Balloon Chat
Uncategorized Boards => Events. Balloon, Magic, Etc => Topic started by: Graham Lee on February 25, 2024, 07:35:56 PM
I thought I had already put the details up about the convention next weekend, 29th Feb till the 3rd March, oops sorry about that.
It did sell out last April I believe and this is the flyer about the workshops and times they are on etc.
I believe Qualatex are also sponsoring a couple of the workshops with Anthony Lena and Juan Gonzales
Just back from the Blackpool Balloon Convention, got home 11.30 pm last night.
So the start of posting quite a few pictures, he he xx
Linda, Shelley and Heidi.
Daniel and Frank, I think Darren Mortiboy made them but not 100% sure.
Jurgen looking through the ladder, I have a nice story to tell about Jurgen later on xx.
The surprise birthday cake being made.
The Gemar room.
Daniel and Frank coming along.
One of the side displays coming along.
The step ladders look amazing from inflated balloons............... he he.
More pictures from around the jam room.
This looked really nice, especially when the lights were put up and on the display.
Qualatex had sponsored Anthony Lena and Juan Gonzales for the event.
I believe Doctor Bob built the Tree, well I saw him putting the trunk together.
Terence friend made the design, I think her name was Emily.
Gemar getting product for the jam room ready and Fiona who was the organiser for the decor around the jam room.
More goody bags, these are donated by NABAS, Jamie explaining to Kerry how the sound system will be working ;D
And Debs, she is always there helping out ;D
Andrea and her new hair style, the picture does not do it justice.
Daniel and Frank on the hook a duck stall.
In the Queue for registration.
Around the jam room.
More from the jam room.
The hours that must go into planning and then the hours making all the designs for the event.
Thanks to Fiona and her crew for the dedication in making this happen every year,
I believe Layla and Doctor Bob helped and were part of the main crew.
Waiting for the opening ceremony to start.
This looked very nice, especially with all the lights that were added.
Gemar ready for the jam room.
Emma being just Emma... he he and the finished Alice design.
The start of the opening ceremony, it was the 10th anniversary.
The sponsors gave a little talk, NABAS here who are one of the insurance people for the industry.
Then Gemar who sponsored the jam room and an instructor, Cody I believe was sponsored by the balloon bash organisers, Daniel and Frank..
Juan and Anthony were sponsored by Qualatex for the event and Jamie the sound man... he he ;)
And finally George, one of the traders, Layla enjoying herself.
The ice breaker event where people get into groups of 12/14 per table and come up with a design.
I think there were 10 tables taking part.
Rita all the way from Germany ;D
Everyone working away including Doctor Bob or as I like to call him... Bob ;)
Rhian and Amanda, Rhian I had not seen for ages so was nice to catch up.
She was one of the original members of the balloon artistes guild and also did a wonderful lecture for us up in Leeds.
The table Rhian was on made the dragon.
I liked the dress that was being made.
The designs getting their final touches.
The dresses all finished.
Daniel sending me a watts app message... he he
More from the break the ice opening session.
There were some nice designs taking shape all over the jam room.
A few bird designs on this centre piece.
Heidi and Shelley in deep conversation.
Under the sea seemed to be a very popular choice for quite a few of the tables.
The last pictures from the Ice Breaker and then it was onto the first workshops.
Gerko and his upscaling designs with rounds and Anthony with his Angel workshop.
The workshop in full swing.
Anthony in full flow.
My carers sitting at the back :D ;D And not taking things too seriously..... he he.
The Dog sculpture was called the cone of shame.
The finished designs from Anthony, then it was Juan with his quick line work designs.
The Fox was my take on Juan's Wolf/Fox design.
Juan with his line work workshop.
More from the line work workshop.
The Wolf and the Fox and a one balloon Pikachu.
The last designs from Juan's workshop. Spiderman was from Gergo's workshop.
Friday night was competition time, these are the pieces from the 5 minute competition.
More of the 5 minute designs.
I know who made one or two of the designs but not them all.
There were some really interesting designs made, especially when you take into account the 5 minutes maximum everyone had.
Still on the 5 minute competition.
It's nice that so many get involved with the competitions.
Still more from the 5 minute competition.
And still more from the 5 minute competition, not sure how many entries there were, once all posted I will double check.
I always like to see others designs and what they come up with.
The floating Duck's is the start of the 30 minute competition.
Winnie the Pooh was my 30 minute entry piece.
More from the 30 minute competition.
The Ballerina did move around on the mechanical base.
Still on the 30 minute designs.
Layla made a similar design of Frank and Daniel with the Blackpool tower last year and updated the idea this year.
Still on the 30 minute competition.
Coming up for the last few on the 30 minute competition.
The fire breathing Dragon is the last on the 30 minute competition. The Parrot is the first of the Ironman competition.
This is where people all get the same balloons inside an envelope and then have 30 minutes to make a design from the said balloons.
Here we go then with the main pictures from the Ironman competition on the Friday night.
It was good to see all the competitions with lots of people taking part and joining in.
Everyone gets the same balloons in each envelope.
