Custom Garland goes Vintage

Visual Merchandising Glory Right Here

"My Grand Opening is coming and I want your giant balloons and custom garland!" Lauren came to me while she was setting up her charming, delightful vintage dress shop: The Rose Time of Day in the Rivertown District of Antioch, CA. It started with wanting some balloons for her soft opening and Grand Opening.  

Giant Balloon and Custom Garland to Dress the Shop Windows

When we met and I was able to walk through the Victorian space with its stunning brick walls , I knew that her vision and my partnering was going to be a match made in heaven. Initially, she had wanted curtains for her front window area but declined when she received an exhorbetant quote. I felt that garland draped in the windows could be a nod to curtains, but not as big of a commitment. I drew her a sketch of how it would look from the curb and she loved it! 

Custom Garland, All Ninety-Two Feet of It!

In the beginning design stages I asked Lauren for fabric ends and trimmings to incorporate with the one of a kind offerings of her shop. Later when Lauren chose the image for her business cards, I knew that the 98 feet of garland would be created with my signature hand painted tissue. I was also inspired to add silk rosettes to it- I mean- The ROSE Time of Day!!! The vision was to create a color palette from a bouquet of roses in all the colors, and flanked between soft creamy white neutrals- just like the business card! It would weave from whites, to the natural soft greens to the bold blossoms and then we'd come back, back and forth.  

These garlands, five in all, draped from my ceiling for days and Friends, it is stunning! It was so hard to let them go. I fell in LOVE! The fact that this was a shop and not a one day event really helped me go forward with excitement. I could always go and visit them again because they wouldn't be coming down any time soon.  

Installation day was so much fun! Lauren's granny was there arranging flowers, men were installing fixtures, Lauren was mending and steaming garments, aunties were cleaning and hanging a flower wall that was hand sewn by Lauren and the ladies in her family and my True Love was on the ladder consistently moving Handsome the Cat from the top spot. It was a beautiful song of everyone working together and you could feel the love in the air! 

Betrothed Event: I created Custom Wedding Couture Garland for the Pop Up Shop

The shop is a charming and delightful space to escape to and to travel back in time through the art of well designed fashion. I love it! Since the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting, Lauren has hosted a myriad of exciting events. I have been lucky enough to enjoy a few of them. She has hosted music nights, rotating showcases from vintage wedding, stars and stripes, Lily Pullitzer to lingerie and many more. She has also expanded her offerings to include party venue rental, so you can have your next party in the magical space. Lauren is a prolific creative and if you do not follow her Instagram feed and Etsy store, then you are missing out! And by doing so, you may also catch a glimpse of some Lifted Balloon magic as well!

Betrothed Event, Couture Wedding Garland. This was my happy little spot to toast newly engaged brides looking for a one-of-a-kind wedding dress and garland to compliment it. 

Balloon Waterfalls Elevate the Atmosphere

Balloon Waterfalls Elevate the Atmosphere

Balloon Waterfalls elevate the atmosphere in marble, black, gold, silver, and mini pearl balloons. This party idea is stunning and brought a stately, modern, explosive and presidential impact to a very special event! This party inspiration started when Calli, my daughter, was studying the election process with her Civic's class. Her tutor decided to add some real muscle to the material by having a class election, followed by a an inauguration ceremony to swear in the winners, and to put the icing-on-the-cake, an inaugural dinner and ball! 

Inaugural Ball! Enter Lifted Balloons with a little, no-actually a LOT of dance in my step! I volunteered to bring some serious luxury balloon swag to this fun, family, educational event! Confession. This was my opportunity to style one for the very FIRST time! I knew that I'd be offering Balloon Bursts and Balloon Waterfalls on my menu of products for party style, BUT I needed an event to play around with technique and make clumsy mistakes without the pressure of performing for a client. This could not have lined up more perfectly. I was overjoyed to create a beautiful balloon installation with high drama!

Balloon Bursts and Balloon Waterfalls-

are the best party idea for visual impact that is unforgettable! Attendees of this event still talk about this balloon installation months after the ball!

Sometimes art is so innovative and new that the world doesn't even know what to call it. My research shows that this level of balloon art / balloon work has only been on the scene for roughly two years, which I consider very new-and most of this kind of work is being pioneered way outside of the San Francisco Bay Area. I have found that the balloon industry/party event industry hasn't really figured out the perfect name for what I am showing you. The terms "Balloon Arch" and "Balloon Garland" are what is currently being used to describe what you see at Liftedballoons.com and the subject of this post. However, as you can see, it does not look like an arch in any way, nor does it resemble a garland. My team and I have wracked our brains to create names for these balloon creations and balloon installations that strike an accurate impression of what they actually look like. I don't know if I will be able to turn the vernacular to my chosen interpretation, but at least my Lifted Balloons clients will have a clear picture in mind when I suggest a Balloon Waterfall for their wedding reception entrance or a Balloon Burst for their Graduation Party. The above balloon installation falls under the category of a Balloon Waterfall, but I prefer to call it a Balloon Burst as it doesn't cascade over itself like a waterfall. It doesn't have the same movement and is fixed in place in an architectural fashion like a balloon sculpture. The color palette came from the tutor and I was relieved that she chose such an elegant color story. 

