New Items

Look what's new! Now you can find all of my favorite notions in one place. Everything one needs to complete all those beautiful projects that keep piling up.

One thing that I never leave home (or the United States) without, Thread Heaven is great to have. It helps your thread not tangle or fray, two very important things for applique. 

I've fallen in love with this French brand, Sajou. They remade these classic 19th century, Eiffel Tower inspired scissors. They are small, light, and have a very sharp point, all things great for any type of handwork. I hope you stop by the Notions page to see all the new things we've added and are adding each week.

New Kit Available

When I was in Australia a few years ago, it seemed that English paper piecing was all the rage. Since I love handwork, I thought I'd give it a try. This make-up bag was inspired by both classic design and St. Remy de Provence. It uses tape measure for a nice snap closure and is tall enough to fit make-up brushes. I hope you have as much fun making as I did! Available at RobynPandolph.com.

A New Chapter

Hello from Singapore.

 A new chapter in my life has begun and I am looking forward to sharing bits of it with you. I have avoided blogging in the past because it seems to be a very intimate way of being part of your lives and for you to share in mine. I find this a bit unsettling but since closing the store I find I miss those moments of openness and sharing that happened when you stopped in for a visit or to shop. I think that was my favorite part of owning a store, certainly the business part of it was the least. I miss the styling of the store, too. I guess that is why I spend my time looking at blogs that relate to design. They are inspiring and allow me to dream.

My goal in spending time sharing what is going on with me is to be able to keep in touch and let you know the things I am going through, creatively and otherwise. Sometimes I will talk about quilting and fabric and sometimes I will talk about me and how my life is changing and allowing me to experience new adventures that will ultimately allow me to be more creative.

So, the blog is titled, "From the Studio", obviously my studio resides within me. It could be a physical place, my apartment in Singapore but soon we will be traveling to some other location and that becomes a bit confusing. I once thought that creativity only came within a certain environment. I now realize, over time, that as with most things, those of value are within us.

I am missing Jack terribly but he seems quite content back at home in Galveston with my daughter and her boyfriend.

You may wonder why I am in Singapore. Well, this is where work has taken Martin and I love him and want to be with him. I am sure you will hear lots about my lovely British partner, as if you haven't already. It is wonderful to be 50 something and in love as if I were a teenager. I hope everyone feels that kind of love and joy! 

( Martin, where he is most relaxed, on the narrow boat in England.)

I hope you will find the things I share with you inspiring and creative. I look forward to your comments and friendship along this journey.

A Little Extra

I am always up for suggestions when it comes to a good book or great music, etc. so I thought in return I would share some of my favorites, like the last good book that I have read, my playlist on my iPhone that I take on my run/walk around the lake, a movie that I have enjoyed recently, blogs I love, etc.

Books: Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? by Jeanette Wilkerson

(What a great title. Sounds like something my mom would have said.)

This is an autobiography that I found quite familiar to my own experience apart from the fact that I am heterosexual and American, which I think is beside the point. I was adopted like she was and I think the author and I shared a lot of the same things because of that one fact. We are the same age so we dealt with a lot of the same issues of that era. Maybe I will write a book one day :)!

Playlist: Adele (of course!!)

both albums

Florence and the Machine

Ceremonials

I have to qualify the next few selections. Martin and I love watching the BBC. They have the best television and we love Luther. It is a great TV series and the main character, Luther, is played by Idris Elba. He actually won a Golden Globe award for this role recently. He is a stunningly beautiful man. The show is great and the music is fantastic. So the following are from the show.

Sia

Colour the Small One

The song "Breathe Me" is in the soundtrack for the show.

Beck

From the soundtrack "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"

Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime

Massive Attack

Heligo Land

The song " Paradise Circle" is on the Luther Soundtrack.

I am in one of those funky moods where I am trying to find out where I need to be and where I am heading. I like self introspection in order to grow, creatively and otherwise.

Last movie that I watched that I have fallen in love with.

HUGO

Phenomenal film with exquisite cinematography.

This is my first blog that I have completed without a tutorial from my daughter, Hannah. (Well, to be truthful I did have to call her and find out how to retrieve this blog. I thought I had lost it in cyberspace. Other than that, this is my first so I hope it only improves with time.
 I am going to have to review how to do the hyperlinks, sorry.)

Enjoy and I look forward to bringing you new adventures very soon.

Hope Cove

via

Back in the spring of 2009, while I was spending time in England, Martin and I went for a Sunday drive. We ended up in a little village on the southwest coast of Devon, Hope Cove. 

That little village, where the sky seemed the bluest, is what inspired my new spring line. 

This Dresden Plate quilt was made out of the small prints from Hope Cove.

While I was at Hope Cove, I kept thinking about how people use the ocean for work. Fishing boats lined the beach, in for a meal or the end of a shift.

The more I learn about antique toile, the more I realize that it is about the workings of the people--fishing, hunting, music. 

This piece, which I think is the main fabric of the line, glorifies the work of fishermen. I hope that you love it as much as I do. And don't forget to stop by and see all of the fabrics HERE. Oh, you can also see a cute little quilt my daughter made out of this line here.