Since I used these southwestern blankets everyday as bedspreads, shawls, or as lap blankets, I started reading about the history of southwestern blankets and began researching their origin. The more I studied, the more intriguing the story became. I never knew that although very popular today with interior decorators and in modern style homes, southwest bedding for use in southwestern home decor actually grew in the early 1900′s, when Native American trade blankets were put on the market.

Most people I come in contact with, believe that the blankets and throws they commonly use for southwest bedding were originally made by Native Indians. I also believed that, until I began reading about the origin of these southwestern style blankets and discovered that, although American Indians were the main inspiration behind the designs and production of trade blankets, they were not the ones who made them.

In fact, as you research the intriguing history of western blankets, you will discover that they were actually made by machines, and produced by large weaving companies for the sole purpose of supplying the Indians with needed blankets. These rustic blankets were then supplied to the frontier trading posts where the Native Indians would buy and trade them and use them to wrap themselves in instead of a modern coat or jacket.

Something you will also find interesting as you study the history of trade blankets to use as southwest, is that as women became more interested in home decorating in the early 1900′s, southwest decor and western designs rose in popularity. These “Indian blankets” as they came to be called, were sought after by people across the nation who wanted them for southwest bedding and as decorative couch or chair covers to accent Native American home decor. The Indian trade blankets were wonderful for covering exposed legs when riding on a wagon, sleigh or buggy, and in the new horseless carriages. Later on, they were used as throws for camping, sporting events and a new hobby called motoring.

Now days, you can easily buy southwest bedding online and in stores that sell western and southwest home decor. Whether used as a western bedspread, blanket or bed throw, southwest bedding will add great character to your home and decor. If you are looking for authenticity and traditional American Indian values and are searching for a great way to enhance western style in your rustic home decor, then you will definitely love owning and decorating with southwest bedding.

Craig Chambers is the director of Mission Del Rey and offers free information online about choosing southwest bedding for rustic style decorating. For more information visit http://www.missiondelrey.com

A lot of times designers will add floor rugs and runners to their homes but do not think of using wall tapestries made of the same colorful material to adorn their walls. The truth is that a wall tapestry is one of the simplest ways to enhance color and textures in your rooms and bring life to your home decor. In addition, western tapestries work well as beautiful art, worthy of display, because they are hand made.

There are so many colors and patterns available that you will easily be able to come across the best western tapestry style to go along with your interior decorating. Southwestern decor usually uses light colors with turquoise and desert colors like pink and purple. Western styles look wonderful with beautiful accent colors like red, black and grey. For a Native Indian feel, there are numerous designs available including the popular Navajo patterns. You can also find rich and vibrant colors in every style of woven rug, and tapestry designs that continue getting more intricate.

The best thing about decorating with southwest tapestries is that you can use them everywhere in your home. Use them as a hanging tapestry or as area rugs along with western furniture and southwest style accessories. Or, use them in doorways, in hallways, and in the living room to fill vacant floor space. Hang them in hallways or where you might normally put a decorative picture for a different design style. To achieve a more casual style, hang them at an angle to accentuate that it is wall hanging art. You will be surprised at how much they enhance your home design and how they impress your visitors.

When you begin your home decorating, use your color samples to decide which western tapestries and tapestry rugs to use in your rooms, and you will be excited with how they liven up your home. Always choose the best quality tapestries and do not settle for cheap imitations that will lower the value of your home. Look for wool tapestries and tapestry rugs that are well made and crafted by hand since hand made wool is more durable and is great for creating the look you want

Spruce up your favorite room with a touch of the old west, or enhance the decor in your whole home with western tapestries and tapestry rugs to get that great designer southwest style. Today you can easily find beautiful tapestries to use in your home decor. Many people buy them online or in stores that sell southwestern and Native style home decorating items. If you want to add that one of a kind rustic or western style in your home decorating, begin by using the beautiful colors and Native designs of western tapestries.

Craig Chambers is the director of Mission Del Rey and offers free information online about choosing southwest tapestries for rustic style decorating. For more information visit http://www.missiondelrey.com

Maybe you are like me and truly love western style floor drums and log drums to use as rustic tables in home decor and southwestern decorating. Indian floor drums are truly a very unique representation of Indian culture and are commonly used by many Indigenous tribes in powwows and other ceremonial rituals. Indian drums for many years, have always been significant to the Native Indian ceremony, such as the powwow, and have helped lay the foundation of religion and spiritual beliefs for many Indigenous groups.