Photo booth idea that is sensational!

The students loved posing in front of this over-the-top balloon backdrop.

Homeschool students generally don't have many social special events to get dressed to the hilt for, so they embraced the semi-formal/formal attire only dress code with enthusiasm. I am proud to say that Lifted Balloons brought a photo booth balloon backdrop that matched the formality one hundred percent! Don't they look so stately and dignified posing in front of that sensational photo backdrop?

Calli is sworn in as Class Secretary-

"I, Calli Angeline Gilmore, do solemnly swear to uphold..."

What a dramatic focal point to this community clubhouse space?! The Main Clubhouse at Sycamore, is a beautiful space, yet it's a neutral canvas just begging for serious event styling. Calli is sworn in as Class Secretary after she and her running mate won the class election, in front of a Balloon Burst visually exploding with balloons of all sizes while hovering over a massive fireplace. Her tutor is a first class lady and polished educator, and it was so grand of her to give these students and our families this elegant ceremony and ball! It is noteworthy that the tutor also taught all the students, third graders up to high school, some basic ballroom steps and required every student to participate. It was such a joy to see fathers dancing with daughters, sons dancing with mothers and the younger students bravely asking each other to dance. There were several sets of pretty little shoes on top of their daddy's feet spinning around the ballroom floor! My eyes welled up many times as families carved memories into eternity while swaying, swinging, dipping and twirling. The gentlemen made sure their daughters and wives knew how spectacular and beautiful they were and the young men felt the freedom and fun of leading a lady in a dance. 

Balloon Burst is Center Stage

An unforgettable night of ballroom dancing!

Everyone had a fabulous time and didn't want the enjoyment of the evening to end. Months after the ball families continue to discuss what a magnificent experience it was from start to finish! Also, I still receive praise about the Balloon Burst that I styled for the event and how they had never seen anything like it. Personally, I love how it turned out and how it really transformed a community space into a sensational event styled in a presidential fashion! 

HAND PAINTED GARLAND IS ON TREND FOR HOME DECOR

Hand painted garland is trending in home decor and party styling for Lifted Balloons' clients this year.

Tissue tassels hand painted with gold metallics, or mixed metallics, seem to be flying out of the studio!

I love this home decor trend for so many reasons. Here is a list, in no particular order. It's visual impact is beautiful-soft, airy, and light. It's festive and cheerful, even in the most serious dramatic color palettes.

Garland is versatile. By simply adding a custom hand made garland in your accent colors, you can change the entire look of a room, without much effort or expense. They could not be easier to hang! Indoors, one only needs a couple of clear command hooks and a slip knot on each end of the garland. That's it. Slip those knots over the hooks, finesse the fringe and you're done! They are simple to hang, to move and even to restyle. Our Lifted Balloon's custom garland is inexpensive. When you consider the spacial impact of one garland in the expanse of a focal wall/or interior space, compared to most design elements, it's pretty amazing. AND, no need to poke holes in your walls!

This above photo just blew me away! Actually, this was my first client to ever request custom garland that wasn't attached to a giant, luxury balloon! It's the perfect example of the versatility of Lifted Balloons offerings. She ordered the garland for her niece's bridal shower and used one to trim the dessert bar and one to party style the drink station. I suggested that when she had recovered from the celebrating, thinking it could be several days, that she should see how pretty the custom garland looked on the fireplace mantel. Within an hour or two, she sent me this GORGEOUS picture! As far as I know, it may still be there!

I have several styling ideas that excite me.

Custom garland gives presence to a beautiful desk, like in the charming Lace & Bustle bridal salon in Lafayette, CA. It creates atmosphere for a lovely bridal in-store event!

Another fun way to use festive garland is as valance over windows.

I love the sound and the airy look of them when a breeze brushes through the tassels.

The fringe moves with the breeze like leaves on a tree and they make the most beautiful soft, wispy sounds. As previously mentioned, above a bed is wonderful interior application. It can be dramatic, romantic, sexy and/or all of the above. Especially when treated with sheer, dazzling fabrics. It's still lightweight and where I live, in California earthquake country, having a garland drop on me as opposed to a heavy mirror or art piece seems like the smartest decorating choice. 

A custom garland hovering over the dinner table will make every meal feel like a special occasion.

I absolutely love it

Although this photo features a custom garland hanging above a handsome dining table for an intimate birthday brunch, I love the idea as a permanent styling idea. Why not? If you have a rustic beam like this, a lower ceiling or you just want to add some visual interest, then this is a fantastic idea. I absolutely love it. 

 

Calli asked me to make her some hand painted custom garland for her seventeenth birthday.

I was so flattered of course that I made her two!

