Rising Stars: Meet Noemi Ayala-Antonsen

Today we’d like to introduce you to Noemi Ayala-Antonsen.

Hi Noemi, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
Hi, my name is Noemi Ayala and my business is A Sweet Party, in 2001 as a newly married and giving birth to my first baby I was delighted with the miracle of a new life, I had recently moved to United States, (Washington state where my husband is from) and arranging all my legal paper work, once I was legally able to work I didn’t want to leave my baby at a day care and I wanted to be productive without having to leave my baby 5 days a week, and at the same time almost 21 years ago there was barely no one doing party decor so I learned balloon decoration and started my balloon decorating business back in Kent, Washington called Balloon Sweet Balloons, then late in 2003 we moved to Chandler, Arizona and continue with my business which later we called A Sweet Party (keeping Sweet word after my daughter’s namers Dulce) a couple of years later I was teaching free online balloon decor on a craft forum, no pictures to take steps by step at the time, so I had to type every single step, still wishing to improve and learn more attending to some balloon conventions my husband enrolled me to some face painting classes, I had my second baby girl Alexa in 2005 we were then running a party rental business along with balloon decor, face painting and balloon twisting, doing this allowed me to be a full time mom and we got our 3rd and last baby boy in 2010, my goal in life has been to be there for my kids, to be present, to care, make them feel loved and important, talk to them about life risks and dangers and overall about great things they can achieve on their life, my childhood wasn’t an easy one, so even take them to school and activities has been important as a mom, and all this has been possible thanks to my husband’s unconditional support and my small business that has given me the joy to do what I love on weekends and be a full time mommy.

Actually, my kids are a 20-year-old daughter in college, with 2 jobs and are independent now, a 17-year-old daughter senior soon graduating, a soccer player and aiming to become a psychologist, and a 13-year-old son who football player (kicker), and a soccer player, yes they are growing, my husband and I are so deeply proud parent, I’m ready to take my business to the next step and get extra busy I have some very important company costumers mainly doing face painting and balloons, balloon decor, henna and airbrush tattoos because one never stops learning I continue to work on learning new techniques, keep practicing and sometimes still teaching here and there, the best part is that baby that inspired me to have my small business now she’s part of my small team and has become a face painter and my other kids may join soon too, thank you all people who support small business, moms, couples, teenagers, dreamers, thank you all for your continuing support.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Yes, back in 2010 our house got robbed then we lost it due to the 2010 crisis, our party rental services got really difficult to handle with a small girl, a toddler, and a pregnancy, was hard for my husband to work the Night Shift and have to deliver and set up all by himself, or me not being able to help much, so we ended our party rental services and stayed with balloon decor and face painting

As for many businesses 2020 was really bad for my business as well, I lost my website and much of my balloons and face painting inventory, but thanks to my husband’s job we made it through.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
When I do face painting or decor or any other activity I’m the most focused person on what I’m doing, I enjoy giving the wow factor and I’m very detailed, when I overheard people admiring my job and saying I’m so fast and I make it look so easy that makes me proud of my self.

I am always finding new ways to be better and finding inspiration everywhere, in nature, in stores, places, pictures, and listening to children, they have the most vivid imagination and great ideas, in other artists, I’m always trying to be better than yesterday.

Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
I’m a sports lover, so there were tryouts at school to get into school gymnastics I never did any sports before so first tryouts day, of course, I didn’t make it, that day went home and practice handstand and arching all day the next day I sneak on tryout again and so was accepted, lol oh yes I deeply enjoyed being part of the team, didn’t last too long because I got pulled out of school.

Pricing:

• Balloon garlands from $150
• Balloon arches from $200
• Face painting $115hr minimum of 2 hours
• Balloon twisting $125hr minimum 2 hours
• Airbrush tattoos are $175hr.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/asweetparty?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asweetpartybynoemiayala/