—————————-
ABOUT US
—————————-

Whether you seek INSPIRATION and design ideas for a single upcoming event that includes balloon decor or want ongoing EDUCATION in support of career goals that include balloon decorations; whether you seek products, supplies and other TOOLS for your professional tool box or want to add new TECHNIQUES to your skillset for planning, managing, or producing balloon decor; whether you seek TIPS to improve your first set of balloon decorations or your five hundredth; Rouse.LINK’s mission is to be the “RouseLINK™ to your balloon decor success™”.

My own balloon decorating journey began without such a boost and was less‑than‑successful. As a high‑school student, I led the prom decorating committee, but arrived to find our helium balloons scattered across the floor. We salvaged many of them, but it was more than twenty years before I tried balloon decorating again.

That new and successful attempt was early in 1982. I found a bag of “twisty balloons” and used them to make a gift for a friend in the hospital. She loved it—and a new passion was born for me. That passion led to selling balloon creations to support a church building fund and then to support my own part-time business.

In 1983, I added “RIBS™” (Rouse Internal Balloon Structures™) to my balloon sculptures to better control their shape and improve durability. It worked, and I was the first person to exhibit, teach, and publish internal structures for creating balloon sculptures and balloon “Fantasy Flowers” (as I called them). My inside-out approach and the “Fantasy Flowers” name are now standard fare worldwide in the balloon gift and decorating industry.

In 1984, I took the “BIG” step. I left my career as a statewide supervisor and facilities designer to become a full‑time balloon entrepreneur. Over the next four decades, my work in balloon art and balloon‑decorating tools and techniques led to five patents, many new products, awards, exhibitions, publications, and teaching opportunities on five continents.

In 1988, I held a solo public art gallery exhibition of my balloon sculptures. I also introduced new balloon decorating products at an international convention, where I was recognized as Balloon Artist of the Year, and met Mary Queen, an accomplished balloon artist who became my wife and lifelong partner.

The year 2020 brought challenges for all of us as COVID‑19 disrupted the world and the balloon industry. Personally, I also faced major surgeries and a long recovery time. Like many in our balloon community, however, I adapted, healed, and continued forward.

Today, balloon decorating is thriving again, and I am excited to share this site with you. Rouse.LINK™ houses a growing collection of ” inspiration, education, tools, techniques and tips for balloon decor™“ that you can use to “stretch your balloon imagination, inflate your balloon art, and build your balloon related business™ .”

RouseLINK™ yourself to those benefits.

1. Sign up below for your free RouseLINKnews™.
2. Bookmark our short-link to this site: “Rouse.LINK“
3. Browse Rouse.LINK now and return often.
4. Share feedback, questions, etc. at Rouse.LINK/ask
   (or in comment blocks throughout the site.)

I look forward to hearing from you and meeting you here.

[Insert email signup]

Graham Rouse
Rouse.LINK
RouseInternational.com
gmr@Rouse.LINK
gmr@rousetech.com
1-864.654.4166

POPULAR RouseLINK™ links:
Rouse.LINK ………………. HOME PAGE
Rouse.LINK/about ….. ABOUT US (this page)
Rouse.LINK/inspire …. Inspiration Galleries
Rouse.LINK/ed …………. Education Links
Rouse.LINK/tools …….. Tools/Products Galleries
Rouse.LINK/tech ……… Techniques
Rouse.LINK/store……… Online store
Rouse.LINK/news …….. Newsletter sign up & archive
Rouse.LINK/ask ………… Feedback and Requests