Independence Day

This is a patriotic arch that I made today for a family's 4th of July celebration. Happy Independence Day America!! and don't forget to thank and remember our US service men and women for upholding our freedom and making America great....

My busy, fun-filled job as a balloon twister / balloon decorator

I am finally able to post a little something after months (at least it seems like months) of a packed, busy schedule of parties and balloon décor. I am so grateful and appreciative for all of my wonderful clients whom I do parties and décor for!! Without them, I wouldn't have a job :-)  But I also love having a little time to relax and hang out with my husband and kids. Without them, I wouldn't have a life ;-)  I'm using this post as a catch-up for being unable to post regularly. Just a bunch of pics of décor that I've done recently. I've tried to be diligent about taking pictures when I'm doing a balloon twisting/face painting party but honestly, I just don't have the time to snap a picture of a balloon I've made or face that I've painted when I have a line full of anxious kids wanting their stuff done right away :-) The kids wants come first before a picture. I am trying though!

My Face Painting Set Up

I know I neglect posting about the face painting part of my business but face painting is as fun and as integral a part of what I do for kids as balloons. So I'm going to start posting pics and tidbits when I face paint for parties and events.

I recently turned an old guitar case into my face painting station that I have been using for all my parties. It's awesome and super convenient to set up and take down.

This is the guitar case before I fixed it up...I spray painted it black on the inside and mounted my foam core for paints.

This is the "after" picture...it has everything I need for awesome face painting at the tip of my fingers. I just open to set up..close to take down.

                                                            The view from above

Frozen Birthday Party and Princess Parties

This last weekend, I was able to be part of an adorable Frozen-themed 3 year old birthday party. I was in awe of every little girl who went all out and danced, sang and believed they were princesses too! If only I could capture all that wonderful energy and imagination ;-)

Valentine's Day

I love Valentine's Day! There is so much love and good feelings all around. It's also a day that I am extremely busy delivering some of the love and good feelings for my customers to give to their loved ones. This is a picture of my morning delivery to one of my favorite teacher's at my kids school. She requested for something fun to give to her husband. She was extremely happy with it.

Why I love what I do

This was a balloon piece that I made for a customer who asked for something to give to her client to signify his 85th birthday and his passion for motorcycles and past life in the military. So I made an army-colored birthday cake with a motorcycle sitting on top. The balloon motorcycle was taught by Mr. Boma of Mr. Boma's balloons on YouTube. My customer said he loved it. That's what makes what I do worth it!

 

 

My Regulars

One thing I love about having my own balloon business is having "regulars." These are the people I always look forward to making balloons for. They trust my "artistic design" in making their balloon creations...whatever it may be. They give me a general idea of what they want and let me run with it.

Today I made and delivered 14 simple Valentine balloon flower arrangements for a hospice company "regular'. They are such awesome people and am happy that they come to me when they want balloons to give throughout the community.

Baby Shower Balloon Decoration

I love doing balloon décor...centerpieces, arches, columns....all of it! It's as much fun as twisting for kids.
These are a couple of arrangements I did this morning for a baby boy shower. The "Special Delivery" Stork and a sweet "Its a Boy" centerpiece with a balloon pacifier.

Valentine's Day is Coming up!!

I have been so super busy with birthday parties and events these last couple of months that I haven't been able to post very much on my blog/diary or post any pictures. 

It can be a difficult task to juggle so many hats at the same time. In my previous life/career (before balloon twisting), I was a Registered Nurse working 12 hour shifts at a community hospital. People constantly ask me why I chose to twist balloons rather than treat patients. My answer is simple...because there is nothing like seeing the face of a child who receives one of my balloon creations and the thankful and appreciative hugs and affection I get from them. It's that simple.

 This little Valentine penguin was inspired by an awesome balloon artist named Dale the Magical Balloon-Dude. He used smaller 160 balloons for his creation..I used 260's.

