Help with Dragon or Dragonkeeper garb...

[serenamoonsilver]

My daughter (who is 6) is always a challenge when it comes to garb.  She has a great imagination, but it means she's already a little bored with princess/fairy type garb.  So, I asked her what she'd like to wear this year---her answer was a dragon. 

I have McCall's M2335  But I'm worried about how hot she'll get wearing that around the faire.  So I talked her into being a dragonkeeper.  She'll have a peasant shirt, bodice, and pants and she get's to bring her favorite stuffed dragon (Did I mention she's really into dragons right now?)

So I'm asking if anyone here has any other ideas to help indicate that she's a dragon keeper or if anyone has any ideas on how to make a dragon costume that she won't sweat to death in.

[NoBill Lurker]

One detail that you might want to explore, is that you should singe it in places, just to show that it's gotten a little too close to a dragon.

[FaireMare]

There is a wonderful cartoon on saturdays, I cant remember the name, but the main character is a young girl being trained to be a knight...

Squire Jane.   She has a dragon.

My though went right to her outfit.

Simple tuninc,  Legging stlye Pants.   Belt with a dagger ( can be wodden for a child ).

[Thistle]

As an addition, would she like -

1. One of the little "fire lizard" puppet beasties that sit on the shoulder?
2. A "backpack" in the form of a somewhat larger baby dragon, sewn in such a way as to be riding on her shoulders? Has the advantage of being able to keep faire finds in its tummy.
3. One of those "collar on a wire leash" things. You know, "I have an *invisible* dragon"

[CountessofPhoenix]

A belt with lots of things on it to "Tame the dragon". A pouch of dragon nip. A leash. A dragons for dummies book! (Make it look old) Just use your imagination.

[Hoowil]

A belt with lots of things on it to "Tame the dragon". A pouch of dragon nip. A leash. A dragons for dummies book! (Make it look old) Just use your imagination.

Dragon claws, either hanging from the belt, or as a necklace.

Dragon nip? I've seen how cats get on the nip. A nipped out dragon may be a little hazardous 

[tigrlily64]

When I heard dragon, I though of gloves to protect the hands...Those might be too hot to wear, but maybe she could hang them from her belt.  Or you could use leather bracers.

I know that seems kind of out of nowhere, but I have no control over my crazy mind.  Maybe you'll evn like my idea, lol.

[dragongirl]

See if you can find an  hatching Norbert egg from a toy store.  You also need a headwrap to hold back her hair from getting burned.  go to a kitchen store and find leather looking oven mitts for her to have on her belt.  Her bodice or vest should be leather or leather looking.  Sturdy boots are a must.  A "dragonskin" pouch to hold her valubles.  Also a walking stick or whip to proctect herself.

[Drake Starsong]

I think all the ideas forementioned are pretty awesome, I will jump in and agree...how about some items showing she is a dragon catcher? like scaled leather bracers too look like dragonscales? You can make her a warrior style dragon tamer, or someone more lady-like. Maybe a custom tome labeled "How to cook dragon", maybe a dragon goblet hanging off the belt, a necklace with "dragons teeth" ...lots of things you can do

[anne of oaktower]

There is a wonderful cartoon on saturdays, I cant remember the name, but the main character is a young girl being trained to be a knight...

The show is simply called "Jane And The Dragon".  It is on at 12:30 on NBC on Saturdays (at least in my area).  It can also be found on line at  http://www.qubo.com/jane_show.asp

My kids laugh at me because I almost never miss the show.  I've even been known to tape it if I'm not home to watch  What can I say?  I'm still a kid at heart!. 

[TKM]

(Did I mention she's really into dragons right now?)

hah.... i was really into dinosaurs at that age.... but now, at age 18, dragons have me more fascinated than ever XD

anyway, all the costuming ideas mentioned here sound great, particularly singed clothing, heavy gloves on her belt, and a dagger and/or whip to arm herself. another thing to really make it work is if her arms and clothing look a bit dirty. taming a dragon would be tough work, and there's bound to be more than a little bit of dust or ash being thrown around in the works, so make sure she's not completely clean.

[Aelwyn]

All the ideas sound great! 

I would add, maybe an embroidered dragon on the bodice?

[Cobaltblu]

Since dragons are very large...

Perhaps a large wooden key (not too heavy) which is the key to the dragon's lair.  It could be carried or perhaps on a rope hanging around the neck.

