Monday, August 28, 2006

History of the Feedsack By: Sherrie Nordgren


Ever wonder where in the world Feedsacks came about, I have wondered ,What is the fascination with feedsacks, this once lowly regarded coarse, homespun textile called chicken linen -- nostalgia for times gone by? a relic of America’s agriculture progress? a piece of American folk history? a part of childhood? something for a colorful display or quilting?
so began my quest of researching the roots of the "Feedsack" It is a very intresting journey!

The sack which was and is widely used for many things, It is the feedsack that adds so much yesteryear to our prim , Folk Art dolls,
The feedsack began in the early 1800's,
In the 1800's our goods such as food staples, grain, seed, and animal feed were packed for transportation and storage in tins, boxes, and wooden barrels. This proved to be a waste and hazzard to the farmer/importer.Storage such as tin would rust and the boxes and barrels leaked and were damaged very easily, Plus they were so bulky, heavy ,which made it difficult for transport.
Manufacturers were trying to find another method, They thought about cloth bags, But hand sewn seams could not hold up in heavy use.
It wasn't until 1846 with the birth of the new invention of the "stitching machine" (Sewing machine)The manufacturers then considered cloth bags of homespun linen ,which the stitching machine now made it possible to sew double locking seams strong enough to hold the contents of a bag of goods.Feedbacks were initially made of heavy canvas,
System was invented by:
Which the farmer used to obtain flour, sugar, meal, grain, salt and feed from the mills. They were reusable, with the farmer bringing an empty sack stamped with his mark or brand to the mill to be filled. This changed when the North East mills began weaving inexpensive cotton fabric in the late 1800's. Feedsacks (or feedbags) were initially printed on plain white cloth and in sizes that corresponded to barrel sizes. For example, a one barrel bag held 196 pounds of flour. A 1/8 barrel bag only held 24 pounds. The brand name of the flour was simply printed on the side of the bag.

Part 2 to come
Hope your enjoying the history of Feedsacks
Have a Great Day
Sherrie

SympleTymes to PrimitiveRose Please Read

IMPORTANT!!!!!!
I had to close my SympleTymes ebay account..some one hacked into my ebay,
what a huge mess this was this person hacked into my ebay acct and then set up
over 100 auctions for computer ect ...
I have had a second account with ebay using my original business name Primitive Rose....Sad thing is I will lose all my feed backs, after 8 years!
I have had to change all my yahoo email pass words..and paypal ect...
Also had to change all my ID'S from SympleTymes to PrimitiveRose
including my own web site and emails,
BUT my husband and I both feel more secure closing SympleTymes
I have had a second account with ebay using my original business name
Primitive Rose....Sad thing is I will lose all my feed backs, after 8 years!
I am the original PrimitiveRose, I have had my name since 1995...
My New Ebay me page is
http://members.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=primitiverose

Please up date your info about me, Thank You so very much!
God's Blessings to you
Sherrie

Monday, August 21, 2006

Fall Florida Style

My favorite season is Fall...I LOVE the FALL....Florida doesn't get all the beautiful fall colors, Or Colorful leaves ,But mid September we do get a break in our hot temperatures and a noticeable nip in the mornings and evenings, Our temps go from 90's to 80's and the humidity is lower also. BUT also September--is the most active month for hurricanes to occur.

What do we do for "Fall" You ask!
We CREATE,! Starting in July right after the 4th, I really get creative , I buy E-Patterns from several of my Fav Designers , Just to name a few! rkcreations, sweetmeadowsfarm,
soft-in-the-head, dirtycrowinn, lowellcountrydesigns , crabby_gabby_dolls, sassafrashillprimitives
The dollar store has all their fall decorations out, I go buy oodles of their Fall Color silk leaves that come like in long strips, I then add Tiny White lights all through them, Then use them on our Fire Place mantel, As center piece on the Dining room table, Also as a whimsical display on our kitchen Bar counter top. On And On I just accent here n there. I create Fall and Halloween and Thanksgiving Vignettes,

Sewing! I sew Vignettes to place inside the Fall leaves and lights I have made and am making lots yet Pumpkins, with Mice, Whimsical Pumpkin Dolls, Bats, Small Witches Hats, and Brooms, Oodles of bright fun colors purple, Stars, Candy Corn, Raggedys dressed for trick or treatings,

After Halloween we put away the Halloween Vignettes away until next year, But still love and enjoy our FALL Vignettes through Thanksgiving,
I create Thanksgiving dolls.. Pilgrims,.. Stichery's of Thanksgiving of long ago and Today,,
Mice and Turkeys ect...
I also use the Fall Color silk leaves with the lights on our front porch and back porch
I use straw, Bales of Hay for the front porch,
I will take lots of pictures to share with you all, I should have every thing done by the end of next week! I hope this gives you some great idea's for your Fall Creations!!

