Resume Jeep Top Design Patent Article 1 Article 2 A fashion & costume designer, April Hoy has 15 years of experience in major theatre environments such as the Colorado Ballet, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, South Coast Repertory Theatre, Opera Colorado, David Taylor Dance Theater and the Palm Springs Follies.   Prior to design school and working in theatre, she was a bead artist in Southern California in the late 80's and early 90's.  She had her own small business as a freelance artist but spent about a year working for Barbara Grimes, clothing designer in Solana Beach, that provided stage clothing for Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton and many other celebrities under her Gossamer Wings label.  During her time there she realized that she needed to learn how to sew and make patterns so that she could take on the work of designing her own garments. She initially studied from 1992-1994 in a two year Professional Sewing Program at the Emily Griffith Opportunity School in Denver.  She went on to attend the Fashion Design Program from 2000-2002 at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles, California. In addition to her theatre experience she was also an industrial softgoods designer creating soft tops for Jeep through Chrysler's exclusive vendor and creating fabric coverings for two major artcar projects.    She served as a restoration assistant to Faye Walcher, Owner of Conservators of Fine Fabrics, a textile restoration company in California.  While there, she worked on the restoration of several private collections and museum collections, including a 250 year old Tibetan thangka, a victorian beaded purse collection belonging to the Whittier Historic Society and the historic uniform collection belonging to the Los Angeles Police Historic Society.  Though coincidental, it was especially meaningful because her father and grandfather are both retired LAPD police officers. She currently owns the Aprilenchanted Atelier, a lovely workroom in the basement of The Art Salon Gallery and Studios in the City Park West neighborhood of Denver, Colorado.  She is currently designing her own line of clothing which will be available through her Etsy Shop and trunk shows in Spring 2012. Work Highlights Costume Designer, Chicago, Rocky Mountain Theatre for Teens, 2011 Costume Designer, Willy Wonka, Rocky Mountain Theatre for Kids, 2011 Costume Designer, Alice in Wonderland, Rocky Mountain Theatre for Kids Designer/Engineer, Stage Projection Screens, DeVotchKa, 2011 Tour Featured Artist & Designer for Host, Denver Art Talk w/ Eric Matelsky, 2011 Instructor, sewing skills for children and adults, Aprilenchanted Design Studio/The Art Salon Gallery & Studios - 2009 to current Designer/Engineer, Fabric coverings for Enchanted Mushroom Forest artcar project, Burning Man 2010 Designer/Faux Fur Engineer for The Seed Heartcar project, Burning Man 2009. Wardrobe/Stitcher for the Palm Springs Follies. 2008 Costumer for 'Ballerina' episode of MTV Made to be aired in late January 2008. On-set tailor on photo shoot for Men's Journal Magazine with the U.S. Men's Ski Team. 2007 Touring Costume Mistress, Nutcracker, David Taylor Dance Theatre, 2006 Costume Designer, Medusa, David Taylor Dance Theatre, 2006