November 11 - Briar Rose

"Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead."

~ Charles Bukowski

This is the greatest and best balloon in all the world.

Tribute.

Today I'm thankful for Shana Sharp.

If there is one balloon design that I've used more than any others, it has to be this cutie doll princess.  For a while, I carried tiny cards that said "Take me!" - tucked them into their hands and left them hiding in hotel lobbies and elevators while traveling for tech summits.  

Shana Sharp is a Shupershtar - quick/funny and just abshurdly creative.  Her Twitch show is a proving ground for the wonderfully weird, where bizarre requests turn into balloon brilliance.

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(view other princesses)

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Other balloons by and inspired by Shana Sharp:

April 30 - Grief

Jackie left on a cold, dark night
Telling me he'd be home
Sailed the seas for a hundred years
Leaving me all alone
And I've been dead for twenty years
I've been washing the sand
With my ghostly tears
Searching the shores for my Jackie-oh

~ Sinead O'Connor Jackie (link)

One of the favorite high school memories that my wife has shared with me is when she and a friend won tickets to a Sinead O'Connor concert.  (Click that link!!)  Sinead has an unmatched soulful power in her voice and songs, it's a shame that many people reduce her to "that one bald chick".

Jackie is a song about a woman dealing with the grief of losing her husband at sea.  Screaming "you're all wrong!" in denial at the man who brings the news, and never accepting it as reality.  She is haunted to search the shores, ever scanning the horizon in hopes of his return.

I built two balloons trying to capture the grief.  First was the older woman, refusing to call herself a widower, but then I took the lyrics literally and built a ghost version of her younger self.

The rough form of the balloon is based on Shana Brenion's cutie dolls and remains one of my favorite balloon concepts to make women with.

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Other cutie doll balloon designs:

All Shana

October 4 - Graceful Expressions 2017

.. we are the dancers, we create the dreams.

~ Albert Einstein

... the reason I had been reviewing some line work worthy designs.

The Graceful Expressions Dance Company puts on a yearly inclusive dance that is the reason I make balloon art today. It's my one true "gig" a year, and volunteering for it was what launched this odd rocket.  Hearing how much the little girl below on the left loved and kept the first monkey I made all those years ago - now I make sure to bring something special made just for her.

The most requested balloons of the day were princesses (cutie dolls). I love this crowd - when I give them a few options of classic Disney princesses and end with "or I could make you as a princess" usually they have gone with the creative option.  It more fun for me, more exciting to watch build and more meaningful of a keepsake.  (I'm noticing I missed adding eyelashes to the rainbow princess on the right!)

This year I had the advantage of both of my boys helping if anyone wanted a sword or a penguin.  Eventually that turned into a competition for making the best sword - I had 646 greys stashed for my own but ended up being busy the whole time.

Thank you, April and everyone involved in putting on this great yearly event.  I hope to see you in 2018!

Here is last year: Graceful Expressions 2016

May 14 - Angel & Devil Cuties

And she spoke again saying
"Know, my child,
That there is no devil seekin'
To cause guilt in the hearts to men.

No evil, save blind faith, ignorance,
And the desire for the unprepared
To blame others for the devastation
Left in the wake of change

~ Puscifer Sour Grapes

This is another one that I couldn't wait to build once the idea hit me.  The idea that Purple would be waffling over the tragedy of passing or purchasing low priced bacon ...

I have been attempting to force myself to keep to a two week maximum when exploring these various balloon concepts, so this will be the last (as always "for now") of Shana Brenion's cutie dolls here. As with the other balloon concepts, I have really only scratched the surface with the things you could do with this with only slight modifications.

It actually would probably do me well to try for another two weeks - I've been purposefully studying creativity recently as I've been lucky enough to participate in a trial run of Scott Tripp's Creativity Blaster course. It's helped me realize that creativity is like a muscle - you can't learn by watching, you have to actively practice. When I'm in a comfortable place of recreating a design by someone else, my brain is off, I'm thinking mathematically and at most I'm wondering how I might stage the purple pig photo.  When I have exhausted those designs and force myself to make something else, it's much more exciting and fulfilling.  It's also extremely frustrating at times .. but it's worth the effort, worth the exercise.

These cutie dolls have been great exercise.

Thanks Shana!

