November 30 - Tuftex Turquoise

I was thinkin' about turquoise, I was thinkin' about gold
I was thinkin' about diamonds and the world's biggest necklace
As we rode through the canyons, through the devilish cold
I was thinkin' about Isis, how she thought I was so reckless

~ Isis - Bob Dylan

I've been enjoying this weekly "color day" exercise, but I'm getting the sense that some of these companies are choosing color names a bit haphazardly after the blend instead of trying to target a specific color.  Turquoise should be lighter blue and have maybe a hint of green?    From the colors grid, Gemar Aquamarine looks a bit closer to what I think turquoise should be.

The balloons have a good sponginess, I had been hesitant with Tuftex after my pink experience, like eating a sour grape - but it was your first grape.  Each of the others have been a real nice sponge feel to them, like Qualatex Blush used to be (pause for nostalgia). 

Overall assessment, Tuftex Turquoise feel great and work great and is a nice mid-blue color.

 

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Other "color day" balloons:

November 29 - Donkey

"I am not what you call me; I am what I answer to."

~ African proverb

Kids can be surprisingly cruel with their teasing.   They find one tiny detail - a rhyme, a quirk, and suddenly you're labelled for life.  We actually had a kid in my elementary school nicknamed "Boner".  In sixth grade I genuinely thought it was because he was so tall.  

Anyways, when you're a Donkey with the last name Kwong - the first day of school can be pretty terrible.

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This donkey is one of the designs shown recently on the Isopresson channel - I first tried giving him a smile, but I couldn't unsee the emoji face.

(view other donkey)

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Other balloons by and inspired by Isopresso:

November 28 - Demogorgon

"... Never change, Dustin Henderson."

~ Eddie Munsen - Stranger Things

You take a gamble when you cast young actors.  They can age out of the role, and 'cuteness' is sometimes mistaken for an ability to act.

You take on a different set of risks when working with extradimensional entities, I suppose.   Mostly the "fate of the world" variety.

Still, they have full SAG membership and can hit their marks almost on .. instinct?

(view other monsters)

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November 27 - Turkey

"There are no small audiences, only small performers."

~ Theatre Proverb

I wish I could have written a post for everyone.  Truly.

There are far more people that I am thankful for than there are days on the calendar, and the math was never going to work in my favor.  So if I didn't get to you by name in this round, please hear this part clearly:

Today I am thankful for you.

I make very little investment in social presence, and I try not to look at the stats because it's pretty ridiculous to see how few people these reach.  

But you found this little pocket universe of ridiculousness, and you stopped long enough to read - even if it's years after the fact.  

Thank you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

(view other turkeys)

November 26 - Elmo

"A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle."

~ James Keller

I'll say it: The Bagchunas is my favorite balloon bag.

Today I'm thankful for Rob Balchunas.

It's seven whole degrees from Kevin Bacon, but in the balloon world it's more like two degrees from Rob.  If you've twisted long enough, either Rob has shown you something critical ... or you've heard the story of how he taught the person who is showing you the ... you get it.

Rob is the guy who knows every trick, shortcut, method, and micro-technique that's ever floated through a jam room - because he has worked with everyone, helped everyone, and has a story with everyone.   

This year I'm nominating Rob Balchunas for Patron Saint of the Balloon Arts, the Keeper of Secrets, and the person every balloon artist is glad to see walk into the room.

I had the good fortune to collaborate with him on a project once - this Elmo was one of the things he showed.

(view other Sesame Street characters)

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Other balloons by and inspired by Rob Balchunas:

November 25 - Pilchard

"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working."

~ Pablo Picasso

About 13 years ago, Nat asked for a balloon.

Today I'm thankful for Rob Driscoll.

Rob is the first balloon artist I ever saw commit to a full 365-day project, and it started with this cat.  His blog was a mix of creativity, discipline and a that bit of magic that occurs when you show up and put in the work day after day.

If daily art works any kind of muscle, then Rob is one of the reasons I started exercising.

(view other cats)

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Other balloons by and inspired by Rob Driscoll:

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: