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TEMPTING TANGLES Cross stitch designs by Deborah A. Dick 

Texture

Designer Deborah A. Dick loves to vary the threads used, according to her subject. Take this little beaded-eyes dragon fly, hovering among the cross-stitch flowers. In contrast with the silk floss, its body and wings are stitched in a glowing emerald green with metallic tones, in a combination of backstitch and cross stitch, and embellished with two copper and ginger petite seed beads.

>> Good Morning designed by Tempting Tangles

Curves

Any cross stitcher will know that one of the difficulties of cross stitch is to render beautiful curves. This is true for plants, but also for any round shapes, such as this delicate coffee pot, with a  top that curves and finishes into a round tip. The designer used a couple of split stitches to delicately finish the cross stitch into a fine curve. The split stitch is a variation of the stem stitch, that creates a neat continuous line.

>> Razzleberry Roast  designed by Tempting Tangles

Dimensional effects 

This pretty spring pot is adorned with branches of delicate cherry blossoms. Notice how they stand out in front of the cross stitch background. To achieve this effect, the designer worked the fragile petals in a lazy daisy stitch, a quick and easy stitch with maximum effect. The branches are worked in stem stitch, a stitch that is both fine and dimensional, perfect for stems, hence its name. To reinforce the contrast with the words stitched in the background, notice how the designer outlines the cross stitching, making them solid and sturdy in comparison with the blossoming flowers. As a final touch, a couple of golden seed beads are worked into the hearts of the flowers.

>> Summer Buzz designed by Tempting Tangles

Density 

Check out this little flower that punctuates Giovanni's Alphabet. In contrast with the neighbouring cross stitch, it has a smooth lustrous finish. This is achieved with the use of satin stitch - another aptly named stitch - that fills the petals. It is also neatly outlined with stem stitch. The designer naturally guides you, how to start, how to give a direction to your stitches. Her designs are always "chock-full" of tips.

Satin Stitch is one of the designers beloved stitch, you'll find it in many of her works, in particular in borders and  frames. It is beautiful when worked in an overdyed thread, highlighting the subtle variations of color of the floss.

>> Giovannis Alphabet designed by Tempting Tangles

Depth

Creation is one of Tempting Tangles most ambitious undertakings. An extraordinary achievement, it depicts the amazing Biblical story of the formation of the world, the creation of heavens, light emerging, seas forming. Among the swirling clouds, in a myriad cross stitches of smoky blues and grey, light emerges. The focus point of this lighter area of pale yellow and white is a very special stitch, a large Rhodes diamond that has been specially adapted and elongated. Look closely... this is god's eye!

>> Creation designed by Tempting Tangles

These are only just a few examples of the remarkable attention the designer gives to detail. There are many, many more for you to discover.  Each of Tempting Tangles designs is always an interesting voyage into the wonderful possibilities of needlework.