Nothing is confirmed as yet but this is what we are trying to arrange.

It looks like Beating to me, can you see if your friend has a link to where they found it? This will help to work out who made it and then we can take the picture down as it came from another site and just leave the link up for it, cheers.

I'm putting this on the open part of the forum but may move it to the members only area if others think it more suitable.

I'm hoping that those who know me realise I'm pretty laid back and easy going about things and not much gets me upset, I do try to smooth things over when needed but I do want to make a few comments on the way the care & share days and TBag are going and hoping to make a few changes to help the days run smoothly in a way that is fair to everyone.
Now I appreciate Lyn and I are now running a business via the days and the forum and we hope that the business is enhanced by these so I feel we do need to pull our weight more than others but the original aim when I started the Care & Share days was to help people to improve themselves, our art, which would in turn get the general public to appreciate and admire this wonderful art form of ours and this will always be our aim to improve.

We have been running the days for over six years now and my enthusiasm is as great now as it was then, but due to a few small easy to overcome problems which I wish to share with everyone, they all added up on Wednesday and hit the nail on the head so to speak. There were also a couple of other problems that I needed to sort out as well but that is between me and the gate post.

At the risk of others thinking that I'm throwing my toys out of the pram, here we go.

Problem?  
Because there is free balloon stock to help yourself to for constructing the figures in the workshop and for jamming certain (many) people seem to think it is fine to grab a handful of balloons from the containers, lay them on the floor, use just one balloon and then walk away leaving all the other balloons on the floor unused with all the popped balloons and unwanted sculptures.  Would you do this with your own stock?  They are then left for someone else to pick up during the day, but why should anyone else have to pick them up, why should you expect other people to pick up after you.  It is always the same people helping to keep the room clean and tidy and the same people letting them whilst they stand there talking or just picking their bags up and walking out at the end of the lecture day.  Hundreds of unused balloons are scattered all over the floor and then all the balloons get mixed up and put back into the wrong compartments which then has to be sorted out,  just a little thought and effort would make it so much easier for us, just one less thing for us to sort out and rectify. I should also mention that at some of the days we have had to deal with people helping themselves to the balloon stock that we put out for everyone to use.

Possible remedy?  
One remedy suggested was that I provide everyone with a set number of balloons, perhaps half a bag of 260 balloons.  You can then do with them as you please, any remaining can go home with you. The suggestion being that if people have enough balloons each for the day but not an endless supply they will be more careful with them.  People won't just drop perfectly good balloons on the floor and walk away. Do people throw all there balloons on the floor at home when working on a sculpture?  I always try to work neat and tidy and have never seen anyone do so with their own balloons, just other peoples at the days.

Problem?
Talking during the workshop, This was even more of a problem on Wednesday, not sure why. We have always said the days would not change due to them being filmed. We want good old banter, laughter and funny comments encouraged that are related to what the speaker/lecturer is explaining as it helps the atmosphere at the day and comes across better on the DVD for those not able to attend.
But I feel it is exceedingly rude to talk about un-related subjects over a guest lecturer/guild member who is taking the trouble to share with us all his ideas and thoughts.
 
Remedy?, Please take the time to be courteous and respect the artist.  Please go to the far end of the room if you need to speak and please speak quietly.  

Problem?
Mobile Phones, I always ask for these to be switched to silent/vibrate. We appreciate you have to answer the phone as it could be a booking etc. There is not a problem with people walking in and out of the lecture to answer the phone.

Remedy?
Before each workshop we need to have a moment although we do already when everyone turns their phones off.  


Problem?
Video, We always say take as many pictures as you like but no videoing, yet I have to tell a few people to stop videoing at the days.  Some seem to think we are talking to others perhaps? And the request does not apply to them?  The no video rule is important, guests share their knowledge with us but don't want people videoing their work to end up on youtube or wherever.  It is for the Care and Share workshop only.  If people ignore the video rule it is disrespectful and will put people off showing things.
 
Remedy?
Ban anyone caught videoing?
 
Problem?
During the day I ask EVERYONE to clean up to avoid a huge job at the end.  And who wants to be working in a messy room?  It's ALWAYS the same few people who help and do this whilst the other people, the majority who act as though the rules yet again do not apply to them.  
Again, "Why should other people be cleaning up after you?" Please just help for a few minutes, it makes it so much easier.
This problem seems to get worse at every day we organise, I even stand next to some who are not helping to clean up and they still just stand about with no intention of helping to clear up the mess that they have helped to make.
As soon as I ask for the room to be tidied there is a mass exit for a cigarette outside, the tea machine or to check your phone or make a call.

Remedy?
Everyone cleans up between lectures. Pop unwanted balloons and put your wanted balloon sculptures somewhere safe ready to take home. Perhaps the next lecture does not start until the clean up has been done.  

