OnArt - "Convention of Balloon Artists" 2018

OnArt - "Convention of Balloon Artists," a Qualatex-sponsored event, has just celebrated its 11th Anniversary. From the 5th-7th October, 2018, the Hotel FrontAir Congress in Barcelona, Spain, became home for nearly two hundred delegates, sponsors, and organisers, including eleven fabulous instructors from around the globe — twenty different countries, in fact!  

Fabulous "Barcelona" balloon wall and "Motor Bike" 
designed by Vadim Sushkanov, CBA.

OnArt founder Jósemarie Álvarez with his wife Cristina Cano of Globofiesta Party S.L.,   first started the balloon artist event in 2008. For me, this was very special as I was one of the first instructors to teach at this fabulous convention.

This three-day event promised to be action-packed, fun-filled, and with many amazing learning opportunities! It did not fail on any level. 

The event kicked off with a CBA examination under the watchful eye of Keith Stirman, CBA. Congratulations to the thirteen new CBAs who passed!

The welcome party was the perfect opportunity for everyone to meet up. The fabulous party decor below was created by Edward Muñoz and Vadim Shushkanov.

Beautiful "Candy'" theme entrance decor by Edward Muñoz

Fabulous "Candy" theme decor by Edward Muñoz

 "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" 

by Barbara Rosatelli 

How to Create Spiral Balloon Columns - with Step-By-Step Instructional Video

Spiral Columns made with modelling balloons such as 260Q and 160Q have always been a favourite of mine. They are quick to make, always look elegant, and are a great way to decorate a pole when creating a design that uses a pole and base structure. As with all techniques, they need to be practiced to ensure that you get perfect results every time! 

Design 1. Single, one colour Spiral - This beautiful column made with all shades of green was designed and created by Eve Antonello, CBA, Pioneer Balloon Company, Wichita, KS, USA.

Shimmering Emerald Stars - Design by Eve Antonello.

Design 2. Single, double or multi-coloured spiral column. Still working with four balloons, using two or more colours brings a whole new look to this style of design! - These colourful 'Fashionable Fish' centrepiece was the crowning glory at this summer party, and brought an explosion of colour into a huge and very plain marquee tent.

Fabulous Fish Centrepieces by Sue Bowler, CBA.

3. Double Spiral Column using Eight Balloons. This design takes this technique to the next level, and is a fabulous example of Candy Strip style decor! By simply changing the colours, we can completely change the look and easily execute the effect that we want to create.

Christmas Candy Swirl Arch by
Sue Bowler, CBA.

4. Double Spiral Column with Precision Bubbles. How lovely does this effect look as a finishing touch on this baby design column! Because you're working with eight modelling balloons, and you are introducing Precision Bubbles, this technique is a little bit trickier than the others shown above, but definitely worth the extra effort! 

It's A  Girl - Baby & Moon Column by Sue Bowler, CBA.

To learn how to create this style of décor check out the video below! 

Here are some more inspiring design ideas using this technique! This video explains step-by-step how to create each of the styles of columns shown above.

Lion Tamer Pedestal

Place two of these Columns at the event entrance, or use them to draw attention to other focal areas at a circus-themed party.

Designer name: Sue Bowler, CBA, Balloon Art by Sue Bowler, Oxfordshire, UK

Got Treats?

So cute it’s scary!

Designer name: Sam Jossie, CBA, Pioneer® Balloon Company

It’s All So Magical!

The perfect decor accent for the princess on her special day!

Designer name: Eve Antonello, CBA, Pioneer Balloon Company, Wichita, KS, USA

Come Close Valentine!

Designer name: Eve Antonello, CBA, Pioneer Balloon Company, Wichita, KS, USA

If you have always wanted to know how to create this style of décor, or maybe have struggled to get the perfect, tight spirals, I hope that this post has helped!

Happy Ballooning! 

Sue

www.suebowler.com

Follow me on Instagram @suebowler

Wedding Decor... a little Inspiration for 2012 weddings

It won't be too long before the 2012 wedding season is truly upon us, so I thought that a little bit of wedding inspiration might be a good idea!

Designed by Sue Bowler CBA

"So how do we 'find' our Wedding decor inspiration and get some fresh idea's"? 

I always try and do as much research as possible, check out what's 'hot' and in fashion with both colour and themes.

