In the end, I decided to help two women, Veronica, a single 50 year old mother of two in Peru, and Dalal, a 40 year old woman with a family in Jordan. I am thrilled that our contributions were able to fully fund the remainder of Veronica's loan and part of Dalal's. 

I reading the KIVA profiles of people around the world, it struck me that most of the people I was reading about had a motivation that I could relate to--the desire to work hard, support their families, and build an ever-better life for their children and loved ones. I'm so happy that we could help.

Thank you for contributing. Your prints will be in the mail today!

Thank you again for being a part of Edison Rex (and this happy ending). 

Wishing you guys all the love, joy, and happiness in the world!

xoxo

Maeg

P.S. I'm cleaning house. This space will be around for a little while more, but not for long. You can always find me on Instagram and Twitter as @maegyosef or email me: maegyosef at gmail.com

I'm sure you've noticed the tumbleweeds rolling through this blog the past few months. When I decided to take a short break last spring, I didn't know that half a year would quickly pass. I had a wonderful summer with my family, filled with lots of love, relaxation, travel, and of course, boogie boarding. 

During that time I realized that it was time for Edison Rex to come to a close. While I'll continue making my living as an artist at my day job, I'm leaving it behind as a side business to make space for other projects in my future. 

I've loved the three years I spent working on Edison Rex. All the drawing, painting, selling, writing, and learning. In fact, part of why it's taking me so long to say goodbye was because I wasn't sure how to properly say goodbye, how to thank all of you for your years of love and support.

But now I know how. Marie Forleo, a woman I greatly admire, recently introduced me to a powerful documentary called Half the Sky, about the global oppression of women. Sounds heavy, no? But this documentary shone light on both the problems facing women around the world today--and the incredibly brave people working on the solutions.

I highly encourage you to watch Half the Sky. I realized that even though I may be living modestly in the U.S., I have enormous resources and opportunities to share. I've decided to use Edison Rex to help other female entrepreneurs around the globe develop their resources and opportunities, too.

I still have a number of art prints that need good homes. For the next week, I am selling off the remainder of my stock to benefit Kiva, a nonprofit that makes small loans to entrepreneurs around the world in order to alleviate poverty.

Whatever amount of money I raise through your purchases, I will personally match, and use the total funds to make a loan to female entrepreneurs through Kiva.

95% of loans made through Kiva are paid back. As money from this loan is paid back, I will loan it again. Into infinity.

That's right. Whatever funds we collectively raise have the potential to help women around the world...forever. 

Visit Kiva to see some of the women that might benefit from this art sale.

It's a win-win-win. You get art, women around the world get microloans, and I get to say goodbye to my art business in a way that makes me happy.

I've made it even easier for you. You can get 50% off your order by using the code GOKIVA at checkout.

Ready to beautify your walls and change the world? Start right here in the Edison Rex shop.

I'll be back in a week to let you know how much we raised and which wonderful woman (or women!) will be the recipient of your generosity.

Help me spread the word! Click to tweet about the sale!

Thank you so much for your help, and thank you for being a fan and supporter of me and my work all these years.

Lots of love,

Maeg

Hey there! I recently wrote a post for Scoutie Girl all about unplugging from technology and information overload. I loved seeing that the topic resonated with so many others. 

On the topic of unplugging, let me confess: I want more of it! As much as I love writing this blog, I also have loved my little 'spring break' too. It's no secret that recently I've been posting quite a bit less; in fact, I've thrown my old editorial calendar out the window entirely.

So, instead of berating myself for not getting 'back to business,' I'm going to refocus my energy where it feels right at the moment. Right now that means my family, my job, my well-being, traveling, and exploring some potential new projects this spring and summer. Plus I plan to be getting my yoga on, sleeping in, and reading Seneca in my hammock on sunny days.

I'll be here when I feel inspired with stories, pictures, or new work, of course! I'm just not sure how often that will be. You'll also still find me on Scoutie Girl once a month, too!

