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BIG things happen here

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Let’s think Big. Thinking small never got anybody anywhere.

The Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau (Dallas CVB) launched a new branding campaign, designed to show the world that “Big Things Happen Here.” In support of the campaign, the Dallas CVB hosted a social media contest for locals to explore Dallas by capturing photos at prominent locations throughout the DFW Metroplex and share over social media for opportunities to win one-of-a-kind experiences.
Locals simply take a photo of themselves or with friends between a life-size display of the letters “B” and “G” and then share the photo on social media channels using the hashtag #DallasBIG. Nearly two dozen “B & G” displays are placed at locations throughout the city giving fans a chance to be the “I” in BIG. Taking photos sounds like lots of fun, but I’m more of a “why take a pic when we can make a video kinda guy”. So I started working on a plan for the “BIG” video.

First, I picked three of my favorite locations. Pioneer Park, Fair Park and Deep Ellum. Pioneer Park is located in front of the Dallas Convention center, and it is one of my favorite places to take my friends when they come to visit. It is so much fun to take pictures with all of the bronze steers acting like you are being chased by a wild cattle drive. Fair Park is the home of the world’s largest collection of art deco building and is a truly wonderful place to explore even when the state fair is not happening. Deep Ellum is Dallas’ old warehouse district, turned into entertainment venues. Back in the days all the great African-American blues artists played there. Today this area offers great clubs, bars and restaurants. Deep Ellum is also the home of Balloon City USA world headquarters.

Now, all that was left was to create the video. I decided to feature the Balloon City crew along with…. Balloons of course. After choosing the location and the cast, I needed the perfect song. It had to be snappy and fun. I chose PSY’s gentleman. After all my entire balloon crew are all gentlemen.
I hope you enjoy this quick 1:16 minute video. Come and dance with us.
VIDEO:Balloon City goes BIG
BIG things happen here

 

 

MelRhea Balloon Creations

Melissa Vinson MelRhea Balloon Creations wins big at Twist & Shout

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Melissa Vinson MelRhea Balloon Creations brings home the Gold and Silver from this year’s Twist & Shout Balloon Convention.

Wins big at Twist & Shout

My “Sweet Melissa” that is what I love to call her. There is one other thing that I love about Melissa. I Love to IKEA her!!!! Now get your minds out of the gutters when I say “ I love to IKEA Melissa” It is nothing naughty or nasty, for me it is the highest complement I can give to any designer.

So I need to explain while I have your attention. I love the store IKEA. The way they use color and space, their clean designs and my favorite thing is the way they take ideas that are already exist in the market and make them their own. Some may call it copying or knocking-off but I think IKEA is brilliant for not trying to reinvent the wheel. They just find one they like and make it their own.

Melissa Vinson is my favorite balloon artist to IKEA. The reason why is always the same. Her designs are clean, cool and oh so clever. Something I can look at and immediately connect to and understand. The most important thing for me is I can reproduce it (IKEA).

I should say, almost always able to reproduce. When Melissa goes into competition mode it’s a whole new game. I have watched her work under pressure with crazy conditions and never give up until she is happy with the piece she is creating. She is always learning new techniques searching out new skills.

That is why this year at Twist & Shout. She won 3 times!

 

First place: Small Artist Balloon Sculpture

“What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger”

Melissa Vinson

Makes you stronger

Second place: Un-inflated Artist Balloon Sculpture

“Whooo Loves Balloons”

 

Melissa Vinson
Who Loves Balloons

Second place: Medium Artist Balloon Sculpture

“Mothers Day Off”

 

Melissa Vinson
Mother’s day off

See what I mean? When it comes to her competition pieces she is “in it to win it!”

I think my next post I will show you a few videos we made together with Jan Iiams. So subscribe to my email list by clicking the subscribe link at the top of the page and you wont miss any of my posts.

Wishes take flight

Make A Wish wishes take flight

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Make-A-Wish      Wish night 2014                  Wishes take Flight

This past weekend Make-A-Wish held their annual Wish Night fundraiser at the Lowes Anatole hotel in Dallas Texas. The theme was Wishes take flight. We were asked if we could make a giant balloon bouquet that would look similar to the one used in the movie UP.

That sounded like a fun project to me, so I proceeded to work on a few ideas for their event to make sure everything went smoothly. It was only a simple balloon bouquet just on a grand scale but after I had a site inspection with my clients we decided there were several possible problems that needed to be addressed.

The first potential problem was they wanted the balloon bouquet installed on top of and ancient marble wedding temple. I know it is structurally sound, but the idea of climbing around on top of anything with the word ancient in it makes me nervous. I decided to use a freestanding ladder so I would not have to lean against the temple. I could also use a pole to push my balloon anchor to the center of the temple.

wedding temple

The second was the balloons were filled with helium. We were using 3’ balloons to make the scale of the bouquet huge. This also meant if any of the balloons were to get lose it would be next to impossible to retrieve them from the atrium ceiling. We had to make sure there was no way this could accidentally happen.

inflating 3' balloon

By placing the bouquet on the temple ceiling I was sure none of the guest would be able to reach them. Guests are the number one reason why balloons get lose. There is something about alcohol and balloons that turn adults into a 9-year-old kid. With that problem out of the way the only other worry was my own balloon crew. We have been known to lose grip on a balloon or two every now and then. I made sure all balloons were inflated under a low ceiling and secured to the anchor before put them into place.

