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Looking for a simple way to give your home decor western or Native American design? Try including Shaman drums in your home design and along with your western home furnishings. I became interested in using American Indian drums as for rustic decor right after my husband and I bought our new home last year. Because of our love for the old west, we wanted true southwestern and Native American style decor with one of a kind rustic home furnishings for our new home. Once that was determined I set out to look for the perfec western and Native American pieces that would look great with my rustic decor and have historical and cultural significance at the same time. In doing this, I realized how easy it was to give my home that beautiful western style that you see in designer home magazines, by adding shaman drums to my decor.

Maybe you are like me when I first started hearing about the history and meaning of Native American drums, and do not really know what a shaman drum is or the role it plays in Native culture. Or, maybe you are wondering how to choose the best drum to play in your Shaman drum circle or other music groups. Whatever the case, it is important to understand the significance this rawhide drum plays in Native American culture so you can develop a true appreciation for its art and let its power influence and open your life.

If you are able to be present at a Shamanic ritual ceremony you will notice that the Shaman, or spiritual leader, will beat a unique looking rawhide hand drum with a soft drum striker to create the soothing monotonous beat needed to take him to an altered mental state. During this altered state of mind, called the Shamanic journey, the Shaman receives powers he uses to spiritually lead and heal his people. The Shaman’s drum is very interesting to look at and if you inspect it closely you will realize that unlike many other leather Native American drums used in tribal ceremonies, these rustic drums have natural rawhide, stretched over a wooden frame on one side and are laced with raw hide string on the other side. They don’t have the loop hold like many other tribal drums do. A drum made in this way allows for a natural hand holding position so you can fully control the drum and easily manipulate the sound that is vital in bringing out the right tones specific to the Shamanic journey.

You will also see that many Shamanic drums have paintings and symbols on the rawhide drum face. These unique Native American paintings often depict a map of the universe or symbols of spiritual powers you can use to guide you in your spiritual journeying experience. If you are choosing the drum for Shamanic work, take time to study the significance of the painting and the meaning the artist is trying to convey in the artwork. Since the southwest paintings have spiritual power that influences the journey, you want to make sure it is in agreement with your own practices and influences you in that direction.

Also, I like to check the quality of the instrument before purchasing. It’s critical to check that there are no thin places at the points where the cords of the drumhead are connected. This is important for the quality and life of your Shaman drum and will save you money in the long run by not having to have it repaired or buy a new one.

Most attention is placed on the drum alone but it’s also important to choose the appropriate striking mallet so you can enjoy the resonating sound of these native drums to its fullest. You will see that there are many different types of mallets that create different sounds from the drum. It is simply a matter of personal opinion and should be based on what you feel most comfortable using. Whether you are looking for Native American musical instruments such as drums to incorporate into your home decor or are using it to help you in your spiritual journey, you will no doubt be drawn to the true rustic beauty and western charm created by decorating or playing Shaman drums.

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

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Inexpensive southwest bedding is the way to go when it comes to decorating a rustic style home, cabin or lodge. A few years ago, I was searching for an inexpensive way to decorate one of the bedrooms in my home and give it a touch of the southwest. I discovered some Native American blankets at a discount linen store and decided to use them as part of the western decor. I liked the rustic style they created in the room so much that I decided to use them in all the bedrooms of my home to give them that great, southwestern flare you see in designer home magazines.

Because I used these throw blankets everyday as bedspreads, shawls, or as lap blankets, I became interested in the history of southwestern blankets and began researching their origin. The more I researched, the more interesting the story was. I never realized that although very popular today with home designers and in modern style homes, southwest bedding for use in western home decor actually emerged in the early 1900′s, when American Indian trade blankets were put on the market.

Most people I come in contact with, believe that the western blankets they commonly use for southwest bedding were originally made by Native Indians. I also believed that, until I began researching the beginnings of these southwest blankets and discovered that, although American Indians were the main inspiration behind the designs and production of trade blankets, they were not made by them.

In fact, as you research the interesting history of western blankets, you will discover that they were actually machine-made, and produced by large weaving companies for the express purpose of supplying the Indians with needed blankets. These southwestern 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.

Another thing you will find interesting as you look into the history of trade blankets to use as western bedding, is that as women became more interested in decorating their homes in the early 1900′s, southwest decorating and western designs grew 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 rustic home decor. The Indian trade blankets were wonderful for covering exposed legs when in 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 Native American home decor. Whether used as a southwestern bedspread, blanket or bed throw, southwest bedding will add great character to your home and decor. If you are impressed with authenticity and traditional Native American values and are searching for an easy way to enhance western style in your rustic home decor, then you will certainly enjoy 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 decor. For more information visit http://www.missiondelrey.com

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Western tapestries are a great way to bring authentic Native style to your home. If you enjoy southwest and western decor, you will certainly love using bright colored tapestries in your rustic cabin, room or home. Truly functional and versatile, you will find that western tapestries, when used as a tapestry wall hanging or tapestry wall art, will brighten your home and give it a true western feel.

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

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Are you looking for a great rustic decorating idea? Try using painted drums, made by Native American Indians, to give your home true, southwestern style. I was recently looking for a good way to redecorate my home and give it a rustic, western flare, and started buying great American Indian accessories for rustic home decorating. I ended up buying two beautiful painted drums that incorporated the perfect southwest style in my home and gave it the rustic feel that I was searching for. The thing I like most about these painted drums is how they portray a true reflection of American Indian life and work through the paintings.

Perhaps you are like me and truly admire the authentic creativity of Native American art. As you study the origin of these paintings you will be amazed at how the artistic spirit of the American Indians can be seen in the painted drum. The beautiful hand painted drum heads serve as a gallery for the expressions and motives of Indigenous life. Because the American Indian drum artists find their inspiration through the work of their ancestors, owning one of these Native drums gives you the unique privilege of being part of many generations of Native American artists. Each new line of Native drum artists creates their work, mingled with the past, to bring forth a truly unique handcrafted piece.

As you learn about the history of painted drums, you will find that animal drums have always been the predominant Native American musical instruments of choice and have a special significance to these Native people. The medium, with which they choose to paint, is different among drum painters and is a matter of personal preference. Some Native American artists still use hand ground natural dyes, though paint has also become an acceptable medium as traditional drums make room for modern expressions of culture and creativity.

Just like the variations of mediums used to paint the drums, you will also see that drumming traditions vary between tribes. Some tribes use large drums while gathered in a circle around it, while the drums of other tribes are custom and personally decorated by the drummer. Now days it is very hard to find true ceremonial drums, but the American Indian hand drums of the Tarahumara Indians are among the most authentic Native drums created for playing in drumming circles or for southwest home design.

Drum painting is definitely a beautiful art and an important part of the rich heritage of the Indigenous people. The painted drum has come to identify both the drummer and the tribe, as well as preserve the Indian culture through paintings of nature and legend. If you are drawn to the authentic values of the American Indians, you will certainly enjoy adding rustic style to your home decorating. You can easily find these Native drums online or in stores that sell rustic and southwest home decor, and bring American Indian culture to life in your home with the wonderful art of painted drums.

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

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