Toni Gerdes Needlearts

Toni Gerdes Needlearts
29781 County Road 353

Buena Vista, CO 81211
ph: 7192070293
fax: 7192070293
alt: 7192070293
tonigerdes@aol.com

NEW CLASSES !!!

Below are some of my designs. Also see MORE CLASSES !! & EVEN MORE CLASSES !! on the next pages of the website.

Be sure to check them out and where I'll be teaching them next.

There are 1, 2, 3 & 4 day classes. See my Petite Project page or my Lecture Program page for more information on other types of classes. Click on bottom right corner of pictures to see a larger version.

Fire & Ice This dramatic depiction of Fire & Ice flames the imagination with an inferno of hot combustion & icy crystals. You will explore many different shades & textures of red threads as you create the towering red polygons that burst into flames; these include Gloriana silk, cotton, Planet Earth silk, Thread Gatherers cotton, Empress Silk, Treasure Braid & Petite Silk Lamé Braid. On the beautiful smoke gray Congress cloth the ice crystals form above the flames in vertical parallelogram shapes using purple, green and metallic white threads including Petite Silk Lamé Braid, Sparkle! Braid, & Gloriana silk. This intermediate level design is approximately 5 1/2” x 10”. This can be taught as a 2-day or a 3-day class.

Scheduled to Teach: Pilot - Colorado Springs, Co, March 2016
                                 ANG National, New Orleans, LA August 2016
                                 Callaway School of Needlearts, Jan 2017
                                 Blue Bonnet Studio, Febuary 2017
                                 NAN, March 2017
                                 EGA Metropolitan Region, April 2017
                                 Spokane Falls Needlework Guild, June 2017
                                 ANG San Bernardino, June 2017
                                 ANG Chicago Sept 2017
                                 ANG Sassy Stitchers, Chicago, Oct 2017
                                 Seattle. WA Oct 2017
                           ANG Encore, Hershey, PA, Oct 2017
Tucson ANG, Tucson, AZ Nov 2017
                          CheckerSpot Stitchers, Silver Springs, MD, Feb 2018
Sunstitchers ANG, Sarasota, FL Mar 2018
EGA Dixie Chapter, Columbus, GA April 2018
EGA GLR seminar, Middleton, WI Apr 2018
  Cape Cod ANG, May 2018
EGA Cedar Valley Chapter, June 2018
EGA GPR Seminar, Sonoma, July, 2018
ANG Bluebonnet Chapter, Sept 2018
ANG CyberPointers, Nov-Dec 2018
Private group, San Jose, CA, May 2019
Needlework Guild of Minnesota, May 2020
Yellow Rose EGA chapter, Houston, TX Oct 2020   Raleigh ANG Chapter, Raleigh, North Carolina Aug 20201
Natural State Stitchers, Arkansas, Oct 2021
Bronze Purse Bronze, brass, & copper highlight this stunning purse flap. You will explore many separate motifs in this piece. A beautiful brass filigreed clover leaf creates the focal point of the flap, while the combination of metallic and silk threads crafts the areas that will enhance the clover leaf. The threads look beautiful on the Soft Mocha Congress cloth and include Silk Lamé Braid, Sparkle! Braid, Kreinik metallic braid, Accentuate, Bijoux, Overdyed metallic thread by ThreadworX, Impressions & Needlepoint Inc. silk, along with beautiful square Tila Beads by Miyuki. This intermediate level design is approximately 6” x 12”. Each student will receive the unique lining material to finish their flap which has purse patterns covering the fabric. This is a 2-day class.

Scheduled to Teach: Pilot - Denver, May & June 2016
                                 ANG National, New Orleans, August 2016
                                 Callaway School of Needlearts, January 2017
                                 Blue Bonnet Studio, Feb 2017
                                 EGA GLR Seminar, Chicago, IL May 2017
                                 ANG San Bernardino, June 2017
Tulip Trio Spring will burst from your canvas when you stitch this Tulip Trio. The five border frame compliments the tulips with four stitched borders and one using padded fabric appliqué. There will be choices of several different spring colored fabrics to individualize your piece. Tulle fabric will be used to create the sheer leaves with stitching added to outline and show the veins and folds of the leaves. The tulip stems are needle felted right on to the canvas with several shades of green roving. The tulips will be stitched using laid filling stitches and bargello. This intermediate level class on white Congress cloth finishes to a 9.5” x 9.5” design. You will use many interesting threads to create your spring masterpiece including, Gloriana silk, Mandarin Floss, Planet Earth silk, Sparkle! Braid, and fun square beads. This is a 2-day class.

Scheduled to Teach: Pilot - Private Class, Houston, TX, July 2016
ANG National, New Orleans, August 2016
Callaway School of Needlearts, January 2017
Autumn 3-Ways
Maple leaves are done 3 ways in this intermediate level design. Leaf 1 is padded appliquéd fabric (choices). Leaf 2 is a shaded laid filling pattern. Leaf 3 is needle felted with wool roving. Stems & veins are embroidered on top of each leaf. The 5 border frame is stitched in several different stitches picking up the colors in the leaves. The 10” x 10” design it is on eggshell Congress cloth and includes, Painters Threads Overdyed Floss, Planet Earth Silk Veggies, DMC & Anchor floss, Rainbow Gallery Sparkle! Braid and Splendor silk, and Soy Luster Shadows. This is a 2-day class

Scheduled to Teach:

    Pilot Class - Denver Consortium, Colorado Springs, CO March 2015

    ANG National Seminar 2015, Myrtle Beach, SC, September 2015
    Callaway School of Needlearts, Pine Mountain, GA, Jan 2016
    NAN, National Academy of Needlears, Troy, MI, April 2016
    EGA Pikes Peak Chapter, Colorado Springs, CO, May 2016
    Private Class, Houston, Tx, July 2016
    Wisconsin State Days, EGA Fox Valley, August 2016
   ANG Sassy Stitchers, Chicago, IL, Setember 2016
    EGA Heartland Region semina, LaCrosse, WI Mar 2017
    EGA Sandia Mountains Chapter, Albuequerque, NM, Sept 2017
Lehigh Valley EGA, Pennsylvania, May 2019
ANG Shenandoah Valley, Feb 2022
ANG Central Jersey Chapter, October 2022
Empire of the Sun
Empire of the Sun is a kimono based on the Japanese flag design with its traditional rays. In this intermediate level class you will create beautiful shaded rays in your choice of a wine/beige colorway on eggshell congress cloth or a teal/gray colorway on light gray congress cloth. At the top of the design representing the sun you will make a beaded half circle filled with a wide assortment of beads to create a lush rich sun. The beads will spill over onto the kimono to trickle down the back and add sparkle to the rays. The design size is approximately 9” x 12”. The rays are stitched in 5 shades of stranded Soie Cyrstal silk. This is a 2-day class.

Scheduled to teach:
Pilot Class - Houston, TX, Aug 2015

ANG National Seminar 2015, Myrtle Beach, SC, September 2015

ANG Chicago Chapter, Mar 19-20, 2016

EGA GLR Seminar, Chicago, IL May 6-10, 2017

EGA SCR Seminar, Sugarland, TX June 8-10, 2017
Jewel sparkles like a beautiful gemstone combining greens, blues & lavenders in this wonderful geometric design on white Congress Cloth or on 18ct white mono canvas. In this class you will explore combining some Jean Hilton stitches with beautiful complex laid filling stitches to create your Jewel using a variety of metallic threads and a bit of silk, including Rainbow Gallery Sparkle! Braid, Highlights, Treasure Braid, Accentuate, Au ver a Soie, Soie 100/3, beads, and a beautiful Swarovski crystal. This is an advanced-intermediate level design & finishes at 10” x 10” on Congress cloth and 13 ½” x 13 ½” on 18ct. This can be taught as a 2-day or 3-day class.

Scheduled to Teach:
   Pilot class, Greater Kansas City Needlepoint Guild, Kansas City, MO
           July 2015
ANG National Seminar 2015, Myrtle Beach, SC, September 2015
   Callaway School of Needlearts, Pine Mountain, GA, Jan 2016
   Private Class, Houston, TX, Oct 2016
ANG Lone Star Chapter, Houston, TX October, 2021
Leah Ornament Do you appreciate the antique glass Christmas ornaments of old. The Leah Ornament is based on those glass ornaments, but is not breakable. This one day intermediate level class on light blue congress cloth uses cotton & silk flosses along with a couple of sparkly threads and rich glass beads to create a beautiful, rich gemstone colored design of blue, green, & violet. You will learn an interesting “Hot Foil Technique” using a deep metallic blue, which will be applied before stitching begins. The finished ornament with its graceful curves is approximately 5” x 4” and will look beautiful hanging anywhere you choose. Your kit will include all threads, the wonderful foil and applicator, along with everything you need to create a wonderful heirloom ornament. This is a 1-day class.

