Creative Bliss while in France

I just wanted to share with you the Bayeux Tapestry which is located in Bayeux, Normandy. When the leader of our group told us we were going to go see a tapestry, I was not thrilled. What kind of tapestry would be worth traipsing 27 kids to see? Well, boy was I wrong. As I was unable to take my rug hooking or needlepunch with me on the trip, this visit to see the Bayeux Tapestry filled my creative void that I was definitely feeling.

The Tapestry, which is one of the most famous tapestries in the world, was most amazing. The Tapestry, made of a long piece of linen, stretches 231 feet long and about 20 inches wide. It is embroidered with eight colors of woolen thread. The colors are so wonderfully primitive. The embroidery looks more like needlepunch to me and was incredible because of the colors and the way they manipulated them. The maker of the tapestry also gave depth to the embroidery by embroidering in different directions within a figure (horse) to give it such depth. Studying the tapestry certainly would provide creative ideas for rug hooking.

The tapestry has 72 individual scenes,including more than 1500 figures, of the Norman Conquest. The tapestry depicts the consequences of Harold’s failure to honor the oath, he gave at Bayeux recognizing his cousin William’s right to succeed Edward the Confessor. The tapestry was more than likely made in England soon after the conquest. It was first displayed in public around 1476, Bayeux Cathedral Bayeux. The Bayeux Cathedral is only a short distance from the D-Day invasion beaches of Omaha and Gold and luckily was not bombarded during the historic invasion.
Here are a couple of pictures to whet your appetite.



I've included a link for you to view individual pictures of the tapestry. For some reason, I can't put the link in so you will just have to cut and paste. Sorry about that. After viewing this tapestry, I was one happy gal as it filled my creative void while on vacation. Enjoy the pictures.

http://www.hastings1066.com/baythumb.shtml
Here is another link to read all about the tapestry.
http://www.bayeuxtapestry.org.uk/