Charis Hamm is an award-winning balloon artist!

June 2008, Charis was named one of the Top 5 Women Entrepeneurs for Edmonton by FamilyEdmonton.com for June/July.  You can read the article about her at FamilyEdmonton.


January 2008, Charis received the prestigious Ralph Dewey Excellence:  Rising Star Award  For Charis, this is the most exciting award yet! 

Charis holding the Rising Star and Aspiring Diamond Awards

For the third year in a row, Charis won first-place in the one-hour children's competition, "Aspiring Diamond" at Diamond Jam 2008.  Her sculpture this year was a string duet, a girl playing violin and a boy playing cello on a concert stage.  This piece was inspired by the string quartet of her friends that Charis played 2nd violin in, at Christmas (the whole quartet would take too long for the one-hour competition).

The famous Bob Rumba presented the award to her.



For June, 2007, Charis was MBD2.com Member of the Month.  Dale Obrochta, mbd2's owner writes, "Graceful is this month's Member of the Month.  If you ever have seen her at a convention or in the chatroom, you know she is always willing to share and willing to learn."



On January 14th, 2007 Charis received her third award - winning first place again in the "Aspiring Diamond" 14 and under competition at Diamond Jam 2007.  S. Frank Stringham presented the award to her.  It was challenging to finish her complicated "Alice in Wonderland" sculpture in the one-hour time limit.  The skirt is made of 5" blue heart balloons attached at the lobes and nozzle, with a white 5" heart at the front for her apron.  The head is a blush 5" heart with two raisin twists to attach the hair.  The mushroom uses the same unusual weave as the sea turtle hat she makes and has blue sprinkles held on with a diluted Hi-Float mix.  The base is a rubber door mat, upside down.
Charis receiving the Aspiring Diamond Award
from S. Frank Stringham
at Diamond Jam 2007


Charis and her Alice in Wonderland sculpture


On January 30th, 2006, Charis received her second award -  the "Celebration Industry Youth Award" for 2007. This award pays for Charis and her guardian's registration for Diamond Jam 2007, plus a significant cash grant that will help pay for hotel or airfare.  Maxine Baird presented the award to Charis and commented, "The award was given based on not only her talent but on the wonderful example she showed in the areas of both manners and deportment. Congratulations Charis, Joe and I are looking forward to getting to know you better in 2007!"

Joe & Maxine Baird with Charis at
Diamond Jam 2007

On January 12-15th, Charis traveled to Diamond Jam 2006, for the first time.  Diamond Jam is one of the largest, international balloon twister's conventions!   Charis writes, "It was the most exciting week of my life!  I entered a one-hour competition and won first place in the "Aspiring Diamond" 14 and under competition with my "dolphin riding a wave" sculpture.   I was very pleased when my hero, Ralph Dewey presented the award to me."

Ralph Dewey presenting the
Aspiring Diamond Award to Charis,
at Diamond Jam 2006,