Sagittarius

Sagittarius, the sign of the Centaur, the archer who is half man and half beast, is the ninth sign of the Zodiac. You need demanding physical or intellectual exercise in order to fulfill your potential. Being a Sagittarian, you should guard against restlessness, and develop a sense of purpose. This will ensure that you possess the continuity of effort required for a full expression of your potential, and thus your psychological fulfillment. You are likely to be one of the explorers and travelers of the Zodiac-both in mind and in body. You are willing to take risks, but must control a gambling spirit that can occasionally get out of hand. Sagittarian characteristics: Fire Element. Colors are rich purples and dark blues. Flowers: Dandelions, lime-flowers, carnations, and pink are all flowers traditionally associated with Sagittarius. Herbs: Lemon Balm. Trees: Sagittarian trees include the oak, birch, lime, mulberry, chestnut and ash. Spices: No spices are particularly associated with Sagittarius, but allspice is sometimes mentioned in connection with this sign. Gems: Topaz is the Sagittarian gem. To be used as a talisman, it should always come from Spain, a Sagittarian country. Metal: The Sagittarian metal is traditionally said to be tin; it is especially relevant to the sign when it is highly polished and shining. Animals: All animals related to hunting, including big and small game and horses, fall under the dominion of Sagittarius Happy-Go-Lucky Sagittarians give the impression that they have not a care in the world. They are always ready to offer a friendly smile and a word of encouragement to less positive people. Sagittarians are at their best when challenged. Your positive mind will allow you to grasp the overall structure of a situation and assess the best way of solving a problem, whatever the difficulties. Jupiter, the Roman god of philosophy and languages, represents the Sagittarian ruling plant. It can make its subjects optimistic and loyal, but sometimes conceited. Travel: Hungary, Australia, and Spain are among the countries rules by Sagittarius. Spain is a big favorite for Sagittarian vacations. Reading: Sagittarians are eternal students who love to study - especially foreign languages. You will therefore enjoy reading. Hunting curios: As the hunters of the Zodiac, Sagittarians often enjoy searching for bargains and for unusual or exotic articles. Any Sagittarian home will feel very roomy, perhaps because of a clever use of mirrors. This is just as well, because furniture, books, ornaments, and china will occupy every spare corner. You will be happiest in a career that can be planned in advance. Predictability does not have other appeal, however, and you must be free to do things in your own way. It is excellent if your work involves travel. The Sagittarian body organ is the liver. You should therefore make an effort to learn what does and does not agree with you, and find out exactly what your food and drink limits are.

The Art of Mosaic

I can't tell you how much fun I had this weekend! I went to a class in Grover Beach that is the best kept secret in the Central Cost Area! It is called Passiflora Mosaics, the owners Fred and Donnell Pasion are great teachers and hosts! It was an incredible two days, starting with introducing our selves (everyone in the class), then picking out our glass and starting to mosaic our pieces. The first day went so quick that I don't think anyone stopped for lunch, but I was so busy cutting my glass and applying it to my mushroom that I don't think I even looked around. When I got home the first night I went to bed at 7 pm I was so tired (a wonderful tired)! The next morning we started to clean our pieces and then then apply the grout. Then to let our piece dry and clean it up. Last night I had a hard time going to sleep my head was so full of ideas and when I finally did go to sleep I was up at 3:40 am. It is so hard when you can't turn your head off, but, oh what wonderful ideas are in my head. If you live in this area or you are coming to visit you need to make sure you drive by their house, where the classes are held and look at their yard, it is like Disney Land to me. It is just incredible, stepping stones, mushrooms, wall hangings, bird baths, tables, even the crack in the driveway is mosaic! It is eye candy and unbelievable to behold. The address is 330 N. 10th Street in Grover Beach. Fred and Donnell's next classes start in January please go to their website for information about the classes, you will truly be happy that you took a class from these two wonderful and very talented people. This class has pulled me out of my depression since I have moved back to this area and I feel it was a wonderful blessing for me to take this class, I feel like I have my grove back. Thank you so much Fred and Donnell! Here is a picture of my mushroom, mind you not a very good one but you can get an idea of what fun I had! The website is http://www.passifloramosaics.com/

Beautiful December Sunset

As I was setting at my desk last evening looking out the window I saw the sky starting to turn the most beautiful colors, so what could I do but grab my camera and run outside to start taking pictures. With the scattered clouds in the sky it was just incredible. I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as me.

