Holidaying in Brittany and Normandy

Brittany is a place of rugged coats, small islands, fantastic views, quite beaches and all along the coat, old cobbled street towns can be found. The people of Brittany are also quite different to the rest of France. With regular flights to Brittany from England as well as Ferry links it's an ideal holiday location.

Brittany is home to a green and abundant countryside, high sea cliffs and some of the quietest beaches in all of France. Many quaint old towns are found throughout the region all with a colourful past like Rennes, Dinan or Saint Malo, known as the old pirate's nest. The Morbihan and the Menhirs of Carnac are two spots that should defiantly not be missed during your trip to Brittany

Nantes is the largest town in the region and is found at the southern tip of Brittany. The city has a long and rich history and today is considered the most important city in all of western France.

Normandy is a beautiful part of France, which has so much to offer tourists. Normandy is awash with old historic towns, sandy beaches and of course the world famous Mont-Saint-Michel.

The capital of Normandy is Rouen, a picturesque old town. Ideally you will need two good days to take in all the wonders the town has to offer. A trip to Giverny is also a must see for any art fans. Giverny was home to French painter Monet, here you can still walk through his garden which inspired many of his paintings, this truly makes art come to life.

Honfleur is a pretty harbour town and has been and continues to be a great inspiration to many artists, professional and armature alike. Bayeux is of course home to the famous Bayeux Tapestry depicting William the Conquerors victory over King Harold and the successful Norman invasion of England. It's a must see for anyone with even a slight interest in history.

Both regions make fantastic family holidays, but they also cater for those looking for adventure or are just lovers of fine food which can be found in almost every town and village in the region.

This article was written on behalf of Skybus who provide Flights to Brittany

by Ben Binding

A Curtain Call to Your Senses

Lets be honest, there is nothing more comforting than drawing the curtains for a cosy night in when the colder months set in. Our love of curtains transcends mere decoration, they comfort us in an indescribable way, they have always been with us, they represent our history, and in all our happy memories of family at home they are there in the background, protecting us.

There are few pleasures equal to the feeling we get when throwing back the curtains on winters morning to be met with the sight of perfect, untouched, pure white snow. It is and enduring and iconic image because we have all experienced at least once, it is something you do not forget.

Understandably it is the snowfall that grabs our attention, but the visceral power of the scene is provided by the dramatic reveal as the curtains are pulled aside. It is no coincidence that curtains are so heavily tied to the theatre in our consciences, they do indeed have an air of mystery and add drama and flair to all they adorn.

If we are completely honest with ourselves- and we should be- we have all curled a drum roll off our tongues and sang "TA- DAAA!!" as we have pulled back our curtains at some point.

However so far we have only satisfied our sight. We have five senses, and a truly successful home should try to satisfy as many as possible- if you are now wondering what would be best to cement your shortbread bricks in your confectionary home, jam or treacle, I congratulate you on maintaining the connection with your inner child but I fear you have gone too far and that home and contents insurance is, for you, a paramount concern.

What I mean in reality is that our homes should help us do what we are here to do which is experience as much as possible. Besides simply looking beautiful, they should provide us with a rich tapestry of sounds, textures and smells. This all adds up to a more tangible and evocative and therefore more satisfying home life.

The feeling of satisfyingly thick velvet between our fingers and the swooshing noise as the curtains are pulled across their tracks all with the smoothest and most effortless glide, added to the instant invasion of sunbeams which reach all corners of the room as the new day is revealed to us, all add up to a real experience rather than just an action. This is the way all days should begin.

It may seem some and trivial, even incidental but if we strive to increase the number of such supposedly small moments in our homes they will add up to something very real indeed.

When choosing furnishings for next home project, take the time to weigh up just how many of your senses are excited and satisfied by each item you choose. This level of careful consideration will prove in time to be massively rewarding. You will have a home that interacts with you on so many more levels, one that awakens your senses and heightens your awareness to the world around you. Not so trivial after all.

