Fire breathing dragons, sprightly nymphs, talking animals, evil
witches, deadly sea monsters, gruesome giants, kings and queens, a
group of brave children and a very special wardrobe collide in an
epic battle of good versus evil. Welcome to the enchanted world of Narnia, a mystical land sprung from the mind of legendary author C.S.
Lewis. Danger and adventure are always close at hand in Narnia, for
the future is under constant threat by dark forces. But not for
long. Whispers that sail across the land say only one thing, Aslan,
the great lion, is on the move. Get the book
The Chronicles of Narnia
Construct a castle for a child's party
or as a decoration for your party area. The castle can be used for
free-play time, makes a wonderful decoration, and creates an awesome
setting for photos.
Decorating
In the early days of the medieval era, the floors were covered with
rushes, and the walls were often quite bare, using suits of armor
and an occasional banner for decoration.
To create a real Narnia look use lots of Gossamer it
is an extremely light, inexpensive, non-woven "fabric" that is used
to create wonderful ceilings and walls, to wrap around columns,
banisters and chairs to create gorgeous bows. It drapes and swags
beautifully, making it a decorating must-have for creating a number
of different stunning looks!
This
would work well for a Medieval theme or a use a
Winter Wonderland theme and use this
Icicle Border Roll and
Snow Flurry Scene Setter. Find Castle decorations and Gossamer
at
shindigz.com
In the later half of the medieval era, the floors were left
uncovered, and the walls hung with rich tapestries providing for a
more elegant look. The halls were lit with a soft light which came
from either candles, the fire or, if the castle was fortunate enough
to be able to incorporate these, windows. Sometimes, to give the
illusion of light, the walls were painted with outdoor scenery, as
if the diners were sitting just outside the castle. Candlelight
and/or firelight are a nice touch.
You can use flowers and greenery particularly in garlands and swags.
Dried flowers are also good or use these
White Star Centerpieces. Baskets decorated with greenery and
dried flowers are also good choices. Use real or and wrap it
around poles, lampposts and etc. (everywhere). Trim the room
with
Icicle Border Roll and
Snowflakes in Silver and Blue
Hang tapestries from the walls. Create a quick backdrop or you
could use the
5' Frosted Windows or Daring to Dream Castle silhouette from
shindigz.com
Use black iron candle holders and place them throughout your party
area and hang on the walls (find these at garage sales and thrift
stores).
Hang your family crest/banner behind the chair where the guest of
honor will be sitting. The most impressive way to decorate is to
borrow personal banners of neighboring shires, etc. or make banners
and deck the walls with these.
Lots of color. Use
Silver Tablecover or
Blue Metallic Tablecloth Banners can be put together with fusible interfacing
or glue (although sewing looks nicer). All you need is cheap,
colorful fabrics, and maybe a few tassel or fringe trims. You can
get designs from any heraldry book in the library -- use a
photocopier to enlarge the designs. Make shields with coats of arms painted on poster board and hung
above the seats.
Place silvery, herald trumpets that support regal banners on the
walls. This could be used in place of painting a wall.
Can You Hear
the
Trumpet This 24" trumpet certainly brings the sound to
your mind
Arrange tables like they would have done in an old English manor
house or castle. At one end of the room would have been a balcony or
platform on which musicians would stand and perform for the diners
between courses.
Set the table with
Snowflake Plates and
Metallic Silver Plates
At this same end would have been a dais or raised floor upon which
sat the high table for the host and most honored guests. This
special table was often complimented with a baldaquin hanging above
it.
On the lower portion of the room, were tables and benches for all
the other guests. Most common seemed to be long, rectangular
banquet-style tables, but manuscripts show that square, oval,
circular and semi-circular tables were used as well.
Oftentimes, there were only a few "stable tables" in the banquet
hall. These were tables that stayed there permanently, and were made
out of oak or some other durable wood. Food was available on these
tables all day long. When it came time for a meal, makeshift tables
were constructed by placing boards on top of saw-horses or trestles.
After the meal, these were removed.
When preparing for a meal the tabletops were laid with white,
burgundy, or deep green cloths, and covered with an intricate over
cloth called a sanap. A cheap fabric (for a large party buy by the
bolt) can be used for table covers at the feast. All you had to do
is lay the fabric across the tables and cut it to length you need.
Then place several smaller squares of fabric using a coordinating
color on the top of the table and set baskets, wood plates, trays,
and pewter bowls on the table.
On the day of the party fill the baskets and bowls with fresh fruits
and vegetables as part of the general (and edible) decorations. If
you want a total medieval motif, don't use flowers. If you want to
use flowers make arrangements look simple and hand done. Remember in
Medieval times they would not have had a florist and hot house
flowers.
At the head table where the guest of honor will sit used a fine
damask tablecloth (green or purple) with gold satin 'squares' on top
with nicer flowers in the baskets. Behind the head table hang a long
and colorful banner or family coat of arms.
Make an edible centerpiece by placing a on each table with a Candle
placed in the center, then pile them high with stemmed strawberries.
It looked very pretty and the strawberries are delicious. Silver or
pewter bowls of powdered sugar and chocolate sauce can be placed on
the tables for dipping!
Create a medieval mid-winter atmosphere by using burgundy bunting (a
'bunting' is a swag of cloth used like a tent but with no sides--the
kind you see at jousts or feasts--where the king and queen sit but
you could use it for the guest of honor).
If your party is during the winter months, make table decor with
greenery and Yule logs (made by using birch logs with 4 to 6 candles
in them surrounded with evergreens.
Eat by candlelight.
Use a candle at each guest table or use to accent your serving
tables
