ADDING EXTRA POP TO YOUR EVENTS

story

What is it about a balloon that immediately creates a smile? It’s built into us at an early age…it’s as if the floating objects are filled with magical air. When Hunter Frazer was preparing the party of a century for her daughter Poppie’s first birthday, of course balloons were a top requirement. After some research, she created a balloon showstopper that guests were raving about. This experience was the beginning of what is now known as SC Balloon Babe.

Hunter was born and raised in the beautiful Hartsville, South Carolina. She graduated from Mayo High School in 2012 and spent four years at the University of South Carolina where she graduated with a degree in English and a focus on creative writing. “I’ve done a little bit of everything,” she says. “…Retail from the time I was 15 through college, your typical entry-level desk job upon graduation, blogging, social media management, and consulting.” After Poppie’s birthday decor was such a success, Hunter reached out to a friend and event party planner to inquire about the market for balloon garlands and decor in the area. Turns out the need was great! “That weekend, I had three bookings on the calendar. It hasn’t slowed since!”

When it comes to SC Balloon Babe, it’s all about the celebration. “I love working with clients to help customize their events and maximize the aesthetic they’re trying to achieve. The joy balloons bring to children and adults alike is something I still haven’t gotten over,” says Hunter.

It’s easy to describe Hunter’s work as a masterpiece. The creativity behind each piece is exceptional. Like many things, practice makes progress and Hunter’s clients are benefiting from it. She explains, “I think with any skill, especially one that requires a level of artistic ability, there is ALWAYS room for growth. Where there is a passion for your craft, there should be consistent improvement. Sometimes I look at my first installation and cringe, but then it becomes a reminder of my growth and all the learning that has taken place over the last year and a half.” Hunter continues to learn new techniques for making arrangements more striking, easier to transport and install, and ways to custom colormatch her clients’ needs.

Hunter, aka the SC Balloon Babe, believes that life should be a celebration and any celebration deserves a balloon garland! Her most common events include birthday parties, baby and bridal showers, retirement parties, and special holidays. However, Hunter says her favorite orders are the ones for friends that may be having a bad day or just need an extra boost of happiness in their life. “It reminds me of how much joy balloons can bring.” Some of her favorite pieces have been a five and a half feet tall cactus, a huge rainbow with a pot of gold, and a mermaid tail. “My current favorite, however, is a magical Encanto-themed installation with vines, butterflies, and bright colors that make me swoon!”

SC Balloon Babe is based out of Hartsville but Hunter also enjoys traveling throughout the Pee Dee to deliver joy-filled balloon decorations. In 2023, Hunter looks forward to offering an updated, more streamlined system for ordering and even more grab-and-go options.

Antioch to New York & Back:

The Best Hitter in Baseball History

story by Mark W. Buyck, III

Charles “Chino” Smith is the only player in any professional baseball league to end his career with a batting average over .400. He was one of the most prolific hitters in the Negro leagues in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Smith was born in 1901 in either Hamlet, North Carolina or Society Hill, South Carolina. He spent his childhood in the small sharecropping community of Antioch, halfway between Hartsville and Society Hill. As a teenager, Smith was sent to Benedict College in Columbia, which at that time was primarily a boarding school. While at Benedict he played on the school’s baseball team as well as in various barnstorming teams in the Columbia area.