Terry's Fabrics is in the business since1973 and provides a number of home accessories for convenient and affordable living with variety of curtains available for your home.

by Rakesh Gaikwad

Religious Tapestries: Weaving Faith with the Arts

For centuries people have searched for ways of expressing their faith through the arts and tapestry is one method of providing a vehicle for their inspiration. The passion for art, entwined with the spirituality of religion has ensured these works have retained their popularity from the middle ages to the present day.

Spirituality through the ages Religious tapestries have continued to appeal through time. When one acknowledges the tremendous ways in which spiritual matters test faith and affect the heart and soul, the drama and vividness of the work is realised.

The beauty of a religious tapestry gives a glimpse of what life beyond that on earth might be and has delivered hope in uncertain times when belief in religion may have been tested. The Glory of Christ, designed by Graham Sutherland in Coventry Cathedral is such an example.

Adorning the altar area of the rebuilt cathedral the tapestry was intended to inspire those citizens of the city who experienced some of the most destructive bombings in World War 2 and is now the focus of a Peace centre.

Visions of Faith Tapestries with a religious or spiritual theme are available in different forms and approaches to faith. This reflects the diverse way in which spirituality is expressed by believers, and in using art a belief can be expressed powerfully without words.

Many tapestries have a base in Christianity, however others are more abstract, using different forms to express belief. Legend, angels, mythology and other concepts have been used to express spirituality. Tapestries representing Christian beliefs continue to be popular for those interested in using them in home décor. One example is, "Be Not Afraid", based on a reproduction by the American artist Greg Olsen.

The use of light in guiding the way and Christ reaching out to help a child demonstrates the core value of faith and the essence of Christianity itself. Similarly themed tapestries include the Crucifixion, the Trinity and the Last Supper. Religious tapestries have also been adapted from the great paintings of artists such as Michelangelo, Tom DuBois, El Greco and Fra. Angelico

Less definitive perspectives on religion can also be tastefully incorporated into interior design. An example might be Mary Baxter St Clair's perspective of the Messenger of Love, showing an angel offering gifts of roses to symbolise love. Delicate colouring allows spiritual beliefs to be incorporated into a modern home, blending with the décor, and at the same time imparting a powerful message through art.

Timeless connections Tapestries with spiritual or religious themes are likely to remain popular for years to come, finding a place in the hearts and homes of many. Faith often evokes strong feelings, and the art expressed through tapestry has the power to enable people to affirm and connect with spirituality, in ways that sometimes cannot be expressed through the spoken word. A faith based tapestry is a beautiful work of art that allows that spiritual connection to be made in a sincere yet powerful way.

Copyright © The Tapestry House, all rights reserved.

This is Free-Reprint article from The Tapestry House. Our terms are: Please leave copyright statement intact Please publish author info including links Please do not use the article in unsolicited emails Please keep all links intact and "as is" - no embedded keyword advertising

Angela Dawson-Field writes on a number of subjects for the Tapestry House including the religious tapestries . In her spare time she sources products for The Tapestry House

Exquisite Tapestries Made From Broadloom Carpet

We all know that tapestries are rich in history, but did you know that tapestries date back as far as 3rd century BC in Greece? This form of textile art has a modern counterpart in the form of Carpet Sculpture. With recent advances in technology carpet sculpture has emerged as an attractive option for tapestry collectors and admirers.

Unlike woven tapestries, the medium of a carpet sculptor is broadloom carpet. The differences between the two methods are akin to a comparison between a flat two-dimensional plane and a depth oriented three-dimensional plane.

The common two dimensional tapestries are produced on vertical looms, whereas the three dimensional broadloom tapestries are produced through a sophisticated inlay process on horizontal table-top surfaces.

The 3-D effect is only established when the details of the tapestry are carved and beveled by a well trained carpet sculptor who uses a special high speed carving tool. This carving style can reflect simple clean lines or more advanced bas-relief like effects.

There are numerous carpet styles that can be integrated into a broadloom tapestry, these range from short dense pile heights to the thicker plush styles. Furthermore the style can have a loop element or even a patterned design. Often a tapestry will reflect a few broadloom styles within the whole composition.

