January 29 - Birthday Cars

Happy moments.
Happy thoughts.
Happy dreams.
Happy feelings.
Happy birthday.

I know I'm probably having more fun than they are with these, but we strapped my youngest in for our birthday tradition scavenger hunt again.

The theme this year was muscle cars, so he came home to this version of Buster's wacky racer (link) and the first clue to fill his garage with Rainbow Team 6.   I've really fallen in love with those chrome balloons, it creates such a dynamic look - the pictures really don't do it justice.  I was planning on doing something different with the engine, but I had a pinch line I was playing with new chrome and figured I wouldn't let it go to waste.

I think my favorite part of the scavenger hunt is that we tend to send them all over the place, and the balloons really make it slow and awkward and funny.  Especially since with the added bulk from the scavenge.

January 24 - Scrap Man

“Do you ever wonder if--well, if there are people living on the third planet?'
'The third planet is incapable of supporting life,' stated the husband patiently. 'Our scientists have said there's far too much oxygen in their atmosphere.”
~ Ray Bradbury, The Martian Chronicles

I'm clinging on to those remnants of Twist & Shout.

I was going through my bag and had a bunch of left over balloons from the jam packs and classes and whatnot but felt a certain sort of reverence to them - as if they shouldn't just be thrown in with the random bits and baubles.  So I was toying around when these guys arrived.

I really love the look and feel of the chrome balloons.  I can't wait until they are in stock everywhere.  The convention did give us a small sample pack and I was able to get both a blue and mauve bag as well.

January 22 - Jörmungandr - T&S Post-Mortem

There is no way I could encapsulate or summarize all of Twist & Shout, so the general message would be - if you work with balloon art at all, you should attend.  Beyond an individual design or technique you might learn, you are surrounded by amazing and passionate artists, willing to share - welcoming you to a family.   These are people who 'get you' without any need for explanations.

This goes for many disciplines though, every so often we take a trip to visit family in Rhode Island and it coincides with some sort of rescued greyhound festival.  Walking up and down the streets and beaches are people with their rescue greyhounds, wearing greyhound t-shirts and wearing a greyhound fanny pack, willing to talk to you about all things greyhound. 

This Jörmungandr is the second of the two designs I thought I might try to build while attending.

Jörmungandr is the sea serpent in Norse mythology, one of the sons of Loki. It is said that when he lets go of his tail to battle his arch-enemy, Thor - Ragnarok will begin and the and the world will cycle to the next age with two surviving humans and the sons of Odin as new gods. I felt it's a good message as well as it's an example of an ouroboros, from ancient Egyptian iconography to symbolize introspection and "cyclicality".

I was so inspired by the people here that I can't wait for the next cycle to see everyone again next year and show them what's I've done that's new. If you were there I hope I got a chance to meet you, and thank you to everyone who introduced themselves.  Is it too early to start planning next years trip?

There was a wall built in the jam room with connection points for people to attach any designs they consider worth saving. I was pretty thrilled when I was doing something else and heard "whoaaaaa! Look at that one!" in reference to mine. In hindsight I should have made it bigger, the ring was built before finding they were out of large globe prints - and my only other option was a 3' giant round balloon and lots of ink-work.

January 21 - Twisting and Shouting - Day 4

Poppies red and roses filled with summer rain.
To heal the wound and still the pain,
That threatens again and again,
As you drag down every lover's lane.

~ Jethro Tull Songs From the Wood

I just walked in the room after saying goodbye on the last day of Twist & Shout, it's after midnight - so after 3am with the time difference, so I this will probably be brief.

This Poppy troll was taught by Pip Milford Hughes in her session as a last minute replacement for a flower design since there were already a couple similar classes, and because she is awesome.  This design has a nice solid way to attach the neck and I think the hair is particularly fantastic - but I think I would attend all of her classes just to hear her talk (not to mention she brings chocolates).

This is the scene I'm leaving to tip the hotel staff (without the pig).

