| There is no easier way to give your home great | | | | were actually machine-made, and produced by |
| rustic style than through southwest bedding. A | | | | large weaving companies for the sole purpose of |
| few years ago, I was searching for an | | | | supplying the Indians with needed blankets. These |
| inexpensive way to redecorate one of the rooms | | | | southwestern blankets were then supplied to the |
| in my home and give it a touch of the old west. I | | | | frontier trading posts where the Native people |
| found some Native American blankets at a | | | | would buy and trade them and use them to wrap |
| discount linen store and decided to add them as | | | | themselves in instead of a modern coat or jacket. |
| part of the western decor. I loved the Native | | | | Another thing you will find interesting as you |
| American style they created in the room so | | | | study the history of trade blankets to use as |
| much that I decided to use them in all the | | | | southwest, is that as women became more |
| bedrooms of my home to give them that great, | | | | interested in decorating their homes in the early |
| western flare you see in designer magazines. | | | | 1900's, southwest decor and western designs |
| Since I used these blankets and throws everyday | | | | rose 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 country who wanted them for |
| blankets and began researching their origin. The | | | | southwest bedding and as decorative couch or |
| more I researched, the more intriguing the story | | | | chair covers to enhance southwestern home |
| was. I never knew that although very popular | | | | decor. The Indian trade blankets were wonderful |
| today with interior decorators and in modern style | | | | for covering exposed legs when in a wagon, sleigh |
| homes, southwest bedding for use in western | | | | or buggy, and in the new horseless carriages. |
| home decor actually began in the early 1900's, | | | | Later on, they were used as throws for camping, |
| when Indian trade blankets were put on the | | | | canoeing and a new pass time called motoring. |
| market. | | | | Today, you can easily buy southwest bedding |
| Most people I come in contact with, believe that | | | | online and in places that sell western and |
| the western blankets they commonly use for | | | | southwest home decor. Whether used as a |
| southwest bedding were originally made by Native | | | | southwestern bedspread, blanket or bed throw, |
| American Indians. I also believed that, until I began | | | | southwest bedding will add great charm to your |
| reading about the beginnings of these southwest | | | | home and environment. If you are impressed with |
| blankets and discovered that, although Native | | | | authenticity and traditional Native American values |
| Americans were the prime 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 the ones who made them. | | | | you will certainly enjoy owning and decorating with |
| In fact, as you read about the intriguing history of | | | | southwest bedding. |
| southwestern blankets, you will learn that they | | | | |