I tried to make an owl face hat - for a first attempt it is quite good, but needs improvement!

For the red balloon, I had to tie the ends together and found this difficult and the end result is a bit messy because of this. Does anyone have any tips for tying the nozzle to the nipple?

I'm also struggling with blowing up balloons without a pump, now I'm a professional trombone player/teacher and as such have a fairly decent lung capacity and strength - is there some kind of technique to employ while blowing, or is this again a matter of practice?

Looks great. I am making an owl for delivery later this week.
I can't mouth inflate and am not in a hurry to succeed. I do see that it might make things a bit quicker/lighter without a pump but I don't want to pass out (it has happened to others). There is a technique but...
As for tying one end to the other, I do over under pull (and pull fairly tight - depending on the look it am after) and then over under again (double knotting). No other mystery to it I am afraid.

I very rarely mouth inflate, and as Stuart says it is certainly not good for you, so don't worry about not doing it.

Fewer and fewer twisters mouth inflate these days, and in some restaurants it is frowned on. They would rather you use a pump, and not fill balloons with your nasty germs.....yet they are quite happy for people to blow out the candles on a birthday cake !!!!

Your owl looks really good....I don't often make them, but what a coincidence, the last one I made was the same colour as yours, not the usual owl colour

Thanks guys!, Kevin, it's only that colour because the brown one burst!!! I was too lazy to go and find another! I do like that colour though. (Which is another thing I need to work out as I bought all my balloons in assortment bags!!!)
I like your fascinator owl very much, that's something I'd like to lean next:- how to put thngs on hair bands.