3' balloons

All of the prepping paid off and everything went as planned. The clients were happy. The party was a success, and we accomplished our mission.

wishes take flight

Pat Crosland Holidaz by Dezign Balloon twists using 18 gauge floral wire

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Introducing Pat Crosland

Holidaz by Dezign

Pat Crosland

I first met Pat Croslandfrom Holidaz by Dezign when she volunteered to pick me up at the Phoenix Airport to take me to my first ever Twist & Shout Balloon Convention. I was there to help Jan Iiams keep the jam room  stocked with balloons and add an extra hand for her centerpiece class. As it turned out Pat took Jan’s class. All the students were creating their own designs to use as table centerpieces for the final night party. The class was close to ending so I picked out my favorite arrangement. I asked Who had created this design? it was Pat. I picked out another centerpiece that had good use of design and composition, it was also Pat’s! and the next couple I picked out also were created by Pat!!!

A few years have passed since our first meeting. We have stayed in touch and met at several other balloon conventions. FLOAT, the Halloween and Party show and a couple more Twist & Shouts. She has always been someone I could depend on. If I need help getting supplies or labor (think minion), she is always willing to lend a hand.

Pat Crosland was kind enough to show a couple of her balloon twisting techniques using an 18 gauge floral wire. I know it sounds totally crazy to insert a floral wire inside the balloon, but wait till you see. She uses the wire as the framework for her twists.

I have seen these techniques used in competition pieces but never knew how it was done. A big Texas thank you to Pat for allowing me to make this video to share with Yawl.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9rRoHwiGvA

balloon centerpiece

balloon centerpiece

Sue Bowler The Very Best Balloon Blog

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Hands down Sue Bowler has one of my favorite balloon blogs.

Sue Bowler

I follow Sue’s blog. The Very Best Balloon Blog by Sue Bowler CBA. I find it full of great tips with many photos and ideas. If a holiday is coming up and I need a few creative ideas, I know she will be posting something in time to use.

Sue Bowler

When Sue contacted me asking to use one of my YouTube videos in her blog. I was very excited. She was writing an article about the World Balloon Convention (WBC) which I have attended. I created a video of behind the scenes of this amazing event. It shows many of the artists from around the world working on their competition pieces.

I hope you enjoy Sue’s blog as mush as I do, and find my video entertaining and educational as well.

I love it when I hear people say “I can believe that is made out of balloons!!!” Well, Believe it 😉

If you have not already clicked on one of the links above, Click here to check out  The very Best Balloon blog by Sue Bowler.

 

I also have a video from the first World Balloon Convention (WBC) from 2010. So if you enjoyed the video posted on Sue’s blog, I think you will also find my other video interesting. It has some on my favorite artists and friends in it, from America to Japan and many places in between. Check it out and see if you can recognize any of your favorites.  Click here to check out World Balloon Convention 2010
I will be attending WBC this year as well, so be on the look out for another World Balloon Convention video 2014 coming soon. Who knows who and what I will see there. Rest assured that it will be a good good time!

 

 

Twist & Shout 2014

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Twist & Shout 2014 was held in Rochester, New York. In the middle of a very messy winter storm, but balloon twisters being who they are did not allow a little bad weather to get in their way. This was one of the most amazing events I have had the privilege to be a part of in the balloon industry.

The jam room was my favorite place to be. It was where most of the energy, creativity and sharing took place. Those sleep deprived twisters would stay up all night creating wonderful sculptures. Most of the time their artwork would wind up discarded. The floor soon became covered in creations full of color, which I called “treasures!” I would search the floor early in the morning to see what I could discover. I had a plan in my mind to make an Epic Balloon-amation video.

The last night of Twist & Shout, I gathered all my treasured pieces together and began my task. I only knew a few of the artist names and sculptures and the rest I’m hoping to discover when they see this video. I would love to know every person that helped to make this video. So if you see something you created please tag it or comment so you can get your well deserved credit.

I want to thank everyone whose talent made this Balloon-amation possible!!

Twist & Shour

Twist & Shout sculpture by Matt Falloon

 

 

 

 

We wish you a Merry Christmas

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… and a Happy new rears 🙂

The boys from Balloon City USA would like to wish everyone a very special Christmas and New years with their very own rendition of We wish you a Merry Christmas. I hope you like the video, as well as the Christmas balloon snowflake made from 5″ Link o loon balloons. Thanks to Lisa Swiger for the recipe. The recipe can be found in the B Decor on Betallic’s web page.

Christmas balloon snowflake

snowflake not two flakes are alike!