WOMEN OUT WEST: TEN ways make a STATEMENT with a Serape Blanket
Last week in the Western Life Blog I write for Women Out West Magazine I posted a brief History of the SERAPE BLANKET. These bright blankets with Latin American roots can be found in many colors and conditions.
Vintage blankets can be found in most antique stores and flea markets, while the brand new variety are available all over the internet, on the streets of Old Mexico, and even in airport gift shops.
Serapes are FUN * BRIGHT * and CHEEEP!!
Here are TEN ways make a STATEMENT with a Serape Blanket…
Use a Serape to MAKE A BAG.
Or better yet, buy one already made!! The Serape Bag {ABOVE} is available HERE on Etsy.com.
UPHOLSTER a Flea-Market FIND.
Combine a recyclable chair or sofa with inexpensive serapes from Saddleblanket.com, and you have a BRIGHT and ORIGINAL piece of upholstered furniture {and you won’t need a bail out}.
Cover your TABLE for a party.
In the image {ABOVE} they have draped a vintage serape for a rustic, southwestern vibe that would really set the tone for a Mexican Soiree.
I have also used the bright, less expensive serapes, layered on a table for a kiddo’s party… it was bright, festive, and they are SO easy to wash!!
Use serapes to PATCH your jeans or jean jackets.
Torn up jeans are more than a passing fad, they are now a statement about one’s style. Why not mix it up a little bit by patching your next hole with a scrap of a serape?? This would be a hip solution for your back pockets, and also for the elbows in your hubby’s worn out denim shirt…
Make {or buy} an APRON.
This apron is perfect for a summer BBQ ~ it would also make a great hostess gift for your first “Margaritas on the Deck” Fiesta this spring!! Click HERE to buy it online!!
FRAME a piece of the serape.
Showcase the palette of a serape blanket by framing a piece of the textile. This is a great way to display a serape that is damaged and otherwise worthless {you can usually get the vintage blankets for a deal when they have a hole or some other imperfection!!}
Use as a PILLOW CASE.
{Image from Country Living, June 2007}
Whether you use the serapes as an accent on a pillow, combined with other embellishments, or as the main fabric for a group of pillows ~ the look is fun and quirky, the perfect touch for a
Rustic * Western * Vintage space!!
Cut into squares and sew a QUILT.
I’m not a quilter {not even close}, but I do admire quilts, especially the flea-market variety that incorporate old clothes from the farm, and whatever other scraps the quilter could find.
I would love to see a quilt made with vintage serape squares, corduroy, a canvas material, and some pretty red velvet. Any quilters out there willing to take on the challenge??
Keep serapes in the car for impromptu PICNICS.
Brand new serapes are very difficult to stain ~ believe me, I’ve tried to make them look old ~ I’ve soaked them in tea and coffee for days on end, run them through the mud, and let my boys get wild with them. But they still come out of the washer perfectly clean, pretty and bright. The good news about this is that you finally have a picnic blanket that won’t become stained or tattered!!
Drape serapes over a simple chair for a Bright POP.
{Image from American Country COTTAGES 
Serapes are a classic accessory for Americana homes, symbolizing our affection for Latin culture and it’s influence on the American West. This is evident by the great Mary Emmerling’s CLASSIC STYLING {ABOVE}.
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July 29th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Love the tips on how to use serapes. They add easy style to any indoor environment and are great for the beach or a picnic too. If you want to make a difference when you get a Mexican serapes choose serapes made by Mayan women under fair trade practices. Cheers!