NEWSLETTER | Lists, cake, and quiet momentum
Hi bestie,
A quick thank you to everyone who replied to my last letter. I didn’t expect to get birthday wishes, let alone a request to send a digital list. But you did. And it made me so happy.
My 40th was this past weekend. We had cake, champagne, way too many pizzas, and all the people I love most in one room. Sam actually baked the cake himself, my dream vision, brought to life with pink icing and the most beautiful red fondant bow you've ever seen. He saved the day, and it was perfect.
And yes, I asked everyone to bring me a list. A best-of list, a memory list, a list of things they love. Some of them made me laugh out loud. Some made me cry. They were honestly the best part of the night.
If you wanted to send one but weren’t at the party, please do. I'm going to start collecting them.
(PS: I’m making a zine of it, the gifts, the lists, the prep, what we catered, 40 birthday reflections and more.)
Since we last spoke, I went to Mario’s for my next Receipt Observed entry. Mario’s is a Melbourne institution I’ve spent years ignoring. But Sam and I finally went on an Adventure Friday, and… I was wrong. The pasta was genuinely delicious. But the real standout was our waiter David, who’s worked there 35 years and basically made our night.
I’ll be sharing that one later tonight, still need to draw the receipt.
And in a completely different tone, I had to send a message to someone recently who’d been using one of my artworks without permission. It was awkward and I really didn’t want to say anything. But I’m learning how to speak up earlier, instead of letting things linger. I’m learning to say the honest thing kindly, and in time.
Most people don’t realise that illustrations come with licensing rules. It’s not about being precious, it’s just that when you’re an illustrator, you’re not just making something pretty, you’re creating intellectual property. It’s the difference between buying a print and owning the rights to reproduce it. The fee covers one use, not forever. And sometimes we do need to explain that, even if it feels uncomfortable.
Somewhere in the middle of all that (cake, boundaries, receipts) I’ve been noticing this quiet momentum. I’m making again. Writing again. Noticing again. It feels good.
So thank you. For reading, for replying, for being here.
If you’d still like to send me a list, I’d love to receive it.
Love,
Juliet
PS.
Next on my radar: MIFF lunch this week, new croissant diaries. I’ll share more soon.
Originally shared as a Studio Juliet newsletter.
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