Bespoke Balloon Design!

Recently I had a custom balloon request, based on the girly-girl designs. The request was to create a balloon mini-me for the lovely Sakura. 

She was thrilled with it. What makes this even more different? It travelled to the other side of Australia to get to the recipient! At least now I know it can be done! :D

I don't know that it is something I'll pursue further, but I loved the chance to bring a special balloon creation to her (and it was for her birthday - how cool?!).

Ahem. 

In other news, I'm having a serious think about what I may include in tutorials if I can get a PDF happening. I'm experimenting with different hair styles so I can offer as much as I possibly can if I go down that path. I've had my first bit of serious outside encouragement... It gives me the drive to succeed!

Are there any suggestions on what you'd be interested to see?

Sweet Little Balloon Girls

Whoops, it's been over a month since my last post! Mostly quiet on the ballooning front, but I've had a healthy dose of motivation these past two weeks and have had fun coming up with the following new cuties:

Hard to pick a favourite... But I think it's her!

Meet Angela, the Angel!

The little lady who started the craze

The most recent and most elaborate, the fairy!

I've had some fun trying to work on a small scale, but really upping the cuteness factor. Their heights would be approximately between 25-30cms.

I have an interesting challenge to create a custom balloon sculpture and send it to the other side of Australia, my first experience sending through the post. I really hope it works!

You may have noticed my lovely new Facebook logo off to the side there (customised by me because I loves my rainbows!)... I do updates there much more often if you are itching to see more ;) Also often I post more than one picture if you're interested in seeing different angles etc.

Because of the very positive comments I'm getting on this style, I've seriously been considering putting together a PDF for sale with step-by-step instructions. Let me know what you think! The more encouragement, the likelier I might actually do it! hehe

Thanks for reading! I will see you next time <3

Caricature Time!

I've always had an urge to create. It's fun watching something evolve from your own mind! Probably why I enjoy balloons so much is you can make just about anything... but inflatable! Anyway, I digress from the topic at hand!

I decided I wanted to create a colouring-in page for myself, as it's something that is kinda a lot of fun to have one of you (also can become a give-away, colouring contest etc..)

 

Once I drew myself a few times, I decided to draw some friends too! Since then the requests keep coming..! I didn't realise how popular they would be at first, but I love giving my friends a reason to smile.

 

 

Now I have quite a few requests! It makes me think... If people really like what I do... Maybe I could offer it as a service to others?? Even my sister has requested a family portrait hehe

Right now, I'm enjoying creating for my friends, but there may well be those interested in buying one off me (gasp... hopefully!) Let me know if you're keen hehe

If I do any more pictures (I'm sure I will!) I will be sure to share <3

Rainbow Brite!

I honor of a new friend who I met at Supanova 2011, Tails from the Doghouse (you looked fantastic, by the way!), I decided to make a posting dedicated to Rainbow Brite! Being an 80's child and a girly girl, it was inevitable that some of my aspirations would include her.

Case in point... In 2008, I made a modern version of her costume. I wasn't quite prepared to make a replica of her outfit, hence the modern twist.

2ndly, I knew that I had to make her out of balloons! Since I was still pretty new to the wonders of multi-balloon sculptures; I had a lot of guidance from a ballooning friend Crystal, aka Jillybilly.

Overall, I am happy with her look... However given that it was a while ago (2008 also) I do believe I need another crack at her. One day, I'm sure!

Supanova Sydney 2011

Hello everyone!

I'm back and what I fully believe recovered from my crazy previous weekend. Want to know why? I was twisting balloons at a Pop-Culture Convention known as Supanova. I was sponsored to appear by the Star Wars club I am apart of, Novus Ordo Australia. The balloons were given away free as promotion for the club, but also a great way for me to meet new people and show them what is possible with balloons!

For my stand, I edited pictures of some of my favourite balloons I have twisted, printed them out in A3 at OfficeWorks, cut them out (you might be able to tell... I love rounded corners!) and laminated them. They were not the balloons I was offering, but it didn't stop some people asking for them! (I did relent ever so slightly on 3 occasions... but shhhh!)

My costume is that of a Pink Imperial Officer

I offered a variety of designs, namely: lightsabers, Princess Leia, R2D2, Han Solo and a Yoda or two. I was prepared to make other designs, however once people saw Princess Leia.... There was hardly any contest as to which was most pop-ular! Lightsabers though were also fun and not only that, quick and a crowd-pleaser!

