Gradient brushes in Illustrator

They said it can not be done but it can. Evidently you cannot use a gradient in an Illustrator brush.

First create your gradient within a small rectangle and then go 'Object ... Expand' and make sure fill is ticked and Specify say 200 steps. Grand ... and here's the trick, now look for the gradient object in the Layers pallete and see where is says Group, open that and another Group and you wil see a Clipping Path. Delete that Clipping Path.

Now when you drag your gradient rectangle to the Brushes pallete you will get no complaints about objects it can't use. These gradient brushes are obviously very heavy data wise so bear that in mind.