Regards,

CB

[MadLynne]

A load of information (or good imagination) is the "Ologies" series, so check out "Dragonology: The Complete Book of Dragons" and / or "The Dragonology Handbook: A Practical Course in Dragons". You might be able to find them at the library if not B&N or Borders has the series. The one thing I remember from the 1st book was the incandescent dragon scales. So pretty.  I think a pretty cape made out of similar fabric done as scales would be nice and a bag with dragon eggs would be good and of course lots of gems as dragons like the sparklies. You can make any eggs and loads of dragon teeth out of polymer clay or Styrofoam to keep everything on the light side.

[tigrlily64]

A load of information (or good imagination) is the "Ologies" series, so check out "Dragonology: The Complete Book of Dragons" and / or "The Dragonology Handbook: A Practical Course in Dragons". You might be able to find them at the library if not B&N or Borders has the series. The one thing I remember from the 1st book was the incandescent dragon scales. So pretty.  I think a pretty cape made out of similar fabric done as scales would be nice and a bag with dragon eggs would be good and of course lots of gems as dragons like the sparklies. You can make any eggs and loads of dragon teeth out of polymer clay or Styrofoam to keep everything on the light side.

I always found those books a little cheesy.  Of course, that's just my opinion.  A six-year-old would probably like shiny things. 

[serenamoonsilver]

A load of information (or good imagination) is the "Ologies" series, so check out "Dragonology: The Complete Book of Dragons" and / or "The Dragonology Handbook: A Practical Course in Dragons". You might be able to find them at the library if not B&N or Borders has the series. The one thing I remember from the 1st book was the incandescent dragon scales. So pretty.  I think a pretty cape made out of similar fabric done as scales would be nice and a bag with dragon eggs would be good and of course lots of gems as dragons like the sparklies. You can make any eggs and loads of dragon teeth out of polymer clay or Styrofoam to keep everything on the light side.

I always found those books a little cheesy.  Of course, that's just my opinion.  A six-year-old would probably like shiny things. 

lol...my six year old does, its those books that started her whole dragon obsession   So far, we are going pretty simple with a white peasant shirt (with some singes on it), faux black leather bodice with a dragon on, simple black breeches, faux black leather bracers.  I have an old leather purse that looks like a back pack which is going to be her dragon taming kit and will have various items hanging on it (dragon claws, dagger, a bottle of dragon medicine), and she will be accompanied by Fredamon (who's from Ikea)  I have the feeling Freadmon will end up riding in the wagon we bring along but at least he'll make for some cute pictures!

Thank you all so much for the wonderful ideas!

[FaireMare]

All we need now is ...... Photos of the young Dragon keeper!

[LadyOren]

How about a stuffed baby dragon toy to sit upon her shoulder, and a banner to hang from her belt saying "Court Appointed Dragonkeeper"   Be sure to post pics.

[serenamoonsilver]

All we need now is ...... Photos of the young Dragon keeper!

Sorry, it took so long getting to these but we finally went as a family to the final weekend of MiRF


I found some awesome faux alligator skin leather on sale at the Joann's by me.  It's now a "dragon" scale vest.  BTW, she carried Fredamon around the entire time.

[Tipsy Gypsy]

Won't it be fun to turn her on to Anne McCaffrey's books when she's older? Dragons need something to fuel their fires, how about a small pouch with black pebbles or marbles as "coal", for the dragon to to crunch and belch out its fire?

[DragonWing]

She is adorable.  I love dragons, hence my screen name. I take it she had loads of fun. 

[robert of armstrong]

Awesome fun-- I read that you are going to be taking a wagon.  Have you thought of maybe making part of it into a cage, and it could be like one of the train cars that housed the Circus animals in Dumbo.  (is that too old a reference?) Like she has caught one and that is it's transport.  You could put a stuffed, or other dragon in there, but still have room to put in all the essentials you need for a day at the faire.

[HollyAtFairyEffects]

That is an awesome costume idea!  And it's one that you can build on, year after year.  Well, unless she doesn't want to be a dragontamer anymore!  I especially like the idea from robert of armstron about making the wagon a cage.  There are some wonderful wagon/stroller contraptions at TRF.  I've seen everything from Cinderella carraiges to pirate ships made out of wagons. 

When I was little, I got a little red dragon at a Sci Fi convention that velcros around your wrist.  I just gave it to my daughter, and she loves it.  So it may make an apperance at TRF this year!