From: Doui@aol.com
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 08:46:36 EDT
Subject: Helium Garland
To: balloon@balloonhq.com

Hello All,

   This weekend I did a 27ft. outdoor garland arch.   Oh my goodness, what a 
challenge!  Weeks before the event I researched archives and back-issues of 
Balloon Image - put on poles with very heavy weights, the outdoor 
factors-wind and sun. 
  Anyway, it had to be the windest day of the year. 
If I could have thought quick enough, I would have tried to advise the 
customer to  different decor that day.  They wanted a garland over the track 
(Relay For Life).  I used pre-stretched 16" to 14", the column was air-filled 
and we inflated outdoors , but there was quite a bit of popping.  I wanted 
the swirl to meet in the middle,  but I could not figure it out. ( We produce 
a backward swirl where top of garland meet columns it was to late to try and 
fix or figure out ).
   How do you attach the top garland arch to the columns?  The wind was 
really blowing, it felt like I was wrestling with a bull!   I used 150lb. 
nylon cord, it didn't look like it would hold  and it didn't !  The wind must 
have rubbed friction on the cord and the garland flew off the top of one 
column .  I reattached by doing many figure 8s.  
  The customer liked it and it was in Sunday's paper- front page.  But I am 
very dissatified with that garland arch.   I hope someone can get a clear 
picture of what I'm trying to ask and help me .  


Smile Happy
Jonagwen Dew, CBA
Radcliff, KY