I wanted to share with you some of my favourite pictures from the weekend...

Three great girls with R2D2, Han Solo and Princess Leia

When the store was all nice haha (I shared a table also)

The Leia balloon... 2nd day 

I decided that I wanted to twist a balloon version of the character voiced by my favourite guest of the weekend, Dan Green. He thought it was fantastic,  which in turn made me very happy indeed!

Balloon Yami-Yugi! I was really proud of him, got a fantastic reaction by fans! 

Me and Dan Green! Voice actor for Yami Yugi (see photo above!)

I hope you enjoy seeing the pictures from my weekend. I do have more... Let me know if you want to see them!

It was a great experience, and I'm convinced that I need to do it again... one day ;) Look out for my next post.... coming up soon (today even! hehe)

Sharing Time!

Just a quick post to let you know I will be appearing as a guest poster on one of my favourite balloon twisting blogs, 365 days of balloons! I'm pretty excited about that fact and I can't wait to share it with you when it goes live.

Thanks Mot for the opportunity!

And now perhaps to celebrate... Some balloons I haven't shared before?

A costume and a balloon to match... I designed and made both (the pink, not the awesome Gremlin!)

The Pink Power Ranger... Look closer, she has stubble. I actually made it as a parody for a male friend of him

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 I love being creative!

A Fascinating time at the Katherine Races

So much balloon goodness, so little time! On the weekend just passed, I decided to go to Katherine to catch up with one of my fantastic friends before she goes on an indefinite time to the USA. I arrived late evening on the Friday, with my sister and two nephews. Early the next day, Mum and I went to the morning markets to facepaint and balloontwist respectively.

My mother, sister and I. We look like we love pink!

Anyway, to the good bit! I started using new design or two, one of those being a horse. I made it as my cool thing to wear, and I had a few requests for it that morning. No wonder because it was very cool but also it was the weekend of the Katherine Cup.

Adorable and cheeky to boot!

When it was time to head to the races, I created another one to wear; as well as  a horse costume for my biggest nephew. Doesn't he look adorable!? The design was inspired by one I saw the twister and Fred's Pass show twist up. Sadly one of his 'lips' popped, so there is only one. It happened whilst I was making the bridle :(

I got a lot of compliments for my fascinator, it was a lot of fun to wear. The top I am wearing is one that I designed and created, it was fun colours to wear!

Funny true story no 1: Well, not very funny but my boss had a horse running in the race, so I gave Brook and I the number of his horse on our wearables; Number 5. Guess which horse won the race? Yes, indeedy! Happy to say I won some money.

Funny true story no 2: When it came time to leave, we put the horse costume in the bin as Brook had given up on wearing it and some legs had popped. As we walked away, I looked back to the bin to find it horse-less. A quick glance around, and there was a tipsy woman wearing it on her head! It was too funny, I couldn't help but laugh :'D


And just before we left for the day, I had my photo taken by the newspaper photographer. It was cool to see myself in there today hehe.

Do the Teapot! (Safer than Planking!)

Was great to see Kate!

Sharing a fantastic hug with my Poppleophegus. I'm her Sonic <3

All in all a really fun but exhausting weekend was had! It was a blast catching up with my high school friends and everything was just fun. I can't believe it's been 10 years.... Can't wait for the November reunion!

Practice of new Designs

Ever since I met up with the twister at Freds Pass, I felt more inspired to create. I played around with some new designs, gaining inspiration from my inspirations folder. 

 With the exception of the Giraffe Hat, all the other balloons are fairly small in design. They use the 160 size modelling balloons. For those of you who are not on the up-and up of what these exotic creatures are... We have 2 giraffes (the 2nd one is worn on the wrist), then we have a little bird (who also looks great in dark pink and lime green!), a peacock and finally a seahorse.

Look out for my next post with my horse fascinator! haha... Coming soon!

