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TEMPTING TANGLES Cross stitch designs by Deborah A. Dick
All the latest news about TEMPTING TANGLES, as published in Creative Poppy's newsletter.
>> see all cross stitch patterns by Tempting Tangles
Quaker Wildflowers
Extraordinary wildflowers grow, long stems ending in pretty blooms. Look close though, and you will notice the woodlands are teeming with life. We love the way designer Deborah A. Dick combines the classic look of a Quaker sampler and the figurative cross stitch motifs. A Tempting Tangles design.
Early Quakers
Deborah A. Dick of Tempting Tangles takes us on a tour in search of the early Quakers and places where they established themselves. Two early European settlements are featured in this pair of stunning designs, such as the beautiful vinyards and lavender fields of southern France or the busy canals of the Dutch cities where they fled persecution.
More Quaker patterns by Tempting Tangles
>> see all Samplers and Quaker patterns by Tempting tangles
Laundry Day
When getting the laundry done ends up in disaster.... Designed by Deborah A. Dick of Temping Tangles, and inspired by a real life event, this cross stitch piece is a real cutie. We just love the pair of jeans and other colorful clothes hanging out of the washing machine.
Focus on a stitch: Fan stitch variation
Tempting Tangles designs are always full of fun creative needlework ideas. The designer excels at finding the exact stitch that emphasizes her point and adds excitement to the stitching.
Picture the water droplets leaking from the faucet in Procrastination. These are worked in a variation of Fan stitch, and perfectly mimic the heavy drops flooding the room.
This Fan stitch variation is an easy stitch comprised of 7 straight stitches.
The beauty of counted stitching, is that you can easily add decorative specialty stitches. Unlike free-hand embroidery, your needle is guided by the fabric. You need only follow the chart and will get the exact finished effect that the design calls for.
Scarecrow with a message
It's harvest time. Scarecrow Sam is ready at the roadside with a huge pumpkin lantern and delivering his cheerful message: "Happy Boo to you!" A design by Tempting Tangles.
More Pumpkins by Tempting Tangles
>> see all Seasonal patterns by Tempting Tangles Designs
His Helmet is of Gold
A cross stitch tribute by Deborah A. Dick of Tempting Tangles to Emily Dickinson's poem "The Bee" with stitches and colours that perfectly complement the words.
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Bees in Clover | | Counted cross stitch pattern by Tempting Tangles Designs |
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More poetic Words in Stitches by Tempting Tangles
Arc of WhiteA spider sewed at night. Without a light. Upon an arc of white. | 
Myrtle & Rose (detail)Knowest thou the land where the lemon trees bloom, Where the golden orange glows in the deep thicket’s gloom,
Where a wind ever soft .... | 
Second Star...So come with me, where dreams are born, and time is never planned. Just think of happy things, and your heart will fly on wings, forever | 
Red Finch Winter SongSilvery Dusk and Blushing Dawn, The Red Finch sings his Winter Song |
>> see all Words, Wisdom and Poetry by Tempting Tangles
Liberty for all
All around the globe, let the bells of Liberty resound. Freedom, a universal human right celebrated in cross stitch by Tempting Tangles.
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Freedom | | Counted cross stitch pattern by Tempting Tangles |
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>> see more patterns with Quotes by Tempting Tangles
Heirloom Family Tree sampler
Have you ever considered stitching a family tree for a newborn baby in your family?
Here is a stunning one, very cleverly designed, with a quaker style tree carrying woven baskets (or nests) for each generation that preceded. An amazing piece of needlework brought to you by Deborah A. Dick of Tempting Tangles.
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Ancestral Tree | | Counted cross stitch pattern by Tempting Tangles Designs |
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Rock-a-bye Baby
Why would the cradle rock? Of course, there are chimps swinging in the tree! Pretty and fun, a traditional nursery rhyme and lullaby turned into a Birth announcement sampler. A Tempting Tangles design.
>> see all Family and birth patterns by Tempting Tangles Designs
Architectural delights
Who needs Lego bricks when you can cross stitch?
When a creative mind such as Debborah A. Dick of Tempting Tangles sets off to create her dream houses, you get so much more than a simple assembly of blocks (or cross stitches). Windows come to life with elaborate panes, curtains and light sifting trough. Glass work on the sash windows comes with 2 different options of ornamental designs in backstitch. The beautiful architectural detail is an extra bonus to the pleasure of stitching.
Hidden treasures
This is not your usual Quaker design. Granted Deborah A. Dick of Tempting Tangles is certainly one of the most skilled Quaker style designers, creating the most complex and elegant medallions, diamonds, corner triangles and motifs of the most unusual shapes. However here comes an extra bonus with hidden motifs: some swans are easy to find, but will you find all the scissors and shears?
>> see more Quaker patterns by Tempting Tangles Designs
Easter fun with Tempting Tangles
Bunnies are hopping around in Debbies garden...
And eggs are hatching... more tiny bunnies! Whimsical, fun and full of color.
>> see more Seasonal patterns by Tempting Tangles Designs
Say Love...
