July Newsletter
NO. 48 | July 2025
From the Desk of Madison Moore is a monthly newsletter of friendly writing on living a creative life. Here, we celebrate the joy and magic of making things! And by reveling in the expansive definition of making, we acknowledge that we make things everyday. More concretely, I write about the process for all the kinds of things I make (books, clothes, illustrations, quilts, paintings, ceramics, baked goods, flowers…).
But, creativity is also more than an isolated craft—it’s a life practice. So you will find me writing about life, the natural world, home, food, and more.
Last year I was more in-tune with the seasons than ever before. The rhythm of the plants and the weather sunk into me. So, when spring rolled around this year, I thought I knew exactly what to expect.
Of course, that’s not how the seasons work! Every year is quite different. Obvious as it sounds, that feels like a revelation to me this year, especially at the plant level. I see so many plants I’ve never seen before! I see new ones dominating where I expected others to thrive. It’s been nice reassurance that I’ll never get tired of tracking the ecosystem around me, aligning my life with the outdoors.
It’s a continuous practice of paying attention. This learning-about-the-year is happening in our garden too. Every new plant we grow is a new way of understanding the passing of the seasons, the conditions that affect our ecosystem, and thus, us. I’ve been meaning to send out a garden missive for some time now.
As we reach the first of July, most of our plants have sprung into fruiting or flowering action.
We are growing more than we grew last year in our limited space, and yet my heart’s capacity to care for these plants expands and expands and expands.
Our chamomile, which struggled in the rainy weather, still fights to flower.
Our cucumbers, too, have bloomed. Cucumber juice is in the top 3 of things I’m most excited to consume this summer.
And the herbs and onions are generous, ready to offer a harvest anytime we need.
I am constantly reminded of the value of soaking in what is happening right now. It may never happen again! In fact, it will never happen exactly the same way again. How lucky that we will get to move through the rhythm of the seasons over and over. How lucky that it will always be different and new.
I’m pretty excited about all the posts building up on my schedule! Thanks for all the love on recent posts, and a warm welcome to the new inboxes!
I spent a week of June in residency at Milkwood (check out part 1 here), and the rest of the month enjoying the treasures of early summer: berries, newts, swimming, stars, gardening.
I also partnered with Lumos Lumos craft lights so I can work on my stitching and knitting projects on the couch after the sun goes down! You can get 25% off a light with the code Madmakes (this week only).
Portfolio Peek
I worked on this gouache piece during my Milkwood residency! I’ll be sharing all about it during my Milkwood Part 2 post later this month.
Phoebe Wahl is a beloved illustrator, book-maker, and designer. She’s written and illustrated several picture books and an illustrated teenage diary. I love how rich and full her work is, and her books all feel very honest and emotional. She also makes lots of products if you want prints or home decor, and she writes a newsletter if you want to keep up with her work!
✷ Music video with Saoirse Ronan
✷ Linking to my own How to Start Sewing Clothes post in case you missed it
✷ One of my new Milkwood friends has a book out today! Happy Book Birthday Kat & Miss Camper!
✷ Snickerdoodle peach cobbler sounds really good
This felt like a warm chat with a friend, thanks for sharing! 🩷
Thank you for sharing your refreshing observations! ♥️