Western Metal Art

When I invite people over to my house, I want them to feel as though they were coming into an extension of their own homes.  There are little touches that I put everywhere to let people know that they are included in my family when I invite them in.  They can take off their shoes and just kick back if they want.  And actually, I would prefer it if they do.

On thing that really adds to this is the western welcome sign that I got for the entrance.  With this sign, people can tell right away what a relaxing environment I have made for my family and our friends.

When I was a kid, my dad and I always watched Clint Eastwood movies together.  In those films, the good side and the bad side were always greatly distinguished.  There was no ambiguity about who was the bad guy ever.  The good guy had decent morals and the bad guy was out for the money. 
 
Life is definitely not as cut and dry as any Clint Eastwood movie I have ever seen.  When I purchased my first house, I wanted the décor to look like my ideal lifestyle.  One of the first things I put up was western wall art to give it that rustic look.  I’ve been adding pieces to this effect ever since.

I received an e-mail from the daughter-in-law of a customer of our’s who had purchased three cowhide throw pillows as a housewarming gift for her son and his wife. She went on and on about how thrilled she was with the decorative throw pillows (and her mother-in-law). With her permission I’m going to post part of her e-mail to me.

I hadn’t really thought about a “theme” I was going to decorate in until I received these western throw pillows. They really seemed to add an elegant touch to the room decor even without a whole lot in it. You know how it is when you buy your first home! But after looking over your web-site I’m going to make up a wish list ~~ and my new home is definitely going to be decorated in western decor! I love all of the metal wall art, the western table lamps, and oh so much more!

Thanks so much Christina, we really appreciate it!!

 Bending metal to create beautiful shapes is what the old West was all about.  It was about man’s relationship with nature and his ability to understand and mold it.  The art that has grown from this period is a wonderful example of maintaining heritage within the context of the cyber era.  Western art is an important remnant of what has happened in our immediate past and it holds the key to understanding where we are going in our world today.
 

The old West was known for its hard, earthen living.  This carries through in art that still reflects that time period.  Western décor is an homage to America at its best and simplest of times.  The period that held all the dreams of a wide open landscape, a new beginning are held within the rustic art metalwork.  Having western artwork displayed in your house shows that you are a part of this knowledge of past times and the embodiment of what is good and beautiful.   

One of the easiest ways to spice up your home decor is with the use of flowers and/or green plants.  There isn’t a room in your house that wouldn’t benefit from the beauty & freshness of green plants & flowers.  Whether your taste runs to silk, fresh or dried flowers and greenery they will bring immediate life to your home decor.  Rustic home decor is especially brightened with the use of flower arrangements!

Another “staple” in home decorating is the magic of candles.  While one candle adds a warm radiance to a room, a grouping of several candles creats drama.  Create a cluster or a row, with different sizes, shapes and colors.  You can choose one main decorative candle holder for the focus point and then build around it with different height’s etc.  As with any decorating accessory you want to implement the rule of an odd number.  A collection of three, five, or seven will always be more pleasing to the eye than an even number.  Building your “candlescape”  will create a mesmerizing allure to any home decor!

As the daylight hour’s lengthen, our thoughts turn towards the outdoors.  Summer days of sunshine, barbecues & entertaining are uppermost in our minds.  If your home is your castle ~~ then the outside is an external reflection.  Western metal art in general and western welcome signs in particular are extremely good ways of kicking up your outdoor western home decor.  With the many different designs and size’s that western welcome signs are available in, you’ll probably have a hard time choosing between them.  From rodeo events and buffalo’s to outhouse’s. 

Give your western outdoor decor a touch of nostalgia with vintage pieces, which add an “it’s always been here look”. Adding worn items like an old saddle over a porch railing, or a broken down wagon wheel in the yard are examples of doing this.  Don’t forget the importance of good coir door mats.  They are also available in beautiful colorful western designs.

Born in Bonham, Texas in 1853, John Wesley Hardin became one of the most famous gunmen in the history of the Wild West. Possibly the most feared gunfighter the old west ever knew, he was Texas most notorious gunfighter.  As a matter of fact Texas was the most active gun-fighting state, with some 160 shoot-out’s from the 1850’s through the 1890’s. 

John Wesley Hardin reportedly killed one man for snoring, an Indian just for “target practice”, and another man he argued with in a card game.  He got into trouble very early in life by stabbing another boy when he was 11 years old, even tho’ his father was a Methodist minister and his family a prominent one.

I had heard that he could of shot the point of a Texas barn star!

He had briefly tried to go straight, even practicing the law and avoiding drinking, when he was killed in a saloon playing poker the evening of August 19th 1895 in El Paso Texas.
 

The kitchen is the heart of your home, it’s where everyone seems to gather when they come home after a long day.  Visitors seem to navagate into the kitchen also. So isn’t it time to tidy up the clutter? 

Consider using a metal desktop letter holder to organize those piles of mail.  No table or counter space available?  In that case you might consider a wall mounted Double Shelf Organizer.

Keys, hats, & other small items seem to find there way to the kitchen cabinet or table.  A metal key rack hung by the kitchen door not only helps to tidy the clutter, but you’ll never find yourself rushing around again hunting for your keys!  You can also expand your space by adding a half round wall mounted pot rack.  Invest in some inexpensive kitchen towels & pot holders, they’ll give a fresh splash of color to any kitchen decor.

Try one or all of these tips to really spice up your kitchen decor no matter what the theme. 

 The Old West is a favorite theme for many people, and cowboy decor is becoming more & more popular.  Not only with the cattle rancher and the cowboy, but with everyone who wants to honor & celebrate our heritage of the old west.

The invention of the fencing material barbed wire, by an Illinois farmer named Joseph Farwell Glidden, was responsible for  turning the open plains of the west into enclosed pastures.  This enabled the ranchers to not only isolate their cattle, but to also control breeding.  His invention was patented November 24, 1874, forever changing the society and economy of the region.   

Barbed wire was made out of twisted wire with spaced coiled barbs. Now you can incorporate barbed wire into your rustic home decor with western welcome signs outdoors, or western wall decor indoors.