creating

In a better world you could do so much more.

"She was so in love with you
you had to elope. I can't imagine what it must be like to bury the love of your life and to have to sleep alone.
He was no saint but he prayed in his native tongue,
drove you everywhere, and slept by your side every night.
He loved you, and I loved you.
Maybe there is some solace in being loved."

image by Geronimo Balloons

Jordan Ferney interviewed LA based artist Jihan Zencirli. This snippet of the interview describing Zencirli's start as a Certified Balloonatic is lovely and utterly reinforces my love for helium filled spheres.
Real Simple: How did you become a “Certified Balloonatic and Master Balloon-Trooper ?”

Jihan Zencirli: A year ago, in a pinch for a birthday surprise for a friend I was meeting for dinner, I reached into my stash of random internet finds and came out with a 36″ round balloon. I ran to have it filled with helium at a party store– not realizing the enormity of the balloon and quite overwhelmed with this big mass! When I arrived back home, I thought it just looked lost and sad on curling ribbon so I whipped together all my favorite ribbon and made a long dramatic tassel of orange and purple. I arrived a few minutes early to the restaurant and I’ll tell you– every single person turned to look at me as I wrangled the balloon through the door. There was dead silence. After a few seconds, a man from across the room yelled, “Now that’s a balloon!” and started to clap, with the entire restaurant laughing and clapping with him. It was a really magical night- and in addition to my friend feeling very special, the mood and tone of the evening was very joyful and happy. People smiled big as we left- and I certainly don’t recall a more lovely evening with smiles and more social interaction between tables. After this electrifying social interaction, I decided to bring balloons to all my dinner dates, celebrations, gallery openings,etc. After a month of perfecting my balloons to hold more frill, and expanding my balloon colors, I was asked more times than I can count “Where did you find this balloon?”. After explaining that I made them myself, people started requesting to order balloons for their own parties and events. I would come home from my day job as a creative marketing director and go straight to my basement to make balloons all evening. After moving to LA in late April and falling into a perfect studio space, I’ve been lucky to be able to devote myself full-time as Master Balloon Trooper for Geronimo!

hibiscus crepe paper flowers

by Livia Cetti

Bird And Banner created these handkerchief cards. Hankies are printed with messages and include outer envelopes so that they can be sent off to any lucky person of your choosing.