primitivebeginnings.com

Due to the increased rate of shipping charges, we are no longer able to offer

free shipping on our floorcloth items. In general, the following shipping fees

are $5 for a table runner or placemat, $10 for a 2'x3' or 3'x4' floorcloth and

$20 for a custom order. Please note, that these rates are only estimates, and

may vary depending on your location. A PayPal invoice for the actual

shipping charges will be emailed to you upon completion of your order. 

Please note: Floorcloths are custom made and are therefore orders are

non-refundable. Please consider color choices and sizes carefully before

placing your order. Primitive Beginnings is more than happy to send color

samples and/or color match customer paint swatches upon request. 

Primitive Beginnings Floorcloths 

All floorcloths are hand painted by Primitive Beginnings owner, Katy Miller, and

are truly a unique original piece of art that adds color, style, and function to any

room. Floorcloths are made from heavy weight 11.5 oz. PolyMural canvas that

has the stiffness and weight of cotton canvas, but resists the warping and buckling

that often accompanies cotton. This ensures that your floorcloth will lie flat and

smooth. All floorcloths are painted with colors true to the time period, hemmed,

and finished with two plus layers of protective varnish to ensure a durable and

easy to clean finish. The floorcloth designs featured on our web page have

historical roots reaching back to the 1400’s. 

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Floorcloths can be customized to any size and painted using most any color and

design. All sizes are approximate; the finished product may vary by an inch or two

due to the many variables that accompany the drying process. Our custom pricing of

$10/square foot applies to custom floorcloth sizes up to 8 feet wide by 12 feet long.

Floorcloths wider than 8 feet fall into a special pricing category due to shipping and raw

material cost, and must be priced on an individual basis. All floorcloths pictured are of

the small size; larger floorcloth patterns may vary slightly depending on the design and

requested size. Due to the variability of orders, floorcloths are made upon order, even

if no changes are made to the original design. Because all floorcloths are made by

hand, please contact Primitive Beginnings for an estimated delivery date (usually 4

weeks, depending on dry time as affected by weather and the curing process). For

custom orders, please contact Primitive Beginnings to discuss your specific needs.

Please note that because all floorcloths are made by hand, no two are ever the

same. So-called "imperfections" such as brush strokes, paint texture, and various

antiquing effect outcomes are all part of the hand-made process and are to be expected.

Remember, floorcloths are unique pieces of art -- differences should be celebrated!

Floorcloth History

The earliest floorcloths originated in France in the early 1400’s. Often the old

canvas sails of ships were used in an effort by the lady of the house to duplicate

the expensive floorcoverings of the upper class with a fraction of the cost.

Resourceful women of the time handpainted diamonds, geometric patterns, and

stenciled designs onto the canvas, often placing the finished product under tables

or in parlors to serve as “crumb cloths”. England embraced the art form and

appreciated the floorcloth for its beauty, function and added bonus of keeping

the floors warm in the winter. By the early 1700’s, floorcloths made their way

into American homes, and remained popular with all classes of people until the

introduction of linoleum in the early 1900’s.

Caring for your Floorcloth

Floorcloths can be kept in place using thin non skid mats, double stick carpet

tape, or poster putty, but often stay in place with no additional help.  Floorcloths

can be easily cleaned with a gentle water-dilluted cleaning product or soap and

water and a soft sponge. Use of harsh cleaning agents like alcohol, ammonia, or

those containing these chemicals (i.e. Windex, multi-purpose cleaners) or the use

of abrasive scouring pads is not advised. You may recoat your floorcloth with a

water-based varnish. Just like any flooring finish, the varnish will start to wear

eventually over time. These varnishes are available at most craft stores and can be

applied using a foam brush.