When you start researching the interesting history of rustic drums, you will see just how significant they are to the Indian people. For many years, leaders of the tribes have used the drum beat as a bridge to connect with the Great Spirit and with the Spiritual world. Native Americans think of their drums as sacred and show great respect for the spirit they believe dwells within each drum. The Spirit of the drum is thought to communicate to the drummer and signifies not only life, but also Mother Nature.

Now days, many decorators are bringing these beautiful Native drums into their homes to be used as southwest style furnishings such as rustic tables, coffee tables and end tables. There is something very inviting about adding a beautiful piece of furniture such as a drum table to your western decor, to enhance Native style in your home. You will appreciate decorating with rustic tables because of the unique look they bring to their setting. Each drum comes from a rich historical legacy that literally enriches the environment where it is placed. One of the things you will love most about adding a decorative table drum along with your rustic wood furniture is that it is a very authentic icon of Indigenous culture.

If you are fascinated by southwestern style home decor, you can easily buy rustic drums to use as coffee tables, floor drums and rustic tables, online and in stores that sell Native American and American Indian home decor. No matter which way you choose to use them, it is easy to find Native style drums that will add true western style to the rooms in your home. If you are fascinated with the rich traditions of the Native Indians and wish to enrich the western furnishings in your ranch style home, you will truly enjoy using Native drums as rustic tables.

Craig Chambers is the director of Mission Del Rey and author offering free information online about how to use Native Drums As Rustic Tables for drumming circles and for chic southwestern home decorating. For more information visit http://www.missiondelrey.com

For decades, ranch style home owners as well as those building more sophisticated cabins have used antler lamps as beautiful rustic lighting to complete their western or southwestern home decor. Because of the natural shape of antler lamps and chandeliers there is a rustic charm inherent within the antlers that wonderfully enhances any type of rustic furniture. There is something distinctive about antler lamps that combines all the elements and gives off a sophisticated western feel in the area. Antler lamps have a quality about them that easily enhances balance and focus in any environment.

Antler lamps also accompany many other western elements in home decor. In the Northwestern states or “north woods” antlers may be attached to snow shoes and complimented with rawhide lamp shades to make beautiful wall sconces. The light wood and rawhide lacing on the snow shoe, together with the leather binding and pleasant glow of the hand stitched shade, make it a wonderful harmony. Weather you choose to adorn your antler lamp with rustic light rawhide shades or country style dark rawhide lampshades, the choice is yours and the effect will be fabulous.

Smaller antler chandeliers are made from whitetail deer antlers while large chandeliers sometimes have many tiers of huge elk antlers. Weather your area is large or small an antler chandelier will bring the spirit of the old west alive in your home.

In Jackson Hole, WY the town’s square is decorated with arches made from Elk antlers. It is certainly unique, and you can create the same look with antler lamps. Small lamps are made from whitetail deer antlers while large light fixtures such as chandeliers may have tiers of elk antlers with rawhide lampshades. One of the most popular lamps is created using moose antlers, unmistakable with their great dark palms and beautiful dark rawhide lamp shades.

Throughout the year, organizations like the Boy Scouts will search for the prized sheds. If you ever find antler sheds outdoors, it is an amazing occurrence. Antler lamps enhance that same style in your home and can change your setting’s ambiance in a most exciting way.

Antlers are found in different qualities that are categorized like rare coins. The best quality is awarded an “A” grade. The grading system, indirectly, has to do with the length of time the sheds lie outdoors before found. The more time they are left in the wild, the more they break down. New antler sheds are a darker brown color. Sheds that are not found quickly will start to bleach in the sun until they become a chalky white. Another factor they loose their quality is because of chew marks from small animals and stains from wet ground or moss.

There are also different ways of making the antler lamps themselves. Some lamp makers use glue to hold the antlers together. Others may fasten them together with a rawhide thong for a rustic Indian look. And some of the most attractive antler lamps may use a combination of being glued, drilled and screwed together, with the holes closed up for a natural look. High end lamps will almost always include rawhide lamp shades.

