Mission Del Rey - Rawhide Lamp Shades, Indian Drums, Rugs | Southwest Decor

Moving sounds of Native American Drums <a href="native-american-drums.html">Native American drums</a> such as those made by the Tarahumara Indians have a wonderful variation of tone across the surface of the drum head.  As well as <a href="native-american-pedestal-drums.html">pedestal drums"</a> and <a href="native-american-pow-wow-drums.html">pow wow drums</a>, including <a href="http://www.missiondelrey.com/native-american-hoop-drums.html">Indian hoop drums</a> are made by hand with natural rawhide rather than modern materials and the characteristics of the sound they create are quite unique weather for powwow or personal drumming groups.

People who play <B>Indian drums</B> vary the tone of the drum in two or three ways. This is done mainly by the strength of the strike with the drum beater against the head and then also by where they strike the drum. By alternating the striking point from near the drum’s center to closer to the edge, the drummer can control the tone and volume of native drums very well.  A skilled drummer will also alter the sound waves by using his hand to either stop the resonance all together between beats or by very lightly touching the hide, cause a variety of subtle changes in the tone.

Players of Native drums also use different tom toms or beaters depending on the sound they want to achieve. It is quite noticeable that a hard or soft head on the beater brings forth a quite different sound even on the same drum. The soft drum stick delivers a softer and lower thud sound while a hard beater yields a higher and more ringing tone with much greater resonance.

Shamanic drums have become well recognized because of the artful use of <a href="http://www.missiondelrey.com/native-american-shaman-drums.html">shaman drums</a> in natural medicine such as healing and physical, mental and emotional therapy.  The rhythm of Indian drums has also been said to align ones inner self, free the spirit and restore a sense of harmony to life.

Tarahumara Indian drums are primitive <I>Native American drums</I>, using goat skin which has unique stretching and sound qualities.  The rawhide drum skins are prepared according to traditional methods that are the closely guarded secrets of the drum makers and used as <a href="http://www.missiondelrey.com/ceremonal-drums.html">ceremonial drums</a> during festivals.  
 
The hide is stretched and laced onto the traditional bend wood pine frame or hoop at just the right tension to create an Indian hoop drum with optimum sound and still allow for residual stretching.  Genuine rawhide goat skin is a natural "live" material with unique drumming qualities.  It moves, expands and contracts with changing temperatures and can be repeatedly tightened with heat.  It has an infinite variety of subtle veining and color tone and its rich luster becomes more beautiful with age. 
 
In the hands of a skilled drummer, these Indian drums speak, delivering tones that are subtle and spiritual or pounding with excitement.  Striking the drum in a variety of ways, with varying intensity of sound, Tarahumara shaman drums seem to touch one's inner being. During the pounding enthusiasm of their ceremonies with perhaps 100 drummers, the percussion of hand drums fills the air and beats within the chests of the surrounding participants as hearts adjust their rhythm to the Indian drums.

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Rawhide Indian drums are very durable and can be played for extended periods of time.  The only concern for Indian hand drums made of rawhide it that they not get wet.  Native rawhide drums actually use stretched skin and do well in conditions that our own skin likes.  This is true for any shaman drum, hoop drum or frame drum as they are called that is made with untanned rawhide.  Some modern hand drums made with non-natural materials have different properties.

Store the drum in a cool, dry place.  If exposed to high humidity, hoop drums may temporarily lose their tone, becoming loose. The tone can be restored by heating the instrument slowly in front of a fire, by using a hair dryer on hot.  Be careful not to over heat a drum, but they can stand slightly higher heat than the human hand can tolerate. 

Heat is the enemy of rawhide Indian drums.  Do not make the mistake of leaving a natural stretched animal skin drum closed in a car or in a window with direct sun.  Heat and dryness may split the head.  If you transport a drum through a dry climate you can keep it in a plastic bag with a slightly damp piece of paper towel enclosed.  In a humid climate you can preserve the tone of a drum by sealing it in a plastic bag.  After shipping, transporting or rain storms the heating or drying/tightening process will probably need to be repeated.  Most drummers will dry their drum before their drumming group meets for best sound quality. 

Many people love to see their drums when not drumming and use them as décor.  Hanging on a wall or shelf is fine.  But remember to avoid heat sources like a radiator or heating vent or where there is direct sun or high temperature.  It is best never to store a rawhide Indian drum in plastic because it needs to breath.

<a href="http://www.missiondelrey.com/native-american-drums">Native American drums</a> can be cleaned by wiping with a damp cloth.  Remember not to over dampen the rawhide unless you have time for it to slowly air dry to re tighten.  Occasional oiling with neatsfoot oil especially on the points where the lacing joins the drum head is helpful.  The oil should be rubbed into the hide using very little oil rather than saturating the hide.  If you have painted drums avoid rubbing the actual decoration.  With a little care, you will enjoy and get the most from your Indian drums.

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Native American Drums - Culture Care & USe  The best kept secret for Native drums, anyone interested in affordable authentic Native American drums should consider the superior sound and value of Tarahumara ceremonial drums. Hand made in primitive tradition, with hand bent pine hoops and genuine hand laced rawhide, they are beautiful and perfect for drumming circles, school music classes and as canvases for Native American art projects.

The world renouned Tarahumara Indians of the Sierra Madre mountain range inhabit a nearly inaccessible region of the copper canyon area bearing their name, Sierra Tarahumara. Today the Tarahumara live in caves and rock out-cropping as well as in small wood and stone cabins in remote areas. Said to be North America’s most primitive people, they live a simple life without modern technology. The Tarahumara use the drums as a call to gather the people. On a clear night during their festivals, you can hear the sound of these Native American drums drifting throughout the mountain villages for miles.

Tarahumara drums play an important part in the preservation of their culture. As they have done for generations before them the modern Tarahumara make their drums in the old way. Fashioned by hand, a piece of native yellow pine is carefully sought after with just the right characteristics. Once the proper piece is selected, it is shaved to a thickness which allows it to be bent into the shape of the drum hoop. Securing the two ends together with rawhide or now days, heavy gauge wire, the hoop is ready. For the heads, heavy goat skin rawhide is selected and soaked until soft and workable. Once the hide has been scraped clean it is stretched over the drum ring and laced with matching rawhide. Then the still soft and wet drum is allowed to slowly air dry causing the rawhide to tighten around the hoop frame. Goat skin rawhide is thin and durable providing a very strong tone for drumming. Anyone desiring a Native made, natural hide drum would enjoy the rich tone and culture of the Tarahumara drums.

If you are fortunate enough to own one of the traditional Native American drums of the Tarahumara, you know what a thunderous sound they can produce. If you are not familiar with Tarahumara drums or if you have never used a natural hide drum, it is important to understand how they respond to their environment.

Natural rawhide drums loosen in times of humidity and tighten when heated. The native people heat the drums in front of a fire before using, to ensure maximum sound quality. The tighter the hide, the stronger the sound will be. In a modern setting, a hair dryer is the quickest and easiest way to dry a drum for use. Simply start in the center and work toward the edges of the drum. It only takes two minutes, restores the hide to the proper tension and can be repeated as often as necessary to be enjoyed for many years.

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One of the ways Native Americans celebrate is through music, particularly through the music of the Native American flute and <a href="http://www.missiondelrey.com/native-american-drums.html">Indian drums</a>. Mothers of small children often find that Native American flute music is very soothing for their babies. Songs played on the Indian flute can be introduced during naptime and before bedtime to calm children down. Experts have also recommended Native American flute music to families with small babies that have a hard time getting to sleep as a way to prepare them for sleep. It is often difficult for small babies to adjust to the confusion and noise created by a large number of people at special occasions, and playing Native American flute music can help to calm a baby down in these circumstances.  Adults also enjoy the music of the Native flute. It is easy to find interesting and unique Native American flute music on the Internet, since many online stores offer selections of alternative music. It is also possible to purchase Native American flutes and sheet music.

