eBay Find of the Day: Sea Fans

Did you see the post on Karen Robertson's framed sea fans (pictured below) on the Katiedid blog? Robertson's tinted fans are so beautiful, but I have a feeling they cost a pretty penny.

Then the cheapskate in me recalled seeing dozens of dried sea fans on eBay for just a few bucks each. I like them just fine in their natural state, but I bet you could soak these fans in a little dyed water and dry them flat in the sun for a similar tinted effect.

Lay their delicate, lacy forms on a tabletop or dresser for a bit of contrasting texture and interest (the black specimen pictured above would look great against a light-colored surface, while the lighter Bahama fan shown here would look striking against deep-toned wood or another dark background).

Other ideas: Tuck the fans' stems into narrow-necked vases or bottles for an otherworldly display, or frame them as Robertson does to create unique, naturalist art for your walls.

Current bids: $6 and $11, respectively.

(By the way, if you don't already have Katiedid's lovely blog on your bookmarks list, click on over and check it out.)