Toni Gerdes Needlearts

Under a Copper Moon During a total lunar eclipse the moon can turn a deep red, sometimes called a “blood moon” or a “copper moon”. For most of human history the moon was a huge mystery and when a copper moon occurs it still casts a spooky spell over the land. This design creates a band sampler of the varying colors of the landscape in the mountains during a lunar eclipse. Starting with the fabric mountain appliqué, and the hot foil technique to create the first layer of the copper moon with real metallic copper foil applied to a small piece of congress cloth which is then appliqued to the canvas, and finishing with the woven cross stitch border you will learn many stitches to form bands of color in the night sky. Over stitching on the copper metallic lends an eerie feel to the copper moon in this intermediate level design on 18ct mono sandstone canvas. Design size is approximately 11”x 6”. This can be taught as a 2-day or a 3-day class.

Scheduled to Teach: Pilot - Colorado Springs, Co, March 2017

                   ANG National, Anaheim, CA August 2017

                   Blue Bonnet Studio, Austin, TX Feb 2018

                   Massachusetts Chapter ANG, May 2018

                   Nebraska Canvasbacks ANG, Omaha, NE, June 2018

                   San Bernardino, CA, June 2018

                  ANG Magnificent Obsession Chapter, Detroit, MI Jul 2018                    ANG Bluebonnet chapter, Austin, TX Sept 2018

                  ANG Saguaro Stitchers, Phoenix, AZ Oct 2018

                  EGA Sand Dunes chapter, Ft. Walton Beach, FL Jun 2019

                   Sangre de Cristo ANG chapter, Santa Fe, NM Sept. 2019                      Houston Embroidery Guild (HEG), Houston, TX Oct, 2020

Mackintosh Rose Kimono  Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s famous Rose design has been depicted many ways. Come join this class to create a beautiful Mackintosh Rose Kimono. The stained glass window motif will be fashioned by exploring several different techniques including stretching and couching Wire Lace, stitching on top of the first layer with a beautiful green/black shimmer metallic Sparkle Rays and Bijoux, and using stitches to create transparency. Using Planet Earth silks, Dinky-Dyes Hand dyed silks, Flair, Bijoux, Sparkle Rays, & more this intermediate level design will come to life on an 18ct. white mono canvas. Design size is 8 ¼” x 11 ½”. This is a 2-day class.  Piece can be done as the original (above) kimono or as a rectangle.

Scheduled to Teach: Pilot - Denver, Co, April 2017

                                 ANG National, Anaheim, CA August 2017

                                 GKCNG, Kansas City November 2107

                                 Blue Bonnet Studio, Austin, TX Feb 2018

                                Shenandoah Valley ANG, Feb 2108

                                 NAN, Troy, MI Mar 2018 

                                 ANG ENCORE, Apr 7-8, 2018

                                 EGA GPR Seminar, Sonoma, July, 2018

                                 ANG Chicago chapter, Sept 15-16, 2018

                                 EGA Metropolitan Region Seminar April, 2019

                                       Florham Park, NJ

Moroccan Tile  Feel the warm sun and rich colors of the Moroccan desert while working on this rendition of a tile from the African land of Morocco. Learn many variations of laid filling stitches, Burden stitch & woven stitches using beautiful Silk Lamé Braids in 2 sizes and 3 colors, along with silks by Gumnuts, Soie Cristale, Planet Earth, Soie 100/3 and, Bijoux, threads. This intermediate level design finishes at approximately 12”x12” on white mono 18ct canvas. This is a 2-day class.

Scheduled to Teach: Pilot - Houston, TX May 2017

                                  ANG National, Anaheim, CA August 2017

Zapotec Rug  Rich colors, rich lives, rich textiles – That’s the history of the Zapotec people which live in the Oaxacan area of Mexico. In this class we will explore the variety of designs that the Zapotec people use to create their beautiful work. This Zapotec Rug design is based on research of many different Zapotec designs.  This intermediate level class on sandstone Congress cloth uses the rich colors of wool similar to the actual rug materials. A variety of wool threads will be used to create this beautiful design including Gloriana Lorikeet, Gumnut’s Poppies, Burmilana, & Felicity’s Garden.  The stitches chosen help depict the woven texture of blankets.  Design Size 7” x 9”

Currently an ANG Correspondence Course see the ANG website for details.