Many of the ancient cultures of the world celebrate and adhere to one or another form of Shamanism. This is a tribal healing tradition where a Shaman is said to transcend the boundaries of our conscious world and travel to a world unknown to the ordinary man. Shamans are then experts employed by animistic societies to work on behalf of ordinary men.  The difference between the ordinary man and the Shaman is that while the man is possessed by spirits, the Shaman seems to be able to control the spirits in varying degrees.   Native Americans are said to perform Soul Flights to heal. In Tibet, the Shaman uses a drum to help them in soul retrieval. Shamanism has also found a place in modern day healing because of the importance it places in the areas of the soul, mind and spirit. Shamanic healing includes many forms including pain relief, anxiety and stress reduction and emotional or mental healing.

The most well known celebration of Native American Indians is the pow wow which is an occasion filled with colorful ceremonial dress and regalia designed and worn  by each dancer that articipates.  The different American Indian tribes each have their traditional costume. Each dancer performs to the beat of the Indian drums and the Indian chants by fellow tribal gatherers.  Native American tribes and their particular festivals, ceremonies and celebrations are not limited to the United States of America, but other Indian tribes are also present from Canada to South America.  One of the most famous is the Tarahumara Indian festival of Semana Santa where ceremonial hoop drums are painted with natural red stain and used by drummers during the ceremony.

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We recently had a lady involved in a drumming circle asked if Native drums have a variation of sound or if they are consistant across the surface of the drum.

<a href="http://www.missiondelrey.com/native-american-drums.html"> Native american drums</a> are made with natural hides rather than modern man-made materials and the sound charactoristics are different.

People who drum with <a href="http://www.missiondelrey.com/indian-drums.html">Indian drums</a> vary the tone of the drum in two ways.  First by the strength of the strike with the beater and then also by where they strike the drum.  By alternating the strike point from drum center to the edge of the drum, the drummer can control the tone and volume of native drums.

I've also noticed that drummers use different tom tom's or beaters.  It is quite noticable that a hard or soft head on the beater brings forth a different sound even on the same drum.  The soft drum stick delivers a softer thud sound while a hard beater yields a more ringing tone with a noticable resonance.

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Indian drums of the Tarahumara Indians are fashioned by hand. These Indian drums are said to be made by North Americas most primitive people, inhabiting caves and cliff dwellings.

Tarahumara Indian drums are primitive Native American drums of goat skin which has unique stretching and sound qualities.  The rawhide Indian drums skins are prepared according to traditional methods that are the closely guarded secrets of the drums makers.

The drums hide is stretched and laced onto the traditional bend wood pine frame. The tension creates Indian drums with optimum sound. Genuine rawhide goat skin is a natural "live" material with unique drumming qualities. Natural rawhide Indian drums expand and contract with changing temperatures and can be repeatedly tightened with heat. Rawhide Indian drums have an infinite variety of subtle veining and color tone and their rich luster becomes more beautiful with age.  Indian drums can be heard drifting throughout mountain villages for miles.

  In the hands of a Tarahumara, these Indian drums speak.  They deliver tones that are subtle and spiritual or pounding with excitement by striking the drum in a varieey of ways with varying intensity of sound.  Tarahumara Indian drums seem to touch one's inner being.  During the pounding enthusiasm of their ceremonies with perhaps 100 drummers, the percussion of hand drums fills the air and beats within the chests of surrounding participants as hearts adjust their rhythm to the drums.
 
Interested in primitive, Native made natural hide Indian drums?  You would appreciate the rich culture of the Native American Indian drums of the Tarahumara people.

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As you can see from our website we offer a variety of painted drums that reflect many different images from Native American life and nature.  While selecting a personal drum that is painted is easiest for most people, it can also be very fulfilling to customize a drum yourself, to get creative and express yourself on your drum in a way that pleases you.

