| Inexpensive southwest bedding is the way to go | | | | were actually machine-made, and produced by |
| when it comes to decorating a rustic style home, | | | | large weaving companies for the express purpose |
| cabin or lodge. A few years ago, I was searching | | | | of supplying the Indians with needed blankets. |
| for an inexpensive way to decorate one of the | | | | These southwestern blankets were then supplied |
| bedrooms in my home and give it a touch of the | | | | to the frontier trading posts where the Native |
| southwest. I discovered some Native American | | | | Indians would buy and trade them and use them |
| blankets at a discount linen store and decided to | | | | to wrap themselves in instead of a modern coat |
| use them as part of the western decor. I liked | | | | or jacket. |
| the rustic style they created in the room so | | | | Another thing you will find interesting as you look |
| much that I decided to use them in all the | | | | into the history of trade blankets to use as |
| bedrooms of my home to give them that great, | | | | western bedding, is that as women became more |
| southwestern flare you see in designer home | | | | interested in decorating their homes in the early |
| magazines. | | | | 1900's, southwest decorating and western designs |
| Because I used these throw blankets everyday | | | | grew in popularity. These "Indian blankets" as they |
| as bedspreads, shawls, or as lap blankets, I | | | | came to be called, were sought after by people |
| became interested in the history of southwestern | | | | across the nation who wanted them for |
| blankets and began researching their origin. The | | | | southwest bedding and as decorative couch or |
| more I researched, the more interesting the | | | | chair covers to accent rustic home decor. The |
| story was. I never realized that although very | | | | Indian trade blankets were wonderful for covering |
| popular today with home designers and in modern | | | | exposed legs when in a wagon, sleigh or buggy, |
| style homes, southwest bedding for use in | | | | and in the new horseless carriages. Later on, they |
| western home decor actually emerged in the | | | | were used as throws for camping, sporting |
| early 1900's, when American Indian trade blankets | | | | events and a new hobby called motoring. |
| were put on the market. | | | | Now days, you can easily buy southwest bedding |
| Most people I come in contact with, believe that | | | | online and in stores that sell western and Native |
| the western blankets they commonly use for | | | | American home decor. Whether used as a |
| southwest bedding were originally made by Native | | | | southwestern bedspread, blanket or bed throw, |
| Indians. I also believed that, until I began | | | | southwest bedding will add great character to |
| researching the beginnings of these southwest | | | | your home and decor. If you are impressed with |
| blankets and discovered that, although American | | | | authenticity and traditional Native American values |
| Indians were the main inspiration behind the | | | | and are searching for an easy way to enhance |
| designs and production of trade blankets, they | | | | western style in your rustic home decor, then |
| were not made by them. | | | | you will certainly enjoy owning and decorating with |
| In fact, as you research the interesting history of | | | | southwest bedding. |
| western blankets, you will discover that they | | | | |