Very nice tricycle!

I really like the Home Depot Guy!  

I was looking at it and I can't see that you gave the guy any hair and was wondering if you did if that might have helped the hat set more stable when you center connected it.  It's not that I'm against the use of rubber cement... It's just that I prefer designs (especially display pieces) that do not need it.

Thanks for sharing him and good luck with your negotiations!

Bonnie, The Balloon Lady

Leslie, I think that ghosty valentine is super cool.  I can see making for some of you guy customers.  

The Alien valentine... Very nice!

Thanks for sharing,
Bonnie, The Balloon Lady

That would make a really cool hat!  I love how you attached the antenna on the butterfly.  

Thanks for sharing!

Bonnie, The Balloon Lady

Warren I can understand you being a bit frustrated with the reading when your time is so limited but I cannot agree with you.  In my opinion there is nothing that discourages posters more than when they take the time to share only to receive no feedback at all.  It's like being invited to a party only to find you are a wallflower that know one wants to talk to.

On another forum I made it a point to comment on all the posts - to find something positive to say about each.  Behind the scenes I was laughed at for being a "cheerleader".  I didn't really mind being laughed at because I knew that my small words of encouragement gave courage to the posters who would love to share their latest accomplishments but were too timid about their twisting skills to share.  And how do I know my open comments made a difference? ... From the hundreds of PMs I received thanking me for taking the time to comment and how much it meant to them to see the comment when they opened the thread.


Happy twisting,
Bonnie, The Balloon Lady - who wishes more people made the time to comment on posts.

Heather, the one thing you can count on is that tips will not arrive the way you think they should.

From my own experience working 3 different restaurants (each reaching a different income level of clientele) here is what I've noticed using my 3 balloon cat as the example:

Cat made for a 5 year old girl:
restaurant #1 = $1 tip
restaurant #2 = $2 tip
restaurant #3 = $2 tip

Cat made for an adult:
restaurant #1 = $2 tip
restaurant #2 = $3 tip
restaurant #3 = $5 tip

Cat made for an adult and I manage to get the recipient to laugh:
restaurant #1 = $3 tip or more
restaurant #2 = $5 tip or more
restaurant #3 = $7 tip or more

In almost all cases a balloon creation made for a child has less perceived value than the same creation made for an adult (in my experience).  Tips reflect not only perceived value but also the amount of cash the recipient happens to have in their wallet at the time so even if you did every thing right (like making a great cat and entertaining the table at the same time) the tip you receive may still not indicate the value your client placed on your skills.  A $0.00 tip from a table one night can just as easily result in a $20.00 tip from them the next night.

Now with all that being said, you just can't count on a set amount of "tip" coming from any one group/type of people unless you charge a set amount... but then that wouldn't be a tip.  It would be a sale price.  

Happy twisting,
Bonnie, The Balloon Lady

Tonya's Birdbath is stunning!  

Thank you Rett for the compliment on my birdbath.  There are times when "think" I know how/what I'm going to twist but the balloons take on a life of their own and I end up with something different than what I imagined.  As long as I like the end result, I'm a happy camper.  

Happy twisting,
Bonnie, The Balloon Lady

Graham, love, love, love the airplane hat!  Thanks so much for sharing it!

Bonnie

Kevin, I reeeeealy like your Penguin!  Totally awesome!

Bonnie

Good morning Captain Calamity.  I really like the face construction on that monkey!  I especially like the heart ears.

I was looking at the body and was thinking that you probably went for speed when deciding on the design - which is totally understandable when prepping for a show.  I was wondering if you used a single 646 bubble body, added a 350 for the arms (just under the head), and a 350 (just 2 large loops) at the bottom of the 646 for legs if it would add too much to your prep time.

Then I though that if you did that you might need to use 5 rounds for your base instead of just 4 so that the legs and tail would rest easier against them and therefore make the body more stable.  

At any rate... I like your concept.

Happy twisting,
Bonnie, The Balloon Lady

Just for the fun of it, I tried a couple of variations working with the same concept (starting with a bubble ring, then adding spokes).  

I like the 6 point snowflake better than either of these.

Happy twisting,
Bonnie, The Balloon Lady

Step #10) Repeat steps #5 and #6 in reverse order.  (Make a second sword handle)  Break off the excess and tie off.

Step #11) Use the last 2 - 160s to make the other 2 spokes just like the first one except omit the 2 center pinch twists.

If needed, lay the snowflake on a flat surface then reposition any bubbles that are not resting on flat.

Happy twisting,
Bonnie, The Balloon Lady

Step #7) Connect the pinch twist to one of the pinch twists on the "mini crown". The easiest way I have found to do this is to place the pinch twists side by side then rotate them one full rotation.  

Then position a pinch twist on either side of the snowflake with the "sword handle" in the center of the pinch twists.

Step #8) Find the center of the "mini crown" then make a soft bubble that size (about 1.5") followed by 2 - 1" pinch twists.  

Step #9) Make a second soft bubble (about 1.5") and connect to the pinch twist directly opposite the first one.

Step #4) Repeat step #3 until all 6 joints have been connected.  Break off the excess balloon and tie off. (It will look like a mini crown.)

Step #5) To make the spokes: Inflate the 2nd 160 leaving about a 4" tail and tie off.

Make a 3" bubble followed by 2 sets of lock twisted 2.5" bubbles. (It will look like the standard sword handle.)

Step #6) Make a 3" bubble followed by a 1" pinch twist.

Step #1) Inflate the first 160 leaving about a 3" tail and tie off (don't forget to stretch and then stretch again) .  Roll the knot toward the nozzle end.  

Then make a bubble ring with 12 - 2" bubbles.  (please take note of the letters on 6 of the joints)

Step #2) Make a 2" bubble followed by a 1" pinch twist.  

Step #3) Connect the pinch twist to the "a" joint on the bubble ring.