From Naples to Newsstands: Meet The Hobbyist and the Women Who Created It
This week marked the launch of The Hobbyist, a new quarterly print magazine that celebrates hobbies and the everyday rituals that give shape to a slower, more meaningful life.
Founded by Naples natives and longtime friends Abbey Moffatt, Sydney Stearns, and Megan Williams Moon, the magazine grew out of a shared appreciation for intentional living and for the unhurried rhythm of places like Southwest Florida.
Abbey describes growing up in Naples like a blank canvas; some remember never being bored, while others recall the opposite. But in that in-between space, something quiet and lasting took hold. Days spent at the beach, afternoons that stretched on without urgency, and small rituals like ice cream runs and family dinners all became early lessons in presence. Slowing down wasn’t something they had to learn later; it was something they had lived.
What It Means to Be a Hobbyist
That perspective now sits at the center of The Hobbyist—not just in name, but in philosophy.
Central to the magazine is a redefinition of what a hobbyist actually is. It’s not about mastery or niche expertise, but about attention—about making space for small, meaningful practices within everyday life.
"Being a hobbyist can be as simple as making your morning coffee, preparing a meal, or taking a walk to start your day," Abbey explained. "Hobbies are so often our brakes in the go-go-go of daily life."
That idea comes to life in the way the magazine is structured. Each issue centers on a single hobby, explored in a way that feels both aspirational and accessible. The goal is less about perfection, and more about participation.
From there, the publication unfolds into four recurring sections—homemaking, health and wellness, fashion, and travel—each designed to leave readers with something tangible to carry back into their own routines.
“My copy lives on my kitchen island, and I have even surprised myself with how often I go back to reference the beloved lemon cookie recipe or flip through the section on personal style on days where I feel like I have nothing to wear," Abbey said.
A Magazine Born from Friendship — and a Gap in the Market
The clarity of that vision is rooted, in part, in the history the three founders share.
Their friendship spans more than fifteen years, tracing the arc from homecoming dances and learning to drive to college years, weddings, and now life as neighbors. So when the idea to build something together emerged, it didn’t feel like a formal decision so much as a natural extension of a shared creative instinct.
The Hobbyist began as a way to bring that perspective into one place. The business followed. Over time, that vision sharpened as they found themselves increasingly underwhelmed by existing media.
As self-described hobbyists (long before the name became official), they knew what was missing: something tactile, thoughtful, and grounded.
Rather than positioning themselves in opposition to digital life, however, they’ve taken a more balanced approach. The goal isn’t to reject modern habits, but to create space alongside them.
“It’s been important to us from the beginning to lean into analog media without yelling at everyone to throw away their phones,” Abbey said. “Our goal is to offer a fresh space for our readers to get inspired and bring a little more slowness into their routines.”
A Perfect Naples Day, by the Women Who Know It Best
It’s a mindset that feels especially at home in Naples. Ask the founders how they'd spend an ideal day here in their hometown, and the answer feels like a page pulled straight from the magazine itself: an early morning at GLDN Hour, a stroll down Third Street for the farmers market with stops at Chesterdales, Love Celine, and Books on Third — followed by a beach day at their favorite stretch on 33rd Avenue South, and dinner at HB's to catch the sunset.
Simple, intentional, and deeply rooted in place. Exactly what The Hobbyist was made for.
The first issue of The Hobbyist is available now. For more information, visit their website.
Meet the Naples women behind The Hobbyist, a new quarterly print magazine that celebrates hobbies and the everyday rituals that give shape to a slower, more meaningful life.