Here I taped the string to an embroidery hoop to mimmic the look of a pendant light fixture. I thought that in our tiny little kitchen with about 15 of her close friends that a giant, luxury balloon would be a bit much. I also didn't want 15 teenagers fighting over the helium. For a fun alternative I thought the custom garland as a make shift light fixture would be super fun and girly. Everyone loved it and I just added some extra touches to the party like mini pearl balloons and scattered photos & flowers. The lamp inspired me to consider actual light fixture decor, baby mobiles and small 70's inspired pieces. You'll have to track with me and see what we come up with! 

Veteran's Day Giant, Royal-Blue, Luxury Balloon

A giant, royal blue, luxury balloon hit the mark for a glorious Veteran's Day Assembly.

What an honor! I was asked to create a balloon for a special school assembly hosted by Berean Christian High School. My client fashioned a beautiful hospitality table with breakfast treats and coffee. She wanted a Lifted Balloon- giant, luxury balloon to lavish the veterans with praise and honor. It was my joy to participate. I cried during the whole assembly and marveled at the amazing quilts presented to the brave men who received them. 

As mentioned, we decided that a giant, royal blue, luxury balloon would coordinate the best in the school gym that is painted blue and gold. For the tassels on the custom, hand painted tissue tail/garland, I chose to let the bright red tissue shine, threading in a little creamy white and royal blue. To showcase this custom garland I went heavy handed with the gold metallic fringe! It really was spectacular as it spun softly under the spot lights of the assembly.

It's very important when custom ordering a giant balloon, and selecting a color palette that you consider thoughtfully the space and room decor that it will live in. For patriotic party ideas red sometimes needs only to be an energetic accent color, especially in a busy background like the one in this gymnasium. When we say " elevate the atmosphere ", this is what we're talking about right here!

The giant, royal blue, luxury balloon hovers like fireworks above a sweet spread.

This blog post would be amiss without a photo of the guests enjoying the yummy treats that are showcased under this fantastic giant balloon in red, white and blue. It is hovering about the sweets and treats like a burst of fireworks! If you are looking for patriotic party ideas then look no further. Lifted Balloons are a party decor gift for Fourth of July parties, Memorial Day presentations, Veteran's Day assemblies, summer picnics, and parades. 

Every Order Custom

"Every Order Custom" means that I will thoughtfully create any kind balloon styling, garland, balloon waterfall or event styling service you can dream up. My custom balloon tassels are hand painted with gold metallic (or metallics of your choice), and embellished with anything to support your special event vision or party theme.

Oh the enchantment of the design process! My clients are so inspiring. I love every one of them. Often my clients will text me photos of a color palette, a Pinterest clip, a movie clip, a seed packet, or even an outfit and I customize a look for their event. However, sometimes a client might say, I want to have a Par Kour event and there isn't any point of reference, because it hasn't been done yet. The image above was me playing around with textiles and falling in love with possibilities. In this case, I used some hardware, chains in varying weights, to create a young, edgy and urban vibe to the custom tails. Although the client opted for a softer look, omitting the chains, the pics I posted on Instagram were a big hit! In fact, those chains did make it on a custom birthday balloon but in a completely elegant way! It's kind of like life sometimes, it's not always about the destination, but the beauty is in the process. Also, hang on to those ideas that excite you, because there is opportunity for them in the right timing! 

I fell in love with balloon styling idea.

In this next photo, I whipped up some balloon styling with silver metallics, light grey and charcoal tissue tassels. In addition to the chains, silver metallic fringe, and hand painted silver metallic tail/garland-is the experimental balloon light! Balloon lights are a great way to embellish a giant, luxury balloon! Another party tip is to do what I did below when event styling, and create a mock up. We discovered that the red balloon light was too small and cast a pink glow which was no the look we wanted for a bar mitzvah palette of red and grey. Eventually, we evolved into using white fairy lights on the custom tail/garland, which was just right. 

Below, you can see a close up of our balloon styling mock up. You know, when you see an event styled to perfection, or glorious, addicting Pinterest ideas, you are not seeing hours of vision casting, choosing materials, mock ups, bloopers or failures. I'm enjoying showing you a little window into what balloon styling and event styling is like. The red glow of the balloon light and the chain draping down from the balloon is gorgeous! It may not have suited our client but the ideas are locked down and as I've mentioned before, they will reemerge when the timing is right!

A Giant, Luxury Balloon for a 50th birthday Surprise Party

My client wanted to surprise her charming husband on his 50th birthday surprise party with a Lifted Balloon's giant, luxury balloon.

She wanted it to be a, "Surprise! The party isn't over!"-which is a brilliant surprise party idea! Her plan was to have a giant, mocha balloon waiting, home in their sitting room/bar when they returned from a decadent dinner in the city. I'm sure they enjoyed a nice after dinner drink by candlelight in the company of this massive, masculine balloon. This balloon is one of my favorite Lifted Balloons EVER! It was so masculine, handsome and strong with a fiery autumn ombre, custom tail/garland. I'm just going to say it- it was sexy! I'm a lady and I don't usually say such things, but I can't find a more appropriate expression for how it looks next to this Harley except- "bad-ass!" Forgive me.

I couldn't resist posing the balloon with this bad boy.

Tucked in front of the bar. You can see my beautiful client in the mirror too!

luxury balloons for water

Lifted Balloons bring luxury balloons with custom tail/garland to a Wine4Water Benefit hosted by World Vision at the Behring Auto Museum in Blackhawk, California. It was an "elevate the atmosphere" kind of event styling that I was so honored to collaborate with giant balloons.  

My client chose white balloons to stand apart from the gorgeous blue linens and exquisite orange tones of the florals. The Wine4Water colors are "Sunkist Orange" and "California Blue". They remind me of sunshine reflecting off of fresh, clean water, so I packed a punch of sparkle -- all I could get into the custom tails with these vibrant colors. There was plenty of dazzle to compliment the exquisite car collection and memorabilia on display in the museum. This event was stunning in every way! A standing ovation is due in praise of the phenomenal work performed by World Vision all over the world to bring the gift of clean water access, and so much more, to our brothers and sisters in the greatest of need.

Color Palette

Just for fun, I thought I'd flank the bar with these 2 giant white balloons, just for a quick, fun photo. The event coordinator happened to see it and said, "Perfect! Leave them there! The bar need them!." In an event space like a museum that is spacious, almost cavernous, It's easy for a a piece of floating furniture like the bar to disappear, or worse, be difficult for guests to find. Giant balloons are perfect for giving the bar presence and ensuring that it is not missed.

twin balloons flank the bar

A luxury balloon is a beautiful, welcoming first impression in a dramatic lobby entryway. I love this photo even though I snapped it during set up. You can even see a bit of the reflective sparkle in the custom ribbon tail/garland. It plays well naturally next to that spectacular arrangement by Pairs and Pieces

registration table during install

A giant balloon is an great compliment to a photo booth and often times, is the only photo booth idea needed. This giant balloon draws guests to the photo area, which is decorated with such thoughtfulness and meaning for the event's purpose. I love it!

A giant, luxury balloon next to a super car! Who could resist? Certainly, I could not. I think they look stunning together! I love how the luxury balloons harmonized with all of the fantastic memorabilia in the auto museum. The classics and the luxury balloons are exciting, fun and memorable! Perfect match!

This balloon wanted a picture with a supercar! 

luxury balloons for glamorous wedding decor

Luxury balloons are a genius wedding decor idea to elevate the atmosphere with a little glamour! Recently I had the joy of creating two luxury, giant balloons for my niece’s wedding reception.

She chose blush balloons with 7’ tails. I was giddy over the color palette: blush and charcoal, which are gorgeous with gold metallic paint. I feathered in the colors and added the jeweled gold tassels that I’m obsessed with lately. I also added some cream and silvery tulle with a touch of sparkle as a nod to the wedding veil. I finished the look with a few blush rosettes staggered through the custom hand painted tails.

Congratulations Mr & Mrs Kline

The beautiful couple enjoying a dance in the company of a luxury balloon.

Actually, I was overjoyed! My niece Carrie is a doll! She was born when Jon & I began dating, her middle name is Nicole, and my daughter looks more like her twin than a cousin. It was an honor to do some balloon styling for her magical wedding day.

Falling in love with the materials.

rosette embellishment

It's all about the details.

We staged the balloons behind the head table and flanked the large screen, creating lovely symmetry with the head table. The venue needed the girth of the balloons to fill and soften the space.

Setting the Stage

All of the tassels on the handmade tails are adjustable, a feature I am proud of.  We styled them behind the head tables which meant that the bottom length of the tails were hidden. I was able to slide all the tassels up high in the sight line. It created a much fuller waterfall effect that was gorgeous and elegant! Blush up-lighting was added, illuminating all the sparkle as they gently twirled.

Up-lighting!

Also, because the tassels are adjustable, Carrie can use the tails as garland in her new home for a personal and memorable home decor. She can combine the tassels from both tails onto one to create a longer garland or a fuller one-another reason that I love adjustable tassels!

Save the tails for gorgeous garland to decorate with. The tails are simple to remove from the balloons and with gentle care they will last forever!

Just for fun I made a little balloon bouquet to tie onto the 1965 Malibu Sport getaway car that my husband would be chauffeuring them in. After I made the bouquet I discovered not one spot on the vintage car had an opening that I could attach it too. I opted to set it right on top so that they would see it immediately as they approached the car. This was the best pic I could get in the day light.

the getaway

cheers to a fabulous honeymoon

I was thrilled that all of my family loved their Lifted Balloons creations, especially the new Mrs. Kline!

Congratulations Carrie and Zac!

Balloons and blooms, Coming Soon

Balloons and Blooms is a terrific birthday party idea for a casual Coffee Shop party. 

Balloons and Blooms

Lifted Balloons has a new way to elevate the atmosphere.

A girlfriend from church texted me that one of their friends from small group was having a birthday and they hoped to buy a Lifted Balloon for her! After a conversation about the party agenda I quickly determined that a giant balloon would not be optimal. Their plan included a vigorous walk around the Lafayette Reservoir with about six babies in strollers, followed by a light brunch at the newest Coffee Shop down the street.  The small group really wanted to support my new business, so I came up with a party decoration idea/ birthday gift idea that I knew would work. I recommended something small and festive with flowers and mini balloon pearls that are ridiculously adorable- a little balloon styling and a little floral styling. It would make a festive floral centerpiece on the picnic table and our birthday girl would have a spectacular gift to take home and enjoy!

Happiness! 

So with a deep breath and a little prayer-I'd never made one before- I got busy! I wanted it to be "nothing-but-the-best" because the birthday girl is a beautiful friend of mine too. She is a regal, strong woman with a contagious smile and generosity. I love her and I wanted her to feel loved and honored with this arrangement as well as be a birthday gift the girls would enjoy giving. 

Balloons and Blooms

A new, unique, and fun way to elevate the atmosphere!

I created this! It was a hit! A medium size, balloon flower centerpiece, with Lifted Balloon hand painted tassels and all! It turns out that sometimes mini balloons are all you need to elevate the atmosphere. For this casual party, a giant balloon would have been fussy to carry around the reservoir and the birthday drives a sassy little sports car, so how would she get it home? The Balloons and Bloom idea really was the ideal birthday gift and party decoration idea. 

Sweet and festive.

As the birthday girl and her daughter approached Coffee Shop she saw the Balloons and Blooms flower arrangement before she spotted me. She said, "Oh! Someone else must be having a birthday party too! Look how cute that is! I have got to find out where they got that!" Later that day she texted me to say that as she was loading it into her car, a local antique shop owner was driving by and stopped in the middle of the road to ask her where she got it! This feedback has inspired me to offer Balloons and Blooms as part of the product line of Lifted Balloons.

Yes, Please!

Balloons and Blooms makes a fabulous statement!

I LOVE my job! 

Lifted Balloons, event styling in Klamath Falls

 I offer my services of event styling for my Lifted Balloons' clients, just as I always have for friends like Jeanine, who summoned me for a large dinner party event. Luxury balloons elevate the atmosphere, but some venues have plenty of atmosphere, like the spectacular view of Klamath Lake from this spacious jewel box of a great room. Contact me for a consultation if you'd like me to "sprinkle magic" at your next dinner party, celebration or special event. I was thrilled to lend a hand at this private dinner party for 31 guests from all over the world, in a gorgeous lake view home. "Now, do what you do and make it look pretty," Jeanine said which is music to my ears and much similar to what most of my clients say during a project. I love it!

Event Styling

Lifted Balloons will travel.

This event was super special because I had the joy of working with two long-time close friends and my husband!

My friend Jeanine is an extraordinary hostess, bash thrower and gracious, accommodating, exceptional cook. She is meticulously organized and well seasoned at party planning and hosting, but what makes her so successful is knowing when and who to call for help. She and I brainstormed a menu for a "glamorous summer grill out," which would include gluten free, grain free, vegan, vegetarian, dairy free- basically something for everyone! We showcased fresh, locally sourced food - even the flowers and wine were local!

Food Styling

fresh . local. beautiful.

I had a blast arranging gorgeous flowers from Floranthropy in Redding, California.  This charming floral studio gave me a great "cheat", meaning Jeanine ordered a gorgeous studio designed centerpiece for the hors d'ouvres table. They also provided me with a giant bucket stuffed with blooms to create smaller, complimentary arrangements for dining tables and food stations. They lent a " wild, just-picked " vibe to the space and looked cheerful and happy in a collection of Jeanine's vintage milk bottles and colored glass. My event styling is the same as my party styling, food styling, and interior decorating: less-is-more! If you follow this blog, you know that my style is informed by hospitality. Guests aren't impressed if the decorations block their view, their walking path, or overwhelm a space. I like to choose a few things to tell the story. In this space, for this event, styling was all about the view, the flowers and the fresh, local, home cooked food! Oh and a great mucic playlist! I am a big believer is using what you have. Jeanine's glass ware was gorgeous and we used it ALL thoughtfully and beautifully. The beautiful Farmers Market apples and cheeses were showcased and became party styling decor. I love using food as the style elements. They need little finessing when they are full of color, texture, variation and beauty!

Floral Styling

Blooms can elevate the atmosphere too!

A small bundle of blooms in the powder room. 

The three of us performed like expert caterers, but unlike most caterers, we had the luxury of sitting at the table and enjoying the food with the guests. Each one of them graciously thanked us over and over again for our exceptional food and lovely hospitality. 

Tip! Hearty make ahead salads and baked potato bar make simple and satisfying dishes for large parties. 

This dinner party was a professional event marking an exciting transition in their company's development. Jeanine had a clear vision to open her home, cook for the colleagues and treat them like family. She did not want a catered, formal ,fussy feeling evening. Her plan was  to glam up and dazzle in a relaxed inviting way.  I got it!

appetizer table

A Luxury Balloon for a Golden Anniversary

It only takes one luxury balloon with a custom hand painted tail to elevate the atmosphere of a golden anniversary! One giant balloon in gold and the custom tail/garland was one of my most loved tail creations to date. Lynn and Wally are a beautiful, gracious, and engaging YOUNG couple! You would not believe that this was a 50th wedding anniversary party. 

gorgeous family waits the arrival of the guests of honor

The whole time I worked on thier balloon I marveled at the power and story that this marriage tells. Fifty years of saying "I do!" and also being more in love than ever is beyond impressive and worthy of taking notice. I wanted this balloon to be pure golden magic!

wired gold decorator ribbon transformed into tasseled gold chain jewels

I was able to create gold tassels that dazzled like jewelry! It was anchored to a centerpiece on the table, nestled between a bottle of champagne and a magnum from their personal cellar. Their kids enlarged black & white photos from their wedding day and mounted them on the rustic walls of an intimate private room at Postino. It was stunning! 

In party styling, I'm a firm believer that less-is-more! Choosing a few elements and giving them room to breath will make an impact that is extremely effective and remembered. Who will forget those photos that transport you back to the wedding day in 1960's fashion icon style?! You don't need decorations everywhere your eyes land. Also, one of the reasons to celebrate in a restaurant is for ease and these decorations were easy and quick!. Elegance and sophistication requires much so much less than people think, but planning is crucial. Those lovely photos had to be ordered, but for installation only required a few pieces of double sided mounting tape. The luxury balloon was delivered. This family decorated with perfection! One giant, luxury balloon dripping in gold, a few enlarged photos that fill the space, close family and exquisite food. That's it! The gorgeous couple loved their golden anniversary celebration! I received a text that evening: My dad can't stop talking about the balloon. He keeps saying:  " 'Well, the balloon is spectacular! It really makes the party!' " 

Less is more! One luxury balloon, three perfectly placed nostalgic photos- a perfect recipe!  

WEDDING SHOWER LUXURY BALLOON AND GARLAND

Seeing the very first Lifted Balloons on Facebook back in April, my friend Cindy tucked the idea away for a luxury balloon for her niece's summer "Brunch and Bubbly" bridal shower. She loved the Wedding at Wente color palette paired with a white balloon, but tagged on permission to "just have fun with it," regarding my balloon styling.

styled on a farmhouse chair

She also asked if I could make her a coordinated custom hand painted garland. YES! If you don't see something on the website, please ask! The answer is always YES! 

garland on dessert table

For the neutral element of the tail & garlands I used parchment, vanilla, ginger, lemongrass and gold tassels. I also incorporated a few sparkly ribbon tassels to give it a little twinkle and glamour.

bride-to-be

Before becoming a balloon stylist, I styled small, intimate events and special occasions. I've known this client and her family for many years and was happy to step in and help her with some party styling before guests arrived. I noticed that her sink was full of the most stunning, velvety pink roses. Since the balloons had been styled sweetly on a lovely farmhouse chair and the hand painted garland had been draped and pinned on the dessert bar, I just asked if she needed me to do anything with the beautiful blooms. She was very grateful and set me free to create arrangements for all of the dining tables. She showed me her inherited collection of vases and vessels, which made personal and stunning party decor. I was in party styling heaven and enjoyed weaving in some wonderful, fragrant clippings from her abundant garden. 

I styled blooms with pink roses the hostess provided and clippings from her garden. Lifted Balloons is more than just luxury balloons! 

The hostess' home is a restored historic farmhouse and belongs in the pages of a design magazine. I suggested that when she recovered from the festivities and "bubbly" that she hang the garland from the fireplace mantle. She sent me this photo! It took my breath away! Not only did she drape the hand painted garland on her mantle and enjoy it as part of her home design decor, but she also collected some of the floral arrangements I had styled and set them there too. One of my go to party styling tips is not to spend your party budget on things that are quickly thrown away. Look around, bring out your special things and when you do spend money, spend it on things with high impact. A giant, luxury balloon will soon be gone, yes, but that hand crafted balloon tail transforms into a stunning garland that can adorn a beautiful interior space long after the party is over.

Loveliness! 

This last picture is adorable! The bride's cousin is a doll! She perfectly models how Lifted Balloons can be used in styled photo shoots like senior portraits.

Sweet!

Lifted Balloons elevate the atmosphere, they are full of personality and they are ready for your next event!

Graduation Party Balloons

My sassy and niece chose her graduation party balloons to elevate the atmosphere of her grad/ send off party. Leaving in a few weeks to attend Chico State, she chose red and black, bold Wildcat colors.

close up of the tassels

So my niece saw this chevron striped tassel on balloon design I had posted on Instagram and requested I use it for her custom graduation balloon tail/garland. I loved her vision! Please follow @lifted_balloons on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. You will see designs that are not available on the website, because the textiles are a limited run or even one-of-a-kind! Every order is custom, so if you don't see it on the website, please ASK! 

a nod to pom-poms

For example, these balls of yarn make these balloons one-of-a-kind! Most of my balloons have hand painted gold metallic tails and reflective ribbons, but due to the bold graphics of the Chevron stripes I l chose sweet and simple, allowing the loud color story to stand alone. I found these balls of yarn and they reminded me of pom-poms. Sophia is a cheerleader so I had to use pom-pom embellishment!

