A Beautiful Montana Product That You Need To See

Who doesn't love Made in Montana products? Finding quality products while supporting our local economy is a win for everyone. The site Cheapism.com has put out a list of the "50 Surprising Things Made In Each State," and the Montana product is beautiful.

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Montana is well-known for our huckleberries and Yogo Sapphires, but this unique item captures the beauty of Montana, while telling an important part of its history. Montana made products are always a win, but it's even more special when you can find something truly unique.

Keep scrolling to see "Made In Montana" gift ideas 👇

Native Americans living on the Northern Plains traditionally used buffalo hides to tell stories, symbolize special occasions, and present as gifts. Tragically, during our state's period of reservations and relocation, Native Americans no longer had the same access to the buffalo, as the animals population had been all but exterminated during the westward expansion.

In order to keep the tradition alive, people began making star quilts instead. The beautiful quilts were complex, unique, and given as a gift of honor.

During the reservation era, star quilts replaced painted buffalo hides as a symbolic gift among Native Americans of the northern plains to honor loved ones for special or sad occasions.

One Billings graphic design artist, Debbie Desjarlais, has begun preserving these quilts by making their images into cards and stationary sets that are available for purchase. Desjarlais is an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa and was inspired by her family's cultural traditions on the Fort Peck Reservation.

Each collection is a series of four colorful cards with the cultural story of each individual quilt depicted on the back of the card. The cards are custom die cut and designed with a light opacity on the inside, ideal for writing a message.

Keep scrolling to see "Made In Montana" gift ideas 👇