Having studied and worked in the medium of stone and wood carving before designing glass sculpture and objects for Steuben Glass from 1998 to the present, Schaefer continues to engage with carving on a scaled down tableau of the cast belt buckle and other accessories. Her inspiration arises from the natural world, wildlife and ocean creatures. Schaefer continues to be influenced by the character and dignity of animal life. She carves nature-focused work in hard jeweler’s wax or models it in soft wax. The completed pieces are cast in the cire perdue process, otherwise known as the lost wax process, to achieve a sculptural/dimensional look. A caster casts the work while Schaefer finishes and adds a patina by hand.