From time to time people interested in hand drums for drumming circles as well as for rustic southwest or western home decorating ask about how to decorate their drums.  Some add feathers and beads especially if the drum is purely decorative.  Throughout history Native Americans have also decorated their drums with paint originally made using natural dyes from nature.  In modern times advanced paints have become the medium of choice.
 
Painting an Indian drum is pretty straight forward.  There is really no preparation necessary, but for the best finish, some people sand the hide first, but it’s not necessary.  You don't have to and most people usually don't.  An exception to this might be if there are patches of hair left on the hide.  Most people like the look thinking it adds character but if it causes a problem it can be trimmed with a straight edge razor blade and sanded smooth with fine sand paper.
  
Different types of drums have different types of hides with various thicknesses.  Our Tarahumara hand drums are made using goat skin rawhide and our floor and pow wow drums are made using cowhide.  Rawhide is different than tanned leather.  Rawhide is affected by moisture and humidity.  For example if you put the drum in water, the hide will turn soft again, then when removed will dry and be rigid again.  This character of rawhide plays a part in considering how to paint a hand drum.  With heavy hide, it takes a lot more moisture to affect the drum than a thin goat skin rawhide drum. 
 
It is possible to paint a drum using water based paints such a acrylic or latex but the brush strokes need to be few and light because the water in the paint will begin to soften the hide.  If you apply a thick coat of water paint you will see the hide begin to sag from the moisture.  When it dries completely it will be fine again.  For that reason and for durability most people who choose to paint their drums choose to use oil based paint.  Artist oils give you a wide range of color choices and can be thinned to give the appearance of a wash or transparent look, popular in spirit painting.  Or, you can use it thicker for an opaque look like in Northwest and Eskimo drums, depending on what you want to accomplish in your design. 
 
Some people add a finish coat of clear over the paint or wax to make the colors more vivid and to help protect the art work, but others leave the finished painting just as it is.  Oil paint will also have a tendency to have a longer drying time on rawhide than on canvas and should be allowed to slowly air dry.  Otherwise, painting a Native drum is basically the same as painting on other surfaces.  The texture of rawhide is different but as you begin to paint and get a feel for the brush on the rawhide drum surface you will quickly see how to best control the brush to achieve the look you want and will soon realize that most techniques used in painting on other surfaces will work on rawhide as well.  Remember, to have fun and enjoy painting your new drum. <br>&copy; Copyright Mission Del Rey

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Native drum ceremonies are very important to the Native American people and have always been an expression oftheir heritage and beliefs. In the past, these ceremonies were a regular part of life, depicting in ritual style the many facets of Native life.  Today they still exist for the same reasons and are an importnt way for native people to stay in touch with not only each other but alsos their roots in a world that is modernizing around them.

There have been many native tribes, some now lost, but many still in existence and each of them used the drum in ceremonies of some sort. While the specific use of the drum and the way in which it is used can vary from tribe to tribe and culture to culture, one thing that does not change is the fact that the drum is very significant playing a central role in the commumity.

To understand the great importance of the drum and its use in ceremonies, you need to understand what type of Native American ceremonies are held and how the drums are used.  In most communal gatherings or public ceremonies, the drum is the centerpiece of most Native ceremonies.

<font color=#9000><h2>Types of Ceremonies</h2></font>
The types and styles of drum ceremonies vary from tribe to tribe but here are some sample Native American drum ceremonies that have gained recognition over time:

<b>• The Ghost Dance
• The Pipe Ceremony
• The Purification Ceremony
• The Vision Quest
• The Sundance
• The Naming Ceremony
• The Smudging
• The Winter Dance
• Rites of Passage Ceremony
• Salmon Spirit Ceremony
• The Making of Relations Ceremony
• Earth Day Ceremony
• Giving of Possessions Ceremony
</b>

Each ceremony is special and unique in its own way and to its own people. All Native American tribes did not have all of these ceremonies and those that do, may have held them in different ways or under different scenarios. One thing that always remains the same, however, is that the Native American drum is involved.

The Native American culture has always been a big believer in the circle of life and many believe that the drum beat represents the heart  beat of the animals that went into making the drum and also of Mother Earth herself. This is why the drum is played so often in powwows and spiritual and religious ceremonies. Drum beats used in these ceremonies come from a variety of different drum types made with various woods and animal hides.

In the ceremony, the beat of the drum is significant, as is the drum itself. It is honored and held to be scared. There are even certain rules and expectations of the drum bearer and anyone who comes in contact with the drum during the ceremony.

<font color=#9000><h2>Different Drum Beats</h2></font>
Hoops drums, pedestal or floor drums, pow wow drums and more all have their uses individually or simultaneously to create a beautiful, rhythmic beat of song during the ceremony. Often you can recognize the type of ceremony by the sound of the drums and the beat they carry. The type of drum and the material used to make the drum will affect the sound that it produces but the sound is also created by the user and how they beat the drum or draw the sound from the drum, as well as how hard, how often, etc.

All of these details make the drum come alive to the drummer as well as other participants in the ceremony and members of the tribe. The drum is often associated with song and dance as well as celebration. Drum beats live in the heart and soul of every Native American today. Copyright &copy; Mission Del Rey.

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Native American drums have always held a mystical place in Native culture.  Native drums mean different things to different people even though most all Indian people or their ancestors used ceremonial drums.  This article contains the unsolicited advice from the owner of Tarahumara Indian drums who uses drums for healing.  Shamanism and shaman drums are also gaining in popularity but in his experience, the Native American drums of the Tarahumara were the most powerful he has ever owned.  Here are his comments:

I once owned a hoop drum I believe was Tarahumara. I am interested in a "shaman" drum, the largest one possible.  I use drums in healing Ceremonies.  Fact is, though I am a convert to Christianity, I am also a Native American and though it is sometimes hard to explain to Christian Clergy that sacred articles such as drums have a different energy when made by a Christian convert depending on which denomination they have converted to.  Our songs are prayers and all must be just so if positive results are to be achieved.  
Please bear in mind with the majority of Christian conversion or partial conversion there is no clash in energy whatsoever and with two particular Christian religious groups the energy is simply negated, the article is as devoid of energy as a curb stone. This can be fine as energy can be added, but it is not as good or as effective as the power imparted by those who still live close to the earth and walk the road of their ancestors.
 
All through America these days people pick, choose and blend ideas and spiritualities from various origins.  It has been my discovery that this can be risky business. Such matters are not to be taken lightly. For instance, in my healings I have encountered "Wicca Christians," actually quite common.  One might equate this to my favorite drink during puberty: a strawberry milkshake with jalapeno salsa and diced black olives mixed in.  At the time, it worked for me. I do not judge, but performing healing on such people is a delicate matter. The Tarahumara drum I had was probably the most powerful and energy neutral I have ever owned.

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<font color=8000>Native American drums have long been a part of the Tarahumara culture.  Reaching the Tarahumara Indians and the Mission Del Rey area to hear their native drums proved quite a challenge early on.  The following is an account of one of the first explorers to reach the area in the late 1800's. Photograph circa 1890</font>

Climbing, climbing, climbing, one massive cordon after another, at the start through dense oak thickets, and over hills flattened and eroded with countless deep, precipitous gashes seaming the rock in every direction. Numerous springs oozed and trickled from the stratified conglomerate along the edges, sides, and bottoms of the ravines. The tops of some of these truncated knolls were quite swampy in the depressions, and covered with a thin-stemmed feathery grass. Here and there was a clump of scrub oaks; sparsely scattered about were small pines.

We found great numbers of Opuntia Missouriensis, called by the Mexicans nopal; small mesquite shrubs, too, are seen everywhere, while the resurrection plant covers great areas, like the heather on the Scotch hills. Here are also found century plants, or agaves, and many species of small ferns, such as the graceful maidenhair. In the larger water-courses are poplars and maples, now presenting their most brilliant hues, and carrying the thoughts of the Americans back to their Northern homes.

