There was a time in Navajo weaving when bright, colorful dyes created many wonderful and exciting patterns. It was almost like an explosion of joy when Navajo weavers were provided with colorful commercial yarns and aniline dyes.

Most people who know about Navajo weaving know about the Teec Nos Pos weaving area. The post is just southwest of the Four Corners, where the states of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah meet.

Yes, there is a day to recognize and celebrate Native American Heritage. It is the day after Thanksgiving. The month of November is Native American Heritage Month.

After the Navajo began to abandon the weaving of wearing blankets in favor of Pendleton Blankets and White man's clothing, there was a transition to weaving floor rugs.

Most people interested in Navajo weaving know that the different styles evolved around the trading posts on the reservation. Two GreyHills, Ganado, Teec Nos Pos, and about a dozen other posts have weaving styles named after them.

This past Sunday, I was giving a talk on Navajo Weavings at the Sorrel Sky Gallery in Santa Fe on the last day of the 100th Indian Market. It was a big week for Native American arts as the Gallup Ceremonial celebrated its 100th Anniversary!

All the best artists, musicians, singers, athletes, and anyone who reaches the top of their career have one thing in common: none of them had those skills when they started. It takes a lot of practice and a lot of work.

Chief’s Blankets, the real ones, actually disappeared around 1890. As fashion statements and clothing for the Navajo, they had been around for about a century. That’s a long time for a style of dress!

I don’t have a horse; my sister has plenty of them. I regard them as dangerous on both ends and unpredictable in the middle!

Those who have known the Gallery or me for many years know that we were lucky enough to be the first people to market the weavings by the Begay and Barber families that have come to be recognized as the Burnham style. I want to emphasize that all we did was appreciate their different work and do our best to share it with the Indian art world. These ladies did it all.

Back at the turn of the 1900s, Navajo weavers were moving away from making the wearing blankets known throughout the Southwest. The Navajo had worn these blankets for over 100 years and traded them to other Native tribes.

A couple of weeks ago, Howard Rowe and I had an opportunity to head out on the Northern Navajo Reservation to deliver some furniture to Marie Begay and her family.