Ever since I started making floorcloths more than 15 years ago, the past has been bumping into the present for me. Since painting floorcloths is a traditional craft, many of the patterns, techniques and materials used to make them are taken right from the pages of history. Now Canvasworks is entering into a licensing agreement with one of the country’s best sources for everything old.

I visited Historic New England’s archives last Spring and, after poring over dozens of floorcloth remnants carefully stored in their collection, chose three designs to launch a new line. Every sale of any of these three designs benefits HNE and its commitment to preserve and share New England’s heritage.

The first design is called “Greek Key” and is based on a piece from the Field-Hodges House in North Andover, Massachusetts.It has a beautiful sponged center with Black borders and Dorset Gold Greek keys interlocking around the perimeter. The standard size is 30″ X 72″ (2.5 ft. by 6 ft.) and it is $375.

This piece will be on display at the Historic Home Show in King of Prussia, PA this weekend at Old House Interiors Magazine’s booth. It can also be ordered as a 3′ X 5′ ($375), 5′ X 7′ ($875) or a dining room rug which is 8′ X 10′ for $2000.

The other two designs are “Peppers and Petals” from the Daniel Bliss House in Rehoboth, Mass., and  “Stars and Flowers” from the Samuel MacClellan House .

“Peppers and Petals” shown as 2′ X 3′ is $180

“Stars and Flowers” shown as 6′ X 6′ is $1260

Call the studio (802)263-5410 or email us for more info on any of these designs or to order.

Don’t worry! There’s still lots of news, information and photos and videos for you to enjoy. The Canvasworks website just had a big upgrade done, and now you are able to pick and choose what you want to know about. I will continue to post on here approximately once a week. These posts will focus in on what projects are currently on the table, new discoveries I’ve made in the world of floorcloths, and interesting other things that show up in my day to day life as a Vermont Artist.

If you received an email which brought you to this post  and you would like to continue to receive these weekly updates, you don’t need to do a thing. You will remain subscribed and you will get a note in your email box once a week.

Now, here’s where some interesting things are being added but they won’t show up in your email box

(read on to find out how that works):

Daily Painting

My New Year’s Resolution was to paint a small painting every day. My followers are my keepers! So far, I have posted a photo of a new little painting every day in January. I have been helped along with lots of great comments and words of encouragement.

Daily Tips

In keeping with the idea of something I can give my readers every day, I am starting a Daily Tip feature. These will be helpful hints about painting, decorating with, and maintaining floorcloths.

Floorcloth Photo Sharing

Many of my patrons, students and blanks customers have sent me great photos of finished floorcloths in their homes. I will be sharing these as well. We can all gain inspiration from seeing floorcloths in a variety of styles and situations.

So, where will all of this be? It’s all on Canvasworks’ Facebook Page! Now, don’t cringe and say, “Oh no, not Facebook!” It’s a wonderful and easy way to give you access to all of these cool things with the added bonus that I won’t be emailing you until you (and I) are blue in the face. If you haven’t explored Facebook all you have to do is click on the link here and it will take you to the page and ask you to sign in. You will have to register, but it’s free and as harmless as you want it to be. If you become a Fan of Canvasworks, you can check in whenever you want and see what’s going on. See the Daily painting, make a comment, share it with a friend, post your own picture… the list goes on.

Now, here’s the link:
Canvasworks Floorcloths

I know this is scary stuff for some. If you REALLY are against signing up for Facebook, and you REALLY want to be apart of all these cool new things, please let me know and I will seriously consider putting some of this onto my site (but I’d rather not- it get’s very time-consuming and cumbersome). If many of you feel this way, I will accomodate your wishes.

Lastly, with the new upgrade you can now UNSUBSCRIBE yourself from this list. It’s over there on the right where it says “Please join our mailing list” Enter your email and it will ask you if you want to unsubscribe. That button was broken before, but we fixed it. I hope you won’t leave, but I understand if Canvasworks doesn’t fit into your scheme of things. I hope you will check back in the future.

Also, if you’re already using facebook, don’t forget to click the little facebook share button right under this text. That will send this post to your Facebook friends. Thanks!

Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse for sitting down and painting something really pretty. I’ve had several requests lately for floorcloth kits which include a pattern, so I decided to start small and offer this Placemat Kit, and since Valentine’s Day is right around the corner…

Phew! Yesterday’s class was fantastic! There were 19 participants from all over the U.S. We started at 9 a.m., when they watched the first of 4 videos where I talked about materials and showed them how to get started. They set off at their own pace and we all met back online at 11, when we shared email questions which I answered. The questions covered all kinds of relevant things from brands and types of paint to how to care for brushes. The next video went live at noon and we met back again for more questions and answers at 2. The last video showed the finishing steps to making the sunflower floorcloth. People watched and painted and asked questions, right from their own homes. A final wrap up happened at 5:00. As part of this initial Online Workshop, these registrants will be able to attend the next workshop on January 24th along with any who sign up from now until then. We all decided that the class should stay in touch through Facebook, and if they finish they will try to send some photos so we can all see how things turned out.

The next class will be held on Sunday, January 24th from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., but the nice thing about this format is that you don’t have to work on it on that day. You can just watch the videos and participate in the Question and Answer sessions (there are 3 of them thoughout the day) if you like, or watch the videos and paint some other time. If you’d like to sign up for the next class (Class #2 Sunflower Floorcloth) go to this link. As soon as you sign up a materials list will be sent to you so you can be ready to paint on the 24th.

In the meantime, check out the class’ comments and other happenings at Canvasworks’ Facebook page. This is also where my Daily Paintings are posted. So far so good!

Canvasworks Floorcloths

I heard a thing on NPR the other day where people were asked to describe 2009 in one word. Most people said “ugh!”. I thought about it for a minute and I decided it was a tough year, but I don’t feel that negative about it. The word to describe ‘09 for me is  “learning” . I learned that yes, I could install a couple of huge floorcloths in a museum, while patrons hovered over me (Rosedown Plantation). I learned that I could take my floorcloth painting  class on the road and enjoy every minute of it (Rufus Porter Museum). I learned that with slow, steady, correct training, my injured horse could recover. I learned that with intense focus and attention to detail I could pass one of the toughest exams I have ever taken (USDF L Program). And I learned that my “Make Your Own Floorcloth” customers at Canvasworks are very eager to learn how to make floorcloths! SO now I’m learning how to present online classes, so that people don’t have to travel away from the comfort off their own homes to take a class. I also learned to appreciate that I have a business which allows me to connect with people all over the world, while I stay in my cozy farmhouse and design, paint and create at my own pace.

The learning will continue in 2010! I am doing little daily paintings to teach me to notice how I work; what areas need improving; and what designs appeal to me the most. i have moved these to my Facebook page (If you have a Facebook account, just login and search for “Canvasworks”).

Tomorrow, January 10, Canvasworks will host its first online class. There’s still time to sign up, if you’re interested. You can sign up anytime up until the 24th and take the class whenever you have a chance. On the 10th and the 24th I will conduct 3 question and answer email sessions during the day. You can watch the class and participate in the question and answer sessions on the 10th, then get the materials, paint your floorcloth and check back in when the class runs again on the 24th. If you had any problems or would like to show off your work, you can do that at no extra cost by attending the second, January 24th session. Here’s a little video telling you more about the class.

So far so good. it’s January 5th and I’ve done 4 paintings. I’ll do another one today.

Sunday’s was a Vermont barn:

When I started this I prepared 4 small pieces, all with the same background. Yesterday’s was a bull moose.

Now I’ll need to prepare a bunch more for the next series of paintings. I’m thinking about moving away from the lanscapes and going to a closer view- maybe some fruit or smaller animals or birds. We’ll see what hits me. You can see the first two paintings at http://canvasworksfloorcloths.com/wordpress/?p=452

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There has been a tremendous response to my first  online workshop! So good, in fact, that I feel like it will work better if I add another day for the class. I’ll do the whole thing again on January 24th. Sign up anytime between now and the 23rd. If you sign up before this Sunday, you’ll be able to get two days of online help with me. One on the 10th; the other on the 24th. This will also give you time to order a 2′ X 3′ blank floorcloth. As soon as you sign up, I’ll send you a materials list for the paints and brushes you’ll need to pick up.

You can register now by clicking this “Add to Cart” button.

OK, here we go! Canvasworks’ first online class is all set up and ready for registrants.

This is how it will work:

The Design:

This is a 2′ X 3′ floorcloth with cheerful yellow sunflowers and bright green leaves on a simple checked background of blue and gold.