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Other Cutie Dolls:

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May 13 - Bride of Frankenstein Cutie

Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: Love is the only thing that can save this poor creature, and I am going to convince him that he is loved even at the cost of my own life. No matter what you hear in there, no matter how cruelly I beg you, no matter how terribly I may scream, do not open this door or you will undo everything I have worked for. Do you understand? Do not open this door.

~ Young Frankenstein (1974)

I love that movie ...

We are nearing the end of our exploration with this form and I didn't mean to turn this into a pre-Halloween monster cutie session, but this was the other one that occurred when I was wondering what I could build besides princesses with this Shana Brenion cutie doll form.

This one is pretty much a blend of the Poppy troll for hairstyle and a normal princess. I had thought to go for a black and white image, but the addition of a black rose to add some color adds a neat effect - especially on the black and white background.

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Other Cutie Dolls:

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May 12 - Medusa

Perseus: How may a mortal man face and defeat the Kraken?
Stygian Witch: The Kraken is invulnerable. 100 men could not fight him. An army could not kill him.
Perseus: Nothing is invulnerable.There must be a way.
Stygian Witch: Perhaps, one way.  But a way even more dangerous than the Kraken itself.
Perseus: Tell me.
Stygian Witch: Give me the eye and l'll tell you.
Perseus: First, tell me.
Stygian Witch: The head of Medusa. The Gorgon!

~ Clash of the Titans (1981)

I was wondering if I could use Shana Brenion's cutie doll technique to make something less "princess" and cute, so I tried for Medusa.

The story of Medusa is truly a terrible one, I remember being shocked about the circumstances of her transformation as a kid.  Originally one of three "ravishingly beautiful" gorgon sisters and the one mortal one of the three, she was defiled by Poseidon in the Temple of Athena.  Athena punished her by turning her hair into serpents and made her face so horrible that anyone who looked at her would be turned to stone.  Punishing the victim ... I think she's a bit justified in wanting to turn the whole world to stone.

I tried to give her a sinister expression, but smiling vs. smiling malevolently is subtle and I'm not sure I pulled it off.  I also had a hard time making the snakes "snakey", they still look like jolly worms to me.

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Other Cutie Dolls:

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May 11 - Poppy

Trolls in the dark
The dawn took them all
Caught in the wood
By the wooden kings' men

~ Blind Guardian The Bard's Song: The Hobbit

These are my attempts at Poppy using the Shana Brenion cutie dolls balloon concept.

Trolls is another movie that I haven't gotten around to seeing yet, but the characters are so distinctive I thought Poppy would make a good candidate.

I've made Poppy a couple times already, so I used a similar hair style, and even though I made two versions, they ended up quite similar to each other.  This got me thinking about how easily things map between balloon concepts.  Once you have a base, you are merely adding accessories to give detail to the form - in this case it is the hair and headband.  Provided you have similar anchor points the base is almost interchangeable.

Pigsqueak -- yes it's a thing!

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Other Cutie Dolls:

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May 10 - Miss Piggy

I was a bit worried and thought this might be the first time I break my rule of making a purple pig with each of the balloon concepts.   Shana Brenion's cutie dolls are a fantastic balloon concept for making females, but I struggled with how I was going to make it a pig.

I was driving when I got the idea of building Miss Piggy and couldn't wait to get home and try - I'm a huge Muppet Show fan. I remember watching new episodes as a child, I must have seen the original Muppet Movie well over 20 times and still get choked up at points (Kermit musing in the desert or his speech to Doc Hopper at the end just got me again).  I got lost in a long YouTube search when looking for the right clip to post above - there are so many great memories, I really wish "The Muppets" recent TV series captured some of that original charm.

This design was easier than I imagined, it really only uses the basic princess form with the addition of ears and some pen work.

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Other Cutie Dolls:


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May 9 - Disgust

Joy: Hmm... this looks new.
Fear: Think it's safe?
Sadness: What is it?
Disgust: Okay, caution, there is a dangerous smell, people. Hold on, what is that? That is not brightly colored or shaped like a dinosaur, hold on guys... it's... broccoli!

  ~ Inside Out (2015)

I consider Inside Out to be a great family movie with a good message.  Spoilers forthcoming if you haven't seen it.

