FLOAT 2009

“Thank You….Thank You Very Much…”

FLOAT is all about sharing the love, even if it's a bit off key. Here at the annual karaoke party, Brazilian balloon artist Eduardo Seiti, CBA, earns a round of applause for his rendition of "My Way".

Aquatic Elegance

This gorgeous sea horse design was the winning entry in the Large Sculpture Competition in 2009. Congratulations to Cheryl Rupple, CBA, for creating such a lovely piece.

Creating a Memory

David Weiss, CBA, made quite an impact on FLOAT in 2009. His entries in the design competition series were extremely memorable, being the first competition artist to go the "non-round" route as the main emphasis of his competition pieces. And his punk rock themed Entrance Decor piece is still recognized by many at FLOAT as one of their all-time favorite pieces.

Cross Dressing Clowns

Guido Verhoef, CBA,and Bidou were extremely busy at the 2009 Convention. Not only did they design all of the decor for the Final Night Gala, but they also taught a four-hour master class the night before! Just don't ask about the tutus. But don't feel too badly for Guido; the next night he would be honored at FLOAT by receiving the Cheeseman Memorial Career Achievement Award.

Making Beautiful Music

Many decorators realized that linking balloons were the ultimate "deco-twisting" product long ago. Here, Lisa Swiger, CBA, uses linking balloons to create her musically themed entrance decor piece.

No Head in the Sand Here

Bidou demonstrates Link-O-Loon techniques that created this larger-than-life ostrich sculpture. His class was filled with animated animals created with linking balloons.

Rock On!

The Entrance Decor Competition in 2009 centered around a musical theme. David Weiss, CBA, took the event "hands down" with this iconic and character-filled creation.

Taggin’ and Saggin’

…in addition to the design elements of David's piece, viewers were encouraged to take magic markers and leave their own "graffiti" on the brick wall design! Attendees actually lined up for a chance to leave their impact on the sculpture!

The Writing’s On the Wall

Delegates entering FLOAT in 2009 were greeted with this larger-than-life RMS mural of the iconic FLOAT logo. Special thanks to Dale Moore, CBA, and Greg Arrigoni, CBA, for creating such a memorable piece!

Time to Test

The FLOAT Convention also hosts the CBA Exam, presented by Qualatex. Even though FLOAT is aimed at advanced level artists, there are always a few among the attendees still looking for their certification.

Who Says “Stackers” Don’t Twist?

One of the biggest events at FLOAT 2009 was the pajama party and twister jam. Decorators got their chance to play with non-rounds in a way that was non-threatening to their "globular minds".