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Straw Folk
Bertie Barleycorn, Original Strawfolk Raggedy Scarecrow
£95.00
Only one exists.
Bertie Barleycorn is a proper, old-fashioned scarecrow, checked shirt and straw-filled pockets and all.
He arrived one blustery afternoon wearing a magnificent pointed hat handmade from an old coffee sack.
Bertie claims the faded markings prove he once travelled halfway around the world, although the sparrows insist it came from the back of a local café.
Bertie is far too friendly to be genuinely frightening.
Instead, he watches over the vegetables, chats to passing robins and quietly keeps an eye on everything while pretending not to notice when the birds borrow pieces of his hair.
He is happiest standing among rows of beans and sunflowers, preferably somewhere with a good view of the shed and plenty of allotment gossip drifting on the breeze.
With his rosy cheeks, stitched smile, wonderfully long nose and traditional country clothes, Bertie looks as though he has already spent years guarding a much-loved vegetable patch.
🌾 READY TO SEND
Bertie is a ready-to-send, full-size Scarecrow in a Box kit.
He will arrive flat-packed and ready for you to stuff, assemble and bring to life at home.
When assembled on the recommended frame, Bertie will stand approximately 6ft tall.
His finished height may vary slightly depending on the size of the wooden frame you create.
His clothing may vary slightly from the photoshoot pictures because reclaimed garments are used, but it will always be carefully chosen to preserve his traditional, rustic character.
Description
🌾 WHAT’S INCLUDED
• Bertie’s handmade fabric scarecrow head
• Integrated elastic loops for adding hay or straw hair
• Full set of traditional scarecrow clothing
• Pointed hat handmade from a reclaimed coffee sack
• Twine for attaching Bertie securely to his frame
• Illustrated Official Raggedy Scarecrow certificate
• Little emergency repair kit
• Illustrated step-by-step assembly guide
🪵 YOU WILL NEED
• Straw or hay
• Two wooden battens, sturdy stakes or suitable garden canes
• Nails or screws to create the cross-shaped frame
• Approximately 20 saved carrier bags or reusable plastic bags to stuff the head
• A hammer or screwdriver suitable for your chosen frame
Please note: the wooden frame, tools and straw or hay are NOT included.
Each head takes around 20 carrier bags to fill, so start saving them from the time you order! It’s a useful way to reuse the bags hiding in cupboards and give them another purpose instead of buying new stuffing.
♻️
Assembly takes approximately 30 minutes.
✂️ HANDMADE FROM FORGOTTEN THINGS
Every Raggedy scarecrow is made by hand in my little workshop using reclaimed fabrics, recycled materials, vintage finds, charity-shop clothing and forgotten textiles that deserve another adventure.
Bertie’s hat has been handmade from a rescued hessian coffee sack, complete with its original markings, frayed edges and travelling history.
And handmade really does mean handmade.
These scarecrows aren’t designed to look perfectly uniform or factory-made, they’re perfectly wonky and proud of it!
You may spot visible stitches, mismatched fabrics, patches, different textures and quirky little imperfections.
That is all part of their charm.
No two Raggedy scarecrows will ever be exactly the same.
Rather than arriving as a mass-produced garden ornament, Bertie arrives ready for you to build, stuff and give the finishing touches to his personality.
🌦️ LIVING OUTDOORS
Bertie is designed for gardens, allotments, vegetable patches, community gardens and outdoor displays.
As with any character made from reclaimed textiles, sunshine and rain will naturally weather and fade his clothing over time.
This simply adds to his traditional Raggedy character, although sheltering him during severe weather and storing him somewhere dry over winter will help him enjoy many more adventures.
Emily Archer and The Raggedys is a member of The British Toy Makers Guild.
All the items sold in our shop are certified by The Guild.
Please note that advertised items are considered a collective piece and not a toy appropriate for young children.
All of my designs listed under The Raggedys brand name, or advertised by Emily Archer are supported by ACID through their Copyright & Design Databank.
All copyright, design rights and intellectual property rights existing in my designs and products and in the images, text and design of my website / marketing material are and will remain the property of The Raggedys and Emily Archer.
I will treat any infringement of these rights seriously.