admin August 10th, 2008
I just looked at the date of the last post and I can’t believe how fact time slips by. I was chatting with a friend about building tipis and it reminded me that I hadn’t posted on the tipi living site for a while so I grabbed my camera and took a short trip through the garden and took a few pics of my tipis in August. Hope you enjoy the tipi pics as much as I enjoy my tipis.
admin May 31st, 2008
I love summer - each year I plant the gardens a little different and each year, I get to sit or around in my tipi and enjoy them. One problem us the herbs that I planted a few years back, seams most of them would rather grow in the pathways than in the herb beds. Nice part is it smells real good when you walk up to the tipi.
These pictures of my tipis and my garden were taken today. I’ll post more as the garden around the tipis grows. I’ll need to cut the dill and oregano in the path to the tipi pretty soon or I won’t be able to get in my tipi - and that would be bad!
admin May 29th, 2008
I just moved all the seedlings out to my tipi greenhouse and into the garden and planted the gerrnhouse with the summer crop of tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, artichokes and cucumbers. I probably have too many plants in there again but oh well 
This is the third year that I’ve grown stuff in a tipi but last year, I didn’t take very many pictures of the gardens or the tipi. I promise to keep you posted this year - and I’ll even take a few pictures of the tipi and all the great produce. If you want more info on tipi or the greenhouse tipis, please visit www.reesetipis.com
admin May 20th, 2008
From time to time I run across a truly wonderful tipi living experience and this was the case when Cathy Smith let me know about her new tipi workshop. Upon hearing of her plans, I knew I had to share the good news with other tipi enthusiasts. If you’ve ever dreamed of spending a week immersed in the tipi culture of the Plains Indians, experiencing the Native American tipi in one of the most beautiful locations in South-Central Montana, visiting the Buffalo Bill Historic Center and Plains Indian Museum, learning how to do Plains Indian beadwork, learning about the sacred nature of the pipe, and learning about the other ceremonies sacred to the Plains Indian and their tipi or lodge, then Cathy’s workshop is a must. Cathy’s next workshop is scheduled for 25-31 August, 2008.
I first met Cathy when I was working on the set of Dream Keepers (Or maybe it was Into The West). Cathy was an adviser for the wardrobe (Cathy, correct me if I’m wrong on this) and she had a break in the typical hectic schedule and stopped by the tipi village we were setting up for the movie. Cathy jumped right in and started helping us set the tipis up. Her exception knowledge of both the Indian tipi and of the Native American culture and history was like a breath of fresh air and make her exceptionally qualified to host such a retreat.
You can read more about Cathy Smith on her website at www.cathyasmith.com
And you can read more about the Tipi Retreat at www.tipilifestyles.com
The tipi pictured on the home page of Tipi Lifestyles was taken by Cathy Smith on the movie set for “Comanche Moon”. All the tipis used in “Comanche Moon”were made by Reese Tipis of Colorado Springs, CO.
admin May 20th, 2008
I was going through a few old tipi pictures and I thought you might all want to see how I tie the tipi tripod together.
Using one end of a good manila anchor rope, tie an overhand knot at the loose end of the anchor rope to keep it from slipping out. If you have an anchor rope larger than 3/8 inch, you will find it easier to lash the tripod poles with a smaller rope to which you can attach your heavy rope for wrapping around the pole structure and for anchoring the structure.
Start by tieing a clove hitch where the tipi poles cross (tie-point). Pull the clove hitch tight - then add two to four turns around the tipi poles at the tie-point, slipping the end of the rope under itself to create a half hitch with each turn. The Indians usually made four turns around the tipi pole tripod.
Make sure this knot is very tight - one way to cheat a little is to to not spread the tipi poles as much as they will need to be spread once the tipi is up - then by spreading the tipi poles, you will tighten the knot. Lift the tripod being sure that the base of the tipi poles do not slip away. When you swing the north tipi pole into position to form the tipis tripod, the lashing is stretched and becomes very tight. The lashing should be snug, use caution that you do not break a tipi pole as you spread the tipis tripod.
For more on tipi setup, pleas visit Reese Tipis -Tipi Setup page.
admin January 28th, 2008
I’ll admit - the last two years I’ve spent more time in the tipis that I have in my back yard than I have camping in the mountains in one of my tipis. With this in mind, I thought I’d show you a few tipi exterior pictures of my customer’s tipis. But they have to be in the yard ;-).
OK - Tipi #1 in in Cascade, Colorado, tipi #2 is in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, tipi #3 in my good friends in Estes Park, Colorado, tipi #4 is in Franktown, Colorado, tipi #5 is in Hamilton, Montana, tipi #6 is in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, tipi #7 is near Taus, New Mexico, tipis #8 are in Malibu, California, tipi #9 is in Phoenix, Arizona, tipi #10 is in the Trinity Alps of Northern California, tipi #11 is in my daughter’s back yard in Neunkirchen Germany (we made snow angels in front of her tipi to protect it), tipi #12 is in Aspen , Colorado, Tipi # 13 is in Denver, Colorado, Tipi # 14 (pictures 14, 15, and 16) is in San Francisco , California.
Well thous are just a few of the thousands of Reese Tipis that are in folks back yards scattered across the country. Email me a picture of you backyard tipi and I’ll post it here. richard(put the at thingy here)reesetipis(put the dot thingy here)com
RT December 28th, 2007
Tipi painting is a wonderful art. There is a lot more that goes into it than people think. I have been painting for many years, and started to paint tipis with Reese Tipis Inc. a few years ago. I have learned a great deal and discovered much more through trial and error. Reese Tipis offers a full service paint department and can assist you with any questions you may have while in the process of painting your own tipi!
admin December 27th, 2007
My love for tipis started over 35 years ago after My father purchased a small tent and awning company in Salt Lake City. I was put to work helping around the shop and I was soon helping make and setup tipis (tepees, teepees) with the family. My father sold the business when I was 18 but he and my mother continued to make tipis while I took a leave of absence from the family business to join the Air Force. After a successful career in the Air Force, I decided it was time to settle down and since mom was not getting any younger, and was having difficulty making tipis, I decided I would help. I soon moved the business from Salt Lake to Colorado Springs and have been making Reese Tipis here since 1998.
I still camp in my tipis and spend a fair bit of time in the ones in my back yard. With this blog, I hope to be able to share my tipi experiences with tipi lovers around the world.