Each antler is somewhat varied than any other, so each antler lamp is a unique treasure and is great for rustic lighting. Enhance western decor in your home and compliment your rustic home furnishings with the beautiful, rustic antler lamps.

Craig Chambers is the director of Mission Del Rey and offers free information online about choosing Antler lamps for rustic decorating. For more information visit http://www.missiondelrey.com

If you are like me, you have probably seen how significant ceremonial drums are to the Native culture but do not understand their significance in Native ceremonies or how exactly they are used. Each tribe is unique in how they use ceremonial drums but one similarity between each tribe is that the Native drums are very symbolic and part of the main focus of the ceremony.

Throughout my research, I have come to find that learning about these drums truly gives you a great appreciation of the Native American culture and their customs. As you begin learning about ceremonial drums, you will find it very intriguing that the Native Americans consider the ceremonial drum to be sacred.

They are usually used in powwows, Shamanic ceremonies and honor ceremonies to call on the Spirits and to connect with their creator. It is believed that each drum has a spirit and that the drum beat signifies the heart beat of Mother Nature. Since the drum is believed to connect the people with the spirit world and direct the a healer in helping his people, you will find that they are commonly used by the healers to enter the mind state, known as the Shamanic journey, needed to connect with the Spirits.

Also, as you research the importance of ceremonial drums in modern culture, you will see that Native Indian drums play a significant role in the livelihood of native tribes such as the Tarahumara. Making and selling these rustic style drums allows them to earn a living, by selling and trading their cultural hand crafts, and helps them disperse the knowledge and traditions of their culture to those who purchase them.

The drum making knowledge, passed on from generation to generation in these tribes, teaches the drum makers how to make durable and long-lasting ceremonial drums with elements from the Earth and the environment around them such as pine wood and natural rawhide.

Today, American Indian drums are not only used in Indian ceremonies such as Native American drum groups and as Indian musical instruments, but they are also gaining popularity as pieces of decorative art, instruments used in school music classes and even as canvases for Native American art projects and southwestern paintings. Some types of ceremonial drums are also used as southwest style furniture and Native American decor, such as the larger powwow drums and pedestal drums that are used as rustic tables.

Today, it is very easy to buy these unique Native American ceremonial drums online and in stores that sell southwestern, western and rustic home decor. However you choose to use your ceremonial drum, whether for drumming groups or in home decorating, you will definitely be drawn to the rustic charm and western style of ceremonial drums.

Craig Chambers is the director of Mission Del Rey and author offering free information online about how to use Ceremonial Drums for American Indian drumming and for chic southwestern home decorating. For more information visit http://www.missiondelrey.com

When buying American Indian style table runners, you will find a large selection making it easy to buy a western table runner and you will definitely want to add a few of the most popular and sought-after runners or table rugs in your home decor. These table runners have a long history that has grown over time and can truly be considered as pieces of art.

Among the most popular southwestern and western table runners, in Indian patterns, each different runner uses a combination of beautiful colors and characters, symbolizing spiritual or historic events and a variation of colors and designs.

Not only is a southwest table runner known for its great beauty, but the skill and hard work needed in making Native table runners is also greatly appreciated. The makers of hand woven table runners are highly skilled and start the runner making process by kneeling in front of a vertical wooden-framed loom. The designs are then placed by using a shuttle to weave a variety of colored yarn together, making geometric characters and designs.

In the beginning, Navajo rugs as well as those of some other Southwest Indian tribes were weaved of hand spun cotton thread. However, after the wool of domestic sheep was introduced to the area by the Spanish settlers, the people mainly used wool to weave their colorful rugs, table runners and other traditional weaving.

Today, many of the modern southwest table runners are made in areas where Spanish and Native American histories have melded together to create unique designs. Southwestern table runners, with their warm earth tone colors and unique southwestern designs make them a great choice for rustic home decorating.

If you are searching for great southwestern decor, you will most likely purchase from American companies or directly from Native American weavers. Purchasing western table runners from Navajo or other American Indian tribes not only allows you the satisfaction of owning a southwest table runner that is woven by Native Americans but also helps to support the Native American heritage of rug weaving, and the people who themselves sell their rugs, runners, and Native American art.

