Indian women sometimes extracted the dyes from colored trade cloth by boiling it. The traders introduced vegetable dyes, which became a valuable trade item since their use was much more convenient. Most Indian items were decorated in some fashion. Their possessions were not only utilitarian, but also works of art. Porous bones were used as paint brushes.
Capillary action draws the paint into a fine pore.
Porcupine quills were used for decorative work on clothing until approximately 1850 when the trade and application of glass beads replaced quills as the decoration of choice. The sewing on of glass beads was an easy adaptation to make because the same designs could be made, more colors were available, and the quills no longer had to be acquired, washed, sorted, and dyed before work could begin. While quillwork is beautiful, unique and usually very well done, there were limitations to the colors and designs which could be applied. With the introduction of glass beads of small consistent size, and great variety of color, these limitations were overcome. Most work was without a pre-drawn plan, leading to a feeling that the design belongs to each individual article.