---

Other balloon designs by Pip:

January 20 - Twisting and Shouting - Day 3

My apartment is infested with koala bears. It's the cutest infestation ever. Way better than cockroaches. When I turn on the light a bunch of koala bears scatter. But I don't want 'em to, you know, I'm like "Hey, hold on, fellas. Let me hold one of you. And feed you a leaf."

~ Mitch Hedberg

Today was the second day of classes at Twist & Shout, followed by the stage competitions and the opening of judging of the small, medium, large and uninflated competitions.  It was awesome to see the talented performers and both Kristal Yee and Matt Falloon killed it as hosts.

Everyone was terrific, but I was especially impressed by each of the Asian entries who had such a polished presence and grace on stage.  They paint a picture, they tell a story - it's pure art, I love it.  Also, Martin Lemire deserves special mention - when he walked out as Christopher Lyle in a bikini and struck a pose directly in front of the judges panel and directly in front of Christopher.  Genius.

The Emoji-guy is one that Lindsey Foster showed in her early morning class, it was great that Betallic sponsored her to teach here, she did a fantastic job and her classes were full of energy and some great-looking, quickly made balloons. I think she taught five designs in each of her classes, all while on the verge of getting sick.

The koala is another one from Takahiro Kai's class, I think it looks terrific - but we didn't finish building it in class to I had to guess on how the arms are put together.

But it was a full day and I had to crash (and come type this) so I decided to wait until the morning to view the competition pieces...

January 19 - Twisting and Shouting - Day 2

You know you twist your little girl\
You know you twist so fine
Come on and twist a little closer, now
And let me know that you're mine

~ The Beatles Twist and Shout

Today has been a very long day as it was the start of main classes at Twist & Shout.

... I realize as I begin to write this (after midnight!) that there are really too many pictures and too many stories to ever be able to talk about it all in a short blog like this.  Instead I'm going to keep to fairly brief and certainly incomplete summations.

Twist & Shout is much bigger than any previous balloon events I've attended.  You have to make the hard choice of which of the three offered classes you want to take, yet I was surprised at how sparse they were.  Being that this was the first day for the main twister competitions, it's completely understandable that people would be secreted away in their rooms putting the finishing touches on masterpieces.  (They did - the dress and costume competitions were both amazing.)

One of the more memorable parts of the day, and certainly worthy of note - is that I have now officially met who I consider to be godfather to this blog, one of the most creative and quick-witted people I know, who I have the pleasure of calling friend but hate myself for still being a fanboy of, Scott Tripp.  ... and he brought gifts!

These melty face guys were something I was playing with in the jam room, inspired by Alex Pardee's artwork.  The Cupid and Easter basket is from my first class this morning with Lindsey and the Platypus was taught by Takahiro Kai.

January 18 - Twisting and Shouting - Day 1

“It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them.”

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Today was the start of my first Twist & Shout, one of the biggest balloon twisting conventions in the United States.

Balloon conventions feel at times more like a family reunion than any sort of expo, and that's never more apparent than on the first day. It's great gathering of friends and rare to have a conversation that isn't interrupted by someone else coming by for a quick hug and chat. 

I was able to attend two 4-hour master classes - the first with Sam Cremeens, where he demonstrated and talked about the concepts he uses when designing his motorcycles.  One of Sam's hobbies is building real motorcycles, so he is a wealth of information and was able to show important details and purposeful changes for customization.  ... and Purple finally met his brother..

The second was Takehiro Kai who taught his rose column, which is an interesting modular design.  Modular things like this tend to be more work than concept though, "Here is what you do - now do it 80 times and link them together."  It's the tediousness of decor in twister form.  Don't get me wrong - it looks fantastic, and he showed a few different smaller roses in addition to the one that goes with the column.  Takehiro is a great teacher, I look forward to his other classes.

Then came the Welcome Reception and introduction and official beginning, followed by the start of the competitions. I had to run try to take a nap if I were going to make it to the Pajama Jam later that night, but I also had to stay and watch the Scott Tripp, the consummate performer in the 3-minute competition as he stood there - contemplating his uninflated balloons while the flurry of activity of the other competitors occurs all around him, part Casey-at-the-Bat - pure comedy gold.

... I never got a nap!