Native American Crafts

The unique look of rawhide lamp shades for kitchens and country decorating has been popular since the end of the great depression when women first began to look at their homes in ways other than utilitarian. This was the case with not only kitchens, but living rooms and later family rooms and dens as well. What is also now called southwest décor and western style as well as ranch style came naturally as the designs sprung from the use of everyday items. The same was true with country style homes. As the wealthier class began to have second homes called country homes, the working class began to use the same techniques in their homes too.

As lanterns and oil lamps gave way to the first rustic lamps it was rawhide that was one of the first chosen materials to serve as a shade. If you like the handcrafted work and style of a bygone area, the rustic texture and color tones of natural rawhide will definitely be part of what you want to incorporate into your country kitchen. There are also a few other elements that will help you create the country style look.

For a country kitchen consider the natural look of wood. It’s best to keep with a primitive or rustic style. Rough edges and uneven surfaces are desirable. If you have a large kitchen, darker woods can be used whereas lighter tones are better for smaller areas. Rawhide lamp shades should be used in any area where a table lamp or desk lamp would be placed. Depending on the layout of your kitchen, a floor lamp may also be utilized. One fabulous feature of rawhide shades is that they are available in light or dark as well as colors to fit your particular color palette.

As you use rawhide lamp shades and rustic wood furniture you will be delighted to see the dramatic impact they make. With these two elements in place the back drop will be set. Now, there are a few other things to consider that will bring the kitchen to life. Along with rawhide, lamps and rough wood furniture pieces in the kitchen, the single largest contributors to a country kitchen are area rugs. Not the machine made versions but real hand woven wool rugs with their rich colors and wonderful textures. This is where you can really shine. You have complete control at this point.

Play it safe with earth tones of tan, cream and rust or be bold and use a rich orange, red, blue or green. If you would like to have a western kitchen flavor just add dark red with grey, black and white. If you feel like a southwest kitchen, choose a southwest rug with a turquoise background or accents. Different patterns can be used around the space if the same color schemes are used. The great thing about wool weavings is they are so versatile. Not only great on the floor, they also make perfect wall hangings because they are of tapestry quality. Place a long narrow wool table runner or a small woven rug on your table as a centerpiece base. Carry the theme to floor runners in hallways, in front of the counter or behind an island. It’s hard to go wrong because woven wool rugs add so much to the overall design with the hand hewn wood and hand laced rawhide shades.

By now your room is coming alive and looking great. It just needs some accessories to give it the “wow” factor and pull the whole thing together. One of the best types of accessory is Indian pottery. Use clay vases on the table or counter with dried flowers or eucalyptus. Native American pottery is perfect for the look because it is usually hand coiled and more primitive in appearance. Place it around the room and use pitcher and bowl sets or painted dishes to set the table atmosphere. Add to the homey feel with hand carved wooden dough bowls, a primitive log ladder or wrought iron. As you will see, all of these elements build on each other for a wonderful country kitchen and with a few variations on color you can also include elements of western style or southwestern decor.

As you consider adding rawhide lamp shades to your kitchen, along with the other design elements, it may not be necessary to buy new lamps. Rustic lamps are desirable but it is the leather lampshades that make the difference. You may be able to use lamps you already have. It’s amazing what a transformation is made with rawhide lamp shades.

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Do you love Native American Rattles and other Indian musical instruments? Rattles are excellent Native American symbols and representations of Indian people and their unique culture. They are also among the most used musical instruments for use in ceremonies and rituals throughout most Indian tribes. Rattles, for many years and for the majority of American Indians, have always played a large part in the spiritual connection with the creator as well as for use in social events.

As you study the intriguing history of American Indians and their use of Native American rattles, you will learn that they are symbolic among the Indigenous people and are essential to the tribal ceremony in which they are played. It is said that they symbolize the animal, plant, and mineral kingdoms. The animal kingdom is exemplified in the form of the container or decorative feather of the rattle. The mineral kingdom is represented by the rocks that make the sound or also by the paint used for the artwork pictured on the rattle. And, the plant kingdom is symbolized by the handle.

