| Using southwest bedding is an easy way to | | | | actually made by machines, and produced by large |
| create beautiful, rustic style in your home. A while | | | | weaving companies for the sole purpose of |
| back, I was searching for an inexpensive way to | | | | supplying the Indians with needed blankets. These |
| decorate one of the bedrooms in my home and | | | | southwest blankets were then supplied to the |
| give it a touch of the southwest. I found some | | | | frontier trading posts where the Native people |
| western blankets at a discount linen store and | | | | would buy and trade them and use them to wrap |
| decided to add them as part of the western | | | | themselves in instead of a modern coat or jacket. |
| decor. I loved the rustic style they created in the | | | | Another thing you will find interesting as you |
| room so much that I decided to use them in all | | | | research the history of trade blankets to use as |
| the rooms of my home to give them that great, | | | | western bedding, is that as women became more |
| western flare you see in designer home | | | | interested in home decorating in the early 1900's, |
| magazines. | | | | southwest decorating and western designs rose in |
| Because I used these southwestern blankets | | | | popularity. These "Indian blankets" as they came |
| everyday as bedspreads, shawls, or as lap | | | | to be called, were sought after by people across |
| blankets, I became interested in the history of | | | | the country who used them for southwest |
| southwestern blankets and started studying their | | | | bedding and as decorative couch or chair covers |
| origin. The more I studied, the more intriguing the | | | | to enhance Native American home decor. The |
| story became. I never realized that although very | | | | Indian trade blankets were perfect for covering |
| popular today among interior decorators and in | | | | exposed legs when riding on a wagon, sleigh or |
| modern style homes, southwest bedding for use | | | | buggy, and in the new horseless carriages. Later |
| in country western home decor actually started in | | | | on, they became popular as throws for camping, |
| the early 1900's, when trade blankets were put | | | | canoeing and a new hobby called motoring. |
| 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 rustic and Native |
| the western blankets they commonly use for | | | | American home decor. Whether used as a rustic |
| southwest bedding were originally made by Native | | | | bedspread, blanket or bed throw, southwest |
| Indians. I also believed that, until I started | | | | bedding will add great character to your home |
| researching the origin of these southwestern style | | | | and decor. If you are looking for authenticity and |
| blankets and found that, although Native | | | | traditional Native American values and are |
| Americans were the prime inspiration for the | | | | searching for a great way to enhance |
| designs and production of trade blankets, they | | | | southwestern style in your rustic home decor, |
| were not the ones who made them. | | | | then you will definitely enjoy owning and |
| In fact, as you research the intriguing history of | | | | decorating with southwest bedding. |
| Indian blankets, you will discover that they were | | | | |