$450 Sea Fan Project

I want to thank everyone that left such kind notes on the post where I

mentioned my health issues. I have faith that 2012 will be a good year!

I have been trying to get a start on my long list of projects to complete in 2012. Today I wanted

to paint a small table and make a new chalkboard but the weather is not cooperating.

You may have seen the picture in my sidebar of the Dyed Sea Fans I have for sale on

Etsy. I have framed four of the blue sea fans in clear illusion frames and they now

hang in our family room. With the illusion frames the color of the wall becomes
the background.

Last year while visiting the beach I wandered into a very high end decor shop. This

was the kind of shop where I rarely buy anything but I do get some great ideas for projects.

The shop had a wall of blue framed sea fans that I fell in love with.

Are you sitting down? You had better be sitting when I tell you the price was $450 each!.

No, that is not a typo...$450 for ONE framed sea fan.

If you have been reading my blog for any time you know I love a challenge and this

project had my name all over it. As soon as I got home I ordered several sea fans

and bought Rit dye, thinking this would recreate the beauties I saw in the shop.

Strike one.

The Rit dye barely changed the color of the fans and left it really blotchy.

There was very little color change even after soaking overnight.

Strike two

Back to the craft store to buy two other brands of dye. No better results.

Strike three

The dye didn't work so lets try spray paint. Not good, the paint clumps

up in the holes and the fan gets stiff and brittle.

Not a person to give up, I tried many methods, finally making my own dye.

The fans you see below were dyed using a three step process I developed.

After much trial and error I am thrilled with the results you see below.

Etsy

Here are some other photos I found of dyed sea fans.

The fans look beautiful sitting in a vignette or displayed inside a clear glass lamp.

Pinterest
Love the white fans on the blue bead board wall.

My fans sell unframed for $31.00 each on Etsy. The illusion frames are from Michaels and

using a 40% off coupon cost around $21.00. The total cost of this project is

$52.00...sure beats $450!

This is just one of the many projects I have planned for my Etsy shop in 2012. I am

now working on creating other colors for the fans

Any Suggestions?

interiordesignpict