This experience was a once in a lifetime opportunity thanks to the amazing Laura Donefer!

Backstage Buddies. I hung out with some amazing artists backstage as we prepared and put on our costumes the day of the show. They not only created incredible pieces but were so kind and helpful. Shout out to Clover Sevy and Hannah Gibson for being the best hall buddies!

The Process: My costume took months to create. I wanted my design to reflect my own art so I titled it “Symbiotic” referencing the relationship between us, flowers and bees.

I submitted my sketch over a year ago and then started creating. I built the top of the skirt with cloth covered in glass stones then layered over it with paper packaging to create the hive. Next I added lighting. Lastly I flame-worked beads and the bees and added them to the hive.

For the bottom of the skirt I created stamped honeycombs and added glass stones to the frame. And I created the train using hexagon shaped glass for a honeycomb train design.

For the top of the pieces I used beads and glass stones for a cape and a flower to top it all off. The flower was too heavy for my neck so I moved it to become a collar. I referenced my own sculptures in creating the beadwork on the flower. I love the whimsical nature of my work. Laura Donefer once told me to embrace the crazy in my sculptures and I chose full on crazy fun for this costume.

Finishing Details I made sure I thought about every aspect of the costume from my hair (pink wig) to my boots to my nails. Laura suggested pink gloves and I created beaded fingerless to be able to do fun nails. I love the way the boots came out and I plan on wearing them again! I used stained glass flower shaped but sealed them with a clear caulk to ensure they would not fall off. I also created jewelry…a necklace and earring set using my honeycomb stamping method. Oh and super fun sunglasses with bees on them too.

The show was such a fun experience! The crowd of glass artists were so supportive!

Again I am so thankful to have been a part of this incredible experience. Look for a documentary on Laura Donefer’s Glass Fashion Show in the future. Thank you John Mclean and my husband Bill for the photos and videos. And an extra big thank you to Laura Donefer and Jennifer Hand for organizing!