About the Artist
Iris the Balloonist
It all started when Iris was 6 years old. One day her magic enthusiast father handed her a bag of balloons, a pump, and a VHS tape that taught balloon designs. He said, “If you’re bored later you can TRY to follow along with this video I’m learning from.” and he left for work.
Iris spent all morning following the tutorials. She made hats and dogs and swords and even followed along making the fancy pink panther and road runner at the end of the tape. When the video was over, she continued to make smaller adaptions of the animals to make balloon animal families to play with. Her father came home astounded that his living room was full of balloons HE didn’t know how to make yet.
And thus, a balloon prodigy was born.
Iris and Magic Ron started working together at parties after a Clown saw them making balloons at Iris’ elementary school carnival and decided to send her overflow of clients to them.
The work was fun! Iris was the magicians assistant during the show and afterwards she would make balloons alongside her father. The adults were impressed and asked if her dad taught her how to make the balloons. He would smile and reply, “If you keep watching, you’ll see that she taught me.”
In 2007, father and daughter went to their first balloon convention when Iris was 11 years old. She quickly learned new designs and taught struggling convention attendees how to make them as well. When she lost a tooth at the event, she woke up to find a new giant balloon pump under her pillow instead of tooth fairy money! She won her first competition award that year: Third place in the children’s category with a little girl pulling a rabbit out of a hat.
Iris continues to improve her talents by attending at least one Balloon Convention per year. She has won first place awards for her competition pieces, her work has been published in a balloon magazine, and she has been in newspapers and on the Sacramento News.
Iris has been twisting balloons in Central California for 18 years and she looks forward to entertaining guests at your events for years to come.
Awards and Achievements
2007
Iris won her first Junior International Balloon Convention award in Mesa, Arizona at Diamond Jam 2007. She placed Third with her pig-tailed girl pulling a rabbit out of a hat.
2011
In 2011, Iris’ 3 foot tall dragon won Junior First Place during her first time attending the Western Regional Clown Association Convention.
2012
Iris won two first place Junior awards in 2012. One for the multiple balloon category and another for the single balloon category.
2013
In 2013, Iris was 18 and afraid to compete in the adult competition. Her friend convinced her to participate by offering to share his balloon bag. She took First Place and beat him with his own balloons.
About the Products
Qualatex Balloons are the biodegradable latex of choice that Iris uses for her balloon creations and decor.
Global, Wolfe, and Chameleon are the brands of face paint used by Iris. These products are made specifically for facial wear and are great for sensitive skin types.