September 29 - Bat

"And now at last, it comes: you will be free to fly into the night like a bat from hell."

~ William Faulkner

Being that this is the only time of year I apparently feel is right to post a bat, I should check a few off the list.

I kind of like the idea of finding a good 1-balloon (scrap acceptable) version of everything, so here is one that Michael Langerman shared on his YouTube channel that keeps a decent shape.

There is another one balloon bat you can make of course, but people usually groan at the pun.

(view other bats)

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Other balloons by and inspired by Michael Langerman:

September 28 - Gemar Turquoise

There was once a harvest in this land.
Reap from the turquoise sky, harlequin, harlequin.

~ Harlequin - Genesis

Gemar turquoise is a good and rich color.  Even though it is the darkest of these light blues - it has a tone to it that fits in the set.  I'll include both blue color swatches in this post to see.

Gemar really seems to have a reliable "texture and twisting feel" to their balloons, their colors are great, nicely opaque.  This was no exception - good stuff.

Overall impression of Gemar Turquoise, I feel like they nailed the color shade, but how many blues does someone actually need before they cakewalk into town?

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Other "color day" balloons:

September 27 - Bat

"Bats and owls and frosty winds, black cats prowl where mischief begins."

~ traditional Halloween rhyme

Vampire bats aren't really Dracula - they're closer to mosquitos.

They sneak up on sleeping animals, make a tiny cut and take a tiny sip.

Which I suppose is still pretty creepy.

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Darren Mortiboy shared how to make this bat and a Q Corner Showtime video.  Q ... I miss you. 
(view other bats)

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Other balloons by and inspired by Darren Mortiboy:

September 26 - Bat

"The world turned upside down - in which bats went swimming and fish flew in the air."

~ Angela Carter

Echo location.   

Somehow this process of radar pinging the environment and listening to the timing of the reflections is what keeps the June bugs from landing on me.

I guess what I'm saying is "Thank thank you you, bats bats."

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Isopresso had a secondary design on their channel with this hanging bat, again one that I suppose I was saving for just the right time of year.


(view other bats)

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Other balloons by and inspired by Isopresso:

September 25 - Bat

"The bat is not a bird, and cannot be compared with birds, but it is, so to speak, a mouse with wings."

~ Aristotle

We had bats move into our attic for a while, until we finally installed a one-way vent and blocked their entrance.

Not technically bats in the belfry, but not entirely inaccurate either.
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This bat design is one shown on the 'LS party Family' channel, aka Glam n Pop Balloons, a balloon business based out of Iceland. When I built the bat a few days ago I realized I hadn't made very many ... perhaps always waiting for the right time of year?


(view other bats)

September 24 - Bat

"Listen to them, the children of the night. What music they make!"

~ Bram Stoker, Dracula

I have to remind myself at times that bats are blind.

They fly a little wobbly, but they're managing flapping leathery wings to stay aloft - something no other mammal does well (I'll say having done no research), of course it's going to be a little haphazard.

Way more graceful than I'd be at least, smacking into trees like George of the Jungle.

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This bat is an Isopresso design that I've been meaning to build forever, but also during "Halloweenish times".

(view other bats)

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Other balloons by and inspired by Isopresso:

September 23 - Bats

"The farther we've gotten from the magic and mystery of our past, the more we've come to need Halloween."

~ Paula Curan

It's not early for Halloween, I'm still celebrating from last year. 

One challenge of the season is how early you can put the bowl of candy out without having to restock it.

It's like a delicious game of reverse Jenga.  (I lose!  Yay!)

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These bats were something I saw yesterday on a newer YouTube channel that's exploding with content - CG_Balloonaire (link).  They've only been active for 5 months, but post daily and have shared over 170 videos/shorts at the point I'm writing this - check them out!

(view other bats)

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Other Halloween themed balloons:

September 22 - Manta Ray

"All new explorers must answer a science question. You live in what kind of home?"

~ Mr. Ray - Finding Nemo

I'd like to think that the scene they cut from Finding Nemo is when Mr. Ray found out Nemo was taken by the bu... by the boat.

Cut to a close up on Mr. Ray gliding through the ocean as Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries begins.  You pan back to see a whole squadron (actual term) of them descending on the boat as it tries to speed away.

The anime version could be epic.

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This Nemo inspired fanfic is inspired by an Isopresso manta ray design.  

(view other fish)

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Other balloons by and inspired by Isopresso:

September 21 - Gemar Aquamarine

Not pink!   Not green!
Not aquamarine!
We're painting the roses red!

~ Painting the Roses Red - Alice in Wonderland (1951)

Sailors used to carry aquamarine stones as a talisman of sorts to keep the seas calm. They are a light blue-green, softer than turquoise, but less green than teal.

I recently saw a video that showed how to find the production date of bags of Gemar balloons including how old is "old enough to be cycled out". Now I know the precise amount of my neglect ... 6 years.

I'm going to move these leftover bags up the list to get through, they show age but won't be judged for it, in fact given the age they're doing great.

These balloons are have a nice Gemar-y sponge to them despite any ... seasoning.  The color is a fine, but it does feel hard to justify needing more "blue" in a kit. Light, dark, medium - how many types of baby shark are there even?

Overall assessment of Gemar Aquamarine, I like them - but not more than the three blues already filling my normal kit?

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Other "color day" balloons:

September 20 - Moray Eel

"There are very few monsters who warrant the fear we have of them."

~ André Gide

A moray eel looks creepy.  

I get that they are just breathing.  But the gasping open-mouth looks like it's just practicing to chomp.  The narrow eyes.  The snakelike body.

You tell me it's harmless on the zoo placard, fine - my brain still receives "monster" signals.

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This design is a recent one on the Isopresso YouTube channel, whose videos tend to be great practice on top of fun designs.  , this time good control of a flat weave!

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Other balloons by and inspired by Isopresso:

September 19 - Pig Bubble Buddy

"The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig... but already it was impossible to say which was which."

~ George Orwell, Animal Farm

Certainly the most important test you can perform on any balloon technique -- "does it purple?"

Let's see!  *squeak squeak squeak* (twisting noises)

I would say that as kind of final notes on the technique, that it's "not the quickest build".  The fullness and shape of the head is great, the jaw pieces does a great job at separating the head from the body and create a nice/hidden flow between the two sections.  You can also easily "cartoonify" these by replacing the eyebrow area with white for gigantic eyes.

The votes have been tallied, the verdict is in and I'm going to rubber stamp "DPP Approved" on the package - purple pig is porkfect for the technique.

Bubble Buddy has the right amount of chub for this bub.

(view other pigs)

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Other balloons by and inspired by The Balloon Brotherse: