August 16 - Yip-Yip Martians

"If we in public television can make it clear that feelings are mentionable and manageable, we'll have done a great service for mental health."

~ Fred Rogers in defense of PBS funding

"Bah."  "Nana?"

"Nope nope nope nope."

"Bah."  "Zooka?"

"Nope nope nope nope."

"Bah- loon?" ... "Balloon."

"Balloon!" "Balloon!"

"Uh-huh, uh-huh."

"Yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip!"
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This is trying to copy one of the awesome things that were just littering the floor of the Twist & Shout 2025 jam room one morning, I took a picture with the intention of ... today I suppose, yip-yip-yip-yip-yip!
(view other aliens)

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Other balloons inspired by Sesame Street:

March 3 - Llama

"A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men."

~ Willy Wonka

I looked it up because I think I just call everything a Llama by default.... the difference between a Llama and an Alpaca physically is an Alpaca is smaller with a shorter face.  

This Llama is another creation taught by Gergo at Twist & Shout this year.  Gergo was sponsored by Gemar who have extremely long necks on their small round balloons compared to other brands and are great for making shaped legs like this.  

I'm a fan of Gemar balloons actually, they have a good in-hand feel.  (Is "good squishiness" a valid measurement even?)  I typically would not consider changing brands from one that has all of the modelling balloon sizes, but now that Gemar is expanding their line ... 

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Other Twist & Shout 2025 Balloons:

March 1 - Mothman

"There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man."

~ Patrick Rothfuss

He sits by the lonely glow of the campfire. The flames crackle, the night hums with the buzzing of insects - and deep in the woods, something moves.

He is not alone.

This is another fantastic design shared by Laural Schultze at Twist & Shout this year. Like many of her creatures, it was designed for quick linework - but Mothman is said to be humanoid, so I gave him feet. Just in case.

Not that they'll help him run...

 
(view other Twist & Shout 2025 Creations)

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Other balloons by and inspired by Laural Schultze:

February 28 - African Drum

"The drum is a voice that speaks to the soul."

~ Olatunji

February is almost over, but the impact of Black History Month lasts well beyond the calendar.

This African drum is built to honor the rhythm, storytelling, and deep cultural roots woven into African music.  More than just an instrument, the drum is a voice, a way to connect, communicate and keep traditions alive.

This weave design was taught at Twist & Shout by Meri Hokhikyan, an incredibly talented artist originally from Armenia.  She builds some amazing balloon bouquets and large displays but this was my first exposure to her work.  I didn't know if I would be able to make it to her class, but I am very happy I did!


Other balloons by and inspired by Twist & Shout 2025:

February 26 - Gergo's Jelek

"Be like the snail: persevere, carry your home with you, and leave a trail of awesomeness."

~ Neil Gaiman

A Jelek is not a "snail" - it's Hungarian, roughly translating to 'your mark'.  Every schoolchild in Hungary is assigned one, a simple but personal symbol to help them identify belongings.  Gergő Csatai's jel (singular form) was a snail.

Gergő was another instructor at Twist & Shout this year, and one of the things I love about international instructors is how their cultural influences shape their work.  As much as social media makes the world feel smaller, there's still something deeply personal about the way an artist’s background shapes their creativity.

And like a snail carrying its home on its back, Gergő brings a piece of his home with him, sharing his distinct style.

Gergo ... Gergy ... Gargy ... Gary.   It makes sense.  *runs away*

(view other snails)

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Other balloons by and inspired by Gergő Csatai:

February 25 - Nosfera two

"Let us chat together a moment, my friend! There are still several hours until dawn, and I have the whole day to sleep."

~ Count Orlok, Nosferatu (1922)

Something ancient stirs ...

Creepy Cute Cryptids & Creatures was one of the classes Laural Schultze taught at Twist & Shout this year - fast, fun designs meant for linework (because Halloween can be every day if you do it right).

One of the things I appreciated about Laural's class was how she pulled inspiration from beyond the balloon world, bringing in artist tricks to create a 3D face with a long, pointed nose on a round surface, a simple but brilliant solution.

I felt inspired to try his 'hunched creeper' look when I saw those classic images with his unnaturally long limbs. The problem I see now is that without some sort of visible definition as to where the waist should be, the longer arms on a robe gives a "torso only" look, like he's rising up out of some bubbly slime on the ground.  Hmmmm...

(view other vampires)

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Other balloons by and inspired by Twist & Shout 2025: