Anthropologie Windows and Work In Progress

I am sooooo loving this window display at Anthropologie at the Garden City mall in NJ.

If you search #AnthroWindows you will see a whole lot more hot air balloon window beauties including these...

And here is a work in progress photo of my first wall mount Hot Air Balloons...

Kevin from Up by Pixar - Surprise Ball

After making a replica Flying House with balloons, it is no secret that I love the movie Up by Pixar.  Actually, I love almost anything made by Pixar and Disney.  So it's no surprise that I was super eager to jump on a customers request to make a Surprise Ball in the shape of the exotic bird, Kevin, from Up.  Here he is in all his colorful splendor.

This particular surprise ball is filled with 12 prizes suitable for young children including carefully chosen, vintage trinkets, souvenirs and novelty items. Kevin stands about 16" tall from base to head feathers. 

Deluxe Surprise Balls from Watermelon Party are like wedding cakes - they are so pretty that you don't want to destroy them, but eventually, you give in and devour it!

Hot Air Balloons Work in Progress

Here are some wall hanging hot air balloons I have been working on for a while now but I've been stuck on choosing a design.  But the other day I finally had a chance to go to the new Paper Source store in Garden City Long Island and immediately fell in love with the hot air balloons on their amazing wrapping paper.  Now to choose just three.....

Peacock Surprise Ball

This Peacock Surprise Ball is the 6th and final addition to my Winged Creatures Edition Deluxe Collection. The Peacock is made using yards and yards of crepe paper strips surrounding 6 special prizes. Painted facial details and printed paper finish the assembly of the peacock who stands on a piece of green flocked paper.  This Deluxe Edition Peacock Surprise Ball measures about 8" tall.

The deluxe surprise balls are made with extra attention given to detail and construction making each one a work of art. Each one is suitable for decorative display. The prizes included are also superior to regular surprise balls as they include carefully chosen, one of a kind or hard to find trinkets, souvenirs and novelty items. If you can bear to break him open, prize after prize will be presented as you unwind the paper (for at least 6 prizes). One jewelry item will be included upon request.

Now available for purchase at:

Hot Air Balloons and Paper Dresses

Here is are a couple of custom orders that have been keeping me busy.

Paper Dresses on Wire Dress Forms

A trio of colorful Hot Air Balloons

Penguin Surprise Ball

This Penguin Surprise Ball is the 5th in my Winged Creatures Deluxe Edition Collection. The deluxe surprise balls are made with extra attention given to detail and construction making each one a work of art. Each one is suitable for decorative display. 

This Deluxe Edition Penguin Surprise Ball measures about 5" tall. He is made using crepe paper with acrylic painted accents. He stands atop a piece of "ice" made of tissue paper and iridescent glitter.

Hot Air Balloon Ride and new HAB

I finally flew in a hot air balloon! 

It was at the Warren County Farmers Fair in New Jersey; about 1 hour and 15 minutes away from NYC.  The tethered balloon ride was $10 per person for a couple of minutes....just long enough to enjoy the experience before you start flipping out because you suddenly realize you're scared of being in a hot air balloon.  

For those of you who have never ridden in a HAB before, standing in the basket was surprisingly very stable but the spurts of fire that are released right above your head are loud and hot.  We had to wait 2 hours from the scheduled flight time to wait for the winds to die down.  I thought it was a pretty calm day but it appears there has to be practically NO wind at all.  Even though the balloon was tethered to the ground, it was a great experience and besides, I'm not sure I'm brave enough to go for a real ride.  
The tethered rides were run by a friendly family owned company called Skylands Ballooning.

And new to my Etsy Shop is the Millennium Vintage Hot Air Balloon.  (Similar to the Millennial Hot Air Balloon I made in June).