<font color=8000><i>~The call of the Native American drums seemed to make the Chambers family feel much the same way on their fist assent into the canyon highlands in the late 1900's.  Foot paths have given way to dirt roads, but were nearly impassable.  Many areas were unable to be reached during the rainy season when dirt turned to deep mud and countless hours were spend digging out.  The Native Tarahumara drums we heard on summer nights were much different than that of the Cherokee and more closely resembled the Apach drums from the early days when Geronimo and his band roamed the high plateaus of the barrancas del cobre or copper canyon canyon.~</i></font>  

Thus we advanced for about six miles and made camp, at an elevation of 6,300 feet, on some old trincheras, with a fine view over the vast country we had left below. Large flocks of gray pigeons of remarkable size squatted on the pine trees nearby, and two specimens of the gigantic woodpecker we here observed for the first time. Here, too, Mr. Robinette shot a new species of squirrel, Sciurus Apache. It was large, of a pale grayish-yellow color varied with black, and having a long, full and bushy tail.

We had now arrived in the pine region of the sierra. The Mexican scouts reported that the country ahead of us was still more difficult of access; but the track having been laid out well by Professor Libbey along the pine-covered slopes, we safely arrived at the crest of the sierra, which here has an elevation of 8,200 feet.

The steep slopes of the valleys and crevices were covered with slippery pine needles eight to twelve inches long, while the pines rose up to a height of a hundred feet or more. The forest, never touched by a woodman's axe, had a remarkably young and fresh look about it.

<font color=8000><i>Native American Drums</i> of the Tarahumara are a prized posession.  Today roads exist where once only foot trails existed, but the elusive drums are still sought after.  Tarahumara drums used in festivals are hand made Native drums of stretched goat skin rawhide.  Tarahuara drums called aro drums, meaning ring drums are used during the Semana Santa festival as a means to call people together from remote mountain areas.  &copy; Mission Del Rey.   Tarahumara ceremonial drums are authentic examples of <b>Native American drums</b>.</font>

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Native American Drums are a very important part of Native life and culture.  They are respected for their beauty and spiritual connection to nature and the drummer.  Recently, we had the pleasure of helping a very special family with a 42" drum who wrote to share how much the drum meant to them and how their family had a drum blessing ceremony according to Native Tradition. 

We opened it up carefully and assembled the drum on the stand.  Beautiful
drum!  Our children could not wait to try it out so we
went ahead and gave the drum a blessing ceremony the way it's done with
Native American Indians.  And then, we played the drum.   
It is loud!  We would know because four out of five members of our family
are deaf.  We are going to really enjoy this instrument for many years to
come.

I am thankful for the privilege of
purchasing such a wonderful drum.  Not only is it crafted with
beautiful cedar but it has a powerful voice.  We're very pleased with it.  You
are more than welcome to share our comments with others so that they will
know about these wonderful drums.

As for the blessing ceremony we gave the drum it was done to purify the
drum
so that the voice that comes out of the drum will represent the good
things
that the Great Spirit has to share with us.  To do so, we set the
drum
on native rugs surrounded by individual native mats for each drummer. 
When
everything was set and ready, everyone left the room and then we
re-entered
the room with everyone walking in a straight line as we circled around
the
drum (clockwise pattern) until everybody had completely circled the
drum in
a complete way. 

With each one of us standing before the drum I stood
toward
the east and lit up the tobacco / sage and used a dedicated feather to
fan
generated smoke toward the drum and then I would fan the smoke toward
the
east to thank the east for new life and hope.  Then, we all would move to
our
left where I was facing the south as I fanned smoke toward the south to
thank it for the warmth, which represents growth and comfort. 
Then we would move to our left again where I would face the west as I
fanned
smoke toward the west to thank it for the next life that the west
represents. 
And finally we moved to our left to where I was facing the north,
fanned the smoke toward the direction to thank it for the cold
which it
produces and represents water and moisture that we receive.