The table runner you choose will greatly depend on what your tastes are and what kind of decorating you decide on. You will find that a southwest table runner is the perfect southwestern accent when combined with rustic or western home decor. Whether you are changing your home decor or decorating an entire house using a southwestern theme, you will find many designs and colors available to choose from. Among these options you will be able to choose from Zapotec runners with no two alike, to southwest table runners with southwestern style.

Designers love hand woven wool table runners because of the rich colors and textures. Whatever your decorating style and whatever your decorating needs, you will no doubt enjoy the richness of color and warmth brought to life in your home by decorating with a southwest table runner.

Craig Chambers is the director of Mission Del Rey and offers free information online about choosing a southwest table runner for rustic decorating. For more information visit http://www.missiondelrey.com

A lot of times designers will add floor rugs and runners to the rooms in their homes but do not consider using wall tapestries made of the same beautiful material to decorate their walls. The truth is that a wall tapestry is a simple way to give color and texture to your rooms and bring life to your home decor. In addition, western tapestries can be used as vibrant pieces of artwork, worthy of display, because they are hand made.

There are so many different patterns to choose from that you will certainly be able to purchase the best western tapestry style to harmonize with your interior design. Southwest decorating usually uses combinations of desert colors like pink, purple and turquoise. Western themes look wonderful with beautiful accent colors like red, black and grey. For an American Indian feel, there are numerous designs available with the Navajo storm pattern being one of the most popular. It is possible to find vibrant colors in every style of woven rug, and tapestry patterns that continue getting more intricate.

The best thing about decorating with western style tapestries is that you can use them in all the rooms in your home. Use them as a hanging tapestry or as area rugs to complement rustic furnishings and southwest accessories. Or, put them in doorways, in halls, and in front of couches and chairs to fill vacant floor space. Use them in hallways or where you might normally put a decorative picture for a different design style. To achieve a more casual style, hang them horizontally to accentuate that it is wall hanging art. You will be surprised at how much they liven up your home design and what an impression they make on your visitors.

When you start your interior design, use your color samples to decide which western tapestries and tapestry rugs to decorate with in your rooms, and you will be excited with how they liven up your home. When you make your decisions, do not settle for cheap imitations that will reduce the value of your home. Buy wool tapestries and tapestry rugs that have been crafted by hand and not made by a machine. Hand made wool is more durable and will enhance the look you want.

Decorate your favorite room with a touch of the southwest, or give your whole home a makeover with western tapestries and tapestry rugs to give it that great designer southwestern style. Today you can easily find beautiful tapestries to use in your home decorating. Many people buy them online or in stores that sell southwestern and rustic home decorating items. If you want to add that one of a kind rustic or western style in your home, start by adding the beautiful, Native American colors and designs of western tapestries.

Craig Chambers is the director of Mission Del Rey and offers free information online about choosing western tapestries for southwestern decorating. For more information visit http://www.missiondelrey.com

Though all Native American drums have comparable characteristics about them, you may not realize that native drums are different in many forms according to tribe. Some tribes use the hand drum exclusively in secret ceremonies, whereas in others, they are the focal point of the public event or powwow. Native people also use these hand held musical instruments for dancing, personal meditating and in sweat lodges. No matter how they are used, the hand drum continues to play a key role in American Indian music and in Native culture today.

When choosing one of these beautiful drums to add to your western style home decor or for playing in a drum circle, it is wise to choose one made with quality materials similar to the original materials used. The original, all natural hand held drums used throughout Native American history, were made of wood cut from a downed tree trunk. When cut correctly, the long thin strip of wood curled to make a ring that measured two to six feet in length, depending on the size of the hand drum desired. Once the drum ring was properly bent, it was held with one end overlapping the other and held in place with a piece of rawhide lacing. Allowed to dry slowly in the open air, the remaining wetness in the hand drum hoop would evaporate, allowing the ring to shrink to the final size.

As you look into the history of the different tribal hand drums made, you will notice that they were covered on either one, or both sides of the drum hoop with animal skin. Various woods and hides were used depending on the Indian tribe and where they were located geographically, but the most used materials were pine, and goat skin. These days, Native American hand drums are made and come in a variety of exotic hides, but traditionally, goat skin rawhide was the preferred skin because of its special stretching and sound quality.

