Creativity Abounds by Ralph Dewey I have conducted several Twister Think Tanks (TTT) and all of them have worked out very well. The first one was in Houston, the second one was at the Diamond Jam convention in Phoenix and the third one was at the Millennium Jam in...
Brown Monkey by Ralph Dewey This month's Balloon HQ Challenge is a monkey. In the Chinese calendar, 2004 is the year of the monkey. I thought that it would be appropriate to share a monkey design with you in this month's column. I make several different styles of...
Unsung Balloon Heros by Ralph Dewey Balloon History Spotlight It was August 29, 1996 at the conclusion of the Democratic National convention in Chicago when a spectacular balloon drop happened. It got rave comments from the usually nonchalant television commentators....
Gayla Industries by Ralph Dewey One of the companies that makes #260 pencil balloons is Gayla Industries headquartered in Houston, Texas. I got a chance to tour their facilities recently. Their facility looked to be about 150,000 sq. ft. and filled with a variety of...
Cow Hat by Ralph Dewey The BHQ challenge this month is a cow or cow hat. Making the Hat Balloons needed: 1 pink 6" heart, 2 white #260, 1 brown #260 and 1 black #160. Start making the cow's head by inflating a white #260 balloon fully except for about 4". Tie off the...
Janie Driscoll's Snow Globe by Ralph Dewey The Balloon HQ Challenge this month is a Snow Globe design. Here is a design that Janie Driscoll shared with me at one of the Florida Super Jams. It takes a bit of work, but it is something different and special for...
Two-Balloon Blaster by Ralph Dewey This month the Balloon HQ Challenge is a balloon gun or rifle. This AK47 style rifle is very simple to make and is sure to please any boy who likes guns. Frame Inflate a black #260 fully except for about 1" and tie off the nozzle....
Classic Love Birds in a Heart by Ralph Dewey This month the Balloon HQ challenge is love or dove birds. Two love birds in a heart are one of the classic designs that have been around for many years. I'm not sure who first came up with it, but it sure has proven to be...
Ori Livney: Balloon Pioneer Mouse Hat by Ralph Dewey Ori Livney from Israel is a balloon pioneer. While other balloon artists have appeared on TV in the past, Ori is the first to have his own balloon TV show. A few years ago Ori was contacted by the Baby First TV show...
Breaking The Mold Don Caldwell "When you work, every child needs to get a balloon". "The real money is in busking at street fairs and festivals". "If you are going to work restaurants, you have to work for tips". "Balloon twisting is children's entertainment"....
Miscellaneous Ramblings by Sheena Beaverson IBAC 20 Wrap-Up Featured Artists IBAC 20 Wrap-Up Larry at work in the BHQ office. Actually, he IS a rocket scientist. This year's convention was most certainly a memorable one. The International Balloon Arts...
Miscellaneous Ramblings by Larry Moss World's largest balloon arch. For scale, note the 8-story building in the background. High profile balloons Recent and upcoming conventions Featured Member Portfolio High profile balloons World's largest balloon arch Early this...
From Sharing to Social Climbing... How to Degrade an Industry by Bill Beatty It is with sadness that I write this article but it's necessary. I will start at the beginning. In 1982, I was introduced to balloon animals at a video night club. This was back when MTV was...
The Jar o' Balloons Guessing Game! Scott Tripp October has always been a great month for entertainers. Anyone who can mumble the word "magic" has a pretty good chance of getting hired for a dozen Halloween parties as the demand for variety entertainers outweighs the...
Building Your Balloon Show Here Comes Santa Claus by Smarty Pants In addition to performing my holiday edition of the Big Balloon Show, in December I do a lot of traditional balloon twisting at corporate holiday parties, store events and at my two weekly restaurant...
Building Your Balloon Show Let's Get More Comfortable by Smarty Pants This past July while on vacation with the Lovely Miss Dena, I took a few hours to browse through my Smarty Pants photo archive. With the digital photo, it's now possible to hang onto every single...
Press Releases for February/March 2010 World Balloon Convention 2010 "Balloon Magic®.The Magazine" #59 Apr/May/Jun 2010 "Balloon Images" Magazine NEW Graduation and Mother's Day Business Boosters New Additions to Continental Sales' Private Reserve Line! World Balloon...
Beautiful Swan Hat Patricia Bunnell Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 1: Fully inflate a white 260. Make a basic hat base. (See notes below to learn how to make a very tall arch on your basic hat that will fit any size head!) Step 2: Fully inflate 2 white 260s. Make two small...
Giraffe Hat Patricia Bunnell This is a definite crowd pleaser! Enjoy! Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 1: Inflate a Goldenrod 260 leaving a 6 inch tip. Make a 1 1/2 inch bubble, and two 2 inch bubbles. Lock twist the two 2-inch bubbles. Step 2: Pull the knot through the...
Simple Beaver Hat Patricia Bunnell 1. Inflate a brown 260 leaving a 2 inch tip. Make two 2 inch bubbles for its nose. Next make a 5 bubble "teddy bear head" cluster. Start with a 1.5 inch bubble followed by a 1/2 inch bubble, a 1 inch bubble, another 1/2 inch bubble...
Flamingo Hat Patricia Bunnell Kids of all ages love this hat! Hope you do too. Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 1: Inflate a Rose 260q leaving a half inch tip. Wrap it around the child's head and twist forming a loop. Make a pinch twist. Use the remaining balloon to form a...