Facebook Featured Fan Announced: Twister Tess

If you have seen me balloon twisting this year, you have seen a part of Twister Tess. Those super cool balloon dog earrings that I wear were hand-crafted by this week's Facebook Featured Fan! Sadly, I have not had the pleasure of meeting Twister Tess (Chelsea) in person - she  lives in Indiana, and well, I don't  - but I enjoy following her and her amazing twisted balloon creations on Facebook. Seriously, this is one talented lady. Actually, it isn't even just her - her mother and sister are in on this fun career, also. Anyone who has a Skee-Ball machine in their house is way cool in my book.

Enjoy reading about Twister Tess.  -  "Wax on, Wax off."

If you want to learn more about how to become a featured fan, I made a video about it. : )
Click here to view it.  Have a balloontastic day! - Christine

============================
Are you a dog or a cat person?
Both! I love animals. I'm also a horse person, a ferret person, and a balloon animal person!

What is your favorite pizza topping?
Veggies, especially olives. I'm a vegetarian, and have been my whole life-- I’ve never tasted meat at all!

Did you play sports or a band instrument in high school?
I was home schooled, so we always had lots of music and instruments around-- guitar, piano, autoharp, and a Native American flute (part of a project that included a full size Indian tipi in our backyard for a while!). As for sports, I’ve always loved the outdoors, and hiking, horseback riding, swimming, and biking are among my favorite activities! Oh, does Skee-Ball count? We have an old-time, full size Skee-Ball machine in our basement. (At amusement parks we always win long strings of tickets at the Skee-Ball, which always makes people stare. Comes from lots of practice. :)

What do you think came first, the chicken or the egg?
Hmmm...... Um, the chicken? I mean, an egg wouldn’t hatch unless it had a chicken to sit on it, right? Don’t tell me you really find that at all interesting. :)

What would you like readers to know about you personally?
My real name is Chelsea. Tess was a nickname given me back when my younger sister was too little to pronounce “Chels,” and Twister refers to my job as a balloon twister! I'm a creative person. I love to paint, sculpt, twist balloon sculptures, make jewelry, and otherwise create things! I also love the outdoors, and traveling. I got to visit the ocean for the first time a few years ago, and can't wait to go back!

What is your business? What "do you do?" I am a balloon artist, like Miss Balloon Heart! I'm one of the "Talented Trio of Twisters" at Balloongenuity, our balloon business in central Indiana! Balloongenuity was started after my mother, sister, and I went on a vacation where we saw some tourists wearing big, crazy balloon hats. They looked like they were having a great time, and something about it stuck in our heads when we returned. We got out our balloon kit we’d had when we were little, and started playing around with different designs. One incredibly amazing year later, we’ve expanded our art to décor, deliveries, entertainment, a balloon show, and more!
I am also an artist, sculptor, and jewelry maker. I paint oil paintings, and experiment with other mediums like charcoal and airbrush art, but right now I am mostly creating and selling my handmade jewelry. My jewelry is all inspired by balloon animals, from the classic balloon dog earrings to the Hula Monkey necklaces!

Who is your greatest supporter in your life and work?
My mom, and my sister-- the other two of the talented trio!

Who or what inspires you?
I'm inspired by lots of things. I paint a lot of animals, especially horses. With the balloons, it's the expressions on the faces of the kids (and grown-ups too!) who receive our creations that inspire me to make each creation amazing and unique!

Is there something you are really passionate about? What is it?
Definitely art, balloon and otherwise. I'm always searching for new ways to take things to a new level, new ideas, new designs. I always want things to be as original and unique as possible! I can be a little bit of a perfectionist about details. I’m also passionate in my love of animals-- any and all of them! We have rescued many dogs, cats, and horses, found homes for and care for many of them. I also volunteered at the local zoo, getting a taste of a zookeeper’s life for a while! (Not that it was all that different from being at home….)

What is your favorite quote?
I have to say “Wax on, wax off” from the original Karate Kid movie! Here’s why: When my sister and I were little and would ask our mom “Why do I have do this?”, instead of arguing with us about it, she would simply say “Wax on, wax off!”, complete with arm wave motions. I had no idea why she said this, but I understood it meant “do what you’re told without asking why.” How do you argue with that? Years later my sister and I saw The Karate Kid for the first time. When we saw the “Wax on, wax off” scene, we both pointed at the TV and yelled “That’s it!! That’s where that came from!”

How can people reach you?
You can reach me through any of my websites, or through my Etsy shop or Facebook page! You can contact me if you have any questions about my art, jewelry, or balloons!
Website: www.balloongenuity.com (balloons), www.artwithatwist.etsy.com (jewelry), www.crystalroseartstudio.com (fine art)
Facebook: Balloongenuity--Ingenious Balloon Creativity

Here’s a photo of me and my family, the Talented Trio of Twisters at Balloongenuity! That’s me on the right, in the blue hat. :)