It details the story of a young girl and her inner emotion avatars of Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger and Disgust. Generally governed by Joy, her family moves to another state - turning her comfortable world upside down. Her emotion avatars struggle to help the girl deal with this, but stress gives way to Sadness and hilarity ensues as Joy struggles to maintain control. The important message that the avatars (well .. the girl) come to understand is that you must embrace all of your emotions to have a rich and meaningful life.

This is the first time I've tried to have "digust" as a facial expression.  I first built using a dark green dress, but felt the colors were off and decided to cheat around not having the right balloons.  I couldn't figure out a good way to match the short cropped hair though ...

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Other Cutie Dolls:


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May 8 - Poodle Skirt Girls

Flat top cats and the dungaree dolls
Are headed for the gym to the sock hop ball
The joint is really jumping
The cats are going wild
The music really sends me
I dig that crazy style 'cause

~ Elvis Presley Ready Teddy

When I thought to make these poodle skirt gals, the first thing that popped into my head was my cousin, whom I have always known as Aunt "Poodle" Lynn.  So named because of her pet care service in San Francisco, The Royal Bark and Meow.  She owns a few poodles herself; Moe, Maya and Mika - and boards a number of others.  If you ever get a ride with her, expect to be picked up in a car filled with 4-5 dogs at least.  She has an amazing Dr. Doolittle way with them, they just "understand" and acknowledge her as pack leader.  Love you Aunt Lynn!

These use Shana Brenion's Cutie Doll form, and is very similar to some of the standard princesses, with the addition of a belt and sashes.  It was good practice for drawing faces and making eyes, but I might have gone a little too slanted on the pink - the almost look like horn rimmed glasses!

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Other Cutie Dolls:


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May 7 - Frozen Cuties

You're as cold as ice
You're willing to sacrifice our love
You never take advice
Someday you'll pay the price, I know

~ Foreigner Cold as Ice

These are a couple more cutie dolls that I never got around to building from Shana Brenion's Cutie Dolls instructions (link).

Once again, having boys probably saved me from the worst of this, they had no interest so we didn't see this in the theater.  I do distinctly remember the look my wife gave me when she came downstairs at 11pm to ask me what I was watching and I explained that I couldn't stop ...

I lacked some specific colors called out for Elsa, but I think it's more that she has a cape, she is the one white haired princess.

I'm trying to get a better shape to the eyes, most of my "princess" eyes end up too flat - like the Anna balloon.  I was able to get Elsa's eyes to have a little more personality.

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Other Cutie Dolls:


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May 6 - Princess Jasmine

I can show you the world
Shining, shimmering, splendid
Tell me, princess, now when did
You last let your heart decide?1

Aladdin: I can open your eyes
Take you wonder by wonder
Over, sideways and under
On a magic carpet ride

~ Aladdin - A Whole New World

I have only made it to one balloon convention with any consistence, Bling Bling Jam (link) - and A Whole New World is the theme this year.

Steve Klein's webinars were the mind expanding first glimpse of what could be done with balloons, and it was through his encouragement that I attended my first balloon convention, so I feel a certain loyalty. It's not as big of a convention as Twist & Shout (though I have never been) - but with smaller size comes the opportunity to meet everyone.

This Jasmine is derivative of what Shana Brenion teaches on her cutie dolls download, but I added a belly. The legs on Shana's version go straight up to her chest which made the proportions look a bit weird to me.  I'm thinking a smaller waist would work better to avoid front butt ...

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Other Cutie Dolls:


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May 5 - Cinco de Mayo

Ay, ay, ay, ay Canta y no llores, Porque cantando se alegran, Cielito lindo, los corazones ~ Cielito Lindo

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Cinco de Mayo is the Mexican holiday to commemorate the Battle of Puebla, where the Mexican Army drove back the French forces in an unlikely victory. In the United States it has taken on greater significance as being a day to celebrate Mexican-American culture.

When considering what to build with Shana Brenion's cutie doll concept for the holiday, I was excited at the prospect of building a sugar skull lady. This is technically associated with Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), so you'll have to excuse my timing - she is a recolor of Merida with added fringe for the bottom of the dress. The dancer is loosely based on some Spanish wall art we have hanging in our house, I tried to recreate one of the ladies on it.

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Other Cutie Dolls:


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