Floorcloths:

Image from Early American Floorcloths by Dennis Belanger -- THE key floorcloths website

Design Ideas: Early American Floorcloths by Dennis Belanger - this website is pure eyecandy and a wealth of ideas. All his floorcloths are copied from floorcloths depicted in late 18th to mid 19th century primitive paintings. They are made using the traditional process of multiple coats of boiled linseed oil. If you have deep pockets and don't want to make your own, this is THE site. Floorcloth Design Gallery - from Canvasworks (specialists in reproducing traditional designs)

History of Floorcloths: From Fauxskins.com Workshops, Courses and How-To: How to Make a Floorcloth - from Fredrix Floorcloths, they also sell canvas How-To Article on Making a Painted Ground Cloth / Oil Cloth, by Jack Cox, on the Olathe Union Guards website. He quite helpful provides both the traditional recipe and a modern method, which while farby in process yields approximately the same result. These instructions are relevant for civilian floorcloths for home decor, with the exception that colored paints, stencils, etc are used and you should varnish over your painted design (and on the underside side of the cloth was well) to keep your design from wearing off.