Start by doing a little bit of 'surfing' around the web, you can find a whole host of information and idea's! Just use key words like Wedding Colors 2012, Wedding Trends 2012, Wedding Theme 2012, just keep trying different words, you'll be amazed at what you'll find out... save the websites that you like best to your favourites so that you can easily find them again!

For 2012 wedding colours I found many great sites, including Martha Stewarts Weddings, which has some great information, like these Perfect Palettes, click on the link below to see more great information from her website!

On-line Resources

www.marsthastewartweddings.com

Use the great resources that are ready available on www.Qualatex.com such as The Wedding Business Booster for fantastic decor idea's and great business tips!

Wedding Business Booster

If you are a QBN Member you have many other additional resources available on the Qualatex website, like these great downloadable photographs (and many more) from the resource centre that you can easily accessed from the lefthand side of the homepage... simply click, sign in and see what's available!

Free resource for QBN members

Learn and be inspired by others by investing in training & knowledge.

Attend the World Balloon Convention or a Qualatex Event, or alternatively take a 1 day wedding course or learn from professional Balloon Design DVD's.
For those of you attending the World Balloon Convention there are some great wedding design classes such as Magical Wedding Moments with Steven Mayhew CBA and Weddings with Italian Flair! With Alberto Falcone CBA

DVD's

Great NEW Weddings  DVD by Colin Myles CBA www.smileyballoons.com

Master Series DVD

Courses 

The Wedding Series 1 & 2

This is a series of courses that I have written for Qualatex. They have been designed to maximise sales opportunities from brides and increase demand for more creative and profitable decor!  To find out more and where these courses are being taught visit www.thequalatexevent.com website. For other great courses visit 'Shows and Events' on the Qualatex Website.

Wedding Series Course www.thequalatexevent.com

The Qualatex Facebook Group is also a fantastic source of inspiration! I have selected a few pictures from the photo gallery... there are so many great pictures it was hard to choose!

A huge thank you to all of you who submit your pictures to inspire others and a special big thank you to the designers of the photographs that I have used below! 

Beautiful Framed Heart by Alessandro Patane CBA of Balloon Express  Shop Sicilia, Italy

'Balloon Tree' by Nadia Azar, Balloontastic Creations, New Jersey, USA

Wedding Arbour by Funtastik Balloons, Florida, USA

Elegant Hearts - Jose Lutman CBA, Mulhouse, France

Just Married Hearts by Jose Lutman CBA, Mulhouse, France

Elegant Columns & Arches by Luz Marina Paz Bucio, CBA, Fiesta Party Corp, Indiana, USA

Free Standing 36" Wedding Heart by Matthew Lewis CBA - Matthew Lewis Displays, Coventry, UK

Svetlana Lugovaya ,Orenburg, Russia

Elegant Centerpiece by Nadia Azar, Balloontastic Creations, New Jersey, USA

Bride & Groom Sculpture by Tania Torres CBA , Balloon Express Shop, Sicila, Italy

Elegant Swan by Tania Torres CBA, Balloon Express Shop, Sicilia, Italy

Bride & Groom by Ballooncake CBA

Stunning Ceiling Decor by Matthew Lewis Displays, Coventry, UK

Fairy Tale Cake Table by Rosanna Cedeno, New York, USA

Elegant Columns and Wedding Cloud by All Occasions, Sunderland, UK

White Butterfly and Heart Column by Nadia Azar, Balloontastic Creations, New Jersey, USA 

3' Just Married Hearts-A-Round by Colin Myles CBA, Smiley Balloons, Dundee, Scotland

I hope that this has given you a little inspiration for the forthcoming wedding season? Don't forget all the fantastic Qualatex balloons that are just perfect for weddings... here are a few of my favourites!

Ivory Rose & Butterflies #31254 

Deco Bubble Scroll Filigree All Around #23593

Deco Bubble 24" Elegant Roses & Butterflies #29718 with Just Married Butterflies-A-Round 11" Latex 

But please do not let me influence you :) Check out the great range of Wedding latex, Microfoil® and Qualatex Bubble balloons! Download the 2012 Qualatex catalogue today if you do not already have i

Looking forward to seeing many of you at WBC 2012 in Dallas... !

Sue

Has attending The Qualatex Event inspired you?