This versatility in design makes the broadloom tapestry an attractive choice for wall hangings as corporate art pieces or in residential interiors. They are particularly suitable for large scale applications. The scaled up versions can be installed in panel sections that are seamed together invisibly. Smaller Tapestries can be professionally mounted and hung like a traditional tapestry.

Inspirations in tapestry designs can originate with a photograph, a style of art, or a unique theme like horse racing, golfing, or a landscape setting. They can even reflect a story or a family history.

In wrapping up this article, we have seen a fascinating glimpse into the evolving world of modern textile art. Broadloom tapestries have taken on a new 3-dimensional look that captures the attention of art enthusiasts and expresses a depth never before seen in tapestry making.

Russell Webb, your friendly expert Custom Carpet Maker. If you're ready to discover the creative and exciting world of custom carpet sculpture, and have fun doing it, then why not request more information at http://www.custom-area-rugs.com/services.htm

Different Types of Embroidery and Cross Stitch Needles

There are many different types of needles to use in embroidery and cross stitching. Quality and size vary greatly, so try several different needles to find which one you are the most comfortable using. To help you get started, I have written up some basics to keep in mind when choosing which needles to use and when to use them.

Types of needles:

The most common needle used in cross stitching is an embroidery or tapestry needle. Other needles exist, such as beading, chenille, quilting, and milliners needles, and each type has a specific use. Here is a brief description of each type of needle.

Tapestry needles - They have a blunt point, which pushes aside evenweave fabrics instead of piercing them, and a large eye to accommodate several strands of thread.

Embroidery needles - Much like a tapestry needle, except that the tip is sharper, the needle is thinner and the eye is smaller than a tapestry needle. They are easier to use in cross stitching when you are doing French knots, as the needle is able to pierce the fabric easier than tapestry needles.

Petite tapestry needles - Are shorter in length than tapestry needles, which makes stitching faster since there is less of a needle to pull through the fabric with each stitch.

Double-eye tapestry needles - Are needles with two eyes and are especially useful when using different types of floss or two or more colours (known as blending colours).

Beading needles - Are used for adding beads. The needles are long and thin because tapestry needles are usually too large to add beads to cross stitch projects.

Chenille needles - Are used in ribbon embroidery because they have a long eye and sharp points.

Quilting needles - Are quite short and have a small, round eye and a sharp point. They are perfect to do short stitches quickly and precisely.

Milliners needles - Are the best needles to use when doing French and Bullion knots. They are very long, with small round eyes, as opposed to the long oval eyes of a tapestry needle.

Quality:

Look for high quality needles and threads, as this will make for a more enjoyable stitching experience and produce a higher quality finish. Poor quality needles are harder to thread because they have a rough eye that will actually pull and fray your thread. Poor quality thread will fray easily, making it hard to thread through the needle and giving your finished piece a fuzzy appearance.

Different needle sizes:

On higher count fabric, you need a smaller sized needle. Kind in mind that the larger the number size of the needle is, the smaller the actual needle will be. For example, a size 26 tapestry needle is smaller than a size 24 tapestry needle. The higher the count of the fabric, the smaller the holes in the fabric, therefore you will need a smaller needle. As a guideline, use a size 24 tapestry needle for stitching on an 11 or 14 fabric count; use a size 26 for fabric with a fabric count of 18 or greater.

I hope you have found this information helpful. For more helpful cross stitch tips and tricks, please visit http://www.beautifulcreations.ca and remember to check out our free patterns while you are there.

By Joanne Jones

Floral Tapestries - Traditional or Contemporary?

Everyone likes a bit of nature in their homes. And what better symbol of nature is there than flowers? People have always tried using flowers in several different ways to perk up the interiors of their homes, and we must say these flowers do a whole lot of good to the homes. Floral tapestries are the best examples of people's attempt to bring a symbol of nature into their homes.

There are some excellent innovative designs with the tapestries too. Special favorites of people across the world are the collages which contain several types of floral motifs in various sections throughout the tapestry. For people who want something brazenly unique, there are several floral tapestries of the abstract art form too.

