Went to Fantasy Weekend at the Bristol Renaissance Faire with my family. I originally made this costume for last year's fair, but my mask didn't turn out so I scrapped it and started over, so I wasn't able to finish it in time. I planned on wearing it this year, but almost chickened out. At the last minute I decided to at least bring it along and I could change into it if I changed my mind. A couple hours into the faire with the deadline for the costume contest entry almost up, I mustered up the courage and changed in the parking lot (hurray for marching band giving me the experience to freely change clothes in public!)
I'm really glad I did it though. I was having some body-image issues and worried that my parents would feel embarrassed (which is stupid, because my parents think what I do is cool and are always encouraging me), and once I was in the Faire and saw the reactions from other visitors I felt confident again. I got a TON of compliments and positive responses from other visitors, and everyone wanted a photo with me. :3 (I did get a couple creepers...two of which were obnoxious enough to make creepy comments IN FRONT OF MY DAD. >:C wtf??)

The anonymous judging took place by having all the contestant (almost 100 of us in total!) mingle at the Maypole in the square for a half hour. We had missed breakfast and lunch, so I told my family to go ahead and grab something to eat while they waited for me. My husband brought me back a giant turkey leg, which ended up being both my lunch and perhaps the BEST PROP EVER! Everyone loved it and I got a bunch of selfies with people with me tearing at the turkey leg. XD

I ended up making the top 20 out of 90-something entries!