 What you’ll learn:

-How to lay out a diamond checkerboard pattern with a medium wide border

-How to paint and add sponge texture to the gold areas

-How to paint stripes and leaves and apply shading

-How to paint sunflowers (there will be a few variations shown so that you can paint the style which you prefer and feel most comfortable with according to your painting skill level)

-How to finish your floorcloth, install it and take care of it for years to come

The cost:

$40

This fee will give you access to a materials list, templates and access codes for 3 YouTube videos which will demonstrate the painting process. These videos will be posted on You Tube on January 10 and will be available to you for at least a month. On the 10th, I will be available through this blog and by email to answer your questions at three specified times throughout the day. This is where it becomes  a real painting class. I’ll be there to help you with whatever drawing, layout or painting problems you might be having. After January 10th you can go back and watch the videos and work on your project at your own pace.

Note: You must register online using the button below so that I have your email address to send the templates and access codes.

$40.00 registration fee covers materials list (will be emailed within 24 hrs. of registration), templates , three You tube videos showing all of the steps to make this floorcloth, and question and answer sessions on Sunday Jan. 10.

You might want to ask some of your painting friends if they’d like to do this with you. You could gather together and share materials and have fun seeing how each floorcloth progresses. There’s power in numbers!

This is the first (with any luck, first of many) online class I’ve set up. Please let me know if there are things you’d like to see done differently. I hope you will send me pictures of your finished floorcloths. I’d love to share them with all of you!

Happy New Year! After a wonderful family Christmas and a relaxing few days, I’m back into the swing of things and ready to tackle a couple of big resolutions I’ve made.

First, in an attempt to strengthen my folk art painting abilities, I am going to paint 7 small pieces EVERY week and post them here on my website. Please help me to evaluate my progress by commenting (please, take pity on me..) and I’d love to hear your suggestions for painting topics. I plan to keep these fairly simple and somewhat similar as part of what I am trying to accomplish is to create my own style and make it more consistent. I don’t know where this will lead, but I’m excited about attempting it and I’m looking forward to accumulating a big pile of folk art on canvas! I may need my reader’s help to cheer me on in this endeavor. I’ll let you know if it’s getting hard and maybe you can send me some good vibes.

This first one took about an hour to paint. It’s about 6″ X 5″, painted on #8 canvas.

My second resolution is to get going on my ONLINE CLASSES! A lot of you have been begging me to do this and I spent a fair bit of time over the holidays trying to think of  how I can do this and make it work. So,here we go:

The first class will be Sunday, January 10. I haven’t picked a design yet, but it will be for a 2′ X 3′ floorcloth. Those wanting to take the class will need to pre-register. Information about that will be available early next week. You will need to have a 2′ X 3′ floorcloth, so please order soon if you will need one. I will demonstrate steps for painting this floorcloth in 3 YouTube videos. I will make the first video available in the morning, then you’ll have time to work on your floorcloth, doing those steps I just demonstrated. At 10:30 I’ll be available through email and my blog to answer your questions regarding those first steps. Then I will post the second video and we’ll have another question and answer session at 2:30. The last video will be online after that and at 5:00 I’ll do a final question and answer session. By the end of the day you should have completed your floorcloth, or at least have a good idea of how to do it. It will be just like one of my classes here, except you won’t have people squishing you into a corner and you don’t have to listen to my barking dogs!

A materials list will be posted as soon a I figure out what the design will be. I’ll listen to your suggestions for designs, but understand that I have to consider using a design which is appropriate and desirable for my average student. The fee for the class will be $40. I will be asking everyone to complete a survey after the class so that I can improve these classes and make them as educational, fun and as beneficial as possible. Let’s do it!

Phew! I’m ready to rock and roll. I love all the excitement that comes with the new year!

Here’s Day 2:

Moria wanted a rabbit, and I just felt like painting one, so there you go! Hard to imagine spring scenes when I had just come in from cross country skiing in a winter wonderland today!

There’s been a great response to the floorcloth class idea. Tomorrow I will post the details. You’ll see the design, the materials list will be available and registration will  be online.

If you can’t participate online on the 10th, you can sign up for the class and do it at your convenience anytime after that.

For the record, I did do another painting today (the 3rd). It has a barn and two big maples. I will post it tomorrow when I set up a gallery album for these daily paintings.