Meeting a Twister and Fred's Pass Show

I visited Fred's Pass Rural Show recently, and to my delight discovered they had a talented balloon twister there! I was eager to gain a balloon from him, as I always lament there is no-one to make me a cool balloon gift! After some light stalkage and encouragement from my mum, I gots me my awesome balloon hat! The fabulous fellow was Brendan, of Balloons by Design (based in Melbourne)

He asked me what I might like, and I asked for something that was his favourite and whatever he wanted to make. I think the hat is pretty special and all kinds of great. He was great to have a chat with, and very helpful and encouraging! He and I made balloon ladybugs together, he showed me his design and we tandem twisted and made some young girls happy (okay, one of them was completely unsure but her mum loved it!). He offered to share with me some instructions that he has put together, which I look forward to receiving. 

The very next day I had fun re-creating his hat. I know it will be popular (no pun intended!) I got many stares and comments as I wore his, I hope to be able to share that joy with others hehe

Took a few photos that day... but hands down, this is my favourite! With my two Gorgeous Nephews Brook and Dallas. Thanks mum! I love the smiles :D

Happy Easter!

I hope that you had a fantastic Easter!

Here in Australia, we had a 5-day long weekend. There was Easter, but also ANZAC day on the Monday, and a public holiday for it was on the Tuesday. Not only that, this weekend is a three-day long weekend. Very cool.

Here is the special Easter balloon I made for the occasion:

I was quite happy with the outcome, it was the first time that I tried this original design for the rabbit. It also doubled as a gift to a birthday girl; more on that below!

Also, Tuesday (today) was my little nephew's 3rd birthday. We celebrated at the park, and of course I did the balloons! Not only that, my mother is a talented face painter (I'm sure I've bragged on that before!) and she pulled out her paints and delighted young and old.

My nephew, Brook! He turned 3.

Rawr! Tiger Princess Paris

Something different, no balloon photos of the event! However, balloons made include; a snake, ladybug on a flower, Pooh, Lightening McQueen hat and 1 2 3 skeletons! 

Not only that, but I worked with Hyper the Clown at a party recently, which was a fun outdoor event. The Easter balloon I made was the gift for the Saturday birthday. This coming weekend I also have another little one's birthday lined up... Yay! Bring it on, I say!

Tinkerbell and Parties

On Saturday, I had the opportunity to do a 60th birthday party... For twins! It was a fun evening, I enjoyed creating requests for the young children and those young-at-heart. Incidentally, I was not aware that the party was for a brother and sister, but luckily the balloon I'd made to take along was a parrot and a cockatoo on a perch haha Unfortunately I don't have any photos as I was rushing out the door!

Some of my favourite balloons of the night were a ballerina, and some lady bug bracelets. I had a bit of a challenge when I was asked for a platypus, might need to practice that one for next time!

Other interesting things that happened... I was asked for my phone number (sorry I'm taken!) and told I was fresh... like a minty. Don't ask! hehe

I'd brought some shiny new black patent shoes to wear that evening too, so my feet were a little sore. Not as bad as I thought they might get, thankfully. 

What was quite fabulous is that the bar manager at the party was very excited about the balloons, and ordered a special request for her sisters' birthday. (She was also very awesome by trading me food and drink for a balloon of her own after I finished at the 60th.) I thought it was quite clever as she brought numerous gifts for her that began with 'T'. After swapping some thoughts, we thought Tinkerbell would be a great idea.

I put a lot of effort into Tinkerbell for her, as I wanted to be as detailed as possible, amp up the 'wow' factor. I did make up the design as I went, as you can see my inspiration picture below. Thank you to the very talented Bonnie Davis whose head and neck instructions were the foundation for the head.

My reference picture

My client was very happy with the end result, and I really hope her sister will be too. It was a fun challenge, but now... I rest!

Until next time! (and one day soon I will finish my challenged balloons and put up some more!)

Katherine Markets and my Facepainting Attempt

Okay, so it's been a short while... hasn't it? I wanted to share with you some photos from my latest market that I attended. I feel there is far few pictures of me in action haha so I enlisted my mother to take some photos for me.

We didn't capture too many on the day, as mum is also a very talented Face Painter and took them between her little customers.

Thank you Mum! I think you did a great job ^___^

I had a great time at those markets. What was most fantastic is that there was a stall selling new books right next to us... and they had two balloon twisting kits! Two sweet young ladies (no relation) both told me that I had inspired them and so they brought the kits. I thought it was amazing and I wish them both the best of luck with their twisting!

Here is my recent attempt at painting my bestie's face... a little not a lot of stuff going on haha. I need more practice!

Got to practice more... that's for sure... hehe But it was great fun! I do want to learn to do better though..