~ Basinah's Bio ~ My New Year's resolution many years ago was to try something new every month.  Although that resolution has receded into the background, it has had a long and lasting impact on me.  The very first thing I challenged myself to do that year was to try bellydancing.  Little did I know I'd love it--the people, the music, the movement, the costuming--all of it!  In time I came to be Basinah (a name given to me which means "kitten"). As time went on and I learned more about dancing, I began to dream of the luxury of a silk veil.  Where I lived silk veils were hard to come by and the few I could find, I couldn't afford.  So, as any resourceful woman would do, I decided to teach myself to dye silk.  I knew it would take a serious investment to get going, but I was hopeful that I could sell a few veils along the way and come out even and be done in a few weeks (never mind the irony of my not being able to afford one veil, so I invested far more money in making many). That was two years ago. In the years in between I've learned a lot about dyeing silks and mixing dye (all by the trial-and-error method).  It turns out that I enjoy creating my silks as much as I do wearing them or dancing with them and so I keep on. All silks are made by me, one at a time, in my kitchen.  No fancy studio here...just a blue tarp draped over my kitchen island and what has affectionately become known as my "chemistry set."  From time to time I have some help (for which I am incredibly grateful!) from my mother, who puts in long days helping me when she can (she'll be 75 this year!).  This truly is a family affair.  Houseguests are not immune to being conscripted to help me, too.  Luckily, they do so quite happily. I remember very vividly what it felt like to have to pass on a beautiful piece of silk because my bank account was holding me back.  Because of this feeling, I try and keep my prices as low as I can.  I believe firmly that we all deserve something that's luxurious, yet affordable.