(American, b.1949) Sandi spent most of her life growing up on Long Island admiring seashells as she walked along the beach. She was inspired to design Sailors' Valentines when she first saw one in 1983. Sandi set out to educate herself about this romantic Victorian folk art that instantly captured her heart. Never would she take any seashell for granted again.

As a self-taught folk artist, Sandi re-interprets antique mosaic designs with shell flowers incorporated into both single and double traditional octagonal boxes made exclusively from cherry or mahogany woods. She prefers to use unconventional messages such as "Love Me Tender", "Grow a Garden", "Dare to Dream", "Marry Me", "It Had To Be You", and "Beneath the Surface Lies our Future" rather than standard adorations.

Blanda's work has been exhibited from New York to Cape Cod to London and can be viewed at the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum on Sanibel. Since 1990 Sandi has entered the Sanibel Shell Fair and received awards every year for her entries.

Sandi Blanda is represented by Quester Gallery.