November 24 - Elephant

"We don't remember days, we remember moments."

~ Cesare Pavese

Xavier was my name in my high-school French classes.  It wasn't pronounced the way I wanted it to be.

Aujourd'hui, je suis reconnaissant pour Martin Lemire. Tu es incroyable.

Martin is the kind of person who absolutely thrives at conventions - talented (award winning!), welcoming, hilarious and genuinely kind.  

Coming back to Twist & Shout this year after so many years away, and having vanished from social media - I wasn't sure who would remember me.  I honestly planned on slipping quietly into the back of the room with my hood up.

He was the first one to walk over and give me a huge hug.

That moment meant more than he knew.

Martin is simply one of the best - as an artist, and as a human being.  Chapeau, mon ami!

(view other elephants)

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Other balloons by and inspired by Martin Lemire:

November 23 - Kalisan Fuchsia

Along the stretch of some unnamed plane, we began again.
I saw in your face that we’re the same when we began again.
A multiverse of fuchsia and violet surrenders to blackness now.

~ Brought to the Water - Deafheaven

It's a big commitment.

Today I'm thankful for anyone who has taken on a growth challenge.

Balloons, art, fitness, health - or even that moment when you said "yes" to something you weren't sure you could finish, but decided to try anyways.

Sometimes things come easy and you barely think about it.  

Other times you jump out of the plane and hope you find a parachute before you make it all the way to the ground. 

I have a poster that reads, "Creativity is a daily exercise, not a talent."

That's why you jump.

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This HAS to be the first time I've ever spelled the word fuchsia correctly.

Kalisan Fuchsia was sooo tight, it was not a pleasant color to work with - and unfortunately one of those things that you discover almost immediately.   Tearing a balloon gives a sharp painful finger snap.

They also have a bit of a .. plastic feel to them?  Like neon balloons where you're not quite sure if a pinch twist will unravel.

Overall impression of Kalisan Fuchsia, did not care for them - but I'm starting from a point of not caring for the color as well, cloyingly pink.   I wonder if that had something to do with the "bleh" of this bag.

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Other "color day" balloons:

November 22 - Jojo Skellington

"Well done is better than well said."

~ Benjamin Franklin

Never have I ever ... Inflated a balloon by ear.

Today I'm thankful for Tobias Stengel (Tobi Twist).

Tobi, the human balloon pump, would have to drink for his signature move.  His short-form videos are fast, fun and full of those quick clever ideas that make me watch them on loop and take notes.

Tobi brings energy and joy into his builds - and he's putting in the work, it's no surprise the world is showing up to watch.

(view other Jack Skellington)

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Other balloons by and inspired by Tobi Twist:

November 21 - Hulk

"The smallest details make the biggest difference."

~ Richard Carlson

Today I'm thankful for Patrick Van De Ven.

I've always thought Patrick's designs had an ... elegance to them?  I remember seeing his Gonzo for the first time and how the world just kind of froze for three minutes while I devoured every detail.

His Little Guy technique is one of my favorite for "humanoids" (saying that makes me feel like a Martian), and is probably one of the clearer examples of how a balloon concept can be so universal.

Simple things.  Little things.  Important things - they're what make the design.

(view other Hulk)

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Other balloons by and inspired by Patrick Van De Ven:

November 20 - Cow

"The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it."

~ Molière

Today I'm thankful for Matt Falloon.

Matt is to balloons what Ken Jennings is to Jeopardy.   Somehow the right person ended up doing the right thing at exactly the right time.

His lessons make you work: your fingers, your patience, your brain, your vocabulary... everything gets used.  They're finger-burners in the best way, the kind that leave you stronger for having survived them.

Like beating a Dark Souls boss ... 

   

(view other cow)

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Other balloons by and inspired by Matt Falloon:

November 19 - Longhorn Beetle Larva

"To see a world in a grain of sand
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour."

~ William Blake
  Auguries of Innocence (1803)

It's one thing to be a master, it's another to lift us all by sharing the secrets behind the magic.

Today I'm thankful for Masayoshi Matsumoto (Isopresso Balloon).

Every piece they create is detailed and intentional, like it belongs in a field guide as a reference illustration or labelled with a museum placard.  

Their channel has probably been one of my favorite places to learn - half tutorial, half "how is that even possible?"

(view other insects)

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Other balloons by and inspired by Isopresso:

November 18 - Hats

"The earth has music for those who listen."

~ George Santayana

He took balloons around the world in the most inspiring way.

Today I'm thankful for Addi Somekh.

Addi is someone who has pushed past perceived boundaries, from his television series to his band to his world travels.  Looking at the images in his book, I'm both awed and inspired.  He's humble, kind, and spreading the love in every way possible.

A modern Johnny Latex-seed.

(view other hats)

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Other balloons by and inspired by Addi Somekh: