I went along to Bournemouth earlier this week for the balloon day organised by Jamie and Gemar Balloons.
Steve and Neil admiring a Gerry Luff design, the Rocking Horse, this design goes way back and is in a book by Gerry.
We did add some weighted balloon balls to the rockers to see if that made it rock and roll a little
longer but it did not work......... but we tried 

I will start posting pictures from my visit to France last week where we had a mini balloon jam and I volunteered to help out a group of
English Speaking Mum's. It was a fun trip and I was well looked after.
There was a make of balloon I had not seen before.

So the message below was a post I put onto Facebook on the 1st April.

New Balloon Club.
Thanks to all who have supported us for the last 19 years, it is appreciated.
7 years as The Care And Share balloon days.
9 years with The Balloon Artistes Guild (BAG)
Then since Covid, for 3 years doing the Facebook lives and free live zooms, I did work my way around the technology... eventually, he he. The in person balloon days went back to The Care and Share days and also we started the BAG subscription tutorial website. It has been amazing and I've loved it all so thanks to everyone for making it happen and supporting the events over the years. Then not forgetting the forum "Balloon Chat" that has a wealth of info for the balloon twister. So moving forward we are starting up the new club,
"The World Association of Twisters"
This will be a free page on Facebook to make it easier for everyone and the first two tutorials will be for the Bunny Rabbit bracelet and the new Duck design. I'm away at the moment but will set the page up on Wednesday when back. Please comment  below and I will send you the link when back, thanks XXxx.

I have been making some quicker line work Easter designs.
The eyes need to be a little lower on the rabbits, I made the first one and sent it to a friend and they asked
me if it was built the way Juan made his Fox and Wolf at the balloon convention the other week.

I did say no and then tried that way and it gave the Rabbit a different look for the eyes and also the design was made
from one flowing 260 rather than how I made the original and snapped of the 260 to add the ears to the design.

This month the tutorial is for Barbie who is sitting in her luxurious car, well it's a Car, he he.
I will be putting the step by step instructions up late this week

There is a tutorial to view and make the Car if you'd like to take a look,
https://www.balloonchat.co.uk/model-of-the-month/march-model-of-the-month-barbie-car-12172/

Tickets for the 2025 British Balloon Bash go on sale a 12 noon - March 17 2024
British Balloon Bash 2025, from 28 Feb till 2 March in Blackpool.

You can purchase tickets here when they go live, https://britishballoonbash.com/

Or it might be balloons with a pop song as there are plenty to look at and view.

This is the artiste, Patrycja Lipińska - Magic with Balloons.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrDaT3kTU_I

Last month we had a first with using a round balloon for the tutorial and this month we have another first.
The tutorial will be over two months, for March its the Barbie Car and then for April I will explain the Barbie design to sit in the Car.

I like to have the front wheels at an angle rather than straight as I like to think that gives it some movement
on the design rather than just all being perfectly straight and aligned.

I thought I had already put the details up about the convention next weekend, 29th Feb till the 3rd March, oops sorry about that.
It did sell out last April I believe and this is the flyer about the workshops and times they are on etc.

I believe Qualatex are also sponsoring a couple of the workshops with Anthony Lena and Juan Gonzales

It's that time of year again, sorting things ready for the drive to Blackpool.
If anyone does need any balloon related products then please send us a message and we can bring with us.
Usually we do not take any rounds, quick links or Q-paks.
So please take a look at the website and we are happy to bring along for you.
https://balloonartwholesale.co.uk/

So what will we be making on the stand this year?
Please come on by and take a look, always nice to see people and share ideas'.

Last year we made the super sized Sausage Dog with David Crofts.

We have gone with the Ghost hat as the tutorial for this month and I believe it is a first as we are sending out a round
11" balloon for the first time. Usually the designs are all made with modelling balloons?

I will try and add the step by step ASAP.

We have the first club Zoom coming up on Wed 31st January, it's free for club members.
Or you can pay £10 to attend and then if you'd like to join the club we will take the fee off the membership.

I have been making a few variations to see what style I like and prefer, he is still a works in progress.

If you'd like to book on then this is the link, https://balloonartwholesale.co.uk/balloons/workshops/

The Balloon Artistes Guild 2024.
If you'd like to join for 2024 then this is the link, https://balloonartwholesale.co.uk/balloons/workshops/

We have 12 tutorials minimum during the year plus 12 Zooms sessions as well that we record.
All for just a pound a week plus VAT (Tax)

SPECIAL Offer, if you join for 2023 and 2024 we will sign you up for the 2022 tutorials as well.
These are the first three tutorials for 2024.

We are going with the Olaf Snowman design that I have been making at my Christmas gigs.
Hopefully it will be one used throughout the whole year as it was pretty popular at the December gigs.

This is a quick line work version using just three balloons.

They have been building the designs since Monday and now it's open to the public till Sunday 17th at mid day.
I'm off to take a look on Sunday at the 10am section, it's sponsored by Gemar Balloons and they have used 125k.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-big-balloon-build-open-to-all-friday-15-dec-to-sunday-17-december-tickets-754726716927

I was making loads of Father Christmas designs at the weekend and before I added his White beard thought the design looked a little Elf like.
So made this today which is similar to a model I made a while back now. But this is just three balloons so possibly OK for line work.

I thought we should go with something a little Christmassy for December so have made the Reindeer Bracelet.
Will add the step by step tutorial when I can and hope the design is of use to a few.

I have been away for a few days with Roger Daws helping him on a gig to make a large 3m high Father Christmas at the Corn Exchange in Leeds.

I think it ended up at 11 feet, not sure what the is in metres.
So coming soon a step by step tutorial on how to put it together........     

Thanks to those who came along to the November Zoom, was nice to see everyone and have a chat and a laugh.
Jeff also explained that in an 18 month period he made a balloon dress every week for a holiday park and showed a few examples.

I will film and post the designs but it might not be for a week as I'm off later today up to Leeds to build a large Father Christmas with Roger Daws.

We made the Angel and Olaf at the Zoom, the Holly was something I made over the weekend trying out an idea.

I did my first Christmas designs and gig for this year today, took along eight designs people could choose from.

Reindeer hat was fairly popular, Santa hat I made I think just one.
Possibly 4/5 Olaf's/