These hot air balloons were inspired by the Spirit of Boise Hot Air Balloon Classic, where each year dozens of hot air balloons of different styles are all launched nearly simultaneously.

Through building several hot air balloons it’s been fun to explore bending many different kinds of exotic woods.  Included in “sampler” balloon are:  bloodwood, canary wood, mahogany, curly mape, walnut, birdseye maple. black limba, zebra wood, purple heart, Philippine mahogany, wenge and white oak.

It was especially fun and challenging to build the hot air balloons that use spalted maple (light wood with dark lines in a wild pattern).  The featured hot air balloon won Best of Show at the 2022 Idaho Artistry in Wood show.