Thelma Levett’s life is just a load of hot air.
For 15 years Mrs Levett has spent her life blowing up balloons and twisting them into everyday objects.
And now inspired by the Duchess of Cambridge she has even made a replica of
the most talked about wedding dress in history for her daughter Vicky, 21.
The balloon ‘Kate’ wedding dress has taken 5,000 balloons to create and even has replica
lace sleeves that Kate wowed the public with on her wedding day in April this year.
Mrs Levett, 54, who lives in Hinckley, Leicestershire, said: ‘I was really inspired when I saw Kate’s wedding dress on television. ‘I’d made a few balloon dresses before and had even had a go at making a wedding dress, so I thought I would make a replica of Kate’s.
‘It was hard work. It took four solid days of blowing up and twisting the balloons into shape.
‘But I was thrilled with the overall result. My daughter Vicky loves wearing
it, although she won’t wear it outside as she’s terrified that someone
will pop the dress with a pin and leave her embarrassed.’
The wedding dress is just the latest line in Mrs Levett’s crazy balloon
world. She even made a replica pink cadillac car and ‘drove’
it around her home town with a friend.
She said: ‘I made it for someone’s
birthday present. We took it around town and the traffic warden couldn’t
believe his eyes when he saw us coming down the road.
‘We
stopped all the traffic, people were coming out of buildings and
following us up the street. We had quite a crowd watching us.’
Mrs
Levett, who lives with husband Michael, 51, and their other daughter
Natalie, 24, said: ‘I started off 15 years ago by doing some face
painting at a girls school fayre.
‘Then someone suggested I try balloon twisting so I picked up a book on balloon artistry and have never looked back since.
She has also made mobile phones, bicycles, flowers and hats.
Mrs Levett, who works as a balloon
artist, said: ‘I’ve made dresses for both of the girls. I’ve made a blue
skirt and top for Vicky and a black and white balloon dress for
Natalie.
‘They have both worn them out, but they are both very wary of someone sticking a pin into them for a joke.
‘They can last a couple of weeks before the balloons start to go down.’
Vicky,
who works at specsavers, added: ‘The dresses are great. It makes a nice
change from wearing ordinary clothes. Getting into the outfits is a bit
difficult in case any of the balloons pop, but once they are on they
are very comfortable.
‘My friends can’t believe it when they see me wearing mum’s balloon clothes. They love it because its so different.’
Mrs Levett added: ‘Kate’s wedding dress was the ultimate challenge.
I’m
crazy about balloons and love thinking up new things to make. I can
literally make anything out of balloons and I use them for lots of
things. I even use them to tie my runner beans up in my garden instead
of canes.
‘My ambition is to make a dress for Lady Gaga – I think she’d look fabulous dressed in balloons.’
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