Last week I wrote a blog that gave my own personal summary of  The Qualatex Event. I felt that it would be great to hear what others thought too! So I invited a few delegates and some who also took their CBA exam at the event to share their experiences and maybe a photo or too! A huge thank you to those that responded with a few personal highlights from the weekend!

Lucy Hennessy CBA

I really enjoyed the event it's just a shame I couldn’t fit every class that
I would of liked to have seen, each time you walked along the corridors you were simply stunned by the creations. It was nice to meet old and new friends that all share a passion for balloons. The parties were great fun and the decor fabulous. I can't wait for the next event!

Lucy Hennessy as Miss Piggy with Friends

I'm doing a job on Saturday using the new Minnie & Mickey mouse designs that
were sitting in the corridor ( not sure who created them) and  have also
taken an idea from Fiona Fishers class on foil numbers and adapted it for

the same job increasing the clients original order by over £150.

Lucy Hennessy CBA

Soo Wheeler CBA & Paul Webber CBA

When we heard about the Qualatex Event, we were not sure we were able to go due to costs etc, but we are so glad that we decided to go. From the moment we arrived (on the Friday), we felt like we were part of an exclusive family of like-minded balloon mad people. Our work with balloons started straight away as we were helping with creating a piece for the medium balloon sculpture competition. In a way, we are glad that it was non-stop as it gave us a bit of space to NOT think about our CBA exam that was scheduled for the Saturday morning. We were both extremely panicky and nervous about the exam as we had completed our QBN part of the CBA back in 2007 and we brought the dvds with us to enable us to have one last swot before the morning! We didn't get much sleep that Friday and were still up in the early hours of the morning! Don't forget to "like" us on Facebook www.facebook.com/PartyBudsBalloons
Many thanks

Sue & Paul, CBA

Sue &   Paul with Jo Uddin

Sue & Paul With Robbir Furman and Niko Fric

Sue & Paul with me :)

Vicky Wilson CBA - Missy Moo Ltd

OK here are my thoughts!

This was the first event me and mum had attended and had no real objectives except our CBA so the run up to it and first part of the weekend was all about our CBA exam.  It was a great feeling to do it at the event though and made it extra special! 

I came away from the event with a very proud feeling - its hard to describe...  I always used to listen to my husband talk about conferences etc that he had been on with his work, and he used to say that he would always leave them very buoyant and proud to be working for the company he did.  Having never been to a conference etc before, I hadn't experienced this feeling - but certainly have now.  I found the video montage at the gala dinner very moving (and I wasn't even drunk!), it just brought a few tears to my eyes, but left me feeling so excited and pleased to be a part in such a great industry, with such fab, helpful and talented people!  And the fact that really talented people are happy to teach you their tricks of the trade is amazing!

We met some great people, and picked up some good tips - just little things, but stuff that makes your day to day work better!  We learn't some brilliant new designs, which we are already selling your bubble bouncers and are trying out different varieties of them. We are also taking one of Luc's designs and playing around with that too.  However we have lots of ideas for the future, and most of these have come about in some way, shape or form because of the event.

Vicky - Missy Moo

Tony Hanscombe CBA

As someone who has been in the balloon business for some years I wondered if I would find anything of interest and use at the event. As it turned out I needn't have worried as I found several things of interest and some that I am putting into practice, in particular - the decorated numbers, Dee White's belly buddies, Colin Miles ideas for what I call 'bespoke' decor and your giraffe. The whole weekend was very enjoyable and it was nice to meet so many old friends.

All I can hope that is that this becomes a regular event alternating with the Dallas WBC.

A final note from me: 
I know from my own personal experience that attending conventions and events are so inspiring, not only do you learn from some of the best instructors in the world, but you also make friends and contacts, people who will help you when you need advice or even help you out on a job! Your confidence grows and so does your business! Conventions may seem to be costly at the time, but those costs are soon turned in to profit! It is great hearing feedback from those who attend, as an instructor it is even more rewarding when we here how our ideas are being put into practice and making money!!

Picture sent to me by Debbie O.Neill of 'Gerry the Giraffe', a design that I taught at The Qualatex Event... congratulations Debbie, he looks perfect a the Zoo!

If you have never attended a balloon event or convention, then why not make it your 2012 resolution and sign up for the World Balloon Convention, you truly will not regret it!

Sue