Now days, you can readily find Native American hand drums online and in stores that sell western and country home decor. Whether placed on the wall in a cabin or lodge to enhance rustic decor, or simply being used for ceremonial drumming, these Native drums will add great character to your home and environment. If you are inspired with authenticity and traditional American Indian values, you will definitely enjoy having and displaying authentic Native American hand drums.

Craig Chambers is the director of Mission Del Rey and author offering free information online about how to use Native American Hand Drums for American Indian drumming and for chic southwestern home decorating. For more information visit http://www.missiondelrey.com

If you ever have the chance to be present at one of these spiritual events, you will certainly be fascinated to watch how this American Indian drum is played during the ceremony. Made from a large base and covered with cow, deer or buffalo raw hide, the pow wow drum is played by eight or more men that strike the drum with drum strikers as they sing songs, often sung in the Native American language. These singers are responsible for knowing the songs required for the ceremony and for the songs asked of them by the singing leader.

You can also find the powwow drum and singers at dances, ceremonies and other events where a pow wow is necessary. The Native Americans regard these events and the native drums to be sacred. Since the drum was first given to the people by a woman, they are believed to carry her spirit and are highly respected for this reason. The people’s deep cultural beliefs make the Spirit world a very big part of these ceremonies and a time when they connect with their creator.

Today, you will not only come across Native American pow wow drums being played in native drumming circles but will also notice that they are very popular in rustic home decorating and western interior design. Many home designers, looking to create balance and peace in their southwest style home decorating, find that the powerful presence of the pow wow drum does just that. Because of their popularity in country and southwestern decorating, it is easy to find powwow drums online and in stores that sell Native American drums and other rustic home decorating items.

Whether using your pow wow drum in native drum groups or including it along with your rustic home decor, it is important to treat it with great care and the respect that it deserves. There is really no wrong way of expression when using your pow wow drum as long as it is done in the right way and out of respect to the important role it plays among the Native people. You can connect with the spiritual world in your Native American drum circles or produce peace and balance in your southwest home decor through the powerful presence created by pow wow drums.

Craig Chambers is the director of Mission Del Rey and author offering free information online about how to use Powwow Drums for American Indian drumming and for chic southwestern home decorating. For more information visit http://www.missiondelrey.com

Maybe you are like me and truly love western style floor drums and log drums to use as rustic tables in interior design and southwestern decor. Native Indian floor drums are certainly a very real representation of Indian society and customs and are widely-used by many American Indian tribes in traditional ceremonies and rituals. Indian drums for many decades, have always played a very important part during the Native ceremony, such as the powwow, and have helped form the ideology of religion and spirituality for the majority Native cultures.

Once you start studying the rich history of Native drums, you will realize just how meaningful they are to the Indian people. For many generations, leaders of the tribe have used the drum beat as a bridge to connect with their creator and with the Spiritual world. Native Americans regard their drums as sacred and have great respect for the living spirit they believe inhabits each drum. The Spirit of the drum is believed to speak to the drummer and exemplifies not only life, but also Mother Nature.

Now days, many interior decorators are bringing these one of a kind Native drums into their homes to be used as western style furnishings such as rustic tables, coffee tables and end tables. There is something very inviting about adding an interesting piece of furniture such as a drum table to your southwest home decor, to embellish Native style in your home. You will love decorating with rustic tables because of the uniqueness they create in their ambiance. Each drum comes from a rich historical background that truly enriches the area where it is placed. One of the things you will love most about adding a decorative table drum along with your rustic wood furniture is that it is a very appropriate representation of native culture.

If you enjoy southwest style decor, you can easily find rustic drums to use as coffee tables, floor drums and rustic tables, online and in stores that sell western and country decorating items. No matter which way they are used, it is easy to find rustic style drums that will add true western style to the rooms in your home. If you are drawn to the rich culture of the Native Americans and wish to enrich the southwestern furnishings in your log home or cabin, you will certainly appreciate decorating with Native drums as rustic tables.

Craig Chambers is the director of Mission Del Rey and author offering free information online about how to use Native Drums As Rustic Furniture for American Indian drumming and for chic southwestern home decorating. For more information visit http://www.missiondelrey.com