...with a touch of humour with Tempting Tangles....
Wise and beautiful
Two gentle reminders by Deborah A. Dick of Tempting Tangles, that "needlework doesn't take patience, it teaches patience"
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Patience | | Counted cross stitch pattern by Tempting Tangles |
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>> see more Quotes by Tempting Tangles
Second to the right and straight on till morning
Stuff dreams are made of: beautiful prose (by James M. Barrie) and elegant stitches (by Tempting Tangles), beautifully paired. These are actually the direction to Neverland, in the words of Peter Pan "Just think of happy things,and your heart will fly on wings, forever, in Never Never Land!"
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Second star | | Counted cross stitch pattern by Tempting Tangles |
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A new Tempting Tangles Ornament
Gifts are piled under the tree, neatly packed with colorful bows. But, hey, surprise, who is the red bicycle for?
More Christmas Ornaments from Tempting Tangles
>> see all Seasonal and Christmas patterns by Tempting Tangles
Christmas Giving
Exquisitely designed by Deborah A. Dick of Tempting Tangles, some more Christmas patterns are now available on Creative Poppy's website.
To start withhere is a wise - and very ornamental - reminder of what Christmas is all about.
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The Only Gift | | Counted cross stitch pattern by Tempting Tangles Designs |
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Winter Birds
Also by Tempting Tangles Designs, two lovely portraits of birds with evocative verses. Both are set in the snow, with a fine layer covering twigs, berries and flowers.
The door is open, the lanterns are lit....
But are we really welcome?
Here is an amazing story, told in cross stitch by Deborah A. Dick of Tempting Tangles. The designer managed to squeeze in an amazing amount of detail and plenty of fun ideas such as the cat shaped ghosts lounging in the tree.
>> see more Seasonal patterns by Tempting Tangles
>> see all Halloween House patterns (all designers)
A walk through the woods
There are two equally exciting themes in this pattern. First the green Quaker/Vierlander medallions, elaborate cross stitch motifs symbolizing trees in a forest. Second are the exquisitely detailed houses, each with different architectural features. This sampler by Tempting Tangles promises hours of joy.
>> see more Sampler patterns by Tempting Tangles
>> see all the latest news for Tempting Tangles
Welcome Swirls
Vines are swirling around the letters of this cheerful Welcome Sampler, between rows of sprightly spring flowers. A design by Deborah A. Dick of Tempting Tangles.
>> see more Seasonal patterns by Tempting Tangles
Highlights of Winter
Winter is not all doom and gloom. Think of the frozen icicles shining in the pale morning sun, frost motifs on the windows, red berries in the bushes attracting all kinds of birds. Deborah A. Dick of Tempting Tangles, captures the spirit of Winter in this very pretty design.
'Twas the night before Christmas...
A delightful cross stitch ornament showing the stockings of all the family, from Dad's big wooly socks, to the baby's tiny little red one.
Happy Christmas to All, and to All a Good Night!
Now complete, From Tempting Tangles, Deborah A. Dicks' "Night before Christmas" series, comprising 4 ornaments, that put together read the entire poem. We particularly love the beautiful last part with an imposing St Nicholas holding a bejewelled staff
>> See all Christmas Ornament patterns (all designers)
Gorgeous Autumn hues
You can almost feel the chilly autumn wind in this splendid work created by Deborah A. Dick of Tempting Tangles. The colors used for cross stitching - all DMC - are splendid with contrasts of warm reds, greenish yellows and purple skies. The poem that inspired the work is also very evocative. An awesome piece of needlework.
Here is another feast of colors by Tempting Tangles, this time stitched in hand-dyed Classic Colorworks cotton floss. Autumn, with its fine warm hues, is such a beautiful time of year to render in cross stitch.
Fun Halloween Ornaments
More fun stitching for Halloween by Tempting Tangles. Jack Arachnid, the king of creepy crawlies, Houses tumbling with fright and super cute kittens hiding in a pumpkin.
>> see more Seasonal patterns by Tempting Tangles
Christmas Ornaments from Tempting Tangles
New from designer Deborah A. Dick, 2 designs inspired by the all-time favorite poem "The Night before Christmas". All Tempting Tangles designs, no matter how small, are elaborately designed with fun stitch detail such as the loop-made beard of Santa Claus, the red-bead-tipped noses of the reindeer, or the decorative borders worked with Sofia crosses and beaded diamonds.
Light Summer breeze
Delighting in the warm summer breeze, the white swan glides on, feathers light and fluffy. Sunflowers grow heavy, heads turning with the sun rays. Picnic basket at the ready, summer's outdoor pleasures are there to enjoy.
>> see all seasonal patterns by Tempting Tangles
>> see all summer patterns (all designers)
Books, Quotes and Poems
Much inspired by books and poetry, Deborah A. Dick of Tempting Tangles showcases - in cross stitch - a pile of one of her favorite author's works, incidentally also by Jane Austen. Alongside the leather bound classics is an elegant period ink well and a feather writing pen.
