Carol Miner: Bringing Joy to All

Though her plans of becoming an Occupational Therapist did not come to fruition, the dancing blue eyes and cheery personality of Carol Miner cause anyone to believe she has found her creative niche in life. Carol and her three siblings were raised in Mission, Kansas by their civil engineer father and artistic mother. Her mother attended the Kansas City Art Institute from age ten to twelve and proved highly talented, being one of the first finishing artists at Hallmark Cards.

Carol got into clowning for the third birthday party of her first child. “I discovered a fond place in my heart for clowns.”

“The clowning got me in front of people and helped develop some skills and hidden artistic talent I had inherited from my mom,” Carol shares. Clowning opened to face painting. Carol and husband Steve became Kansas City’s most famous Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus couple, and by that time she had added balloon artistry to her business repertoire. “I realized balloons were something I could do well and enjoy.” Steve encouraged her to earn the Certified Balloon Artist title. Her balloon design implementation is definitely a skill inherited from her father.

Sadly, Steve died of cancer in 2010. He was the partner who took care of business details of the growing enterprise that contracts little clowning but has a large and growing client base who love her designs for all occasions. 

What are the unique balloon designs by Carol of Balloon Garden? Most people have never seen balloons made to look like flower petals, containers or necklaces using uninflated or barely inflated balloons of unusual size and shape.  It’s hard to believe they are balloons, even up close. Her business is called Balloon Garden because it best represents her floral balloon decorating designs. The most fascinating item that Carol makes is not even these.

“In May 2011 I received a call from fashion photographer Kris Hanke. He showed me a dress he wanted me to make – out of balloons. I thought, oh my gosh I can’t believe this, it’s so awesome.” Her blue eyes sparkle as her pretty face glows. “I have always wanted to do balloon dresses but didn’t have an outlet. The dress was designed by an artist in Tokyo who I wrote to for permission, knowing she would be honored that someone wanted to make that dress here in the U.S.” Carol bought a dress form and a second inflator. “I bought a teaching video and talked to other balloon artist friends who had made them. I figured out how to make it the way he wanted. I used extra narrow long balloons that inflate to only one inch in diameter. The balloons are actually woven to make fabric. I made two dresses in two days, one white the other purple.  It was for a photo shoot the next day at Loose Park in Kansas City, Missouri. I loved the whole day.”

That gig put Carol on the balloon dress design map. The next request was to design and make a dress for the Eddie Kennison Foundation Celebrity fund raiser for a cure for lupus. “Now I am creating balloon dresses in my head at night.”

Every business is a journey. Carol reflects, “I have matured a lot since I started. I learned my strengths and the things that challenge me the most. I am more of the creative person than the business person. Steve was my business person.” Understandably, the business role change has its own challenges. However, Carol is still the optimist, “It’s an adventure. Every job I do is different and I like that.”

It’s safe to say Carol Miner is a seasoned business owner, given the changes she’s encountered.  Her wisdom rings true, “Before anybody goes into business they need to take a public speaking course. And a business course. If you own your own business you will be in front of people. It’s good to know how to do that the best way.”  In fact, she expands on the advice, “I think kids should be required to take public speaking in high school. No matter what they do in life they are going to have to present themselves. Business courses are very important, too because no one really knows where they’ll end up. I wish I had done that.” Being as successful as she is, does she feel like her business has arrived?  She’s smarter than that. “Everyday the business world is evolving. I am taking a course now and learning more about social media and how it will help my business.

“I certainly don’t feel like I have done everything I want to do. One thing I am really excited about is a special way to do something with balloons that other balloon artists are not doing. I want to do this for grief groups, support groups, and celebrations of milestone events. It can be very inspiring. Hopefully the first event will take place at the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City to raise money for Joplin tornado victims. I am passionate about this plan.”

Carol Miner doesn’t allow the tough things of life keep her down. “I enjoy beauty in a lot of things. I love to travel. I love families getting along together. I like holidays. I love to worship God and feel him in all of nature and people. It’s easy to get caught up in the day to day things where you look at problems instead of the journey. No matter where you want to go, your real destination is the journey itself. The dash between the year we were born and the year we die is what it’s all about.”

When you’re looking for a one of a kind splash for your event or that of a friend, give Carol a call. Like her other clients, you’ll find that she’s easy to work with. Her designs are original for every special occasion. Her clients will also tell you she actually answers her phone, an obvious good customer service that not all small business owners perceive. Take a peek at her easy to navigate informational site.  More than likely you will refer Carol Miner of Balloon Garden to your friends, too. They will thank you because, in her words, Carol “loves making events and moments unforgettable.”