Primitive Folk Art Doll

I have always been attracted to anything "Folksie" and enjoy doing punch needle art, making dolls - including Ithose weird little Primitive Folk Art Dolls. Although I have heard some people comment that they are ugly, I like their unique little faces and funny bodies! Primitive Folk Art style is a very characteristic art form, usually having a rough, simple look to them that suggests a lack of formal artistic training.

- Sharon Calverley

This art form dates from early American period and you will often find the following themes: angels, crows, dolls and rag dolls, pineapples (which mean welcome and good luck), saltbox houses, sheep and willow trees. Early cloth doll bodies were homemade with scraps of fabric from clothes that could no longer be worn. Nothing was thrown out or wasted back then! Most dolls were constructed with a front and a back which included the legs - the arms were usually attached separately. These dolls were dressed depicting the locality of the maker (e.g. Amish). Some dolls had features, some didn't, some were embellished with embroidery and some not. It all depended on what the doll maker had on hand. Dolls would be stuffed with other materials i.e. sawdust, straw, or cotton. When looking at these dolls I like to think of a mom who has gathered together whatever she has on hand to make a little child happy. I don't think it mattered to the child what the doll looked like - it was theirs! Our doll is going to be primitive but pretty - I don't like making scary dolls for children!

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