Lorena and Danielle launch book on balloons

The mother and daughter from Edinburgh 500, Chaguanas, love balloons so much that they recently launched a book about balloons. The book Let’s Celebrate with Balloons is quite informative and deals with almost anything anyone would want to know about balloon decorating. The book, which was published late last year informs readers how balloons are made, gives safety tips, instructions on how to tie a balloon and how to make different arrangements for different occasions and much more. Lorena who is a retired police officer, financial consultant and decorator, said that publishing the book has been hard work. She worked on it for six months and it is finally a dream come true for her.

"I even had a dream that I was teaching people how to decorate with balloons" she said. Lorena also conducts balloon-decorating courses in different parts of the country. Her course hours are flexible because "I want to give people who are busy during the day a chance to move forward and make more money." Both Lorena and daughter Danielle worked extremely hard on this book. While Lorena stayed up till odd hours in the morning, 20-year-old Danielle worked on the book at school during her breaks.

However, the two didn’t take full credit for the book but pointed out that without Lorena’s husband Peter, and son Daniel who assisted with photography and editing, the book would not have been possible. "My husband was there supporting us throughout the entire thing making sure we ate and that we had everything we needed," Lorena said.

Why did the family decide to do such a book?

"The demand for balloon-decorating is increasing and we want to empower people with further knowledge of what balloons can do and we want them to learn different concepts and techniques," Lorena said.

The Luciens take this balloon-decorating business serious and have formed a company called Caribbean Balloon Masters. The company conducts both basic and advanced level courses and also decorates for weddings and almost any event. Lorena said that the feedback about the book has been tremendous. According to the woman whose passion is balloons "it is the only one of its kind in TT and the Caribbean and thus there is a high demand for it." Danielle added, "Let’s Celebrate With Balloons is quite easy to read and understand, and is suitable for any age and any class."

Although Danielle is still at school her love for balloons still exists. She teaches balloon twisting for all ages and says she even plans on doing an advanced balloon-decorating book.

The book is available at Nigel R Khan, Price Plaza, and at Naipaul’s and Jadoo’s in Arima. "Very soon it will leave for Grenada, Miami, Tobago, America and England," Lorena said. When asked what they would like for the balloon-decorating industry, Danielle said, "I want people to appreciate balloons a little more and give it the respect it deserves. I don’t want them to pull down the industry." Lorena thanks everyone who made the book possible and said "our effort is priceless. There is a child in everyone and this book brings out that child."

Anyone who is interested in the book can contact Lorena at 671-9629 or 751-1531.