This might be the best thing ever on the Internet. A Flash-based design tool where you can cut and paste elements of the Bayeux Embroidery (my Medieval Art prof would never let us refer to it as a tapestry) to make your own medieval scenes. The mind boggles at the possibilities.

http://www.adgame-wonderland.de/type/bayeux.php

for those of you on dial-up(like me!), click the link and then go make coffee. or lunch. or write a letter. it's a huge Flash file! can't wait to see it...

wow! worth the wait! and I don't even know how to sew!

I had to look up "tapestry" to find out what Flatlander's prof meant. Tapistry has design made in the weaving process. The Bayeux ladies started with a white cloth, and added the pictures by embroidery.
Thanks for that important distinction, Flatlander.

Yes, Bill, you've captured the distinction perfectly. Its dimensions are also not what you would expect from a tapestry -- more like a ribbon than a rug -- but that's not the essential difference.

Flat, you studied medieval art!? Wow. OK, I'm gonna do what eta suggested: start the loading (not sure if I have the right kind of Flash or not) and then go fix lunch...

It's really good fun to work with, but there doesn't seem to be any way of saving it in order to continue later. I tried several ways, but although you appear to create a file, it will not open. I e-mailed it to myself - hate to think what ads etc that will lay me open to - but only one of the two frames I had done arrived complete and I still can't work on it! Still...

Flat, you studied medieval art!?

I did. My undergrad degree is in Art History, and while I focused on the architectural end of things, we did cover the flimsy stuff occasionally. Of course, most extant medieval art is architecture, so it was a great class. The professor (my advisor) was a brilliant British woman with a delightfully prurient mind (the lightswitch plate in her office featured a picture of Michaelangelo's "David" centered strategically so that... well, you get the idea).

dxb - I know what you mean, wouldn't it be great if it were a downloadable program?

I have that same lightswitch plate!

I gave up on trying to load the site, Flat. But it's bookmarked for the day we get DSL around here...