It’s all smiles when Patty Jurgielewicz walks into a room with her custom-designed balloons in hand.
“Balloons bring people back to their childhood whether it be going to a circus or Disney,” said Jurgielewicz, the owner of Balloon Whimzy. “They are usually for happy occasions. I have never delivered a balloon to someone who was not very excited to get it.”
The idea to start a balloon design business came to Jurgielewicz in 2012 when she was put on the decorating committee for her son’s eighth-grade dance. Today, balloons are her passion. In addition to running her business in her free time, she attends the Balloon Boss Summit in Orlando, Florida every November as a balloon coach. The coaching team teaches anyone interested how to run a business, make sales, and set up an LLC.
“Meeting people from all over the world who are passionate about balloons is very cool,” she said. “Balloon school is my happy place.”
Many in Easton may know Jurgielewicz as the “balloon lady,” a moniker that was bestowed on her for recreating intricate balloon designs and setting them up around town during the pandemic. But some may not. She didn’t put her name or her business on any of her balloon creations. She just wanted to spread the joy during a trying time.
“Every day I would practice my balloons and instead of keeping them in my house I thought to put them at the end of my street to make someone smile,” she said.
Her good will paid off. She began getting balloon orders from people in Easton and surrounding towns. “My business boomed,” said Jurgielewicz. “It never died down, and people have been calling me since then.”
Tiffany Tortora has called her several times .
“I am stunned by her creativity every single time she has made a balloon arrangement for us,” said Tortora of Easton. “We are so lucky to be able to enjoy her creations for each and every occasion in our family and the kids and I look forward to what she is going to make next”
Tortora said Jurgielewicz’s amazing creativity is only matched by her incredible kindness.
“She brought such joy to Easton during the COVID shut down with a different balloon display every day for all to enjoy,” said Tortora. “She was a bright light during a very dark time.”
Shana Hayes of Norwalk said Jurgielewicz’s balloon creations have surpassed her expectations at her daughter’s birthday celebrations, year after year.
“She has done arches, marquees, characters, everything in between and they last for weeks which is a big hit with the kids having them around the house to continue the celebrations for weeks after,” said Hayes.
Jurgielewicz’s thriving balloon design business is in line with a nationwide fascination with decorating with balloons during celebrations, as seen on countless social media posts. But environment and animal advocates say balloons adversely affect wildlife and the environment. Connecticut law prohibits the release of 10 or more helium or lighter-than-air balloons into the air during a 24-hour period. Those who break the law face a $35 fine, which combined with other applicable fees totals a $75 penalty.
In March Jurgielewicz joined other balloon artists who rallied state lawmakers to vote against a Senate bill that full out stop the sale of helium and lighter-than-air balloons that are not biodegradable.
“I would not deliver balloons for release, ” she said. “But this law would have effected party cities, helium, and balloon distributors. We believe in education. We can educate people in smart balloon practice. We do not have to have a ban.”
