sister_raphael | Opening Ceremony Gown

Well, it's that time of year again, when I'm planning the Abbey Medieval Festival Opening Ceremony and the clothes and accessories that go with it.

It needs to be sort of the same elements, but the details changed up so the performers need only a very little rehearsing time and the audience gets a different performance each year. This year, the main character won't be Lady Chivalry, as often is, it will be Love. Often in medieval books, feelings are personified as people, so this year, Love.

I had planned to use my niece as she's 20 but the size of a small teenager. Dressed all in white with a crown of roses, she would have made a wonderful Love, but she's several months with child now, and is unable to convincingly play the shy maiden character. I have a replacement maiden, who is absolutely stunning, but much taller and a different shape, so I now need to hastily make her an outfit.

The props I'll need this year (which fellow Ex Libris Living History fellow-member, Vikki will be helping make) are:

gown for Love to wear- basic shape but fitted.
rose crown
rose crowns for both her guards
banners with crowned hearts on them for her guards
script for the compare
scripts for the choreography

It isn't that much really, but I have a number of other projects to finish and a kitty sitter to sort and transport to the event to sort too and the clock's ticking!