Scheduled to Teach:
Callaway School of Needlearts, Pine Mountain, GA, Jan 2016
Pretty Petal Pin is a wonderful piece of wearable "needle art". This intermediate level piece is a colorful multi-level pin with 3 color-way choices; peach/yellow, blue/green, or black/red. In this 6-hour class, you will learn 5 stitches including a fun ruching-coiling technique. The finished piece is approximately 3 1/2" in diameter. The kit will include 18 ct. mono-canvas, all threads needles, and instructions. This is a 1-day class.
Scheduled to Teach: Hinsdale Embroidery Guild, Chicago, IL Mar 2016
Stan Hywet Needlework Guild, Ohio November 2020
Zuni Sunrise is a small, but precious piece of needleart studying the specific colors of a western dawn sky. The design represents the earth, sun, and mountains. The addition of the small stone fetish makes the piece special as a protector for the recipient of this piece. In this 1-day intermediate level, canvas embroidery class, using silk, wool, cotton, and Sea Grass threads, you will make Zuni Sunrise come alive with color, study the history & beliefs of the Zuni and their fetishes, and learn about attaching embellishments. The piece is a companion to Zuni Sunset and can be finished several different ways including a wonderful small box. Design Size: 2” x 6” This is a 1-day class.

Scheduled to Teach:
EGA National Seminar, October 2014, Phoenix, AZ EGA SCR Seminar, June, 20, 2015

Available to Teach now
Zuni Sunset is a small, but precious piece of needleart. The design represents the earth, sun, and mountains. The addition of the small turquoise bear fetish makes the piece special and, since the bear fetish is a symbol of health, strength, introspection, and power for the soul, will be a protector for the recipient of this piece. In this 6-hour class using wool, silk, cotton, and Sea Grass threads, you will make Zuni Sunset come alive with color. During the class, the student will receive a small history lesson on Zuni Fetishes and the tribes beliefs revolving around these fetishes, learn several fun stitches, and learn how to attach a small object to canvas. This is a 1-day class.

Scheduled to teach:
      EGA National Seminar, Santa Fe, NM, Oct 2012
      EGA SCR Seminar, Lubbock, TX, June 2015
      ANG CyberPointers, March 2017
   Available to teach now
Christopher Ornament is a beautiful classic Christmas ornament design based on the antique glass Christmas ornaments of old. This one day intermediate level class on white congress cloth uses many different threads in a traditional red, gold, and green color scheme, including two types of metallic threads along with gold triangular beads. An interesting “Hot Foil Technique” will be applied before stitching begins. You will explore layered stitches and what happens when you reverse the order of stitching. Design Size 7" x 9". This is a 1-day class.
Scheduled to Teach:
Pilot Class ANG Columbine, Denver,CO,May 2014
Callaway School of Needlearts, Pine Mountain, GA, January 2015
Available to teach now
2-Day Classes
Golden Ginkgo Kimono is a beautiful kimono which shows the seasonal changes of a Ginkgo tree expressed with silk, metals, and an interesting “Hot Gold Foil Pen” technique on ecru congress cloth. In this 12-hour intermediate- advanced level class, you will personalize your kimono by choosing your own Ginkgo leaf shapes and their placement. You will learn several stitches, including a wonderful blackwork lantern pattern, along with, a new over-shading technique. To finish your kimono, you will design your own signature seal, sometimes called a “chop”. This is a 2-day class.
Scheduled to teach: Kansas City, MO, Dec 2016
EGA Rose City Stitchers, May 2017
Piedmont Chapter ANG, Virginia, Mar 2018
The Wright Kimono is my latest kimono, based on a selection of Frank Lloyd Wright windows, his teachings and ideas. This 2-day, intermediate level class will be fun and also, teach the “perfect circle” concept, some color theory, & some history. Stitches will be taught that enhance the vertical & circular design areas, including learning to stretch Flair & appliqué it to canvas and also, you will learn to attach mirrored tiles to the design. Design Size: 8” 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:
ANG Sangre de Cristo Chapter, Santa Fe, NM, Pilot class - April
ANG National Seminar, August 2014, Chicago, IL
Callaway School of Needlearts, Pine Mountain, GA, January 2015
Blue Bonnet Studio Time, Lost Pines, TX. Gebruary 2015
Georgia chapter, EGA, Atlanta, GA March 2015
NAN - National Academy of Needlearts, Troy, MI, March 2015
Chicago ANG - Chicago, IL May 2015
Olympic Chapter, ANG - Olympia, WA June 2015
ANG Lonestar Chapter, Houston, TX, Aug 2015
Sassy Stitchers ANG - Chicago, IL September 2015
ANG San Diego, Feb 2016
ANG CyberPointers, Apr-Jun 2016
Red Hot Stitchers, Las Cruses, NM, April, 2016
EGA GPR, Eugene, OR, June 2016
Needlework Guild of Minnesota Retreat, August, 2016
ANG Bluebonnet Chapter, Austin, TX, September, 2016
ANG Columbine Chapter, Denver, CO, Novemeber 2016
Shining Needle Society Cyber class, May 2019
Gateway ANG Chapter, St. Louis, MO June 2021
Color Choices: Purples, Coppers, or Greens (see below for other colorways)

Hearts & Ribbons is a gorgeous 4-way geometric that uses silks, braided metallic cords, overdyed cotton, and beads to contrast with a dramatic black background on congress cloth. In this 12-hour advanced-intermediate level class, you will learn several stitches, including Fleur-de-lis hearts, Half-Rhodes, a wonderful faux-woven stitch for the outer border, along with, 2 types of bead embellishment. You will, also, learn a technique of combining several simple stitches to make an elaborate ribbon border and an interesting over-shading method. This is a 2-day class.

