed, demurely posing for her photo.

primitive folk art cloth and clay doll

Her friends will be joining her soon… but for now it’s back to work on completing a few more orders first for me. Have a very Happy Thanksgiving!