Carolyn Robbins Site Design

03/29/2026

It was a beautiful morning driving up through the Spring grapevine growth. I’m never tired of seeing the fields change with the season. I asked my friend Keshav who is the man behind Delhi Belly Indian Bistro in Sonoma, if he would make a statement in his windows, then I would come and paint his No Kings Day signs. I had planned another kind of protest day, but his willingness to make a statement as a business, warmed my heart. Throughout the day I reflected on how little my political voice is announced on my public platforms. Often, I believe I owe it to my customers, to not let politics get in the way of business too. But Keshav Chhetri changed my mind today. Not one business announced their ideas like Delhi Belly in downtown Sonoma. He is shown standing outside his restaurant with a few friends that showed him the honor of dining on his good food. May we all come out of our comfort zones. Thank you Keshav, You will see a lot more from me expressing my views as you did today!

03/21/2026

Recently a friend mentioned in a footnote of a conversation that most people don’t move their art around as I do. I agreed but live in faith that may change in time, when interiors and art evaporate into the same ether. We giggled remembering a little talk I gave to a group of about 60 women. When this subject came up, one woman stood up and with a serious fierceness in her voice, proclaimed her pieces all have particular places in her home and she has no intention of changing them! More than a few heads nodded in agreement. I lost my words for that moment of my talk.. but went on to describe the perks of moving things around: to experience pieces in different lighting, surrounded by complimentary objects or colors. Perhaps art can be viewed from another perspective. ****Ms. Serious Skeptic wandered over to me as we were leaving and volunteered her decision: she’s going to move one piece and see how it goes….🤭I love my job for moments like this! ********* These photos are my pieces moved onto a bench today. I smile at how the scotty dog landed facing my watercolor of a designer floating in words….. accidental. Wonderful work by Steven Guarnaccia.

11/18/2025

10/31/2025

My mom taught me how to sew when I was ten. I still use the same sewing machine today. Throughout the years she always loved to help with projects and she was so good at everything she touched. Like these crazy multi fabric chair seats I invented. I miss her terribly, yet she’s whispering in my ear often, letting me know to persevere and never become discouraged with a process. “Just keep plugin away and the solution will come!” … she would advise. I had the best teacher in the universe!

10/17/2025

One of the glorious things about being a designer is learning about new tools, new methods, stretching imagination and the trials and failures that make life richer by experience. I attempted building templates for an iron curtain rod several times, only to discover there is a good tool for that! Aurelio helped me so patiently after several visits to his beautiful farmland shop. Miracles finally do happen!

09/30/2025

Everyday reading the news, working to convert AI components on two websites, more usernames and passwords than my brain can handle and indecisive clients, has brought me to a new level of mindfulness. My past Zen practice has reminded me to chop wood🪵

07/06/2025

Sometimes I pull out these old shots from the Mutiny Hotel ( 1979) ‘The Zirka Room’ and I chuckle remembering how I worked with these poor Cuban maintenance men in the hotel with little experience, in getting metallic fabric to hang right from the valances. I remember this one gentleman Jose, who looked at me stoically and said: “ Ms. Carolyn, what people sleep under this?” 😂

04/25/2025

It’s harder and harder to get the right scans, but I still enjoy the task. I’m the last in a line but very proud my daughter, Daniella, can use a variety of programs to design. And the beat goes on…. ✏️

02/23/2025

02/02/2025

Why does this saki cup say so much about design in life? I’ve kept it for years and often ask my new clients the same question. Perhaps because our interiors should say something about who we are. Not just what we can buy or how we can ‘fit in’. Who are we and how do we show ourself? I suspect the person who ordered these little cups, for a well respected Japanese restaurant at the time, was new in the city. So new, that he or she didn’t know how to spell it. For me this makes me smile, that they may not have noticed, or perhaps the restaurateur didn’t care. No matter. The story is worth the mishap. 🍱🎏