Madee, Darling, Your Balloon Designs Are Poppin’!!

This is Madee, a balloon artist in Utah who owns Darling Designs! I’m truly mesmerized with her energy, talent, creativity, and of course every single one of her amazing balloon designs. This is Madee’s story…

Hey Madee! I’m obsessed with your balloon designs and want to know every detail on how ‘Darling Designs’ came about. Can you tell me your story?

“Hey Keeley! First off I’m so excited to be apart of your blog journey and love that you reached out to me to tell my story on all things Darling Designs! So let’s get into it! Back in 2020 I was celebrating my oldest child’s birthday and decided to just try and do the balloons myself due to everything with covid. After I posted my sons birthday I had multiple people reach out telling me I should offer balloons service to other people. At the time I was still doing eye lash extensions at a salon and had been for the last 5 years, I was also 7 month pregnant with my second baby and honestly starting a new little business was on the very back of my mind.

Fast forward to May of 2021 just two months after I had my second baby, I just felt the strongest pull to just start an instagram account showcasing some balloons I had done in the past “which I should add was not many! Hahaha” so I took the leap and Darling Designs actually started out as “Mad Balloons.” It never felt right and just a few weeks later I changed everything to “Darling Design Balloons.” Fun fact about my small business is my amazing husband builds all of my props and backdrops for everyone of my events I do, so I felt he needed to be included in the name somehow and that is where “Darling” comes into play. My husband for as long as I can remember calls me his darling, so much so I even have it tattooed on my wrist in his handwriting! After just a month or so of having my instagram account my weekends started feeling up with balloon installs, a few here and there to 5-10 a weekend. It just took off in the best way possible! And now we are here almost 3 years later still booking and still growing with every job that we do!”

What has been the most fulfilling part of this journey for you?

“The best thing that has come from opening my own Small Business has been the freedom I get to have with my schedule. I get to be home with my babies everyday, and still provide financially for my family. What is better than that?”

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had to face since starting this business?

“The biggest challenge I think with running a small business, being a mom, being a wife and also still finding time for yourself is a challenge in itself. Finding the right balance not only for you but also for your family. There are times I have had to turn down jobs due to family matters which is hard because this is how I provide for my family. Everyone who is running a business there balance and how they run things is different. So trying not to compare my Balloon business with another Balloon business is hard. Instagram is a great community but it can also be very daunting if you let it. Those little questions start popping in your head… “why is she booking more job’s than me when we charge the same price? Why do they book Huge jobs and I only book small birthday parties? How are they showing up on instagram every single day? I have worked so hard on my reels and they never go viral meanwhile they post one and it has over 1M views.” And so on and so on! So finding that balance of what works for you and what is right for your business and your family is the ultimate challenge.”

Where can we book you if interested?

“I am hoping to have a website for all your inquiries within the year! But as for right now you can reach out to me via instagram! Send me a DM and lets get you some balloons!! @darlingdesign.balloons “

What was your favorite balloon design? Do you have a picture?

“Honestly I put all my heart and soul into every balloon design that I do no matter how big or small, that I cant say with certainty I have a favorite! But I do have one that has gone crazy viral and I always see it all over Pinterest! Even almost 2 years after doing it! I’ll share a picture with you! “

I. Am. OBSESSED.!!!!

Do you have any advice for other people interested in the balloon design industry?

“Just go for it! If you feel this pull to share your creativeness with others then hell yes go for it! Taking that jump even though I felt like I had no clue what I was doing compared to the other balloon artists I had followed at the time was the best decision I have made. But if you jump you need to be prepared to put in the work! And it is a lot of work, time and practice!

If anyone is interested and doesn’t know where to begin, I also offer 1:1 FaceTime coaching for beginners that just helps you to get started and the basic things you need to do just that!”

With everything you know now, is there anything you’d tell beginner business owners?

“We all start somewhere! Try not to compare your start to someone’s middle, someone’s end. Stay focused on you, because if you do that you will become successful. But if you’re giving your time and energy into comparison your doubts will always win.”

I see you’re a full time mamma and a full time balloon artist. How do you balance these out?

“I don’t HAHAHA!!! If I truly am being honest being a mom is HARD-WORK not to mention running a small business by myself at the same time! Most days I feel like I’m losing my mind, and am going to go insane at any given moment. So to answer your question “how do I balance the two” I just do, because I have to! I love being a mom, I love owning Darling Designs and I love my clients. And I’ve learned that I can’t be everything for everyone all the time. So it’s a lot of giving and taking. And help from my amazing husband, my family and my friends! It take a village as one would say!”

In this picture you have ‘defining myself outside of motherhood one balloon at a time’ written on your hand, could you elaborate on that?

“There is this amazing Mom/Business owner @themamaladder and every year her and her team offer a $10,000 grant for moms in business its called the @highfivegrant! And to apply you have to fill out the application as well has write your “why” on your hand and share it to your social media. I applied for the grant back in September and unfortunately I wasn’t chosen but that’s okay!! My ‘why’ written on my hand was “defining myself outside of motherhood one balloon at time.” And how I came to that why was simply this…

after having my second baby I knew I wanted to stay home with my babies, but once I was fortunate enough to do just that I felt like I was being swallowed by motherhood. I felt lost, like I didn’t know myself, my likes, my hobbies nothing – I felt like a complete stranger. Until I started Darling Designs and I all of the sudden had this beautiful community of other moms sharing their love and passion of design, event planning, etc. And day by day I started finding myself again… Outside of motherhood.”

Okay, now I’m tearing up. I love this Madee :’))

Do you have a favorite book?

“I’m going to be really honest with you I don’t love to read books! But I love to listen to some podcasts! My top podcast would have to be ‘Crime Junkie!’ HAHAHA”