Anyone that can twist a balloon into a work of art no matter how simple, is definitely talented. However, Thelma Levett AKA Smudgy Clown takes balloon twisting to a whole new level with her masterpiece creations.
Over the years, she has made life-sized tricycles, Barbie dolls and even a pink Cadillac that she 'drove' around town much to the chagrin of the local authorities. Now, she has come up with something even more incredible - A real-life wedding dress complete with lace sleeves.
While the 54-year old who lives in Leicestershire, England, has made balloon skirts and even dresses for her two daughters in the past, this intricate wedding gown, inspired by the one Kate Middleton wore at her April wedding, is a first.
As you can imagine, it was not easy task - For one, because the balloons do not stay inflated forever, she had to complete the dress in a record four days - during which time she not only blew and twisted the 5,000 balloons it took to create the dress, but also, entwined them carefully into the flowing skirt. While it was one of the most challenging projects she had ever done, the end result as you can see, was quite stunning.
Vicky, her 21-year old daughter for whom the dress was made, says that while wearing it is a bit challenging because she is always afraid of popping a balloon or two, the dress is extremely comfortable once she has it on. That's the same reason she would not wear it for her big day. However, that does not seem to matter to the artist, who just loves creating things out of thin air.
Ms. Levett, who works as a party entertainer, began playing around with balloons about 15 years ago and has never looked back - Her biggest desire? To create an ensemble for American pop star, Lady Gaga! To read more about this 'magical' artist and see some of her other fun balloon creations check out smudgyclown.co.uk.
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