It is important to select a proper positioning for the floral tapestry in the room. Ideally, people hang the tapestry on the best wall of their room, and use lighting to maximum effect. Visitors should be able to see the tapestry as soon as they enter the room -- hence, it is a great idea to hang the tapestry on the wall opposite to the entrance of the room.

It is certain that nothing adds to the effect of the room as much as the floral tapestry does, and that is the reason why it must be used as the prime attraction within the room.

Lighting is quite important too. As the floral tapestries are always created with interesting colors, it is important that the light must be bright and white -- the incandescent lighting or the mood lighting that is used in several homes nowadays just won't do any justice to the tapestries. The lights must be positioned so that the illumination falls directly on the tapestry and not through a sideways angle.

You must note that you get all accessories to go along with the theme of your floral tapestry and you must find and purchase them. There are special tapestry rods and even hooks to go with the floral pattern. Remember that if you get a floral tapestry and your rod doesn't go with it, then the overall effect may be spoiled.

One more thing to consider is the knobs that are used at the ends of the rods. This is a very special area for any tapestry, and with floral tapestries there are some breathtakingly beautiful designs available.

With the right kind of floral tapestry, the right accessories and the right kind of lighting, you can be sure that your room will simply look gorgeous. Select everything with patience and care, and get ready for all those compliments from your guests.

Alex Hanson writes on how floral tapestries can make a beautiful statement in your home decor. European Tapestries are famous for their floral motif's and take on a more traditional and sophisticated style. If you are thinking along a contemporary theme, you will find the koi fish tapestries are a nice modern wall hanging to enhance your wall decor.

Makeover a Room With a Tapestry

Adding a wall tapestry is great way to add wall decoration and a focal point to almost any room. A great tapestry can pull a room together. Fabric wall hangings such as tapestries automatically make a room feel warmer. They are also a great conversation piece.

Their intricately woven patterns alone make them worthy of comment. If the tapestry also reflects a personal interest, it lends to even more conversation. So how do you go about doing this? Let's find out.

Consider using a large wall tapestry to design an entire room around. Let the tapestry act as a backdrop to the rest of your design features. For instance, a classic red, white, and blue nautical tapestry along one wall begs for outdoor furniture, like a wicker sofa with blue and white striped cushions with a red Adirondack chair and a sisal rug against white floors and sky blue walls.

You can also add a tapestry to pull together a room of collectibles. If you collect medieval weapons, a tapestry of a medieval battle or a castle can highlight your collection. If you are an avid fisherman, a tapestry depicting the small port of a fishing village might be a good choice.

If you enjoy traveling, a world map tapestry would be a good focal point in a room with your collected mementos from around the world. With all of the custom tapestry choices available, you can have your pick of designs, or design your own, that will perfectly fit your space and your style.

A landscape tapestry in your dining room can tie in beautifully with your floral tapestry dining room chair seats and have your guests gawking at how perfectly the room comes together. A secluded garden tapestry can add a touch of romance in your bedroom without taking up precious floor space. Back-to-back tapestries can even act as a beautiful, free-hanging divider in a loft or large room.

When considering revamping your home's decor, consider what a well-placed tapestry can do to enrich your home. Tapestries offer the wall coverage of a mural, but you can take the tapestry down and re-hang it. A tapestry offers the warmth of fabric without the expense of fabric wallpaper and, once again, you can take your tapestry with you.

While you may be of the mindset that tapestries are massive pieces of art that can only go on a large wall, you may be surprised to learn the truth. Many tapestry companies offer the options of resizing and changing colors of their tapestry designs to fit any size wall or color scheme you may have.

Some tapestry companies offer complete custom tapestries that you provide the design for. You can have them match a picture exactly or ask them to design a tapestry to fit your decor by using pictures from your house. The limits to the possibilities of tapestries is only left to the limits of your imagination.

So there you go.

Bring the rich colors and textures of tapestries into your home. A well-placed tapestry is an eye-catching, conversation-starting, work of art.