enjoying the balloons in the beautiful light before heading out

There were two balloons for the party, one red and one jet black. It was a simple juxtaposition. We all loved how they turned out. 

loved her memory table idea

Helium expands in the heat. It was a sizzling summer day so we decided to plant the balloons in the cool indoors. Here we flanked a sweet memory table. A great party idea Sophia used was the Memory Jar. Next to the jar she had square sheets of paper and a pen for guests to write a memory, blessing or wish for Sophia and then they dropped it in the jar. Those cards will be a joy for her to read and reflect on forever! I love simple, meaningful party ideas that also double as easy party decor! This graduation party tip can be used for birthdays, wedding showers, farewell parties, and even anniversaries.

As a balloon stylist I love offering balloon tail/garlands with adjustable tassels. This is great for Sophia because I know she will use the tails as garland for her dorm decor or for a sorority event. Since she had two balloon tails/ garland, I wanted to give her the option of combining them into one fuller garland. Adjustable they just slide off the ribbon and thread right on to another easily. My niece is super creative and I can't wait to see how she incorporates them into her new space! 

well, hello there! 

Thankfully it did cool down enough to bring them outside. I tied them to chairs and let them sway in the breeze. 

the afternoon heat relaxed into a perfect summer evening

Later the breeze picked up so I moved this one to the bar area where they could shimmy freely without being too interactive.

It was a lovely party with street tacos, a Polaroid photo area, outside games, photo journey of Sophia's life and lots of anticipation for the adventures ahead in this new season for everyone!

sophia, isabella, damon and dawn

CONGRATULATIONS SOPHIA! 

States Coffee and Mercantile celebrates Anniversary Party with giant Balloons

One year anniversary party balloons in black and white were on the menu at States Coffee & Mercantile in Martinez, Ca.  Paired together like coffee and cream were giant luxury balloons in jet black and crisp white, both styled with custom tails-were simply the perfect celebration decor to elevate the atmosphere . Exceptional coffee, hip decor and authentic people who take pride in every meticulous detail. States Coffee & Mercantile is one of my happy places.

When I was invited to their one year anniversary party, I was handed a black and white invitation with a clean, modern illustration of their van with a giant balloon tied to the back. A conversation was started!

Black balloon is a beauty. 

It was so fun to create balloons for this special event. It was a delightful collaboration as these guys at States have impeccable design sensibility. I proposed we tie the balloons with a thin black leather cord and they suggested black string. I opted to use black shimmer/sparkle ribbons only, in lieu of my usual hand painted tissue tassels because I wanted them to be streamline, masculine and simple! We tied one to an entry railing in the main coffee shop wing and another we tied to one of their bottled cold brews in the newly opened Roasting Room. 

Hovering over the community table in the Roasting Room an hour before the festivities.

They were STUNNING! 

Truly every order is custom! States is an ample space and one in each room was enough to elevate the atmosphere! I mention this because sometimes we think we need balloons everywhere, but one giant luxury balloon is enough! It sets the tone, it captivates attention, it's architectural, it's mobile and guests go crazy over them! 

They threw a great party! It was a spectacular celebration with street tacos in the parking lot, a killer band inside, wine and beer and affagattos featuring their exquisite espresso! Wall to wall people spilling out onto the sidewalk meant I had to snap some balloon close ups from the outside.  

In the front window. 

I drove around the block to see them through the window again.  

I know they loved their balloons! It was a day maker for me to stop in two days later and see the giant balloons still being showcased!  

Beautiful Instagram post on States Coffee feed the next day.

LIFTED BALLOONS GRAND OPENING

Today is the day that Lifted Balloons is officially OPEN! Please come in and browse our luxury balloons with hand painted tails/garland and explore how we can help you elevate the atmosphere of your next special event! I am absolutely inflated with joy! The website is now open, this blog is up, a facebook page is happening and you can find us on Pinterest. People have been asking how they can get a Lifted Balloon and now it's easy! You can shop for your custom luxury balloon at liftedballoons.com, watch for new products, see what we've been up to, be inspired for your next celebration and also SHARE with friends! Also, you can sign up to receive the Lifted Balloon newsletter for exclusive invitations, promotions, and special announcements.

So thank you for celebrating with me today! I am so excited to share Lifted Balloons with you and equally thrilled to thank a few people! 

First I must lavish some praise on the lovely Kim Saquing of Passion Project|HQ for designing and building my branding, website, business cards and much, much more. If you are starting a business or rebranding a current one then call her. She is fabulous! She completely understood my vision! In addition, she was easy to work with, fast, focused, and understood ME! 

 Also, I thank my family for being such rockstar fans, supporters and marketers for Lifted Balloons. I also want to thank my committed friends (you know who you are) who Believe and stood by me in all my creative endeavors which led up to this. You are the love in "lifted"! 

Giant Balloons for a First Birthday Party

FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY INSPIRATION

The smile says it all! 