Further down, see more works in cross stitch, one inspired by American poet Emily Dickinson, the other by Myrtle and Rose, a beautiful poem by Goethe that goes: "Knowest thou the land where the lemon trees bloom,..."
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Persuasion | | Counted cross stitch pattern by Tempting Tangles |
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Arc of White | | Counted cross stitch pattern by Tempting Tangles |
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>> see more patterns by Tempting Tangles with poems and quotes
>> see all patterns related to Books & Literature (all designers)
The call of Liberty
In a frenetic world, it's worth taking time to reflect upon and celebrate some of our core values. Brought to you by Tempting Tangles, this cross stitch sampler is a beautiful work of needle art, celebrating the values of freedom and justice.
Reading their minds
More decorative and fun animal patterns from Deborah A. Dick of Tempting Tangles.
>> see all animal patterns by Tempting Tangles
New and Exclusive! Spring Welcome by Tempting Tangles
Spot the tiny dragonfly to the right, with shimmering wings and gleaming eyes. It's one of the tiny details that make Tempting Tangles so much fun to stitch. Full of cheerful colors, this is an exclusive cross stitch piece designed especially for Creative Poppy by Tempting Tangles.
Linen blossoms in silken paradise
Seated next to the window a maiden stitches. Through the window Spring beckons with rolling hills, blossoming cherry trees, and new born lambs, yet stormy skies speak of rain showers to come.
This cross stitch masterpiece by expert designer Deborah Dick of Tempting Tangles will require many hours of patient stitching, but how rewarding!
Now recharted in color for maximum readability.
Purple harmony
Celebrate Spring to come with this delicate cross stitch piece designed by Tempting Tangles. It comes in a beautiful harmony of purple and green.
Quaker hearts
Can you spot the key and the tiny initials? Fun to stitch with plenty of interesting detail, timeless and elegant, these projects make lovely Valentine or Anniversary gifts.
Patterns by Deborah A. Dick of Tempting Tangles.
Tempting Samplers
We just love the creative and quaint style of the designs by Deborah A. Dick of Tempting Tangles. Her work is very expressive, with lovely muted and warm colors, and has an almost antique feel to it.
The patterns, mostly cross stitch, are full of intricate needlework details and occasional specialty stitches that make her work interesting to stitch all along. Here a view of some details of her lovely Samplers. Click on the image for a full view and more details.
>> see all Sampler cross stitch patterns by Tempting Tangles
The amazing evocative power of words
Simply looking at one's stash of red floss, or searching through a color card for the perfect tone of red, us stitchers appreciate the incredibly rich world of color, one of the things that irresistibly draws us to stitching. Human beings have often been at loss to describe colors and most often simply revert to an image, "blue as a clear blue sky". Many color names are thus very poetic.
In the following designs, Tempting Tangles collects words that are wonderfully evocative of each of her favorite shades. They read like a poem and are beautifully laid out in cross stitches, embellished with delicate Quaker style motifs.
>> See all patterns in the Color series by Tempting Tangles
Not from the corner coffee machine...
Some things in life deserve special attention. Whether you are a coffee or tea lover, the right pot, the right cup and the perfect blend or brew makes the whole difference.
Designer Deborah A. Dick from Tempting Tangles takes us on a wonderful journey, exploring uncommon teas, and rare exotic coffees, together with some absolutely charming tea pots and coffee pots. These are very decorative cross stitch pieces to stitch and, since they work in pairs and series, you can combine them for very attractive wall displays.
Put the kettle on... we'll all have tea
Charming miniature patterns that vary with the seasons. Include quaint little details like tea strainers as well as some occasional specialty stitches that add fun to the stitching..
Or shall I rather make you some coffee?
Ice coffee delights, warm spicy blends, heavenly aromas, ... a coffee for each season.
>> see al Tea & Coffee cross stitch patterns by Tempting Tangles
Needlework fun: it's all in the detail
If there is one specificity that sums up the art of Tempting Tangles designs, it's certainly the attention given to detailed stitching. While most patterns are mostly cross stitch, the designer is constantly focusing on how to best render her subject in stitches. Here are 5 close up examples of patterns where little stitching details are inserted that take the stitching to a new level.
If you are not familiar with the stitches described below, not to worry: the designer takes you by the hand, introducing you to all these lovely stitches as you work through your piece.
 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. | | |
Powerful story telling
The Bible is full of wonderful episodes, including the compelling story of the Creation of the World. In the following designs Tempting Tangles picks carefully selected quotes from Genesis, Jonah and other scripture, to tell and illustrate an episode in stitches.
>> see all patterns with Scripture by Tempting Tangles
More cross stitch patterns by TEMPTING TANGLES
All Tempting Tangles designs published by Creative Poppy come with an additional easy-to-read Color chart overview reference chart.
There are more works by Tempting Tangles on Creative Poppy's website, and many more to be added soon.
>> see all cross stitch patterns designed by Deborah A. Dick of Tempting Tangles
>> Back to Latest pattern news
Samantha Purdy Textile
Tempting Tangles Designs
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