I love folk art. Primitives. Prims. I'm not writing about frou-frou here. I don't care for the "cutesy" stuff. I like down-home, quiet, quaint simplicity. Sometimes funky and totally outrageous. I like to collect folk art.

I wonder how these brilliant, mostly self-taught artists come up with such perfect ideas. I do believe that folk art grew from necessity. And necessity is the mother of all invention.

I love old, hand-painted signs. Vintage homemade carnival games and board games. Tramp art. Old wood. Old wood is good. This is Americana at it's best. I love old Pennsylvania Dutch Hex symbols. Shaker. Vintage pine boxes and chests. Knotty pine. Papier-mache bobble-heads. Outsider art. Self taught artists.

Ooh, I know this is off-subject. But I adore the Arts and Crafts movement. I love Roycroft. I love Stickley. I'm dying for someone to say, "Hey Lori! I've got this old mission style chair that just doesn't fit into my decorating scheme. You think maybe you want it?" Yeah, and I'll give you my left nut... if I had one.

I've included a few links here. Check it!

www.folkartmuseum.org - - - In New York, a beautiful collection.

www.traditionalfolkart.com - - - Contemporary folk artists, lots of examples.

www.folkartlife.com - - - Lots of links, artists, how-to, definitions, resources.

www.outsiderartcenter.org - - - See the front page examples.

www.art.org - - - The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art.

www.interestingideas.com - - - Funky and fun. I love this site!

www.stickley.com - - - A complete drool-fest.

www.roycroft.org - - - The 1911 Fra. Click on scroll at bottom of first page.

www.roycrofter.com - - -  Roycrofter links.

www.roycroftbooks.org - - - Lovely, lovely vintage books and illustrations. 

www.arts-crafts.com - - - The Arts & Crafts Society.

www.stainedglassphotography.com - - - Double yummy.

www.victoriana.com/directory/histwal.html - - - Wm. Morris wallpaper.