Im not sure where to post this but here goes. I have some balloon decorating supplies for sale. I bought them awhile ago but got into twisting and lost interest.
I have various items for sale. all never used

connect a dot system....
rounds 9 white,14 silver and 13 black
connectors 23 white, 13silver, 10 gold, 19black

balloon pro net

foam wire 11 yards (minus 4inches shrinkage in storage)neon, 1 reel of each colour.
purple,black,yellow,blue,green,orange,white,red,pink

3ft foil balloons, shapes
moon gold 3
palm leaf green 9
palm leaf silver 9

small foils
moon gold 5
moon silver 5
leaf green 20
star silver 20

I also have lots and lots of curling ribbon on reels in different sizes and widths up to 1200 metres on the largest reels, but its a bit heavy to post so you would have to come to brighton to pick them up.

Also some hi flote with dispenser, never used

thats about it for now, im still sorting my stuff out.
I havent worked any prices out but im open to offers

Mandy,

What's connect a dot?

In Sempertex Terms its a bit like Link-o-loons Graham, but made from a plastic material rather than latex

Pam
xx

also Mandy have you considered with the smaller foils you could use them and add them to a twisted creation, no rules say you can only use latex

Pam
xx

(Does this constitute saving paper two replies on one page??)

So does the plastic piece fit inside the balloon?

this may explain things http://www.continentalsales.net/Educati ... verCAD.php

I would post pics but even tho the photo size is 72kb it still says the file is too big and the maximum allowed size is 256kb

Im about to put them on ebay (within the next week), so if anyones interested and wants to see photos of my stock, i can email them to you.
The large spools of 1000-1500 metre curling ribbon are too heavy to post, i have 44of them.

Mandy it may help if you remind people of where you are based   If this was a few months down the line I may well have been interested in these bits but the next decorating course at Bishop's Stortford is not until September time I think so I can't justify buying the bits before I find out whether I can actually do decorating  

Hi Yvonne, im in brighton. I learned decorating before i learned twisting, i found it to be a lot easier. I cant see you having any problem.
The centrepieces were a bit more involved and as i cant arrange 3eggs on a plate, i couldnt make them even with all the bits. I suppose you have to have an eye for it.
Im moving up to norfolk soon but i was hoping to sell my decor stock to make room.
I bought all that ribbon, hoping to make bows but the bow machine was soooo overpriced, especially since its mechanical, it was almost 500 cshells. i would have had to make countless bows to just recoup the price of the bowmaker. so i got stuck with 44 reels. Well ive learned my lesson now  :oops:

I do know that balloon decorating takes a lot of investment and a lot of equipment, my inflator cost almost 1000cshells.

Ive learned how to make arches,columns and cloud 9 double bubble, which for me was enough, and the only equipment is a couple of table clamps, 2 metal stands, a length of hose pipe to connect, and a cardboard box with a hole to size.  At the moment im teaching myself gazebos/childrens frames which just needs 350s or 646s tied end to end, in a geometric shape. These will be large enough for people to walk in and can be used for decor purposes.
I will be starting a thread on this soon.

Balloon decorating is a fast growing industry, lots of competition, whereas balloon twisting is less common and more specialised, thats my opinion

Hi All

There are private classes you can go to contact Nabas ( the balloon association) http://www.nabas.co.uk and kate can give you a list of approved instructors in your area:

The difference in class - You are not taught only about one brand and products that a manufacturer sells but a full range of products from assorted suppliers and manufacturers (so you can make your own mind up which products are best for you) by an independant approved Nabas instructor (some of them even teach one to one) with maximum class sizes:

When it comes to equipment, you DONT need to buy all the expensive stuff - learn the art first and see if its a business you want to be in - all you need to complete a the begining is

Gas ( helium) You hire from the suppliers  - a tilt valve for latex and a foil inflator (sometimes you can buy joint ones  about £75) and balloons, ribbon, monfilament (clear line for arches) and weights (these can also be bought in various designs and sizes or you can make your own)

The box of holes you can make your own (when we started it was the only option) or if you are just inflating 11" then use a tape measure and every function room has two chairs you can back to back and measure out the size you need: This is still teh only option with balloons over 14" diameter

If you need to make columns of air filled balloons - IKEA sell a fantastic uplight for £4.69 that has a real heavy weight as the base ( we need to find something to do with the shade and fitting) and screws together and at that price the customer can keep it.

