A few years ago, an outing to Detroit Garden Works (one of my favorite garden centers, and a must if you find yourself in Detroit) produced many treasures, including a collection of stiff dome-shaped papier-mâché pot liners. I used the largest one to create a Dior-inspired electric-blue dome hat encased in blue delphinium florets. The hat won gold in an international floral design contest—a real thrill! But more satisfying to me was how easy the hat was to make. A few years later I was inspired to re-create the dome hat, making my own hat base using Mod Podge, craft paper, and a large bowl. This time, instead of delphinium, I chose white larkspur to pair with a fantastic ’60s-inspired pearl-embellished two-piece dress.
STEP 1: Prepare the bowl for Mod Podge application by covering it with long lengths of plastic wrap, flipping it upside down, and taping each piece snugly into the inside of the bowl. Be sure to cover the bowl completely.
STEP 2: Pour the Mod Podge into a little bowl. Consult the Mod Podge bottle for more details on application and drying time between layers. To create the hat base, apply the paper strips to the bowl, using the Mod Podge. Brush the glue onto the bowl surface using the foam brush, and smooth the paper onto the glued area by brushing the paper with a top coat of Mod Podge. Work your way across the surface of the bowl, completing one long row at a time before starting the next.
STEP 3: Cover the bowl form with three complete layers. Allow to dry overnight.
STEP 4: Remove the dried hat base from the bowl by simply releasing the taped plastic wrap and pulling to separate the bowl from the hat base. Discard the plastic wrap or save for another project.
STEP 5: To make the hat band, which adds inner structure to the dome hat, measure and cut the wired ribbon, using your own head as a gauge. Glue the ends together using the hot glue gun.
STEP 6: Place the hat band inside the center of the hat base, using hot glue to secure it in place.
STEP 7: Cut the larkspur florets from their stems and place them in a bowl. Squeeze out a pool of floral adhesive into another bowl and keep both close.
STEP 8: Begin with the inside of the hat base. Dip individual florets of larkspur into the floral adhesive and press them onto the hat form. Start by placing them snugly against the hat band. After you complete a full circle, start another—right next to the last—working in concentric rows until the entire underside of the hat is fully covered in florets. Pay close attention to the last several rows and the lower edge of the hat form—these will be especially visible when the hat is worn. Add extra florets as needed to fill holes or even out the contours of the hat base.
STEP 9: Flip the hat base over, and place on the head form. The exterior surface of the hat base needs to be treated a little differently than the interior. Gravity is working against you on this side of the piece. To combat this, add a fine layer of glue to the hat base before pressing each glued floret into place—the glue-to-glue placement will ensure a strong bond.
STEP 10: Perfect the base by adding florets throughout, paying special attention to the outer edge of the hat. Step back often and analyze the contours of the piece, adding florets as necessary to perfect the domed form.
STEP 11: To store the piece, spray it with water, seal it inside an airtight plastic bag, and store it in your cooler or refrigerator. Inspect the piece before wear, as some of the florets may shrink a tad during storage. Add new florets as necessary. A piece this large is difficult to transport. I recommend leaving it on the head form, packing it into a sturdy low box, securing it with packing material, and covering the entire piece with plastic.
