I love taking 'crafty' classes whenever I have the chance so when I saw the flyer for Sea Kelp baskets here at the campground, I immediately signed for Sarah and I up for it!  

Believe it or not, this basket - pouch looking thing was made from those big, huge seaweed things you see on the beach.  You know - the ones with the bulb-like thing at the end?  You dry those things out a bit, clean them up and you can make all sorts of things.  The little basket in  my picture was the first (and only) one, but I'm thinking I might try this again.  

You basically just cut off the bulb end (save to make a flower tea light holder!) and then slit open the stalk so you can flatten it out.  Cut pieces to make a basket - square, round, whatever you want - and then sew it together with a yarn needle and waxed twine.  Next time I think I will pre-punch the holes with an awl or scissors to make it a bit easier to sew up.

Then you set your creation in the sun (or in front of the heater) for a day and it dries into a very rigid basket.  Too cool, don't you agree??  I didn't even think to bring my camera to the class for 'in-progress' pictures, but I'll be sure to take some next time.  You can see more pictures of the finished product (including my 'flower tea light holder') in my photo album here.