On a Nabas level 1 course you are taught how to make a bow without the need for any equipment. If you get to making 100's buy a bowmaker.

The time to buy equipement is when you are working hard at the job not when just learning and have all the time in the world to complete a smaller number of jobs.

Thats why when you learn in a private class you pay more because they are not sponsored by the manufacturers and by the corresponding sales of product made. The Tutor is not there to sell you product, but to teach you the art.

Sorry off Soap Box now

We started twisting first then got into decor then got into sculptures and have a lot of fun combining them all: And we use different manufacturers together and I know it may seem strange but the products have no complaints at all:

Mandy as you are in hertfordshire - I know a teacher in Enfield, not far from you if you are interested email me: mailto:pam@balloonsandtunes.co.uk">pam@balloonsandtunes.co.uk and I will send you her email address

Pam

Ok I am a member of NABAS and I have been decorating for over 15 years. I have been on the Pioneer beginner's course and the NABAS and I would say that the content was almost identical. At no time on the Pioneer course did they say I should buy any over expensive equipment, but I did get to see and use the full range of kit available. They did recommend an electric air inflator, and a combo helium inflator but I for one would not think that spending around £160 to start a business is a lot of money. (Prices from my local wholesaler's catalogue electric economy air inflator £53, helium combo latex and foil inflator £89 sizing box £19.38 these are the including VAT prices).
 At Pioneer you will only get to use Qualitex balloons this is true but so what they are a good product and the techniques are the same as you would use with any other make of balloon. As for the teachers a lot of the NABAS teachers also work or have worked for Qualitex. I would say the real advantage of going to Pioneer is the quality of the teaching venue not a village hall, or a store room out the back of a wholesaler they have a proper teaching room fully equipped with all you need. When I recently attended a NABAS course (a long story why I went when I have been doing this for as long as I have) yes the instructor was fine (and she dose teach for Qualitex as well) but the equipment was old falling apart and there was not even enough kit to go around, and the balloons we were given to use were so old they were all but impossible to work with we spent so much time fiddling about it made getting the whole syllabus done very hard going.
So I would say don't just disregard Pioneer yes they want you to buy there product but remember they want you to be successful so they sell you more product. A few inflators are not going to keep there profits up but you buying lots of balloons will.
Fundamentals from Pioneer £110 +vat a NABAS independent instructor quoted me £250 I got my NABAS courses via a wholesalers for £99.

Quote from: "Pam Pearce"Mandy as you are in hertfordshire - I know a teacher in Enfield, not far from you if you are interested email me: mailto:pam@balloonsandtunes.co.uk">pam@balloonsandtunes.co.uk and I will send you her email address

Actually Mandy is in Brighton and I am in Hertfordshire.  I have looked into the NABAS courses.  There is one in Stevenage but that is on a really inconvineint date for me and then another NABAS instructor teaches at a local college too.  However, it is not clear whether the college course is city & guilds or NABAS - I as told on the phone it is c&g but on the college's website it says NABAS and it is also £320 which for me is a bit out of my price range to see if I actually like balloon decorating imho  

Does anyone do taster courses for a couple of hours, that are not too expensive just to see if it really is something that I would enjoy adding to my business?

Why don't we see if we could get Roger to do some basic decorating at one of the care & share days? Just an Idea. We do occasionally get some decorators coming to the twisting days so could ask them as well to do a spot depending on where the day is.

That would be fab.  You up for it Rog?

which day that sounds good