Just something that crossed my mind - how many of you professional guys just do balloons. Or even if you have other strings to your bow, like face painting, magic, etc, do you get many gigs that are just ballooning? I really enjoy making balloons and have been asked to twist at a steam rally, I wondered how seriously I could pursue this interest?!

I have made a decent looking Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas, but I'm struggling with the hands. I adapted Mr Boma's design to make it a little easier for me being a noob! The hands on his first model didn't go so well for me and I'd like to keep it simple.
Any designs that you like to use?

I'm just wondering about the stock from here. It seems to change so fast and there are always different colours each time I visit - is there a particular day, or time of month that new stock gets listed? I think this year will see me twisting lots of balloons and to restock I think I'll want to buy colour packs rather than assortments. Thanks

Where have all the pictures gone? I'm happy to work through the text and try ad make things from that, but it'll be harder!

Sorry for all the posts, I have been asked to do some balloons at an event - they aren't really expecting a load from me - just something to keep the kids entertained. I wanted to come up with a 'menu' on a blackboard. When I was looking through this forum a while ago I found an awesome quote of what somebody asks for whilst busking. It was something along the lines of no fixed charge for the balloons, but I'll gladly accept you 'appreciations'. It was far more eloquent than I have just put it. Any ideas of what what I can write to put this sentiment across? Many thanks, Ben

Could you please help me with info on testing outside? I'd like to eventually do a busk somewhere and I heard that cold balloons burst easily when inflating them. Do I need to make them a little warmer by stretching them first or is there some other balloon care tip I need to know about? Many thanks, Ben

Hi,
   I've not twisted, or visited here for a while, but I'm going to change that now! Has anyone ever seen or twisted a traction engine balloon? If not a traction engine, an old type tractor, old-tyme agricultural type of thing? Would be very keen to see and to learn how to make one. Thanks.

Don't know if Ive mentioned before but I'm a music teacher - travelling around different schools teaching children to play musical instruments. I take a couple of bands aimed at young players who have only just started playing. So the oldest children are on average 12 years old. I was wondering about making some simple balloons as a reward for the children who do very well or the best behaved children. Do you guys think this is a good/nice idea? Do you have any suggestions of designs or numbers of balloons to use? I think maybe no more than 2 to keep it nice a quick and to keep their attention.

I've not visited here for a while and also not made any balloons for a number of weeks. This tends to be the case with lots of things i try and do, mostly because there aren't enough hours in the day! I want to do more ballooning, so can you guys post up some pictures to motivate me, and tell me what inspires you to twist.

i have recently tried to send two messages, both are currently stuck in the outbox - one was sent a few days ago to graham - I hope he doesn't think I was being rude for not replying to him when he asked!
Any ideas how to get these messages sent?

Here is my second go at Grahams vase tutorial, I've got things neater than my first go but it is still too fat! I think I need to make the horizontal bubbles shorter at the bottom and not make them bigger too soon.
The flower in it is my first attempt at 'free hand' as it were. I've not seen any flower tutorials so all I did was 3 petal twists in 2 260s, pulled off the excess and twisted them together. Any advice on where to find a nice flower (I will check over the DVDs I have) that would be great!
Hope you like:

I have had a few bags of assorted colour balloons (qualatex), and in them have been some black balloons and some really dark blue/purple ones that, when they aren't inflated, I cannot tell the difference between them. What is this colour? Are there any tricks to tell which is which without inflating them a little bit? I'm really struggling with telling these two apart!

I am considering contacting a few local schools to see there are any fairs in the future I may be able to twist at. This in itself shouldn't be a problem as I am a peripatetic music teacher and visit lots of local junior schools and have a good relationship with them. At a fair like this should I go with fixed price per balloon attitude or more of a busking 'leave what you can' attitude? Is being a member of equity a must? Or will public liability insurance be enough? Finally, is anyone aware if there is a 'one size fits all' PLI for entertainers? Reason being I'm going to start doing hypnosis soon and rather than paying out for lots of PLI premiums I would (obviously) like to find one that covers being an entertainer.

Thanks in advance.

If you know this balloon I wondered if you could help me. I have tried to twist 2 of the hearts for the body and eyes of the owl but I'm struggling to make it look right. If anyone knows of a video of this twist or if you have sequential photos of you doing it, that would help me out loads!

I made a little balloon rose from 160s, inflated a clear 260 and tried to stuff the rose into the 260. My initial attempt failed as the 260 got so worn out it just popped. The problem is that when I pushed the rose into the end of the clear balloon the clear 260 just gave way and it pushed air into the uninflated part. I have the same issue all the time when I do a marriage twist for teddy bears noses. Am I missing something? Is it something as simple as hold the uninflated part so the air cant escape?

I've just been away for two days and returned to about 100 or so emails that appeared to be blank from qualatex.co.uk. Just wanted to make Graham aware. Did know if it might be worth while making a thread incase others had received emails like this.

Can someone please advise me on my following idea?!....

For my wedding we are having a table for sweets (mostly for me, not the children!), and I wanted to try and make a balloon arch. I was planning on 4 balloon clusters of 11" qualatex. These would be wrapped around fishing line and weighted at the ends. Am I correct in thinking that if I filled them all with helium it would float, or would the balloons be too heavy? If i just filled a single balloon at each end with sand or water would this be enough to keep it all in place?
Finally, What effect does heat have on helium, in balloons? Am I best trying to make the arch in the venue the day before or is it safe to make at home and transport in the car, finally finally, how long will helium filled latex balloons last? Just so people are aware I am just about to buy the Colin Myles wedding DVD from Grahams site (I think I may be asked to make balloons at my friends wedding soon)
Many thanks in advance.

Is it possible to get diamond clear 321 (no tip)? Does anyone make glow in the dark modelling balloons? I imagine that a diamond clear balloon would be quite good to have as a glow in the dark balloon.
Thanks in advance, Ben

I would quite like to try and make just a small something for the day of my wedding, just a little display for my wife, to sit on the top table. Obviously I won't have helium so it needs to be able to stand up. I wondered if it might be able to wind a column of 260s around each other and twist a heart balloon onto the top and have it stand in some way. Can anyone help with anything?
Also, what are quick link balloons used for, or how are they used?  Many thanks, Ben

How many goes at making something does it take for you to be able to remember all the twists - I'm not talking about anything overly complicated - just 1-4 balloons. I have watched/read tutorials, and made a model then tried to do the same thing again without any help. Is this a good idea. Are there any tips to help remember things?