Lara - I'm glad you posted this question....love these things! I'm new here - and hadn't perused the FAQ's yet....a wealth of information...and I love all the dangly things...and already have so many of the materials that are called for....now to find the time to do them.... Thanks nonacook - for mentioning the FAQ's - and I think you're right - the way Lara describes what she wants to make - it sounds like the "wire basket suncatcher" one. Very cool!

Wonbyherwits - that is sort of like I was thinking - maybe a little bigger. Basically, the way the county people described it to me, I should be able to buy the big (10"-12" diameter) black corrugated plastic pipe with Y-shaped "wings" on the ends, that would sort of serve as a funnel to collect the runoff and channel it down into the pipe. But I would want the wings to be only off to the sides, not on the top or bottom, since this pipe has to sit flush on the ground (the ground is too unstable from erosion to dig into it).

You can also use wooden beads on ends of painted or stained towel, or ceramic or even metal beads. Imporant thing to remember is the dowel should match size of project. In the pic shown the project could be 18 in. long then need 1/2 to 3/4 in dowel. If it's only 8 in. long then need probably 1/4 in dowel. I made xmas trees 1 yr & used 1/4 dowel across the bottom with red wooden beads on ends glued on. Driftwood is excellent choice for top of macrame hanging item. The dowel used to come in about 36 in. lengths & would be box of them with dividers for the different sizes,ask where they are at or you'll probably miss them. Not too expensive either. Of course if people come around & stick a flag in your yard for 4th or with flower attached for Mother's day advertising homes for sale, their bottled water, etc. Then get dowel free!!Could cut down a left over brass or white round curtain rod & put metal decorative beads on ends(file ends of metal smooth so don't get cut) Wooden hobby horse handle too!! Good Luck! Jan

Oh, my. word. $11.99 for something I think every little girl had for a while when I was a kid. I think someone's clever dad in the neighborhood enlarged the hole in a regular wooden spool?