 

 

I'm finally back to posting on my diary/blog...I was sick with the flu that's going around. I'm thankful that I got sick during a time when I didn't have any parties or events scheduled. I have never cancelled on a customer because of illness. Now I'm back to normal and preparing to be pretty busy for the month of February. I have some themed birthday parties and an annual school event coming up. One of my themed birthday parties is an "Old McDonald's Farm" theme...it's going to be a lot of fun coming up with farm animal balloons. This cow is one of my faves to do...its not a quickie for line work but something fun to give to the birthday boy.




My Evening Balloon Delivery

One of the things I love about what I do is that friends and people all over my community always think of me and the services I offer to make their special occasion special.

This was a request from a good friend for her 10 year anniversary. She wanted a bouquet that included flowers, a guitar (her husbands love) and something to do with music. So I made a bouquet with the requested colors of purple and silver, music notes and a red guitar.

It was an evening surprise delivery and he loved it.

My Bearoon Donation

I was asked by my best friend to come up with a simple balloon arrangement that she can use as her prize give-away for her Body Combat launch. The instructors colors are black, green and gold. Their motto is "Train insane or remain the same." I jumped at the chance to make my favorite Robbie Furman balloon creation called a "Bearoon" (a bear balloon). It was so quick to make (about 20 minutes) and it was a HIT at the launch.

My Balloon Studio Before and After Pics

This is an 800 sq ft office space that I purchased to turn into my balloon studio. It was previously used as a doctors office. It was really dark and uninviting...not a very nice place to be in. The hallways had disgusting industrial green carpet and the rooms had yucky linoleum flooring. I cleaned and painted every single wall, changed the flooring throughout with a peel-and-stick plank vinyl that looks like laminate. It's almost done but still a work-in-progress.


This is the front door entry.  All the walls were previously a dark tan...I changed it to a mint green and an accent wall of turquoise.

 

 

This is my front room accent wall. I'll be adding a bunch of framed pictures of balloon figures and balloon décor.

 



This side of my front room houses a snack/drink vending machine.

This is what people see when they walk in. I love my wall stickers and wall words...it really looks great in person. The 2 poles on either side of the open wall are my 4ft balloon bases for balloon columns.

This is my front desk space where I have my computer, phone/fax, 11" balloons, helium tank and calendar of events.

My full desk space...I have tons of room and storage.

My favorite characters close to me while I work...I Love Despicable Me!!

My balloon inflating area...I house all of my 11 inch balloons in the plastic drawers.

I have a large chicken wire picture frame to place any picture and/or thank you card that I receive from my customers.

This is my back room where I store all of my entertainer balloons. I have every color of the rainbow in 260's, 350's, 160's, hearts, rounds, bee bodies, geos and any other shape of latex you can think of.
The previous owner used the room as an employee break room. I think I like my use of the room way better.

The accent wall in a dark lilac color.

A friend of mine closed her clothing shop and gave me the slat walls she used for display. Its perfect for holding my extra bags of balloons.

The bathroom didn't undergo too much of a change...just paint color (to a nice slate grey) and a faucet change. I still have to hang a little balloon art in there too.

There are a couple of rooms that I didn't include in my collage of pictures because they are basically being used for storage right now. Once I have everything completed, I will repost the finished product. Let me know what you think of what I've done so far :-)

My Balloon Studio

I bought a small office unit in Indio, CA in the beginning of 2012. I bought it with the intention of turning it into my balloon studio. It would be the place where I can showcase all of my balloon creations, show my portfolio of balloon décor that I’ve done, and just a place for people to come and get a random balloon. It was a complete gut job of the old office…in terms of renovating and designing it to my specific needs. Well, 10 months later the renovations are almost at an end! Within the next day or so, I’ll be posting all of my balloon studio Before and After pictures.

The Start of My Blogging Diary

I’m a balloon twister and face painter from the Coachella Valley, CA.  I completely love what I do and want to journal my experiences and daily life happenings.

www.totallytwistedlq.com