I have to say that the reason I am finally writing this is because of the way the Lecture day ended on Wednesday, I felt a bit embarresed as at the end of the day the majority just left after Dennis had finished his last spot, there was the room full of unwanted and unused inflated and un-inflated balloons and sculptures with just a few people left to help tidy the room up and put everything away as it was hired to a dance club in the evening and had to be cleaned. I believe, Diane, Thelma, Amanda, Dennis, Ingrid, Lyn and myself were left to put things straight, apologies if I have missed anyone else off the list and I was a bit embarrassed that the lecturer for the day Dennis who had shared so much with everyone and who organises and runs the biggest twister group had to help us carry all the stock/sales items into a locked and secure room overnight and help tidy the room as everyone from the day, guild members included had all done a disappearing act.

Nothing really to do with the day but something that did surprise me, I booked a restaurant in the evening for the 14 people who were staying over and others had the  idea to meet at the hotel and take as few cars as possible, seemed like a good idea but when we met at the agreed time half the people had already made there way to the restaurant leaving some with no transport waiting in the car park. Dennis, Thelma and myself did manage to get everyone to the restaurant.

On Thursday it was more of the same with Lyn, Thelma and I being left at the end of the day to tidy the room up, we had so many sculptures left to dispose of with at least 10 of the love birds in the heart that Daniel shared left in the room. We eventually got away and to Weatherspoons just as others were leaving to go home.

I have been sitting on the fence about posting this but I do feel we need to sort the problems out and make the days run smoother for everyone.  If we put on these days for everyone then I feel it's only right that everyone does their bit.  
These "remedies" are just suggestions.  If anyone has any views or ideas please let us have your thoughts, you may 100% disagree with everything that I have said, that is fine I will not be upset, an open and honest discussion is good for everyone.
The idea is to help build the days so that they evolve and benefit everyone who takes the time and trouble to attend and hopefully improve their modelling skills. We are at the beginning of a club and it would be nice to get everyone pulling in the same direction.

Graham ducks down behind the keyboard to see what gets thrown his way.

I have just spent the day altering all the prices on the Qualatex website, we still sell all our product at less than wholesale prices and have just added free shipping to all orders over £150 except for Northern Ireland which has a small surcharge due to expensive courier and royal mail charges, £50 for £150-199.99 and £7.50 over £200.
Fingers crossed there are no mistakes although we did find that for the past year we have been over charging via the website only for 160/260 metallic so these prices have come down.

Any questions then please fire away

Welcome to the site, glad you got hooked in.

A word of Warning!
I will start putting the price of the Qualatex balloons up on the website from tomorrow, so if you are quick you will get at the old price.

The one stroke floor pumps will be back in stock from tomorrow, they have been sitting with royal mail for a week as they could not be bothered to get in touch with me about custom payments.
Last time they just sent the whole consignment back to the US

http://www.balloonartwholesale.co.uk/ba ... -balloons/

An art gallery has some hand made balloons; http://www.core77.com/ultimategiftguide ... alloon.asp

Congratulations on posting the picture, hopefully the first of many. Your balloon hat is very nice.

Mine just sit about the house, mainly in my converted loft which is my study/work area.

I forgot to mention that we had a new member join the Guild at the memorial lecture, so welcome to Dave Kallos member 31.

We are trying to book Ken Stillman for this event and if all goes to plan it will be on the Wed 16th Nov. Please note if we do not get a minimum of 15 people booked for the Guild party day on the 17th then just this day will not go ahead. Once I have booked and confirmed Ken I will put up the booking details. The day is free to Balloon Artiste Guild Members, non members fee is a bargain £35.oo to see one of the world's greatest twisters, no pressure Ken!!

We have moved the dates around for Leeds and Bishops stortford as Ken Stillman who we are trying to book is coming over now in November and we needed the last main lecture of the year to be in Leeds. The day will probably not be at Qualatex's HQ, I will book a hall nearby. The day will run from 10 till approx 5.oo p.m.

I have booked and confirmed Twistina to do the extra day in Birmingham on the 7th Sept. There will be three sessions during the day,
11.30 till 1.oo p.m, 2.oo till 3.oo p.m and then 3.45 till 4.45 p.m.
Her website is, http://www.twistina.co.uk/

I will run a basic class from 10.15 till 11.15 for those that wish to get there early, the day will be 10 till approx 5.30 p.m.
Booking details, http://www.balloonartwholesale.co.uk/catal ... -23-1.html

The day is free to Balloon Artiste Guild members but please let me know if you are attending so that we can keep a track on numbers,
the cost for non members is a fantastic bargain at just £15. Please note this day will not be filmed.

Been playing with the Rabbit design that Dennis showed, it still uses 4 balloons. On the first session Dennis lectured at the day the main thing about the models was that only four 260 balloons could be used to make the design. It really sits up nicely all on it's own.