Each year, toward the end of October, I celebrate my natal day by purchasing a small traditional rug woven by an elder in the homeland of the Diné (the Navajo). I do this through the Adopt-A-Native-Elder program, via their online rug catalog.
“The sale of rugs through the catalog is one of the most important ways
we have to provide financial support to our Elders.”
Each elder who weaves a rug sets the price for that rug, and all proceeds go to her. This helps to provide for her family through the year.
“It is generally thought that Navajo weaving began under the influence of
the Pueblo Indians in the 1700s. Original designs were simple stripes
in the colors of wool that were available from sheep raised by the
Navajo (black, white and brown).”
For more about the rug catalog, the weavers, and the weaving, please see the Rug Catalog Story.
In exchange for helping to support one of these elders in such a small way, I get the forever joy of having the beautiful work of her hands in my home. As someone who spends months, in some cases years, crafting stories that can be read in a matter of days, I appreciate that more hours of work go into each of these rugs than anyone who isn’t a weaver could comprehend. They are as unique as my stories. They are treasures.
This October I purchased this marvelous rug woven by Betty Lou Begay. It’s called Storm.
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| This handsome lad helped me welcome the new rug |
Beautiful! And what a wonderful cause to support as well!
This is my fourth rug in about five years (not every year can we afford one, but if at all possible we do). It's such a great way to support these elders personally. It's very sweet how this whole program got started. And their work is sooooo good.
How gorgeous! They don't look like the kind of rugs I'd want to walk on. Do you hang them on the wall?
Definitely. This is the largest rug I've purchased so far, but it's going on the wall like the others.
Gorgeous!!! That is SO lovely!!!
This will be one of the things I buy to celebrate being published. I've wanted one for so long, even before I started writing.
I hope you go through the program here (unless you have other avenues, and with your connections you very well may!). I don't know what international shipping is like, but they have always had my rug to me in a week or less. Such a great selection in their catalog, from tiny rugs to whopping big rugs.
When I do get one, I will DEFINITELY go through ANE!
Lovely, Lori!
These women do such beautiful work.
So beautiful! I think one of my characters is weaving a storm pattern rug in one of my stories…that's my idea, anyway. 🙂 What a wonderful post, Lori–thanks for sharing with us!
Kiersti, over on the rug catalog are a lot of different storm patterns. You will probably find the one your character is weaving, if it's not mine. 🙂
oh boy oh boy–such a happy birthday, eh? I'm delighted for you, and also for Betty Lou Begay–how I love her name–and will say a prayer to bless her, you, and your gorgeous rug!
Thanks Patti! Praying for these women who weave is a big part of why I love this program.