Jasper is a beautiful abstract non-symmetrical geometric design highlighting the colors of the earth, specifically the colors found in Leopardskin and Autumn Jasper stones and uses stitch variations to show striations of those stones.  The student will attach actual Jasper stone beads to the piece.  It is an intermediate level canvas embroidery class on eggshell Congress cloth using many different threads in terra cotta, browns, greens, creams, and tans, including silks, soy, wool, acrylic, cotton, and rayon threads.  Design Size:  7” x 6”. This is a 2-day class.

Scheduled to Teach:

              Pilot class - Kansas City, June 2014

             EGA National Seminar, October 2014, Phoenix, AZ

                            Private Class, Houston, TX, November 2016

                           
Available to Teach now

This Navajo Blanket design is based on research of many different Navajo Blanket designs.  In this class we will explore the rich history & variety of designs that the Navajo Indians used to create their beautiful work.  The students can choose to recreate my design or to pick their own. This intermediate level canvas embroidery class on eggshell Congress cloth uses the rich colors of wool similar to the actual blanket materials.  Enough colors of wool threads will be included in the kit to finish my design or the student’s choice of design.  The stitches chosen help depict the woven texture of blankets.  Design Size:  5” x 7 ½”. This is a 2-day class.

Scheduled to Teach:  Pilot Class - Golden, CO May 2014

EGA National Seminar, October 2014, Phoenix, AZ

ANG Correspondence Class Nov 1, 2020 - Apr 30, 2021

Carnival is a bright piece that makes you feel it’s a hot summer day and you are at the carnival.  In this intermediate level class, you will learn several stitches beginning with the Jean Hilton “Kitty’s Double Fan Doubled” stitch, along with a Triangular Ray Eyelet, a Laid Filling stitch, and a bit of Florentine.  After executing the stitches in one direction, your 18-ct. canvas is rotated 90˚’s to repeat the stitches on a smaller scale.  An interesting effect occurs when you view the same stitches at a different angle.  Design size: 10” x 6 1/2". This is a 2-day class.

Scheduled to teach:  Apr 2014, Dogwood Chapter EGA

                                  Calaway School of Needlearts, Pine Mountain,

                                       GA, January 2015

                                   EGA Foothills Chapter, Denver, CO April 2015

                                   Spokane Falls Needlework Guild,

                                         Spokane Falls, WA, May 2016

The Dressmaker's Folly is an intermediate level piece that tells the story of … Lilly, the dressmaker, who was working late one night and thought she would have some fun with the dressmaker’s form.  Using line and texture, you will study perspective as you learn over ten stitches, including a padded appliquéd embellishment technique for the pin cushion.  You will be working on 18 count mono-canvas, which will be included in your kit along with all threads, needles, embellishments, and instructions.  The finished piece is approximately 8” X 14”. This is a 2-day class.

Teaching: ANG Workshop by Mail 2019, Registration 5/1-7/31/19

Texture as A Design Element, an all-level class, will show you how to add texture to your canvases.   After an informative visual presentation, students can choose to stitch small samples of all examples; or stitch a paisley design using the different techniques.   The kit will include all supplies, including many different types of thread, a 14” x 14”, 18 ct. white-opalescent mono canvas, and Ultrasuede™.  This is a 2-day class.
Design Size:  10” x 10”

Scheduled to Teach: 

Needlework Guild of Minnesota Retreat, August 2016

ANG San Bernardino, CA Jun 2017

Fantasy Flowers is a beautiful art nouveau design based on a fireplace tile surround.  This piece will be offered in 3 color choices; the original burgundy/rose combination, as well as, a blue colorway and a coral colorway.  This intermediate level class on white congress cloth uses many different threads in a monochromatic color scheme, including several types of silks, metallics, cottons, & silk ribbons, along with petite glass beads.  Design Size 7" x 12". This is a 2-day class.

Scheduled to Teach: 

ANG National Seminar, August 2014, Chicago, IL

NAN, National Academy of Needlearts, Troy, MI, March 2015  2015  

ANG Correspondence class beginning November 2019

Buena Vista Butterfly is a beautiful goldwork and silk butterfly worked with vibrant colors on a dramatic black or light blue congress cloth background.  In this 2, 3 or 4-day advanced-intermediate level class, you will learn goldwork techniques, including wrapping your gold with silk to create a combination outline for the butterfly.  You will learn a variety of stitches, including padded work, the Gilbert and the Donahue stitches, shading techniques, and work with some old favorite stitches too.  The piece is finished with a light, but effective black on black lattice background using metallic cord.  The more days your schedule the more we cover and the more you can complete.

Scheduled to Teach:  Private Class, Houston, TX , Oct, 2016

                                 ANG Cyberworkshop 5/1-9/1/2019