I was introduced to Meg Tuite on Facebook through our own Anna March — who, by the way, was just nominated for a Pushcart Award for her powerful essay, “The Church of Dead Girls,” which you will want to read and then friend request Anna so you can congratulate her. Yay, Anna! Anyway, when Anna told me about Meg, who is another great writer you all should know, she said to make sure I checked out her t-shirt company, Magnanimous Portraits. One look, and I was hooked. As someone obsessed with quotes and song lyrics, I loved the fact that not only did she feature so many authors, artists and musicians I admired, but that her gorgeous portraits each featured words of wisdom from that person. I can’t wait for my Joni Mitchell t-shirt to arrive (thank you, Anna!) and am making a list for holiday gifts. Meanwhile, I think the next person worthy of a magnanimous portrait is Meg herself!
I seriously love everything about your company, from its name to the idea behind it to the actual t-shirt designs. Tell me a little about how you got started, and why you decided to do this.
Thank you so much, Lois! I’m so glad you love them! I started making the collages about fifteen years ago when I was living in Montreal. I was writing full-time and house-sitting for my brother’s colleagues. He’s an Anthropology professor and all of the anthropologists in his department would go off at various times to do their fieldwork and needed someone to take care of their animals and plants. It was fantastic. I was able to live in different apartments and condos all over the city for free and write. I started out making collages of writers that I loved and giving them away as gifts. One day a friend said, “You should sell these.” We brought thirty collages out to Bennington, Vermont, and sold them all in the first boutique we went into. I was floored. I then got into making greeting cards, magnets, bookmarks and seven-day glass votive candles with the image wrapped around them. They sold quite well. Then I learned the t-shirt trade and started putting my images with quotes on to high quality soft cotton t-shirts that I would wear. That took a lot of research to find the right company, but once I did it was a hit. … read full story →
The eSSSence of Meg Tuite
Style: I made these t-shirts for selfish reasons, but the t-shirts have made their way all over the USA, Canada and Europe. I can wear a different image, color and style every day with a skirt or jeans and it’s unique. I have over 150 different images of writers, musicians, artists and innovators, so there is something for everyone. I also have a huge collection of scarves. I can’t go into a store without buying another one. I am one happy girl with my t-shirts and scarves. The rest of the outfit depends on the color scheme I choose for the day. I love COLOR!!!
Substance: The essence is found in the writing. I live to write. I am happiest when I am working on a short story or a novel and am surrounded by my dogs, cats and, on Sundays, my incredible husband, who’s off work. I do have many other things that I have to do, but the love is in the writing! The act of creating characters and plots. YES!
Soul: The deep relationships with my family and friends sustain me and keep me moving. I believe in sending out the love and support in those small moments when you’re talking to someone standing in line at the bank or the waitress at a restaurant. They can be the most profound connections. I work hospice care for a living, so I am blessed to spend intimate time with people in this most important stage of their life.
After my post on Etymotic earphones ran in December I received lots of emails from readers asking where to find the earphones as well as one from Dee Bayro, Global Marketing and Communications Manager at Etymotic Research. She related to my, shall we say, slightly-neurotic-at-times-obsessive concerns about cell phones and suggested I get a pong case which helps protect from cell phone radiation.
