As the balloon chat website is one year old today, 15th March. To celebrate this amazing fact we're having a competition with some prizes to win. DVD's, CD's and even a selection of balloons. There will be two competitions, one that is open to everyone and to try & encourage all those members who have not posted as yet we are having a seperate competiton for them.
The idea of the competition is just to post the sculpture/model that got you hooked or the first serious thing you attempted to twist. It's just a fun competition with all entries going into a hat with the winner being announced on the 1st April, no kidding, honest

The competition for those that have never posted is here; http://www.balloonchat.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=1388
and the newbies can even join in with both competitions if they like so you get the chance to win both competitions.
The prize for each competition is any stocked DVD/CD from the website http://www.sempertexballoons.co.uk
and 3 bags 260's and 2 bags of 160's.
So good luck and keep the entries coming. You can also enter as many times as you like with different models

This is my entry, I believe I saw this at an IBM magic convention about 15 years ago and it was made by Kevin Rowe? I just sat through an evening show un twisting it to try & find out how it was made. I eventually found Kevin the next day and he showed me how to make it.
And from that day I've been totally hooked

I started twisiting at one of Graham's Care & Share days but didn't really take it very much further until just after Christmas when I found a balloon book in a Woolies as part of a kit. The balloons were rubbish but I was so proud when I made this frog:-



After this I got more interested but was scared of going out there and twisting for money but I was put onto Michael Flloyd's site and started going through all the model's on there and learnt how to make a monkey. I still prefer this monkey over all other and make it all the time and usually offer it as a suggestion when kids are stuck as I love to make it. I think it was when I learned how to make simple but effective models like the monkey that I realised I was already better than some of the "twisters" I had seen out there with thier 4 petal flowers and swords!

I dont remember the very first balloon - but I do remember the balloon I did that brought me back to this passion. It wasnt the best... to say the least, its not a very good balloon hat at all, rather sad really. But, she was recouperating in the hospital .... this little girl brought back the 'spark' . They say Sonshine did a lot for her, but I know she did more for me.

great job on those faces Yvonne! It gives the balloons so much character! I love it!

This is the first time I've tried to post a picture so we'll see how it goes



The picture is of the first model I did that really made me realise I could do better things with balloons than dogs and swords. I think it was the carrot that sold it for me. This is what brought me here to Balloon chat. I'm still very much a novice but I'm getting there!
(Please ignore the surrounding areas of my living room too )

Before I started twisting, a local balloon artist was at a party and he did all the usual things and a big motorbike to finish. It stayed in my head as something very cool to do! When I started, that was what I wanted to achieve and this was the result.....

This Ball has been the most successful thing I have learned to make... It is a huge winner with the kids, and keeps a group of them busy rather than coming back for another animal!. When made properly, the 3 balloons need to be burped to make them soft and more durable so the ball won't break easily.

All of the ends are hidden, so many become quite puzzled by how the balloon is made if they weren't watching.

Darwould

Gosh your first models are elaborate;



Pam

Got trying to make the simple dog in the dog and rabbit thread, heres another entry with the first try.

Darwould