Tom Matherson writes for Worldwide Tapestries which has a wide range of tapestry wall hangings to enhance any home. Browse a wide collection of the latest wall art tapestry designs in a variety of categories including large wall tapestries.

Inexpensive Interior Design Ideas That Look Great

Good interior decoration comes at a heavy cost. Well, this is a myth that will soon be cleared as you go through this article. There are many inexpensive interior design ideas that will be revealed to you, so that budget-conscious people do not refrain from rejuvenating the look of their house.

The biggest mistake that people do in the task of interior designing is that they try to change everything from the very start. The best way to approach a task especially for those who have a limited budget is to improvise on their exiting things wherever possible.

The foremost thing is to paint the walls. The colors chosen by you must be in accordance with the mood you want to invoke in that particular room. However, if your wall has cracks or holes, try covering them by hanging fabrics such as cotton or silk.

Another alternative is to hang a tapestry or an interesting painting. You may also make your own creations to adorn the walls. Or you may pick up an interesting piece of fabric or map. Now get it framed and your inexpensive wall hanging is all ready! Similarly, instead of fixing the imperfections on your floor, you may cover them by carpets or designer floorings.

With constant usage, storage cabinets may also have lost their finish. Replacing them is surely an expensive affair. But if you just want to make it as new as ever, why not simply paint it again? You may also consider changing its handles and glass. This would give you new cabinets without spending much money. For the task, you may approach a refurbishing company or consult a professional.

Furniture is also very expensive, if you wish to purchase a new set. However, you may use slipcovers instead to get rid of the boredom in your room and change the look of your furniture. You may also have different slipcovers made for different seasons. For instance, you may have yellow or white colored slipcovers for summers and for fall you may like brown or green colored slipcovers and so on.

Lightning is another important factor of interior designing. By adding on a few flow lights in order to bring focus to the new wall hangings and accessories incorporated by you will definitely change the look of your home drastically. After all, there is nothing old and worn out that you will now notice from flooring to walls.

Hence, there are various inexpensive interior design ideas that can be utilized to enliven your home. In fact, the same affordable ideas can be equally useful to rejuvenate even a home office, restaurant, or any other business set up by making a few amendments to these ideas.

Walter Hilliam owns and operates http://www.myinteriordesignideas.com Interior Design Ideas

How You Can Create Beauty And Ambience In Your Home With A Tapestry Wall Hanging

Bring a sense of beauty, ambiance and history into your home with tapestry wall-hangings.

The fabric of a tapestry reduces sound vibrations, improving the auditory distinctiveness of the room in which they are hung. Tapestry wall-hangings are becoming increasingly popular for wall decor. A tapestry wall hanging is a unique combination of modern fashion trend and a form of wall art from Antiquity.

A tapestry is created by colored weft threads woven into fixed warp threads to form the picture or the design. The detail of the tapestry is determined by the closeness of the warp threads. The closer together and the more delicate or fine the threads, the more intricate and detailed the tapestry. All original tapestries were hand made.

Tapestry is one of the oldest forms of woven textiles; woven tapestry art has provided the stories of the Ancient Greeks and Romans to the medieval and the Renaissance period as well as the Old and the New Testaments. Documents relating to the origin of weaving tapestries, or wall hangings, date to before 2000BC. The Egyptians used this form of art to adorn their graves, the Incas buried their dead in tapestry woven clothing.

Ancient Greek art also depicts weaving and spinning, as found on painted pottery specimens dating pre 500BC. Hand-woven tapestry art was a significant form used to decorate the walls of houses of the rich and important civic buildings such as the Parthenon, but however, it was the French medieval weavers who brought the craft to fruition especially as we know it.

European weavers including those of the Medieval as well as the Renaissance periods are considered the world's most important producers of tapestries.

Paris was the tapestry capital of the western world during the Middle Ages and through the 100 years War, but the war resulted in many of the tapestries being burnt or destroyed in ways to procure their precious metal content. The artisans of tapestry eventually moved from Paris to the areas that we now know as Northern France and Belgium.

