Pens & Needles... & a shout out

Pens & Needles is my etsy shop. It was originally my brother's idea, oh, two years ago. He draws and paints and I knit, crochet, sew and make some jewelry.

Just a shout out for Mor Aframian and ReDress Raleigh :) I've donated several Pens & Needles knit and crochet items to the MorLove and Redress Raleigh booth at the Green Bazaar on the Bicentennial Plaza from 11am to 5pm this Saturday, April 17. Proceeds will benefit the Amani Baby Cottage, an orphanage in Jinja, Uganda. The Redress fashion show is Saturday night and is SOLD OUT! I'm missing it to go camping and help DH take some photos and video, but I'm sure it will be amazing!

Saint Patrick's Day (and a plug for St. Baldrick's)

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

To interrupt for just a second, I wanted to share that this Sunday, March 21, my baby brother is participating for a second year in the St. Baldrick's Foundation fundraiser for kids with cancer. From the St. Baldrick's website: Volunteers shave their heads in solidarity with kids fighting cancer and family & friends give generously - worldwide. The St. Baldrick's Foundation uses the donations to fund more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the United States Government. The big man has upped the ante this year by offering to also shave his beard!

I love St. Patrick's Day... we've had temps in the 60s, flowers are blooming and everything outside is turning green! We always have a good time celebrating our Irish roots (and Scottish, where St. Patrick was also born), whether we're hiking, hanging with friends or running a 5K, like I did two years ago! I'd really like to attend the parade in Savannah, Georgia, some day, since it is supposed to be one of the biggest and, besides, I love that town!

Needless to say, we have a good time (most of the time!) and we love a good Irish Pub. Although I don't go around pinching other people, I'm wearing my favorite green t-shirt and socks and we'll, hopefully, find some shepherd's pie or corned beef for dinner! Today is also my girl dog's birthday (7!) and the not-so-old girl will get a special treat, as well. She ran that 5K with me on her 5th birthday.















These photos brought to you, courtesy of DH and our new 35mm lens.

'Can'structing Wall-E

My firm participated in the local CANstruction competition this past Saturday. There are only four of us and the rules allow for a team of five, so with some shift help from Allison's hubby, DH (he brought us lunch) and brother K, we spent about eight hours building Wall-E for the "cartoon heroes" theme. The local newspaper, the News & Observer, has a few photos up from the build day, including one of my boss and me building Wall-E's arm.

Nathan, my boss, took a few photos once we were finished and had cleaned up the rolls of tape and empty cartons of Ghirardelli chocolates we used for his treads! The entries will be judged Tuesday and the exhibit officially opens on Saturday, January 23, 2010. It will remain up until February 14, and all the food will be donated to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina.