I went to my first ever, balloon twisting convention: Twist and Shout 2006 in St. Louis, Missouri. There was no way to prepare for this experience.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimNt1r85FRT1kfLZfu81Gu9VODwrrxLtukP6iAnAWtPlQTwni8wNYASA99HfmEnnkfcnYdMsT81ksx5lh27fysCo8Csx3k8ZHM_0onHWroDKUZXqDJtimZRyjF0-zTE5pSmaRKQ4L1s5Q/s320/Evanston+at+New+Years+025.jpg)
I went to lots of classes, and studied with master teachers, like Don Caldwell (from California), Ed Chee (from Arizona), Rie Hosokai (from Japan) and Bidou (from France).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbk2NT8Rrz8C5D6WuGKOs7x-FRXPH30Oy1JaTqbF0BRzxEkdZJt18uwPrN1lU13CsvtzaT8iKMqVtLI8cDcXIxuHk9IptBxh7IG-DjxxZAbw4SyfGORWomHyzbXK3uUkzaoWNmpOZj38/s320/Evanston+at+New+Years+173.jpg)
In one class, I learned how to make people for the first time! This is my first full figure, who I named, Simone the Librarian.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0zuC9tLkPavvY9BRROchPYUH8O7arpu3KzdwSXJ2BJ8sHXDRHtpdS_A8VFmnHwD98KiITlp69zsstFSB7kRdFUgKHmsNEytOhbqbXaRV23qL5uGgz3JQFrAJoS5cTwXs4joOOB1RxYk/s320/Evanston+at+New+Years+086.jpg)
I also met a lot of interesting people in the jam room, where twisters stay up until the wee hours of the morning making crazy balloon creations.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKNQGNDp6I2qVXjR8lsEq8wvK3TZpURTCzMk3kkyaTqjPkph_nC7_XFp4MpZ28Ep0nt4fto1EyO4L0dN5IG3CagZQiOmRHWwvzkAOxOXdPOtuVFcper9ISCyalX1gD7zmkxXwROhOAy-0/s320/Evanston+at+New+Years+365.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHrg9wSmvAWE2T4DAbFgd55MP_26ddSqYxaNj58UKRY5P5AsOsXEjG5VZV8QYWVfDsvcUNHxH1wFaprswWguu41HCH_CL9PFb-WpYcMZ-ggT5RmWZc9w3isRMKD2prahoKaBNmeh6WI5Q/s320/Evanston+at+New+Years+036.jpg)
I saw a lot of amazing pieces of artwork in the competition. I still have a lot to learn.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDA4EqB541U4uW0_SXRzo3DvtTU8rU9J3YmYpiUVCcC0fo_cS57Y9eW3RgT4u10ve_PcPY9BP454GE-c0bXMMj5ag7FSaFhjcbU34npEgVzC7yOD2EAiCwYxt550ZbJR_Ddv2YTkh1oA/s320/Evanston+at+New+Years+231.jpg)
I can't make everything, but I did learn to make some kooky hats.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOMluDthhpcliNEGzbQ5ZFUDceCWnZsot4X4zkK4iI1L6G0kRUAUQ0oej6H3rtQhcSS6HX-gCjJ1OqKqFf89DYnGW-S1Mhv717ZRjyVhncplbPYzo8nuKWBzYGnsnEF3jVEkf3w-e8Ac/s320/kookyhat.JPG)
By the end of the convention, I was exhausted.