STUDIO NOTES | Croissants, drawings, and birthday plans
Hi Bestie,
It's been a while. The last time I wrote, I was sick in bed, listing everything Sam and I had cooked since moving house. (Still one of my favourite lists.) I’m back now, to the newsletter and well and truly back from our Italian and French holiday.
I still need to finish documenting our trip for myself, and create some proper lists for anyone heading to Paris or Milan and looking for good bread, good shoes, or the best train snacks. Sam and I had the most incredible time. It honestly feels like a dream now, but the best kind of dream. I still have a few more Paris photo dumps that deserve a home on the grid, just for me.
Since coming home, I’ve been deep in a book illustration project. Seventy-five drawings in what felt like the world’s shortest deadline. Most pieces took between 1.5 to 3 hours, which basically became 3 to 6 weeks of full-time drawing, on top of my full-time fashion job.
I was originally given two weeks for the first draft phase, which was a little ridiculous. So there were a lot of late nights, drawing marathons, and quiet stress spirals. I’m so lucky to have the world’s best boyfriend (he cooked every meal), and a very kind manager who let me take time off, including dipping into negative annual leave. The things we do to say yes to the right opportunities.
And it was the right opportunity. I’m really proud of the work. The author is brilliant, and I loved illustrating her words. I can’t share anything publicly just yet, but the book will be released in November.
While I was working on it, something shifted. I had a kind of creative epiphany. I realised that what I really love, and what I always come back to, is noticing, observing, documenting, and making sense of culture, people, and the patterns around me. And maybe even doing that in a slightly obsessive way. It finally felt okay to lean into that.
Sam and I also came back from Europe really clear-eyed. We’d seen so many beautiful, interesting things. Something about it unlocked this permission in both of us to just do it. No second-guessing. Just make the work. Trust the idea.
That’s what I’ve been doing lately, and the response has been incredibly motivating. I’ve been posting more to Instagram, reflections, illustrations, outfit notes, food observations, and something seems to be landing.
Right now, I’m working on a few new things under the umbrella of Studio Juliet (more on that soon), but here’s a little preview:
The first-ever baguette magnets are now live in my store, and they’re even being stocked at Loafer Bread.
There’s a new pretzel magnet on the way too — in collaboration with Cobb Lane Bakery.
And I’m in the early stages of a series called The Fitzroy Croissant Project. Think illustrated croissant diaries, cultural breadcrumbs, and personal rituals. I can’t wait to show you more.
Originally shared as a Studio Juliet newsletter.
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