Hi my name is Tanja Berlin, I have been a professional embroidery teacher and designer for over 10 years.
I started my training in all aspects of embroidery in 1990 at the Royal School of Needlework, where I attended their three year apprenticeship course in all aspects of hand embroidery. I completed the apprenticeship with high honours and then stayed a further two years working on restoration, conservation and commission embroidery pieces in the work room. I also taught day and weekend classes for the apprenticeship course and outside visitors. I also taught classes for the embroiderers guilds in the UK.
For more details on the Royal School of Needlework training and more details on my background visit my Personal History.
In 1995 I took a break from embroidery and spent three years travelling throughout South East Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the US. I met my now husband on my travels and we ended our journey back in his home city of Calgary in Canada where we are now settled.
For the last 5 years I have built up my own embroidery business, teaching at guilds across the whole Canada, designing embroidery kits for classes and for sale over my internet site that I created myself and maintain daily.
When I first arrived in Canada I realized that most of my embroidery techniques that I teach were unheard off by many stitchers or very little practiced in Canada, I also discovered that the students were enthusiastic to try these new techniques. I have formatted my classes so that I teach the class with the absolute beginner in mind so that every detail of the embroidery is covered, This does not mean that the pace of my class is slow and basic, contrary to that I have kept my classes well informed but at a good pace for experienced embroiderers to get all they need from the classes, but covering all the points for the less experienced.
This is also the approach I take when writing the instruction booklets for my kits, the instructions I provide are not the standard one diagram and a few lines of instructions that you will find with cross-stitch and most other embroidery patterns, but detailed well informed instructions with lots of diagrams and the option to email me at any time if you have any questions. I understand that the techniques I offer are unusual and am willing to help people learn them and not to keep the knowledge of these wonderful techniques secret for myself.
I have become well established in Canada and have taught at numerous guilds and seminars.
Alderney Needlearts Guild (Halifax, Nova Scotia, March 2003): Two days for Modern Jacobean, all designs, Lecture.
Arrowsmith Needlearts Guild (Nanaimo, British Columbia, October 2002): Two days for the Needle Painting Wild Rose and Field Mouse.
Baltimore Constellation Chapter, EGA (Baltimore, Maryland USA, March 2007): Two days for Goldwork Tudor Rose and Marguerite and one day class for Goldwork Sampler Heart Design.
Bermuda Stitchery Guild (Bermuda, May 2006): Two days for Goldwork.
Bridge City Needle Arts Guild (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, November 2002): Four days for the Modern Jacobean, all designs. (November 2004): Two days for the Needle Painting Wild Rose.
Bridge City Needle Arts Guild (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, October 2006): Two days for Blackwork.
Calgary Guild of Needle and Fibre Arts (Calgary, Alberta, February 2002, April 2002): Two days for Goldwork, Honey Suckle, Harebell, Cardinal and Marguerite, and two days for Needle painting, Wild Rose, Blue Flax and Field Mouse.
Edmonton Needlecraft Guild (Edmonton, Alberta 2000 and 2001). One day for Etui Box Construction, One day for Shadow Work, Two days for Goldwork, Two days for Fine White Work.
Embroiderers Association of Canada Inc. Seminar 2001 A stitchers Odyssey (hosted by Calgary Guild of Needle and Fibre Arts, Calgary, Alberta, May 2001): Two days for Goldwork Marguerite and Cardinal and Two days for Needle Painting Moose.
Embroiderers Association of Canada Inc. Seminar 2004 Costal Colours (Embroiderers Guild of Victoria, British Columbia, May 2004): Two days for Two-Sided Blossom Branch and Two days for Needle Painting Iris.
Embroiderers Association of Canada Inc. Seminar 2005 Stitchers' Mosaic, Toronto, Ontario: Goldwork Or Nue Dragonfly and Blackwork Peacock.
Embroiderers Guild of America National Seminar 2004 Heartland Harvest (Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA October 2004): Two Days for the Tudor Rose Goldwork Embroidery and Two days for the Red Poll Needle Painting.