Glanzer's Garden Nursery

His succulent garden that is on a piece of lava rock is just fascinating, I can't believe how the plants just grow on the rock. He has a plant bed when you walk in that is just how I want my back yard to be so watch out Larry (my son) you will be redoing the back yard as soon as I get the flat rocks that I need. He even told me where I can get the flat rocks that he used in his garden. Then I will be taking another trip to the nursery and get all of my plants from him because they are healthy, happy plants and I want to give my business to him!

On the way to the Gem show we found the most wonderful Nursery in Cayucos! If you are in the area it is a must stop place, the address is 101 13th street Cayucos 805-995-0238 We were greeted by a sweet little dog and then walked over to see an incredible koi pond brimming with beautiful, very large koi fish. As we walked around the owner who was very gracious I might add, answered questions and showed us his beautiful nursery. The plants are very healthy and the cost is half of what you would pay at a regular store for plants. The aromas coming from the different plants were wonderful, we could of stayed there all afternoon walking around or just sitting by the koi pond. It was so peaceful and relaxing at this nursery, I just can't stress enough that this is a wonderful place to visit.

Trip to Gem Show

Here are a few pictures of our trip to Cayucos and the Gem Show, small but packed with wonderful crystals and beads.

The view to Morro Bay was wonderful even though it was over cast and gray.

Loved walking out on the pier and smelling the wonderful aroma of the ocean, nothing like it!

Foggy Morning!

I was walking Coco the other morning and it was really foggy when I spotted this spider web with dew on it, just had to take a picture of it to share with everyone.

Not much going on just working a lot and stringing crystals in strands of 24 to sell. I'll be doing a quilt show in April and want to get them all strung and not wait till the last minute. The quilt show is The Best of The Valley show.

I'm going to a gem show (small one) this morning so I will take my camera and get some shots to post! Wish me happy rock hunting.

Central California Bead Society Show 2010

As you can see Dennis is hard at work! Sandy came and helped me set up the booth and work all day with me, THANK YOU! This was a see if I like doing shows and how long it takes to set everything up show and then how long does it take to pack it all up! Answer a long time! I really did enjoy myself and it was fun to see old acquaintances and to make new ones. Lots of wonderful beads and the weather was not so hot, which is a good thing. It is so wonderful how the energy in a room full of people who love beads can be so electrifying. I love to just sit and watch people look at beads and see the looks on their faces when they spot the perfect bead or beads that is just right for them. I brought six racks of beads, crystal, findings, needles and threads. I went home with a lot less of everything. Thank you to all who bought beads from me. Now I have to think about if I want to do more shows, but I think the answer will be yes. It really was a lot of fun.

Time! Time! Time!

Time has really gotten away from me. It seems like all I do is work on this up coming bead show in Fresno, Sept 19. Trying to get the seed beads ready and the rivolis. The rivolis look really pretty hanging on the racks instead of in the cases. You can really see them now, what a beautiful sight! Love those crystals! Not much to report other than work and the weather is wonderful here, it's been in the high 60's sometimes sunny and sometimes foggy. I'm going to try and make myself swim in our pool at least 3 times a week, it's heated and wonderful but I just won't let myself take the time. I think I need to stop and smell the roses! Speaking of roses the @!!@!!@ gophers ate one of my rose bushes, the little butt heads! I won't put bait out because I have 2 dogs and the neighbors have cats that come in my yard and I don't want to hurt them I just want them to go into the big field by my house and stay out of my yard. For some reason they just won't listen to me! ha-ha Next year I'm planting very large sunflowers in my back yard, I just love the way they look! I also want to put in a lemon tree, I miss the one I had in Clovis. I use lemons a lot in my cooking so if anyone has any ideas on which kind of lemon tree I should get please send me an email. I didn't know there were so many different kinds! The fog has rolled back in I can't even see the ocean now, but it will go away by 11 am tomorrow and then I will be able to look out at my wonderful ocean! Enough of my going on about not much, hope everyone is doing great and I will see a lot of you in Fresno on the 19th of September for the big bead show at the Ramada Inn at Shaw and Freeway 41. Love, Kandra

Taco Temple Morro Bay

I took a break and went to lunch with Susan who owns Beads By The Bay and where did we go you ask, my favorite place Taco Temple in Morro Bay. If you have not been there you really must stop and eat. You need to have cash because they don't take credit cards. There food is mouth watering and delicious! My favorite is the chili relleno and the carrot cake. You eat the chili relleno and you take the cake home to eat and two people could share this wonderful cake!