And it's amazing the different designs everyone makes.
I'm back from me travels so back to posting the pictures from the Blackpool Balloon Convention.
Still plenty more from the Ironman competition.
It was good that there were plenty of entries for all three competitions.
Still more.....
Last few coming up.
Layla last year made Frank and Daniel from Balloons and updated the design again this year in the 30 min competition.
Balloons from around the jam room.
More from the jam room.
Some costumes being made.
Gemma getting ready for the last act of the talent show night.
More from around the jam room.
The start of the Motor Bike that was built one evening.
A distortion face from the jam room.
The finished motor bike.
Louise having a good laugh with Anne, although not sure Anne got the joke..... he he.
It's good that people act natural in front of the camera... he he. This is in Anthony's workshop.
I think they were making the Frog design.
I sat in for a while in Juan's workshop and made a variation of his machine gun and hand gun.
From Juan's workshop.
This is Juan's Machine Gun.
Still pictures from Juan's workshop.
Then it was back to Anthony's.
More from Anthony's workshop.
Still in Anthony's workshop.
More from around the jam room.
I think these were from Cody Williams workshop.
More from around the jam room.
So many things were going on.
More from around the jam room, although I do know who made the heart as it was me, he he.
From Cody Williams workshop.
More from Cody.
And more from Cody.
There was a lot of hanging around at the event, he he especially by Spiderman.
Sally ready to ride away ;D
I decided to follow Sally and ride away with her ;D Craig ready for the evening's talent show
Denzil all ready for the evening and then it was onto the talent show with Kerry and Danielle.
Aaron with his knife throwing and Angie who last her Dog, a classic story that she told.
Joan, Lucy and Lee.
Gemma, the back of Denzil's costume and Georgina.
Georgina, Russell, Shelley. Then Simon and Simone.
Russell, Torkel and Craig receiving the award for BBB News.
Torkel and we were guessing "One More Time" Then it was Steve and the gang.
Gerko with Amanda as his assistant who nearly pee'd herself from the situation.
The last act was Black Art with neon balloons and was a collaboration of a few people with Gemma and Sally-Ann organising things.
Then is was onto the presentation of the awards time.
Layla was runner up in the Ironman and Amanda was the winner for 2024, she did seem happy about winning this.
At the moment we are not sure about the prize Torkel received, we have asked around with others and waiting for Torkel to get back to me.
In the 30 minute competition,
Sarah was third. Thanks to Emma for the picture, mine was well blurry and out of focus.
Amanda was Second and one of my main carers at the event he he, Danielle was first.
In the 5 minute competition,
Third was Layla, Second Denzil and the winner was Kimberley.
Onto the Talent show and the winner was Simone, congratulations to everyone for taking part, it is very stressful.
Then thanks to Fiona, Layla and Doctor Bob for all the decor around the room, many helped as well so a big thank you goes to all those as well.
As it was Frank and Daniel's last time organising the event Abi helped to organise a little thank you over the weeks before the event. This must have been pretty time consuming but the books and presents did look fab.
Then it was party night.
Kerry working the dress, he he. And Neil being very quiet as usual ROFL.
Doctor Bob and his ladies.....
Craig's trophy for the BBB News and then Amanda's trophies for second in 30 min competition and winning Ironman.
Here I am with my two main carers looking after me ;D ;D ;D
Some club juggling with built in lights, better in person than from the picture unfortunately.
Some balloons from around the jam room.
These were taken after the party night and late into the evening on my last walk around the jam room before I was off for some shut eye.
Last ones from my late night walk around the jam room.
Then it was onto the last day and Sunday morning, Cody with I think his wearable line work workshop.
More from around the jam room.
Still in the jam room.
This is the best picture I have of the dress unfortunately.
There was quite a few things to take pictures of in the jam room.
Then it was back into Cody's workshop.
Still in Cody's workshop.
Quickly into the jam room and then back to Gergo's workshop on his Spider man design.
And the finished design.
Lee having a relaxing time.
The last of the pictures from my camera, I filled my memory card up...
shock horror but took a few more on my phone so will see if I can sort those out.
The instructors saying a little thank you and Andrew getting a nice round of applause as he stayed
behind after the workshops to help clean the rooms up for the next workshop.
These are from my phone so not the best, Anne and Sara who started the event 10 years back saying a few words.
There is an Award, The Ashworth/Burns trophy for the person who has helped the most at the event,
Doctor Bob was the recipient this year for all his help and hard work with the room decor.
Anne and Sara were presented with a thank you for beginning the event.
Then it was the introduction of the new team running the event from 2025, Michael Abrahamson, Lee Curtis and Louise Maloney.
There will be a slight name change for next year going from the Blackpool Balloon Bash to the British Balloon Bash.
The workshops booked for next year are Darren Mortiboy from Northern Ireland, Pip Pippitiy Pop from New Zealand,
Marie Dadow from the USA and Mr Jacks from Germany.
This is the new Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/BritishBalloonBash
And the new website, https://britishballoonbash.com/
Next years event runs from the 27th February to the 2nd March.