Embroiderers Guild of America National Seminar 2006 Gentle Pursuits (Richmond, Virginia, USA October 2006): Two Days for the Blackwork Pheasant and Two, Two Days for the Apple Blossoms Two-Sided Embroidery.
Embroiderers Guild of America Extended Study Program (Louisville, Kentucky USA, March 2006): Four days for the Needle Painting Iris and Field Mouse.
Embroiderers Guild of Victoria (Victoria, British Columbia, 2001 and 2001): Four days for Needle Painting Wild Rose and Field Mouse, One day for Canvas Painting.
High River Embroiderers Guild (High River, Alberta , May 2000): Two days for Needle Painting Wild Rose and Field Mouse.
Monticello Needle Arts Chapter, EGA (Charlottesville, Virginia USA, October 2007): Two days for Needle Painting Red Poll.
New Brunswick Chickadee Chapter (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, April 2006): One day for Needle Painting Maple Leaf.
North Shore Needle Arts (Vancouver, British Columbia, October 2001): One day for Canvas Painting, One day for Modern Jacobean Leaf Motif, One day for Blackwork Chickadee and Fuchsia, One day for Goldwork Honey Suckle.
Okanagan Guild of Needle Arts (Kelowna, British Columbia 2000 and November 2001): Two days for Modern Jacobean and Traditional Jacobean, four designs, Two days for Needle Painting Wild Rose, Lecture.
Okanagan Guild of Needle Arts (Kelowna, British Columbia November 2005): Two days for Blackwork.
Olds Fibre Pot Pourri (Olds, Alberta, May - June 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007): Two days for Blackwork Chickadee and Fuchsia, Two days for Needle Painting Wild Rose, Two days for Needle Painting Red Poll Bird, Two days for Modern Jacobean, three designs. Lecture, Two Days for the Blackwork Butterfly. Two Days for the Iris Needle Painting
Regina Stitchery Guild (Regina, Saskatchewan, 2001): Two days for Modern Jacobean, four designs, Two days for Needle Painting Wild Rose.
Stitchery Guild of Bedford (Bedford, Nova Scotia, April 2006): Two days for the Needle Painting Red Poll and Iris.
St. John's Guild of Embroiderers (St. John's, Newfoundland, March 2003): Two Days for Blackwork Chickadee or Fuchsia, Four Days for Needle Painting Red Poll (Two classes), Lecture.
St. John's Guild of Embroiderers (St. John's, Newfoundland, April 2006): Two days for Modern Jacobean and two days for Goldwork Or Nue Dragonfly.
Sudbury Quilting & Stitchery Guild (Sudbury, Ontario, May 2003): Four days for Modern Jacobean, three designs (Two classes).
The Marigold Guild of Needle Arts (Alderney, Nova Scotia, April 2006): Two days for the Needle Painting Red Poll.
The Purple Needle Embroidery Shop (Calgary, Alberta, Evening and day classes through out 1999, 2000 and 2001): Needle Painting own designs, Painted Canvas, Blackwork Etui Box, Goldwork Tudor Rose, Hapsburg Lace, Canvas Work, Fine White work, Shadow work, Lecture
Town Clock Stitchery Guild (Nova Scotia, April 2006): Two days for Blackwork.
Vancouver Guild of Embroiderers (Vancouver, British Columbia, February 2001): One day for Goldwork Harebell, One day for Shadow Work Angelfish, Squirrelfish and Surgeon, Lecture.
Winnipeg Embroiderers Guild (Winnipeg, Manitoba, October 2001, November 2002), Two days for Needle Painting Wild Rose, Two days for Blackwork Chickadee and Fuchsia, Two days for Modern Jacobean, four designs, Two days for Goldwork Tudor Rose, Lecture.
I am scheduled to teach at the following guilds.
Needlework Guild of Minnesota Retreat 2009 - Held in Minneapolis, USA.
Two day workshop for Apple Blossoms 2-Sided Embroidery on Wednesday 12th of August and Thursday 13th of August 2009.
The student can choose one of the two designs to be worked in the class. Both designs are provided in the kit, the decision of the design to be worked can be made at the class:
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Needlework Guild of Minnesota Retreat 2009 - Held in Minneapolis, USA.
