A quote that I created for the 'Balloons for the taking' series, which always gets a good reaction. The coolest thing is the story behind this quote. I was helping a good friend with her daughters birthday party, I was on face painting duty. I'd painted a few butterfly faces which seemed to be going well until the birthday girl sat down in front of me. I asked what she'd like. She thought about it, looked me straight in the eye and said "Make my face like Xmas". Brilliant. Wrote the words down immediately. Hands down the best request ever.

How to humble a road sign.

Lost & Profound - Bright Calm City Wallets Project.

Seeding out another Bright Calm City project , which I’ll be tracking over the next six months as it goes out globally. ‘Lost & Profound’ are a series of brightly sequined wallets abandoned in public spaces, complete with cash inside and a little note saying “if found please give to someone who needs it”, email brightcalmcity@gmail.com with an update’.

First dropped the music festival in NZ – Splore - as a test to see how people react. The first passerby picked it up, read the note, smiled, then walked up a hill to give the wallet to a young couple with a baby – bingo! I’ll keep you posted as the idea travels.

You're The Crazy I need - Balloons for the taking.

Another series of balloons went out in the weekend and I timed how long it took before someone claimed them. The fastest time was 2 minutes and 16 seconds, which was an accidental taking as I'd just tied one to a post while I went inside to talk to someone. Fun hiding in the crowd and watching people stop, read, smile, then discretely look around, untie and skip off. Perfect!

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The balloon, a simple creation that was first concepted in Italy 1643, physicist Evangelista Torricalli who wanted to prove that air was more than ‘nothing’. The first actual production of a balloon wasn’t until 1709 by a Portugese priest – little did he know it would become the global sign for ‘lets celebrate’.

A balloon instantly alerts a sense of happiness, a quaint floating emotion, a bright high-five to anyone passing by. It has served as a celebration symbol since we were born, attached to many childhood birthdays and tied to letterboxes globally as a ‘party in here’ visual shout out.

Using balloons as a floating billboard to put my messages easily into public places works well. People are instantly drawn to the balloon to start with, contrasted with a quote they can resonate with, take home, hang with for a bit.

Yayness incorporated.

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