Scheduled to teach:
EGA Bravos Valley Chapter, College Station, May 2014
EGA RMR Seminar, Albuquerque, NM, Jul-Aug 2014

EGA Rose City Stitchers, Oregon, October 2014

EGA CyberStitchers, October-November 2014

EGA Cedar Valley chapter, June 2018

ANG Correspondence class beginning Nov 2019

Hearts & Ribbons - Alternate Copper Colorway
Hearts & Ribbons - Alternate Green colorway
Geometric Butterfly is a wonderful design inspired by the teachings of Frank Llyod Wright. This intermediate level piece is a colorful fun piece. In this 2-day class, you will learn several stitches, specifically focusing on shading techniques. The finished piece is approximately 3 5/8” by 7 5/8”. You will be working on 24 count Congress Cloth, which will be included in your kit along with all threads, needles, and instructions. The threads in the kit include Rainbow Gallery silk, DMC Floss, Soie d’Alger silk, Thread Gatherer’s silk, and Gold Coronet Braid by Rainbow Gallery. This is a 2-day class.

Scheduled to Teach: ANG National Seminar, Chicago, IL, August 2014 EGA Evergreen chapter, Sept. 2014 Private Class, April 2015 ANG Nebraska Canvasbacks, Omaha, NE August 2015 ANG Polamar Mountain Stitchers, Escondido, CA Sept 2016
EGA RMR - Correspondence class, Registration 6/1-30/17
Georgia EGA, Nov 2018
Color Choices: Red/Green, Lavender/Green or Blue/Green

“Let It Snow” is a wonderful winter piece that uses many variations of Jean Hilton stitches for the snowflakes. The snowflakes, on 18 ct. mono canvas (Red, Lavender, or Leventeen Blue), are framed with an intricate and beautiful seven row border. The border, stitched in red/lavender/blue, green and white (depending on the students choice), sets off the minimalism of the snowflakes with its detail and beauty. The use of Rainbow Gallery Sparkle! Braid, for the snowflakes, represents the snow with just a bit of sparkle; just as the snow looks on a frosty morning when the sun shines on the fresh white snow. Five shades of DMC red, lavender, or blue floss and four shades of DMC green floss along with a repeat use of the white Sparkle! Braid combine to make a complex shaded border for this beautiful piece. The other color choices of Lavenders & Greens or Blues & Greens make soft winter scenes. The student will need to bring 19” x 19” stretcher bars, normal stitching supplies, and light, magnification, and frame holder. This is a 2-day class.

Scheduled to teach:
            Blue Bonnet Studio, February 2015, Lost Pines, TX

            EGA Heartland Region Seminar, Minneapolis, MN
                     April 2015

Design Size: 15" x 15"                       Available to teach now
Royal Kimono is a beautiful sampler kimono. The many colors of gold thread, used together in this piece, weave a tapestry of gold. Using many different silks, linen, nylon, rayon, cotton, velvet, and one metallic thread, in the same color family, shows off the texture of the threads in the vertical, horizontal, and diagonal stripes, and in 2 overall design areas. The numerous stitches that you will learn in this sampler piece create a tapestry fabric for the kimono. The kimono is stitched on 18 count eggshell mono canvas and is at Intermediate Level.
Picking your own special color of silk to mount, mat, or finish this piece and coordinating that color with your own designed chop will make this piece the highlight of any home. We will discuss & design a personalized chop in class and discuss color choices for finishing. Design Size: 7½” x 8 1/2". This is a 2-day class.

Stan Hywet Needlework Guild, May 2014, Akron, OH
Shining Needle Society, August/September 2020
Golden Petals, a small piece, approximately 4” x 6”, focuses in on one small flower, but creates a beautiful design with the use of goldwork petals and leaves. The petals and stems use a technique of wrapping silk thread in the grooves of the gold to finish with a two-color effect. The basket is stitched with a woven stitch and metallic thread to create the look of an elegant real basket. The top and bottom of the basket finish off the piece with a nice edge. Design size: 4” x 6”. This is a 2-day class.
Scheduled to teach:
      EGA Baton Rouge Chapter, Baton Rouge, LA November 2014
      ANG Oklahoma Chapter, Oklahoma City, February 2017
ANG Piedmont Chapter, February 2022