Two day workshop for Blackwork Embroidery on Friday 14th of August and Saturday 15th of August 2009.
The student can work the Blackwork Peacock or the Blackwork Fuchsia or the Spectral Butterfly or the Flight of a Butterfly embroidery.
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Needlework Guild of Minnesota Retreat 2009 - Held in Minneapolis, USA.
Morning workshop for Shadow Work Iris or Tulip on Sunday 16th of August 2009.
The student can work one of the Iris or Tulip or Butterflies designs provided in one kit or Forest (separate kit) Shadow Work embroidery.
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To enquire about Minnesota Retreat 2009 classes visit the: Needlework Guild of Minnesota Website
Beating Around the Bush International Embroidery Convention 2009 - Held in Adelaide, South Australia, Sunday 4th of October to Friday 9th of October.
Two day workshop for Needle Painting Embroidery in October.
The student can work the Iris or the Wild Rabbit embroidery.
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Beating Around the Bush International Embroidery Convention 2009 - Held in Adelaide, South Australia, Sunday 4th of October to Friday 9th of October.
Two day workshop for Blackwork Embroidery in October.
The student can work the Blackwork Peacock or the Blackwork Fuchsia or the Flight of a Butterfly or the Spectral Butterfly or the Blackwork Chickadee embroidery.
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Beating Around the Bush International Embroidery Convention 2009 - Held in Adelaide, South Australia.
One day workshop for 2-Sided Embroidery on Monday 5th of October 2009.
The student will work the Tropical Bird embroidery.
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To enquire about Beating Around the Bush 2009 classes visit the: Country Bumpkins Website
EAC National Seminar 2010 Stitching Outside the Box - Held in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Held Wednesday 19th of May 2010 to Sunday 23rd of May 2010. Registration forms available on the EAC Website.
Two day workshop for Jack Rabbit Needle Painting Embroidery
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Two day workshop for Still Life Goldwork Embroidery
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SCR Seminar 2010 (Embroiderers Guild of America) Stitching Safari - Held in Dallas, Texas, USA. Held Wednesday June 9th to Saturday June 12th 2010. Registration forms available on the EGA Website
Two day workshop for Goldwork Embroidery The student chooses one of the designs below to work in the class.
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One day workshop for 2-Sided Embroidery on Monday 5th of October 2009.
The student will work the Tropical Flower or the Tropical Bird embroidery.
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EGA National Seminar 2010 Stitching on the Barbary Coast - Held in San Francisco, California, USA. Held Monday 6th of September 2010 to Friday 10th of September 2010. Registration forms available on the EGA Website
Two day workshop for Wild Rabbit Needle Painting Embroidery Monday the 6th of September and Tuesday 7th of September
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Two day workshop for Tulip Goldwork Embroidery Thursday the 8th of September and Friday 9th of September
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If you have any questions about the upcoming classes please Contact Me!
To see details about the classes I offer, please visit my Classes Page
To see pictures of students working in my class and details on how I run the class, Click Here!
Private Classes: For the topics of embroidery that can be learnt and costs of a private class go to my Private Classes Page!
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I have had four articles in the Embroiderer's Association of Canada quarterly magazine 'Embroidery Canada' featuring the instructions for my Goldwork sampler. Please see picture below And the first two articles was also featured in the Inspirations Embroidery Magazine by Country Bumpkin Publications. The Goldwork Sampler instructions are now featured on my website and are free, I also carry the metal threads for the sampler.
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I have had a Blackwork Butterfly design featured in the Inspirations Embroidery Magazine by Country Bumpkin Publications. You can now purchase the threads, instructions or complete kit from my Blackwork Kits page.
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I have five needle painting designs featured in the A-Z of Thread Painting by Country Bumpkins Publications. You can see the five designs on the following page of my website and purchase the book. I recommend trying one of my beginners needle painting kits if you have not tried the technique before as my designs in the book are for advanced embroiderers.
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I have the Goldwork Fleur De Lys design and the Plate Design featured in the A-Z of Goldwork by Country Bumpkins Publications. You can see designs on the following page of my website: Goldwork Sampler
Personal History | Classes Information | Contact me | Home Page!
