Locating and Decorating With Primitives
by Mary Roberson
Why I became drawn to the primitive style of decorating...
I wasn't initially drawn to prim decor or country style
decorating, but one day as I walked through an
Antique Shoppe, I began to recall fond memories of
my grandmother, and other loved ones, who had already
passed away.
I began to feel a yearning for a simpler, less complicated
lifestyle. I recognized many vintage items, as well as antiques,
that I recall seeing as a young child. Those were the days
before remote controls, VCRs, microwaves, and cell phones.
The concept behind primitive decorating is intended to
reflect days gone by. Old worn clothing and accessories,
adorned with antique laces and tatted trims, are reminiscent of
an era of elegance and gentility.
Prim decorating can encompass everything from old wood furniture,
quilts, lace, old tools or kitchen gadgets, really anything that
reflects your personal taste. An "eclectic" sort of theme, the
mixing old and new things, is perfectly acceptable. In fact, it has
become fashionable to take something new and 'distress it', or
'antique it' to give it the appearance of wear and tear.
In our grandparents era, everything was used and recycled. Nothing
was considered "disposable", except the trash. And, at times,
even that served a purpose...such as apple peelings being hung
to dry and then later being used like a string, to tie or bundle things
together or animal fat (tallow) being used to make soap or candles.
Families spent time together and survived by making use of what
they could grow, make, or barter. Clothing was recycled into quilts
or passed down among family members. Quilts weren't just used
to keep family members warm at night, they also reflected their
life, often painting a picture of each family member's own story.
Candle light served a functional purpose. Hurricanes were created
because of the inherent fire hazard and also to prevent the candle
from being extinguished by drafts or strong winds.
Locating and decorating with primitives...
Searching and finding primitive things can be quite a treasure hunt.
And who doesn't love to hunt for treasure? Estate sales, local craft
or antique Shoppe’s, auctions, online Shoppe’s, flea markets and tag
sales can often be places to locate a variety of different things that
can be used to decorate our homes. Try to envision using an item
for something other than what it was originally intended, for example,
try using an old shutter (or shelf) to make a make-shift picnic table
by propping it between 2 saw horses. It could also be used as a table
to for your plants and gardening tools.
Primitive country decorating is versatile. A decorator's tip for making
different items visually mesh is to find a theme that ties your items
together. This could be as simple as a collection of similar items or
items in a similar color scheme. For example, buttons and thread
spools stored in glass jars lend a prim look when paired with other
sewing or craft related items.
If you are fortunate, you may have things in your home, or in your attic
that have been passed down through the generations. But if not, don't
despair, you can create the "prim look" yourself. My aunt had only a
few antiques left, due to down-sizing into a smaller home, but she
created the look by utilizing the concept of "less is more". Even though
she had only a few things, she called attention to them by allowing them
to be center stage and building a setting around them. For example, she
inherited our Family Bible, and placed it on her antique table. She further
accentuated it by placing a pair of old lace gloves and bifocals, that she
purchased from an estate sale, alongside the our Family Bible.
Use an old tin water pitcher as a vase for fresh flowers, old luggage
can be stacked and used as a side table, or use an old lace curtain as
a table cloth. Bring the outdoors in by hanging an old, small mailbox
on the wall to house your outgoing mail and keys. Baskets can be turned
on their side and hung on a wall to provide storage of small items.
Be creative, enjoy the process and most of all, have fun reflecting on the past!
© 2006 Mary Roberson, Handmade Heartfelt
I have been crafting since I was child. I was taught how to crochet by my grandmother, taught clay pottery and painting by our school arts teacher, needlework embroidery from my 6th grade teacher, quilting by my aunt and gardening by my mom. My father was a shutterbug, so naturally, photography and scrapbooking interest me greatly. Thankfully, my love of arts and crafts has carried over into my adult life. We live in Eastern NC, and our 3 dogs are part of our family. In addition to working outside the home full time, I am owner of a website dedicated to
Brief Description of my shoppe:
An eclectic mix of Primitives, Rose Hips & Fixins,
Handmade Soy Candles, Home Decor, Prim Lighting,
Refresher Sprays & Simply the Best Smelling Potpourri~none better!
Our goal is to provide you with good, old-fashioned quality and value, plus fast and friendly service.
Handmade Heartfelt
All Rights Reserved © 2008 A Prim Krafters Journal
A division of oldevillagedepot.com
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