As we all
circled
once more to our left I found myself facing the east again and I
started to
say a prayer.  In this prayer we asked our grandmother (a native of
Cherokee
& Commache) to represent the voice of our drum.  From there we felt the
presence of strong spirit knowing that the invitation had been
accepted.  We
were so humbled by this experience.  Needless to say that we found
ourselves
with tears of joy.  From there I fanned the smoke toward the drum
once
more before I started to sprinkled dried tobacco and sage on the drum
from
all four directions as we circled the drum once again.  And then,
afterwards,
we sat on our individual drumming mats, wanting to be as close to the
earth
rather than to be seated on a chair.  <P>Each one of us picked our drum
sticks
as we did this clockwise (left direction around the drum) I started
with the
first beat to be followed by the second beat by my wife, followed by our
eldest
daughter with the third beat, and then the fourth beat and fifth beat
were
done by my two boys.  Then immediately afterwards we beat in
unity,
producing one of the most beautiful sounds we've heard in our house. 
This
drumming lasted until around midnight as we found ourselves overjoyed
with
wonderful music that was so glorious in our deaf ears.  The drum you
picked out for us has made us whole and complete.  We thank you
for
that.

I'll be sure to let others know about this wonderful drum of the Tarahumara
Indians.  All the best to you and yours, B. -Arizona.  We would be very pleased to also help your family with Native American drums.

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Rawhide lamp shades add just the right western decorating touch you need for a rustic make over.   For many people, western or southwest decorating is something that they love but don’t have an idea of how to bring into their own home.  For some reason it seems like it is not possible to bring the old west home.  Or perhaps the question is; where do I begin with rustic decorating? 

In reality, adding rustic flavor to your home with rawhide lamp shades is easy, functional and doesn’t have to cost a fortune.  With the introduction of just a few key elements any home can have the western ranch look, the rustic appeal of a cabin or the warm feel of a southwest pueblo style.   Home decorating with rawhide lamp shades can make any room come alive with rustic cowboy style.  You don’t even have to have every piece in place to begin a dramatic affect.  Just add a few touches around your home as you can to create a great new look.   

Rawhide lamp shades will set the focal points around the room and give you the foundation necessary to add other elements.  Vintage lamps make a great statement but you can also us wrought iron lamps.  If your budget allows, use antler lamps and chandeliers for one of the most classic looks in western lodge and home décor.  You can also make your own lamps from drift wood or pottery.  But, if you can’t add new lamps, chances are that rawhide shades will work with your existing lamps too.  Lampshades made of stretched rawhide will really add to that cowboy feel even with traditional lamps.  The most important thing is to keep the design functional. 

Along with rustic lighting and the warm glow of rawhide lampshades around the room, add style and color with woven Indian style area rugs.  If you already have hardwood floors, you will be well on your way to a great western feel.  But a wooden floor while beautiful can have a cold empty feel.  Using colorful hand woven wool rugs, table runners and place mats will warm the room and heighten the western theme.  And if you have wall to wall carpeting, the wool southwest rugs will work perfectly to transform your décor.  Be on the look out for Navajo rugs and weavings or at least reproductions of classic Native American patterns.  Try some on the wall too as tapestries for a rich full look.

With rustic lamps, rawhide lamp shades and floor and walls adorned, look at the windows.  If possible leave them uncovered.  If you don’t already have rustic wood trimmed windows, try adding a rough wood plank across the top to give to affect of a wood beam like used in southwestern pueblos.  If you have to use window treatments for privacy, try a wooden valance with simple straight panel curtains.

Finish with other rustic elements like wrought iron and wood accessories.  Think about door knobs or cabinet and drawer pulls in western styles and some log furniture pieces.  Other unique accessories will be stoneware and painted Indian pottery.   And, one of the most basic techniques to add color and texture is to place a western throw blanket over the back of a chair or end of a couch.  Rawhide lamp shades work especially well in the bedroom along with southwest bedspreads.  Lay a cowhide down as a rug and your new western look will be complete.

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