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.
Beating Around The Bush: Country Bumpkins Embroidery Seimnar (Adelaide, South Australia October 2009): two days of Blackwork and two days of Needle Painting Wild Rabbit and Iris. And one day for the Tropical Bird Two-Sided Embroidery.
Bermuda Stitchery Guild (Bermuda, May 2006): Two days for Goldwork.
Bridge City Needle Arts Guild (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, November 2002 and and November 2004 and October 2006): 2002: Four days for the Modern Jacobean, all designs. 2004: Two days for the Needle Painting Wild Rose. 2006: Two days for Blackwork.
Calgary Guild of Needle and Fibre Arts (Calgary, Alberta, February 2002 and April 2002 and February 2009): 2002: Two days for Goldwork, Honey Suckle, Harebell, Cardinal and Marguerite. 2002: Two Days for Needle painting, Wild Rose, Blue Flax and Field Mouse. 2009: Two Days for Needle Painting.
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 May 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 May 2005 Stitchers' Mosaic, (Toronto, Ontario, Canada): Two Day for Goldwork Or Nue Dragonfly and Two Days for the Blackwork Peacock.
Embroiderers Association of Canada Inc. Kelowna Seminar May 2008, (Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada): Two Days for the Red Fox Needle Painting Embroidery and Two Days for the Robin in Grass Needle Painting Embroidery.
Embroiderers Association of Canada Inc. Islands Stitches Seminar May 2009, (Kingston, Ontario, Canada): Two Days for the Goldwork Tulip Embroidery and Two Days for the Blackwork Pheasants Embroidery.
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 National Seminar 2007 That Needlin' Town (Chicago, Illinois, USA September 2007): Two Days for the Red Fox Needle Painting Embroidery and Four Days for the Robin on Blossom Branch Needle Painting Embroidery.
Embroiderers Guild of America National Seminar 2008 Goldwn Galla 50th Anniversary (Louisville, Kentucky, USA September 2008): Two Days for the Pygmy Owl Needle Painting Embroidery and Two Days for the Blackwork Pheasants 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 October 2007): 2001: Four days for Needle Painting Wild Rose and Field Mouse, One day for Canvas Painting. 2007: Two Days for Goldwork Embroidery.
Creston Valley Embroiderers Guild (Creston, British Columbia. November 2007): Needle Painting Embroidery and Modern Jacobean Embroidery.
Heartland Region Mini Seminar EGA (Iowa, USA, April 2007 and April 2009): 2007: Two Days for the Flight of a Butterfly Blackwork Embroidery and Two Days for the Red Poll Needle Painting Embroidery. 2009: Two Days for Goldwork Embroidery (Three Designs) and Two days for Needle Painting Embroidery.
High River Embroiderers Guild (High River, Alberta, May 2000): Two days for Needle Painting Wild Rose and Field Mouse.
Houston Embroiderers Guild EGA (Houston, Texas, USA, October 2009): Two days for Blackwork Embroidery and Two Days for Needle Embroidery. Lecture
Lakeshore Creative Stitchery Guild (Montreal, Quebec, Canada, October 2005): Two days for Red Poll Needle Painting Embroidery.
Monticello Needle Arts Chapter EGA (Charlottesville, Virginia USA, October 2007): Two days for Needle Painting Red Poll.
Needle Work Guild of Minnesota EGA (Minnesota, USA, August 2009): Two days for 2-Sided Embroidery, two days for Blackwork Embroidery and one day for Shadow Work embroidery.
New Brunswick Chickadee Chapter (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, April 2006): One day for Needle Painting Maple Leaf.
Norfolk's Own Needle Arts Guild (Ontario, Canada November 2008): Two days for Modern Jacobean Embroidery.
North Shore Needle Arts (Vancouver, British Columbia, October 2001 and October 2007): 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. 2007: Two Days for Needle Painting
Okanagan Guild of Needle Arts (Kelowna, British Columbia 2000 and November 2001 and and November 2005 November 2009): 2000: Two days for Modern Jacobean and Traditional Jacobean, four designs, 2001: Two days for Needle Painting Wild Rose, Lecture. 2005: Two days for Blackwork. 2009: Two Days Mountmellick.
Olds Fibre Pot Pourri (Olds, Alberta, May - June 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009): 200: Two days for Blackwork Chickadee and Fuchsia, 2001: Two days for Needle Painting Wild Rose, 2002: Two days for Needle Painting Red Poll Bird, 2003: Two days for Modern Jacobean, three designs. Lecture, 2004: Two Days for the Blackwork Butterfly. 2007: Two Days for the Iris Needle Painting. 2009: Two Days for Blackwork.
Ottawa Valley Guild of Stitchery (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada October 2005 and November 2008): 2005: Two days for Needle Painting Burrowing Owl and Iris Embroideries. 2008: Two Sided Embroidery and Blackwork Embroidery.
Peterborough Embroiderers Guild (Ontario, Canada November 2008): Two days for Blue Flax and Red Poll Needle Painting Embroideries.
Quinte Needle Arts Guild (Ontario, Canada November 2008): Two days for Modern Jacobean Embroidery.
Regina Stitchery Guild (Regina, Saskatchewan, 2001): Two days for Modern Jacobean, four designs, Two days for Needle Painting Wild Rose.
Salt Lake City ANG Embroiderers Guild (Salt Lake City, Utah, USA April 2009): Two Days for the Iris and Red Poll Needle Painting Embroideries.
Simcoe County Embroidery Guild (Ontario, Canada November 2008): Two days for the Iris and Wild Rose Needle Painting Embroideries.
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 and April 2006): 2003: Two Days for Blackwork Chickadee or Fuchsia, Four Days for Needle Painting Red Poll (Two classes), Lecture. 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
Toronto Guild of Stitchery (Toronto, Ontario, Canada November 2008): Two days for the Red Fox and the Red Poll Needle Painting Embroideries.
Town Clock Stitchery Guild (Nova Scotia, April 2006): Two days for Blackwork.
Vancouver Guild of Embroiderers (Vancouver, British Columbia, February 2001 and October 2007): 2001: Two days for Goldwork Harebell, One day for Shadow Work Angelfish, Squirrelfish and Surgeon, Lecture. 2007: Two Days for Blackwork Embroidery.
Winnipeg Embroiderers Guild (Winnipeg, Manitoba, October 2001, November 2002), 2001: Two days for Needle Painting Wild Rose, Two days for Blackwork Chickadee and Fuchsia, 2002: Two days for Modern Jacobean, four designs, Two days for Goldwork Tudor Rose, Lecture.
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.
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
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