Balloons go creative, high tech

Balloons have come a long way since the old days when they were made of animal bladders.

Today, they're colorful latex or foil, filled with air or helium.

Balloons are a popular way to send wishes, from "Happy Birthday" to "Welcome" or "Goodbye."

Sherry Morgan buys balloons for her sons first birthday.

Susan Sidebottom, an employee of Parties and Petals on Donaghey Avenue, said balloons "are extremely popular for every occasion. From births of babies to regular Happy Birthdays, anniversaries, goodbye, brand-new homes, congratulations, thank you. You name it, it's in a balloon somewhere."

Balloons come in many shapes, too. Sidebottom said Parties and Petals has AirWalkers, which are characters that walk on "legs," as air moves them.

"We also have musical balloons," she said, which have chips in them to play music or songs.

They include "Happy Birthday" and "It's a Boy" balloons.

"They're really cute," she said.

Customers come for a variety of balloons and from all places.

Sherry Morgan of Fredericksburg, Va., who was visiting her in-laws in Guy, was in the store Friday buying balloons for her son's first birthday.

Caleb Morgan turned a year old on Nov. 20. "He turned one on the road while we were coming in, so we're having this little party today," Morgan said, adding that they "love balloons."

Balloons are always popping up at parties, including New Year's Eve, Sidebottom said.

Balloon sales are big during graduations, and Valentine's Day is going to be "an awesome day" for balloons, she predicted.

Balloons also sell well on Mother's Day and Father's Day, and men as well as women seem to like balloons.

There are sports-themed balloons available at Parties and Petals, featuring teams such as the Arkansas Razorbacks and Conway Wampus Cats.

Other balloons are designed to go with themes, such as a luau or '50s party.

Balloons are affordable as well, with prices ranging from 50 cents for a plain latex balloon filled with helium and tied with a string, to $9.99 for the walkers, Sidebottom said.

Although latex balloons only last eight to 12 hours, a Mylar (the tradename for a polyester film) balloon will last "a long time," and can be reinflated if it isn't popped, she added.

Mylar balloons shaped like turkeys and Pilgrims helped decorate Second Baptist Church for the community Thanksgiving dinner, thanks to a donation from Ed's Custom Bakery on Oak Street.

Casi Riggs, an employee of Ye Olde Daisy Shoppe in downtown Conway, said balloons are "very popular, very popular" at the florist and gift shoppe.

"Sometimes people order balloons along with flower arrangements or snack packs, and other times they just want balloons," she said. "A lot of times we just do balloon bouquets with a mixture of latex and Mylar. We do a sandbag to weigh it down, or candy to weigh it down."

She said Valentine's Day is probably the busiest holiday for balloons at Ye Olde Daisy Shoppe, but lots of birthday and "get well" balloons float out the door, too.

What is it exactly that make balloons so popular?

Sidebottom said she isn't sure.

"Babies to people who are 100, they love balloons," she said. "I just can't explain it. Balloons are just fun."

And, Sherry Morgan had this observation: "They make you happy, don't they?"

(Staff writer Tammy Keith can be reached by e-mail at tammy. keith@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1238.)