When researching the uses of Native American rattles and how they are played, you will learn that almost every tribe and Indian culture including the Navajo culture, play rattles in their ceremonial rituals. Among the many variations of Indian rattles, along with the popular gourd rattles and turtle shell rattles, the simple rawhide rattle is the most used in Native American tribes.

The images, such as the Navajo bear or Navajo eagle, used in the artwork depicted on the rattles, differ with each tribe. You will find it intriguing that the different tribes including the Cherokee, Navajo, Apache, Pueblo, Zuni and Hopi, can all be recognized by the variations of the beautiful art work on their hand crafts. One thing these people do have in common is that they all play rattles in various ceremonial rituals and as part of music, dance, medicine and spirituality.

The Indian rattles are really very beautiful and are made with a number of natural materials such as turtle shell, leather, rawhide, bead work and Native American feathers. Fur, fringe, seeds, rocks, antlers, horns, bones and shells are used to create that unique Indian style. Clay beads, blue corn, manzanita seeds or small smooth stones such as those found at the mouth of an ant hill, are also sometimes inserted in the rattles to give it the desired sound.

Indian people have always used music, songs, stories and legends to express their cultural beliefs and traditions to each other and to those around them. It is in harmony with these forms of learning that rattles have come to be an important part in the ritualistic ceremonies of the Indian people.

That is the reason there is nothing more fascinating than owning genuine Indian musical instruments and hand crafts. You can easily buy Native rattles online and sometimes in stores that sell southwest home decorating items. If you are intrigued by authentic Indian musical instruments, or are looking for the perfect instrument to play in your drumming circles, you will no doubt enjoy the beautiful sound of Native American rattles.

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Do you love Native American Rattles and other Indian musical instruments? Rattles are excellent Native American icons representing Indian people and their unique customs. They are also among the most used musical instruments for playing in powwows and other ceremonies throughout most Indian tribes. Rattles, for many generations and for many groups of American Indians, have always played a large part in the spiritual connection with the creator as well as for use in social gatherings.

As you research the interesting history of American Indians and their use of Native American rattles, you will find that they play an important role among the Indigenous people and are essential to the tribal rituals in which they are used. It is said that they symbolize the animal, plant, and mineral kingdoms. The animal kingdom is exemplified in the form of the container or decorative feather of the rattle. The mineral kingdom is represented by the stones that create the sound or also by the paint used for the artwork painted on the rattle. And, the plant kingdom is symbolized by the handle.

When studying the uses of Native American rattles and how they are played, you will learn that almost every tribe and Indian culture including the Navajo culture, play rattles in their ceremonial rituals. Among the many variations of Indian rattles, along with the highly sought-after gourd rattles and turtle shell rattles, the simple rawhide rattle is the most common in Native American culture. The images, such as the Navajo bear or Navajo eagle, used in the artwork placed on the rattles, vary with each tribe. You will find it intriguing that the different tribes including the Cherokee, Navajo, Apache, Pueblo, Zuni and Hopi, can all be distinguished by the variations of the beautiful art work on their hand crafts. Something these tribes do have in common is that they all play rattles in the many ceremonial rituals and in music, dance, medicine and spirituality.

The Native rattles are really very exquisite and are fashioned using a number of natural materials such as turtle shell, leather, rawhide, bead work and Native American feathers. Fur, fringe, seeds, rocks, antlers, horns, bones and shells are used to give it that unique native style. Clay beads, blue corn, manzanita seeds or small smooth rocks such as those found near the mouth of an ant hill, are also sometimes placed in the rattles to create the unique sound.

Native culture has always used music, songs, stories and legends to communicate their cultural beliefs and customs to each other and to those around them. It is in harmony with these ways of learning that rattles have come to be a significant aspect in the ritualistic ceremonies of the Indian people.

That is the reason there is nothing more exciting than owning genuine Indian musical instruments and hand crafts. You can easily buy Native rattles online and sometimes in stores that sell southwestern home decorating items. If you are intrigued by authentic Indian musical instruments, or are searching for the perfect instrument to use in your drumming circles or powwows, you will definitely enjoy the wonderful sound of Native American rattles.

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