I made this on Thursday for a special order.  Weird thing is she said she would let me know how well it was received and she has not done so or even answered me when i asked her if there had been a problem with it.  Bit of a downer really as its the most important thing to me that people are happy with the work I do for them.  Oh well.  Never mind.  Sigh.....

I have been away for a month in New Zealand and had the most magical Christmas, seeing my daughter and son in law in the flesh for the first time in two years and holding my grandchild for the first time.  He was born on 5th November so was 7 weeks old when we got there.  
Whilst I was there I offered to do a workshop for the local balloon artists. My thought it would be nice to say hello to them.  So Charles go a little group together.  It turned into more of an obligation than I had expected though because Pip Milford Hughes heard about it and jumped on a plane to come and see me.  So I was really anxious to make it worth her effort.  She is such a blast.  I absolutely love her to bits.  Also up there is Lisa Chester, Donna Dance and Charkes Dolbel.  Just the nicest people you could wish to meet.  We had a nice afternoon and went for a meal with my family.  

The people in New Zealand have a reputation for being friendly and caring and they deserve it.

Missing you guys already.

Is it just me or is anyone else having problems uploading photos on here from their iPad?   Got a few to show but have to transfer to laptop first.

Here is a simple two balloon lamp

Finally got round to finishing the mermaid instructions.  Did the quick tail but also designed a nicer one for her as another option.  I really like the tail fin.  I will have to make a bird next.

I was asked to design some pieces for tables at a corporate event. They wanted the figures in their logo. Hope they like these.

Hi everyone. Been doing new instructions today, decided to do the step by steps for this. My favourite car.  I now have these instructions available in my pick and mix but must point out that you that this car requires Two bear head balloons.

Had a great week visiting friends and doing a couple of workshops.
Had a game of darts with Koen Vandamme and did what he called a Robin Hood.
Threw one dare and then the next throw was precisely the same and went into the cross section of the first.   Consistently bad .

Photo fun at Sofie and Koen's

Selection of models for Thursday's workshop.

Zebra

I have been playing with tiger head designs. Aiming for something fairly quick but effective.  These use two 260 orange, one White, one black scrap and one yellow scrap.  Here are three heads.

If you want individual instructions instead of a full compilation you can pick any set from www.smudgyentertainments.co.uk/tutorials.  Scroll down and the pick and mix us after the compilations,

Here is an updated list of ebooks available from Thelma Levett

Two And A Bit
Nice And Easy
A Little Bit More
Something For Everyone
Thelma Distorted

All ebooks can be acquired by download from Thelma by visiting
http://smudgyentertainments.co.uk/tutorials/
Or
The first four are available from Graham Lee if you prefer the actual cd to be posted to you.

I have just launched Pick And Mix on my website. So to launch this I am doing a prize draw.  

To enter, just post a monster.  It can be a new model or an old favourite.  Competition ends midnight 31st October.  All participants will be entered into the prize draw. There will be two winners who will be able to pick any three models from the pick and mix at http://www.smudgyentertainments.co.uk/tutorials/ towards the bottom of the page.

Mean monster

A little while ago I was asked to give a balloon workshop for a group of 10 year old girls for a birthday present. Birthday girl had met me at toys r us and was enchanted. She was a natural and managed to make the doll and dog herself. I promised to help her if she wants to learn more.

Distorted

When I take a booking and do the confirmation letter I also do a couple of extra complimentary documents; a personalised party invitation and a personalised after party thank you letter.  I just redesigned the after party document I do for boys.  I just photo shop a  photo onto the car balloon and add the name.  My clients usually choose to use this because it has a photo of their child on it and they are really happy with it.  So every guest will get my contact details on the invitation and on the after party letter.  Also when they have a party bag my card is there.  It works for me anyway.

The car is actually about 12" from front to back.  The child is just very small hahaha

I just had the inclination to make a gramophone today.  I should have done it when I had more time.  Bit unhappy with the actual gramophone but the overall effect is ok.

Two and a Bit Volume 2

Here is the first one im putting on this new one.  
ITs just wto balloons and no bits   Not counting the cd base of course.  Just put it on that to take the photo.

Well I expect most of you will have read Graham's Facebook post about throwing in the towel. I posted on Qualatex page to help to being it to people's attention.  I have been just as guilty as everyone else of posting on Facebook at the expense of the forum.  But I want the forum not only to continue, but o grow again. To be the active friendly site it was.  I can see how it is spiralling down to a wasteland with tumbleweed blowing across any posts here. One  finds oneself thinking, why bother to post on here. No one ever comments of joins in. I say no one. There are a few who keep coming and posting. They have become the life support of the forum.  Kevin (Phoenix)?you were one of those but I guess you had a towel and threw yours in recently.  I have noticed Graham Lee has been offering a lot of prizes to encourage people to participate. It does show some dedication. I expects it must cost him money to keep this forum hosted and that will be why other forums have been closed down. This forum is completely free to us. But it costs money to run and I can understand anyone who pays a few hundred pounds every year to keep it running would wonder why they bother when only a handful of people get involved and contribute. Must feel like throwing money down the toilet. So then there are the competitions he gives prizes for that only a couple of people enter.  Again I am just as guilty of non participation at times. Graham and I are friends but I would be writing this even if he were not.  It's also sad that there was a period when posts and views suddenly shot ...not exactly through the roof, but shot up considerably.  That isn't sad of course. The reason for it is.  It was when a certain person was allowed back in who had caused friction in the past. And of course he kicked off again, until he was shown the door again it got pretty active here.  Well thank you the couple of people who have read this.    I suppose the main point of this but not posting it's going to die.  Remember to water the plant as well as looking at it or it will die. Post pictures or comments. Value it.

To those who think they don't want to post their work for fear of it being copied, I believe if there had been not forums or any facility for us to look for inspiration not one of us would be making such creative work as we are. Most of us would still be making the basic stuff. An idea from one person leads another to have a brainwave. No sharing means no growing,  no resource. Here you can search back for that inspiration in months to follow.  . No wonder everyone goes to Facebook. There is so much feedback. But it'd a quick gratification and then it's gone. Why not post here as well. You don't have to choose one or the other. They both serve different purposes. Both benefit is.  But Graham you need to make posting the pictures easier. I post here last because I have to resize them.