The Maker Faire 08 in San Mateo Faregrounds, was a great success with over 70,000 showing up for the most amazing faire of its kind. The organizers and countless volunteers did a fantastic job of making this event run smoothly, thank you Sherry Huss for having me come to the faire, and thanks for the great spot near the entrance. It was also a good weekend for some great publicity for me in The Press Democrat with an article called “Carnival of creativity” By Nathan Halverson, and a photo of the Mercedes Pens Art Car and the Pen Guy looking up by Kent Porter also of the The Press Democrat. Saty tuned for more entries and photos about the faire.
Sign-a-Rama in Rohnert Park
Sonoma West News Article by George Snyder
“Dude, Where’s My Pen?” Photo taken by the Pen Guy During Art Car Fest 07 in Berkeley CA, after the How Berkeley Can You Be parade
George Snyder, Sonoma West Staff Writer just this week wrote a great article about the up coming Maker Faire event in San Mateo next weekend. As part of the story he interviewed Sebastopol area kinetic artist Bruce Shapiro, and my self the Pen Guy, who are exhibiting makers at the event.
the article is as follows
Maker Faire’s Sebastopol roots are showing
O’Reilly & Associates DIY event could pull 60,000 to Bay Area venue next weekend
by George Snyder
Sonoma West Staff Writer
SEBASTOPOL – What could be the planet’s fastest growing and richest garden for old-fashioned America’s backyard and “do it yourself” innovation, hits its third go-round this year when O’Reilly’s Maker Faire fills the San Mateo Fairgrounds May 3 and 4.
Sponsored by O’Reilly Media and supported by its Make and Craft magazines, Maker Faire celebrates people who make stuff: everything from slow-food, hand-sewn clothes, human-powered carnival rides, computerized robots, rocketry and devices that spit fire and cast lightening bolts…(link)
Pen Guy Visits Mark West Elementary
Photo by Regan Parks at Maker Faire 07
Last Tuesday I gave a talk about the Mercedes Pens at Mark West Elementary School here in Santa Rosa California, for Earth Day. After the classroom visit the kids came out to see the car and ask more questions about it. I was only scheduled to visit one class but while I was there, word spread and I ended up showing the car to three more classes. That was a blast, and luckily the weather held out and did not rain during my visit.
The first grade teacher who invited me over, had this to say about it.
“Costas!!We loooooooooooved it!! Your presentation was fantastic! Nancy could not stop talking about how engaging, funny, and personable you are. We can’t decide who liked the experience more – the kids or us! Thanks so much for coming out and sharing your time, yourself, and your amazing project with us. We all loved it!
I want you to come to my class EVERY year for Earth Day 🙂
You’re the best!! Thanks so much.”
-Mariah M.
Pens from Chicago
A big thank you goes out to the person from Chicago who sent all these pens last Tuesday. It’s nice to know that someone would take the time to mail a bunch of pens to some yahoo in California with a crazy pen covered mercedes.