I love all of you who read this blog, through all its waxing and waning.

xxoo Maeg

Happy Vernal Equinox to you! As mild as this winter was, I'm damn glad it's over. I'm ready for some warmth and growth, some tank tops and flip flops!

I'm signing off for a bit to enjoy a little 'spring break' from the internet (you all know my passion for unplugging, right?)

See you soon--xo Maeg

 day 70: delicios tahini tofu experiments.

day 71: hiking with a koala-boy through the woods.

day 72: the first tank top day of the year!

day 73: showing someone their first crocus, ever.

day 74: coming home to a clean house after work, and before company!

day 75: trains and camels.

day 76: "you'd make a great coach. you just helped me mind map my whole biz in 20 minutes!"

hope you had a great week!

xxoo Maeg

Hey there! 

It's almost officially spring. Things are starting to grow and change, including me and my biz (sounds mysterious, doesn't it?)

That means some spring cleaning is afoot, and you get to reap the benefits:

I'm having a sale! All prints are 25% off now through midnight tomorrow!

Just enter the coupon code SPRING at checkout.

See you in the shop,

xo Maeg

Sunday.

For a long time Sunday was my least favorite day of the week. Funny right? I mean, there's football, a giant newspaper, and sleeping in. What's not to love?

Well, football, for starters.

For me it was always day of limbo. The lone day of sorta-rest, sorta-not in between days of intense work or intense parenting. I'd get restless, feeling both pressured to relax and pressured to chip away at my massive to do list.

Until several weeks ago when I started unplugging on Sunday. I don't care what anyone else in the house does, but I unplug. No computers or smartphones. No status updates or Instagram. There's no work--although studio play is allowed. There's no TV...well, because we have no TV. 

My favorite part about unplugging is that it allows me to be more fully in the moment. I'm not trying to be in the moment and report on or record the moment at the same time. 

Sunday is, at best, about pleasure and wants-in-the-moment. It's about my new ritual of sleeping in (til 6 or 7!) and eating croissants and drinking coffee while I read the paper in my pajamas. Looking out my picture window and daydreaming, and being more patient and present with the kids.

I'd been craving some good Sundays before I started unplugging. I found the secret to getting them was in the preparation. There is some serious planning involved in having one completely free day a week.

I love this quote attributed to Andrey Lappa:

"Morning begins at night."

Every moment is a preparation for the next. It's true on a psychic level and a practical level, too. By the time I go to sleep on Saturday night, all my have-tos and must-dos are put to bed as well. 

Before I unplug, let me ask you--

Do you take time to unplug? And if not, do you ever get the urge to?

Do you ever feel like constant access to technology interferes with your ability to be *in the moment*?

xxoo Maeg

P.S. I was half-joking with my friend Sarah recently that the next internet trend would be unplugging from it. I would fashion myself as the unplugging coach and communicate with my clients via snail mail and homing pigeon. Any takers?

day 63: waking up the little one.

day 64: finding out that both Thommy and I can fit in the Musical Mushroom ride.

Simultaneously discovering that the Musical Mushroom has a British accent.

day 65: in the studio together.

day 66: the first sign of crocuses brightening a hard day.

day 67: Thommy serenading me like a toddler Chris Martin. Yes, I got video.

day 68: snuggling and eventual sleep in a big hotel bed. Yay travel!

day 69: a lobster. Thommy thought I'd said monster. Shrieking in the aquarium ensued.

hope you had an amazing weekend...xoxo Maeg

My Year of Joys is a 2012 photo project documenting the everyday things that fill me with joy.

Hey all! Just a quick hello to invite you to the opening of the Year of the Dragon show at FOE gallery in Northampton, MA.

I've got a piece in the show--a bit of an experiment for me. It's both fun and scary to do something totally different...and then hang it on a wall in a public place!

The opening is tonight from 6-9 pm. I hope to see you there!

xoxo Maeg

I declare today Declarative Statement Day.

Find out why over in my latest column over at Scoutie Girl today. 

Celebrate with me--I'd love to hear anything you've been itching to say in the comments below.

xoxo

Maeg