This costume was on my bucket list for years; I love all the artwork in this book and it seemed like the ultimate challenge to do all of that insane detail in embroidery and beads. Of course I started it only a couple of years after saying I'd probably never do something as crazy as my previous embroidery monster project again...

Everything is hand embroidered with couched cords, goldwork, and beads; the only machine sewing was in the basic construction of the dress and cape. It took about 2 years and at one point I had to get physiotherapy on my poor wrists, but hand needlework is my happy place and I really enjoyed the process.
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As I am much shorter than the queen in the artwork, I opted to interpret the red sweep as my cape lining, which is also fully hand embroidered. The cape alone weighs almost 5 pounds. The crown is also hand embroidered; it's made of Fosshape which can be sewn through.
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The heart was sculpted in Monster Clay; I made a silicone mold and roto-cast it in translucent resin so lights could fit inside.
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I'm not going to say I'll never do anything this crazy again, as I'd probably prove myself wrong in a few years.

Photos by Alexandra Lee Studios

Awards won: Crown Championships of Cosplay NYCC Regional Champion, C2E2 US National Champion