From balloon-request@cvs.rochester.edu Thu May 25 16:50 EDT 1995 Received: from cvs.rochester.edu (swift.cvs.rochester.edu) by atf.lle.rochester.edu with SMTP (1.37.109.15/15.6) id AA153555045; Thu, 25 May 1995 16:50:45 -0400 Return-Path: Received: by cvs.rochester.edu (4.1/MAIN-MX-1.4.3.2) id AA29093; Thu, 25 May 95 16:48:29 EDT Resent-Date: Thu, 25 May 1995 13:45:26 -0700 Old-Return-Path: Message-Id: <9505252045.AA03838@pythagoras.informix.com> To: balloon@cvs.rochester.edu Subject: Carnival, Double Helix, Bug Bracelet Date: Thu, 25 May 1995 13:45:26 -0700 From: Edward Cardinal Resent-Message-Id: <"u4l0B2.0.U67.RqEnl"@swift.cvs.rochester.edu> Resent-From: balloon@cvs.rochester.edu X-Mailing-List: archive/latest/284 X-Loop: balloon@cvs.rochester.edu Precedence: list Resent-Sender: balloon-request@cvs.rochester.edu Status: RO X-Status: I was twisting balloons at a "carnival" for my son's school this past weekend, and I wanted to share my experience. They sold tickets for games, food, etc., and we took tickets as "tips" for balloons. By the end, we had collected far more tickets than any other "attraction" (except the food). I had another person twisting with me, so together the load wasn't too overwhelming most of the time. I also had someone I could call on (a teacher) to keep order when things got out of hand. Number-one-over-the-top most asked for model: the Power Ranger (thanks again, Arlene!). Most of the kids had a particular favorite Ranger, and this put a drain on my black balloon supply. Pink was the next most requested. The other super-popular item were ball-in-balloon toys. If you don't do this, you should try them! I have to say that T. Myer's "Ball Putter" is one of the greatest things I've ever seen. I was not really sure about it when I ordered it. Now, I wouldn't give it up! (Disclaimer: The only connection I have with T. Myer's is I'm a satisfied customer.) I also got the superballs through Tom, and in the end each one costs the same as a single balloon. So, cost isn't really a factor -- it's just like doing multi-balloon figures. However, these things are more like kinetic toys than figures. Some things I've been making with superballs in them: fill a balloon all the way, put a ball in, and tie the balloon into a big, loose knot. Overhand and figure eights work great. You can twist 1" bubbles in each end then connect those together if you want. A simple but stunning balloon/ball "maze"! Another toy: fill two balloons of different colors; put a ball in each. Make a long double-helix (see below), and you have a spiral ball racetrack. Jaws were dropping at this one. Other popular models were Simba (lion/cat), Frogs (a few with superballs in the eyes), Bug bracelets (see below), dogs, and hats (mostly for the adults). Happy twisting! Ed C. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DOUBLE HELIX: (Maybe this could go in the FAQ under techniques....) This technique entwines two balloons around one another. It is a great addition to hats, and probably has a lot of other applications (DNA jokes?). It's easy to do, but tricky to describe well! Fill two balloons. Start by making a 1" bubble in one end of each balloon, and twisting these bubbles together. Take a balloon in each hand with the connected twist in front of you and the long inflated parts sticking out behind you under either arm. Rotate both balloons around their _long axis_ at the same time and in the same direction (either clockwise or counterclockwise). The balloons should begin to twirl around one another in front of you. With practice, you should be able to control how tightly the balloons entwine around one another. Continue to rotate the individual balloons, feeding in more balloon from behind you as they twirl together. When they are completely entwined (or as far as you want), lock twist them to keep it all together. If someone can craft a better description of this technique, please do! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ BUG BRACELET: This idea was inspired by Larry's train. Fill a 260 about 9-10" or so. Form a head, four legs, and a body as shown: [Notation: parentheses around a number is a bubble; letters are twists; "*" is the nozzle; "z" is the tip of the uninflated balloon; (...) is the uninflated balloon itself.] HEAD 4 LEGS BODY V V---V---V---V V *(1.5)a(1)b(1)c(1)d(1)e(2.5)f(...)z Make a loop of the legs by joining the twists just after the head (a) and just before the body (e). Connect the end of the body (f -- not really a twist, but rather where the uninflated balloon starts) between two sets of two legs (c). Tie it down, or just thread it through, pull it tight, and wrap it around the twists a few times. You might want/need to arch the body up a bit. Tie the very tip of the uninflated part (z) to the neck joint (a/e). The uninflated balloon forms the wrist strap. ____ _ _ ___ (____) ___ (_)(_) *(___)(_)(_) *(___)(____) \.../ (_)(_) SIDE VIEW TOP VIEW (the "wriststrap" (legs should be hangs underneath) under the body) Draw your face of choice, and maybe some ladybug spots if desired. (OK, so a bug really has six legs. I found that if you make six leg bubbles it didn't look as cute.)