Jessica saw one of my luxury balloons on Instagram and thought it would be perfect party style idea for her baby's first birthday. Pretty pink was the balloon color and I began creating a custom hand painted tail just right for the sweet and spunky Eloise.

Eloise was in LA, so I packed it with great care as I didn't want a single strand to get crumpled en route. Jessica received it in perfect shape! She had a local party store fill the balloon with helium, and attach the custom tail/garland per my instructions.

Jessica is a very busy lady. She is the founder of Beauty Arise, a movement that now has offices in 6 countries, empowering women with the message of beauty, identity and value. She travels all over the world with her husband and baby and needed a party that was over the top in fun and easy to pull together. She chose a simple pool party and this party idea is BRILLIANT! Everyone could swim with Eloise in the beautiful pool, and decorations could be minimal. The only decoration needed was one giant Lifted Balloon that was easy to see, set the tone and could easily be moved when time to go home. One giant, pretty pink balloon is able to elevate the atmosphere, even outside at a simple, casual pool party.

Eloise seems thrilled with it too!

Happy 1st Birthday Miss Eloise! 

Giant Balloon tea PARTY

A giant balloon in raspberry pink for a little girls birthday party. If you are looking for birthday party inspiration, then stop the search because this seven year old is serving up a very pretty Pink Puppy Tea Party! Whoa! Can you think of anything more fun?! 

 What thrills me about this party as a stylist, although I did not style this one, is that it was simple! Mom and Grandma are both creative and talented women that know “less is more!” We often shop magazines and social media for inspiration when throwing a party. I see so many images of parties because I’m in the business and I find many of them exhausting to look at. One or two creative ideas are enough! Design with hospitality as the focal point and don’t overwhelm guests with too much to look at or do. 

This smart mom let her birthday girl, Vivi, decide the theme. Since the Vivi loves dogs and a good spot of tea, they had a tea party and invited guests to bring a stuffed puppy with them. A few special treats, a few things to do, and plenty of time to play! Perfection!

I enjoyed bringing Lifted Balloons to the party. I styled the custom tail in rose and raspberry pinks, with gold sparkle ribbon, hand painted metallics and youthful joy. I always walk into a wall of smiles when I’m delivering a balloon! One is always enough for a home party! It can be moved to different activities, guests can pose with it, it’s a fabulous conversation piece and when the party is over the tail transforms into festive wall décor! That's a great party idea!

Giant balloons and art!

Lifted Balloons, three to be exact, were the only party décor. Giant balloons with hand painted metallics in icy cool blues were perfect for a home celebration honoring Tom Matousek, the newest member of the Disney Fine Art family. If you’re not familiar with his work, treat yourself to a visit through his page at Disney Fine Art and click on the area that reads “Introducing Tom Matousek”. His work is absolutely stunning, exciting and fresh! Make sure to see the section “originals” as well. You’ll want them all!

    It was an intimate outdoor celebration on the patio with family and close friends. I was given carte blanche to create so i pulled the color palette from his painting “Oswald”. Icy blue greens, silver, creamy white and pops of midnight green were a soft and peaceful palette under giant pearl white balloons. The tails were tied with gold, sheer, organza ribbon and varied in length. 

    It was a balmy summer night and the balloons were unruly at times, making me work hard for my photos. A great feature of Lifted Balloons is how they can be moved with great ease. Even with the wind factor, guests enjoyed posing for pictures with the giant balloons. If you're looking for fun dynamic photo booth ideas then Lifted Balloons are second to none. My favorite photo came the following day when I received a picture of my client's 10 year old son sitting on the sofa, playing a video game, with the giant balloon right by his side like a new friend. It was a texted to me with the caption “He takes the balloon everywhere with him!”

GIANT BALLOONS WITH HAND PAINTED TAILS!

Nothing says “PARTY” like balloons.

Giant balloons with hand painted tails are the perfect expression of party style and party inspiration. Giant balloons elevate the atmosphere of every special occasion they grace. Balloons inspire joy! As I open the doors of Lifted Balloons and offer luxury balloons and event styling to the world, I've spent time to reflect on the language of giant balloons and why they speak so much to me. At this stage of life, having raised children about to launch their lives, I've had to breath deep, hang on for the ride and watch my kids soar. Likewise, I've had many "babies"/business ideas that either because of timing or timidity, I've watched them succeed in other hands. Giant balloons sing a song of what is possible because when they are filled up, they are empowered to expand, rise, be noticed, admired and they influence the atmosphere greatly. That's the message that is filling my soul as I newly embark on designing luxury balloon for the San Francisco East Bay.

The whole atmosphere of a room changes when balloons are hovering about.

I love balloons! I love designing them. I love delivering them. When I arrive at an event with Lifted Balloons I am showered with smiles from people of all ages. Giant balloons radiate celebration, cheer, joy, fun and happiness!

Lifted Balloons are not your ordinary balloons. They are giant 3’ luxury balloons with hand crafted elegant tails. Lifted Balloons is about creating unforgettable moments! Each one will grace your event with elegance, glamour, and drama.