Many of the mass produced tapestries of today continue to be produced in factories in Belgium, the Netherlands with some in France and Italy. Mass production requires the use of computerized jacquard weaving machines. Belgium tapestries are decorative pieces of art which are enjoyed the world over for their artistic flair and creativity.

Tapestry weaving in the USA dates back to before the American Revolution.

Throughout history tapestries have been associated with nomadic life and story telling in fabric and in the modern world they have become a credible form of craft as well as art. Art forms have cycled through periods of growth and decline, but now in Western and Pacific Rim countries Textile Artistry is enjoying a resurgence like never before.

Architects and homeowners continue to seek single pieces and unique hand made tapestries to adorn their building or homes.

Consider the addition of tapestries in the decor of your home. You will be adding a texture to your walls not found in any other form of art. Experience for yourself the changes that can occur in different viewing angles as a result of thread colors and the weave. Experience for yourself the beauty and ambiance that has permitted tapestries to journey from antiquity to modern times.

As co-owner of So Divine, my goal is to provide excellent Home Decor products at affordable prices and to give you the best customer and sales support!

With many travels to Mediterranean countries, a deep love and understanding of this region has developed.

Candles are as much of history as is the ancient world, the two marry together. Candles have always been lit in our home.

A lover of natural products and fragrances I have sought information relating to products that can fulfill those needs as well as providing a safe environment.

Initially our endeavors were to satisfy the needs of our family members, but with requests coming from visitors and relatives far and wide we quickly realized that many people were interested in the same home décor and accessories that we had been sourcing for many years.

For information relating to all our products visit http://www.soyousodivine.com to receive our Home Decor Newsletter

Articles extracts from Susan's book "Spray Salt and Spice - The Taste" soon to be released

by Susan Burgess

Tapestries Wall Hangings: Best For Home Decor

Tapestry is a unique form of textile art. It is hand knitted on a vertical loom. The presence of Tapestries wall hanging has been witnessed since the Hellenistic times. During the fourteenth century AD, the art of making tapestries wall hanging reached a new stage in Europe.

It originated in Switzerland and Germany and then moved on to the Netherlands and France, later spreading to the whole of Europe. During the 14th and 15th centuries, France became the centre of this rare art. The French Revolution some what affected the presence of this art.

The Tapestries wall hangings became extremely popular in medieval Europe. In fact, Wall Hangings Tapestries made its presence in every nook and corner of a common man's house. The different types of Wall Hangings Tapestries include the Croft European, religious and the Bayeux embroidered tapestry.

Tapestries wall hangings are a rare collection. The warp threads are hidden in the final work. This is unlike cloth weaving, where we get to see the existence of both the weft threads and the warp. Utilizing this unique technique, a vibrant coloured outline of the image is created. Usually, the cotton or the linen is used as the warp thread.

The weft thread usually consists of cotton or wool, but may also include gold, silver, silk, and other alternatives. This uniqueness provides it with a natural aesthetic beauty. Its long heritage and beauty is no match for the contemporary and traditional decorative items of today.

The Tapestries wall hangings are available in different designs and colours. The main yarn colours are bluish green, russet or terracotta, olive green, dull gold and blue. Sage green and black is also not uncommon. Late repairs are worked in orange, light yellow, and shades of sober greens.

The different patterns, designs and styles used in these Wall Hangings Tapestries include beautiful landscapes, pictures of animals and wildlife and court scenes. It also includes images of the countryside and the city life as well, besides certain religious and mythological events.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, Arras, France was a prosperous textile town. The industry focused in manufacturing fine wool tapestries that were sold to decorate the castles and palaces of kings and nobles all over Europe. Even in the modern era, Tapestries wall hangings are very popular and are used to provide a unique ambience to the house.

There are certain premium tapestry sellers like Croft European Tapestries that will help you acquire brilliantly coloured tapestries with intricate designs. Use one of them to create a mesmerising ambience in your home or workplace!

Janet is a well-known author who writes on the topics related with Tapestries, Tapestries Wall Hangings, Religious Wall Hanging & more for the site www.crofteuropeantapestries.co.uk.

by Janet