Toni Gerdes Needlearts

American Plains  The Plains Indians were some of America’s earliest artists. This rendition of an American Plains ceremonial dress demonstrates that artistry. From the intricate stitching to the delicate beading and finishing with the suede fringe, you will create your own American Plains masterpiece. Stitching with interesting threads and stimulating stitches you will fashion your own American work of art. Beading adds the detail expected on such a design, while the addition of a bit of real white deerskin and some porcupine quills adds more authenticity.

This intermediate level canvas embroidery design, on 18 count white mono canvas finishes to approximately 8” x 9”. This is a 2-day class.

Scheduled to Teach:

       Pilot Class - Colorado Springs, CO March 9-10, 2018

       ANG National, Washington DC, August 2018

       Blue Bonnet Studio Time, Austin, TX February 2019

       NAN, Troy, MI March 16-17, 2019

       San Bernadino, CA, May 17-19, 2019

       ANG Cyberpointers, June 1-27, 2019

       ANB Bluebonnet Chapter, Oct 5-6, 2019

New Glory  Old Glory with a new twist becomes New Glory, a modern patchwork flag celebrating patriotic themes. This “flag” combines fabric applique, fun stitching, and embellishments to create a wonderful Independence Day (or any other time) decoration. Starting with a line-drawn grid, learn to attach your choice of many different patriotic themed fabrics to the canvas in at least 3 areas. These fabric areas are padded and then finally stitched on to enhance the fabric design. The other areas are stitched in many decorative pattern stitches that enrich our “flag”. Using Sparkle! Braid, Neon Rays+, Fyre Werks, Silk Lame Braid, Planet Earth Silk, Gloriana Silk, Gumnuts Stars, and others in beautiful red, white, blue, navy, and gold colors New Glory comes to life. Stitches will include some old favorites and some new favorites like, Burden stitch, Byzantine, Circle Bargello, Swirl, Lattice, Dotted Swiss, and many others. The Gold Star Embellishments add the perfect touch to the center of our “flag”. This intermediate level canvas embroidery design, on 18 count white mono canvas finishes to approximately 11” x 8”. This is a 3-day class.

Scheduled to Teach:

       Pilot, Denver, CO January 19-20, 2018

       ANG National, Washington, DC, August 2018

       CANVAS, Montgomery, AL, January 11-16 2019

       Blue Bonnet Studio Time, Austin, TX February 2019

Entwined  Diamonds, Hexagon, Squares & Rectangles entwine to create this intriguing design. While the dramatic red, gray, and black colors enhance the piece. You will explore many different shades & textures of metallic, silk, & cotton threads as you create the shapes that entwine so captivatingly; these include Gloriana silk, Needlepoint, Inc. silk, City Needleworks silk, cotton floss, Planet Earth silk, Caron Collection silk & overdyed cotton, Kreinik, Bijoux, Sparkle! Braid & Petite Silk Lamé Braid, as well as, Elegance silk, & Hi-Lights.  On the beautiful smoke gray Congress cloth the shapes evolve and are finished with the unusual Dragon Scale beads.  This advanced- intermediate level canvas embroidery design is approximately 8” x 14”. This is a 2-day class.

Scheduled to Teach:

       Pilot, Houston, TX January 11-12, 2018

       EGA National, Louisville, KY October 6-7, 2018

       CANVAS, Montgomery, AL Jan 11-16, 2019

Songbird pays homage to part of our needleart history.  In 1896, 2 women found some old damaged needlework in a museum near their small town of Deerfield, Massachusetts.  The work was from the middle to late 1700’s and was brought to America by the colonists.  The women set out to reproduce some of the work, their group became known as the Deerfield Society of Blue and White Needlework.  Songbird utilizes some of the charming designs from the Deerfield Society with modern threads, i.e. Gloriana Silks, Soie Cristale silk, Planet Earth silks. Combining these beautiful silk threads with a touch of metallic brings these old whimsical designs to life. Laid filling patterns combine with classic embroidery stitches used at the time of the Deerfield Society to create a contemporary piece honoring our past. This intermediate level canvas embroidery design, on 24 ct. white Congress Cloth finishes to approximately 9” x 7”. This is a 2-day class.

Scheduled to Teach:

           EGA National, Louisville, KY October 4-5, 2018

Memories of the Heart  Memories is something we all have; memories of family, friends, places, events, etc. This heart, stitched on white 18ct. mono canvas, reminds us of those special memories that we hold dear to our hearts. Unfortunately, these wonderful memories can be stripped away by the terrible disease, Alzheimer’s. Hopefully, the important research being done will help us all keep our personal memories for a long time. This intermediate level canvas embroidery design finishes to approximately 6” x 4” and can be finished as an ornament, framed piece, or a tote insert.

This design is available from EGA (the Embroiderers Guild of American) as a special booklet to raise money for Alzheimer's  research. It is available from EGA through September 2018, then from me. All proceeds from the sale of the booklet go to Alzheimer's research.

Twisted Angel is definitely a twist on the normal angel. She is composed of “Twisty Stitches” including Jessicas, Crescents, Amadeus, Chilly Hollow, and Sprats Head, using beautiful metallic threads and a tear drop bead. This intermediate level class on eggshell with gold metallic flecked Congress Cloth finishes to a 6” by 4” design and looks wonderful made into an ornament or a small framed piece. This is a 1-day class.

Scheduled to Teach:

          San Bernardino, CA June 15, 2018

Abyss  An abyss, chasm, or crevice displays the icy realms of the earth. We will, also, explore the other definition of abyss, a profound difference between people. Using dramatic stitches like the companion piece, Fire & Ice, we will create the icy cold perfection with our high & low columns. The background will continue the feel with a sparkly darning pattern. Using silks, overdyes, & metallic the icy landscape will come to life on the pale blue Congress cloth. This intermediate level canvas embroidery design is approximately 5 ½” x 11”.

Scheduled to Teach:

ANG National Seminar, Houston, TX August 2019

Alaskan Stitching Cruise (from Seattle) September 2019