Susan had a taco and I had the chili relleno.

Beads By The Bay 2

And the journey continues in the garden in the back! As you walk out the back door you see this quaint old building in the back and if you walk closer you will see that this is Susan's class room and what a wonderful, peaceful setting. If you look to the right you will see herbs and plants of all kinds for sell and such an incredible selection of hard to find plants, like the kool aid plant she has for sell, it smells like grape kool aid. I will be buying one of those when I finish unpacking (a year from now) ha-ha. The Koi pond is my favorite in the back yard as I am partial to koi fish. You can sit by the pond and feel how peaceful it is in the back yard of Susan's shop, the energy is wonderful. I am sure as I was walking around taking pictures the little Faries in her back yard were peeking out of the plants laughing at me! I will post all of the pictures that I took of her shop on my Facebook page so everyone can enjoy them. This is a must stop place if you are anywhere near Morro Bay, I promise you will not be disappointed!

Beads By The Bay

Beads By The Bay is a beautiful bead store tucked away in Morro Bay the address is 333 Morro Bay Blvd Morro Bay, CA 93442 805-772-3338 When you see the front of this shop you think what a cute little shop, but when you walk in you are greeted by the beautiful Miss Lily and then the adventure begins! As you walk around this charming bead store you will not believe how many beads are in there! They are tucked into every nook and cranny of this shop. The glass on the wall is incredible with every color you can think of and shape. Then you walk a little ways and you will see pearls like you have never seen. Then the seed beads are of course beautiful hanging on the wall. But then it gets better, Susan has a wonderful selection of crystals in all shapes and sizes to pick from. They are just magnificent tucked all over the shop and then you walk out into the back and it is like you are in Fairy Land! I will continue on a different page so I can add more pictures.

Betty's Fabrics San Luis Obispo

Went to Betty's Fabrics today in San Luis Obispo they have the best selection of Ultra Suede I have ever seen! They have many colors and patterns to chose from. Of course the minute I walk in I want to start quilting and I don't have the time right now to even think about that, but I must say if you walk into that store you will want to start sewing even if you don't know how! Ha Ha Buttons and Buttons, they have a whole aisle with just buttons! I didn't get a shot of that but when I go back in I will try to remember to take a picture of the button aisle so you can see all of there beautiful buttons. If you are in this area it is worth a stop! The address is 1229 Carmel San Luis Obispo, CA 805-543-1990 Had to get some ultra suede for a project I want to start and of course I bought more than I needed because the colors were so nice. You can never have to much ultra suede! Well back to unpacking I just wanted to share Betty's with everyone. Love, Kandra

Still Unpacking

Yes I'm still unpacking and I must say I'm getting pretty sick of it. I'm down to 10 boxes in the dining room, living room and office. Sounds great right, well then I still need to unpack my pressed glass at the bead warehouse. Then I need to unpack my glass studio which will take at least a week to do. :(

On a lighter note, I have tried to add a free pattern to the blog which I must say almost kicked my butt! I wish with all my heart that I was good with computer stuff but this is the best I could do. If you click on the pattern picture and then click on it again it gets larger and then click print and you should be able to print it out in a size that you can read. Let me know if this works for everyone. I will now try to add a picture of the bracelet I made with this pattern, hope it works.

I used delicas and three colors of purple (light, medium and dark) then I used the good gold of course for the background. The edging is 15/0 seed beads in 462D and 465.

Hope everyone enjoys this bracelet pattern it is one of my bargello patterns and I have made a lot of them up. I love the way bargello looks and the way the colors blend together. One of the colors of purple is a matte color because I like to put matte with shiny beads because it gives your piece depth.

Again please let me know if the printing out of the pattern works and by the way I did this piece in peyote stitch. I used snaps as the closure because it is easy to get on and off.

Love, Kandra

The Ocean

I stopped unpacking for a while to go down to Shell Beach and look at the ocean. To sit and watch the ocean moving and churning is so awe-inspiring. I never tire looking at the ocean and enjoying the wonderful smell, even on a foggy day like today. Up on the Mesa where I live the sun has come out and then went away as the fog would move in and out. I started setting up the deck today with my patio furniture, had to stop and go to the store to get covers for the chairs. I didn't need them in Clovis but here the fog comes in at night and the chairs will be wet if I don't cover them. Hope you enjoy the pictures it was a wonderful 65 degrees here today!