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Fall is Coming!!!



Fall is Coming!!! I have been bitten by the Ole' Fall Bug! I can't wait for the temps to become cooler, (Well at least cool for Florida)
I have created my first Fall Doll,

Her name is Auburn... about 15 inches tall,I created her from

a Sweet Meadows Farm pattern, Auburn has a wonderful round head, Hand drawn face and her stripes on her legs and shoes, with acrylics and sealed, I used roven for her hair which is hand felted on to her head As with most Prim dolls her beautiful hair is around her face only, Not a full head of hair, Auburn's apron is hand drawn by me ,I placed a shinny new safety pin on her apron, I saw this design on a vintage Halloween post card ,Auburn's dress I did tweak , I made it very full, It has a black back ground with golden stars and moons... Her pantaloons are orange and black tiny check,..I am working on the cutest cat and hat for Auburn, to add a bit of whimsy to her, also charging my camera batteries, will take better pictures of her...

Friday, August 11, 2006

I love learning about all the historical info that comes from searching in doll books.
If you want to learn and grow in doll making , it is important to have these books
I am a dollmaker / doll artist, As I continue to make my dolls , I feel I'm beginning to under stand a bit more of the Why's.. How Comes,.They way yesteryear doll makers did things!
.. A lot of dollmakers influence my work through online groups and BOOKS... It seems my dolls are always changing, Which is a good thing
The above picture is a rare doll called "Presbyterian Dolls"
According to Linda Edward:
(Cloth Dolls From Ancient to Modern A Collectors by Linda Edward)
According to Linda Edward: Description:
The First Presbyterian Church of Bucyrus, Ohio, started making rag dolls in 1885 as a fund raiser. These Dolls measure about 17 inches and have hand painted faces. Their bodies are made of unbleched muslin which is stuffed with cotton and they are jointed at the hips and shoulders. The mitten shaped hands have fingers indicated by stitching. Their feet are stub shaped. The dolsl and their original clothing, consisting of an ankle length dress and prarie bonnet, are all hand sewn.
HOW THESE BEAUTIFUL RAG DOLLS JOURNEY BEGAN By: Sherrie Nordgren
The Bucyrus, Ohio, Presbyterian Church needed funds for a major project back in the 1880s - or maybe earlier, I can't be positive about the date, - Every one decided to make rag dolls for sale. These church dolls are very similar to the Moravian dolls in structure and technique,
They came to be know as "Presbyterian Dolls," oh they have such sweet faces, and clothing!They were very popular, and the Ladies Church Society of the First Presbyterian Church of Bucyrus, Ohio sold a lot of them.
But the church stopped making them for a very long time. But then, in the 1960's, the church needed funds again and they decided to bring back this wonderful rag doll, Today it is highly sought after by collectors, These dolls are part of the church's history. to read
even more indepth about them go to
I hope you enjoyed this little in put!
Sherrie

"Books of Dolls" "Doll Of Books" Reference Doll Books"

I'd to share with you about "Books of Dolls" "Doll Of Books" Reference Doll Books"
Being able to curl up with one of my doll books is a piece of absolute tranquility, stress buster , energizer, creative motivation, ALL rolled into one!! Knowledge , Knowledge , Knowledge , makes one a growing doll artists ! One who is willing to step out of their safety zone, One who is willing to learn, by her mistakes on to striving for excellence! Bet you didn't know ALL of this is found in "Doll Books of All kinds"!

Cloth Dolls From Ancient to Modern A Collectors by Linda Edward
This book is a MUST to have!!
Description: Cloth Dolls, From Ancient to Modern A Collector's Guide Linda Edward ISBN: 0764302132 Size: 8 1/2" x 11" Illustrations: 500 illustrations Pages: 176 For many years collectors and dealers alike tended to overlook dolls made of cloth in favor of their china and bisque contemporaries. Fortunately, this situation has changed dramatically in recent years. This book covers the story of cloth dolls from their ancient ancestors through to present day examples. This one easy-to-use volume with over 500 illustrations provides the most comprehensive study guide for this area in doll collecting available today. A value range is also included with each caption for easy reference.

Thursday, August 03, 2006

A Bit Of History About Cloth Dolls

Cloth DollsMartha Checkett
History of Cloth Dolls
Through out the years, children have played with a variety of "dolls". They were made from every imaginable substance including wood, clay, corn cobs, plaster, and a wide range of other materials including cloth. The focus here will be on the dolls that are made from various types of cloth, fiber or fabric. Many of the dolls designed and manufactured in France, Germany and other European countries in the 1800's were not actually intended as play dolls. Their china, glass or wax heads and bodies could not withstand a child's constant attention. These fancy dolls were carefully preserved and revered by their owners. Many remain in collections today. However, it was the all cloth doll that was tucked under an arm or hauled around by one leg and loved until they became "real" as described by the Skin Horse in the story of the Velveteen Rabbit.
A cloth doll consists of a fabric skin and stuffing. Facial features are embroidered or painted on with ink or stained with natural dyes, or in some cases, in primitive cloth dolls there may be no face at all. Early dolls, were made from animal skin, corn shucks, cotton fabric and other soft materials. Stuffing might have been straw, leaves, feathers, fabric scraps, left-over thread and yarn or cotton batting.
The pattern or design of the early cloth doll was very primitive and crude, usually consisting of two identically shaped body pieces. The front and the back were exactly alike before hair, facial features, and clothing were applied. Today this simple type of doll is called a Pancake Doll which describes the flat construction. Sometimes, arms and legs were added to a head/body torso. This is still considered a "pancake doll" as it describes the head and face.
Clothing was made from fabric scraps left from sewing for the family. These early dolls might also have been dressed in leaves or other naturally found material. Most dolls were made for little girls, and resembled their owners. Boy dolls were rare. The doll's clothes, in early American times, would have been similar to what was worn by women and little girls in those days including under garments, petticoats, a long dress and probably a pinafore, apron and a bonnet. Doll shoes and stockings might have been sewn or painted on.
A doll was a precious possession to a little girl in early America. It probably accompanied her everywhere she went, especially to bed. Little girls may have had just one doll during her childhood and it was often her only companion until she went to school. Soft cuddly cloth dolls were faithful friends, good listeners, confidants, bedtime companions, and tea party guests for many children in the past and still are considered important to children today.

" Preserve "the Artist's of YesterYear and Today,

" Preserve "the Artist's of YesterYear and Today,
By: Sherrie Nordgren
My goal here at Symple Tymes is to help " Preserve "the Artist's of YesterYear and Today,
To gain the recognition they deserve for their works of Art.
Saving the knowledge and teach this knowledge of yesteryear to all generations. May it never be forgotte,how Dolls were made with love.
Dolls that were made to be loved and cherished forever.

I will be sharing information and teaching our knowledge of..
Cloth dolls that are Rag dolls ,Rggedy's,Historic ,Authentic, and Primitive, Vintage, and Folk Art, Whimsical , styles
Dolls that are hand painted and dressed in the 1800-1950 style. Also cloth dolls that were created with vintage patterns. The History of Vintage Patterns should also be taught and preserved. Sharing information and teaching our knowledge with each other Learning the techniques of dollmakers of Sympler Tymes , To study the work of other designers from the Yesteryear and Present. " Symple Tymes" is all bout learning, studying, creating our own reminiscent dolls from the past and present. We use Ebay as our library source to show skills oh yesteryears Mothers.Buy and using books of Yesteryear building our own personal library's,
To encourage all to continue the heritage of doll making.
Keeping our heritage and history alive, that those from so many years ago have given to us, This is a heart felt tribute to all the GrandMothers, Mothers, Aunts, Sisters ETC... from Yesteryears Symple Tymes..
Let's start by learning a bit about the history of cloth dolls....

ALMOST GRAND OPENING TIME!!!!

When you get a few mintues come on by SympleTymes web site
and let me know what you think so far!!!
By Sherrie Nordgren
YesterYear. Whimsical, Prim, Folk Art, Mix Media,
Also creating with Vintage Patterns
We aren't open for business yet, But you can come in and look around, Please wear your hard hat! You are in a building zone.