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Barbara M. Kershaw has a passion for learning and sharing her knowledge of the many varied and wonderful forms of embroidery generally called whitework. She has taken many courses and classes from the EAC, EGA, and ANG. Barbara is certified as an EGA Master Craftsman in counted thread. She also studied in Germany at the Museum de Schwalm in 2005 and 2011. She has been teaching for over 20 years at various EAC national seminars, EGA national and regional seminars, guilds in Canada, America and Bermuda as well as two International teaching tours of the USA. Barbara is the author of EGA Group Correspondence Courses – Noel and Individual Correspondence Course Basic Study of Schwalm Embroidery. Her book Exquisite Schwalm focuses on Schwalm filling stitches.

Jane Ellen Balzuweit holds teacher certifications in pulled thread and counted thread with the Embroiderers’ Guild of America. She has taught at various EGA national and regional seminars, Embroidery Association of Canada (EAC) seminars and for The National NeedleArts Association (TNNA). She authored correspondence courses for EGA and American Needlepoint Guild (ANG) and designed a petite project for EGA. Jane Ellen has taught cyber classes for ANG and the Shining Needle Society, designed for Rainbow Gallery and owned and operated a needlework store for 35 years.

Group Correspondence Course: A Touch of Fall with Jane Ellen Balzuweit

Carolyn Standing Webb has a degree in education but finds needlework much more rewarding to teach. She grew up in a home where art was a part of everyday life and creativity was encouraged. An EGA member of our Wasatch, Salt Lake City Chapter, she has been a needlework designer and teacher for over twenty years, teaching on the local, regional and national levels. She has a line of patterns available in retail stores. Several pieces of her work have been published in books and magazines and she has won a number of prizes for her needlework. She has her Master Craftsman in Counted Thread. Her goal is to share with her students her love of needlework and to help them relax and enjoy it.

Carol Currier is certified by the National Academy of Needlearts (NAN) as a surface embroidery teacher. She served on the national board of The Embroiderers’ Guild of America (EGA) for eight years including as national President from 2007-2009. Carol is currently the EGA Chair of the Master Craftsman program in crewel embroidery. She was honored in the September 2018 Needle Arts as Designer Across America. Carol holds memberships in EGA, NAN, American Needlepoint Guild (ANG), and National Association of Needlework Teachers (NETA). She is a partner in a needlework shop in Pinehurst, North Carolina.

Gail Stafford holds EGA Master Craftsman certifications in Canvas Embroidery, Color for Needlework and Design for Needlework. She is the author of Undulations II, an EGA correspondence course. She has been on the faculty of ANG and EGA seminars and has presented numerous programs for ANG and EGA chapters. Her current needlework focus is on translating scenic images into canvas embroidery designs, but she also enjoys Bargello. Her work has won many prestigious awards and has been published in Needle Pointers, Needle Arts, and Needlepoint Now.

Marion Scoular is a 3-year, Mark Excellent graduate of The Royal School of Needlework and a City and Guild’s Silver medallist. She has taught dressmaking in English High Schools, owned The Robin Hood Wool Shop for 13 years; taught Adult Education for Clemson University and has judged, lectured and taught in 49 states, Canada, Mexico and Australia. She is the author of many booklets and articles on Embroidery techniques

Jonalene is EGA certified in Counted Thread. She is a member of our Indian River Chapter in Florida and has been teaching various forms of needlework since 1982 at EGA chapters, and events at the regional and national level. She has over sixty needlework publications under the name of Friends in Needlework and three retired EGA Group Correspondence Courses.

Kim Sanders is an EGA certified teacher in crewel and surface embroidery and a Master Craftsman in surface embroidery and in smocking. She holds a degree in Textiles and Clothing from the University of Tennessee. Kim has taught at shops, chapters, EGA national and regional seminars and has authored four GCC, an ICC, and several Petite Projects. Her articles and designs have appeared in Inspirations, Needle Arts, Australian Smocking and Embroidery and The Smocking Arts. She filmed four embroidery focused segments of the PBS program, Creative Living with Sheryl Borden.

J. Marsha Michler is a nonfiction author of 13 printed books, and 8 self-published eBooks on the topics of crazy quilting, embroidery, silk ribbon embroidery, wire jewelry, and knitting. Her quilts have won awards at quilting shows, and her work has been featured in national magazines and other publications including our Needle Arts magazine. Holding a degree in Business Marketing, and three-quarters of a degree in fine arts, summa cum laude and dean’s list, she has taught classes on crazy quilting, embroidery, and wire jewelry. She actively pursues crazy quilting, embroidery, fiber spinning, knitting, fiction and poetry writing, ballroom dancing, stone wall building, and resides with her husband and dog in the beautiful and inspiring foothills of Southern Maine.

Barbara M. Kershaw has a passion for learning and sharing her knowledge of the many varied and wonderful forms of embroidery generally called whitework. She has taken many courses and classes from the EAC, EGA, and ANG. Barbara is certified as an EGA Master Craftsman in counted thread. She also studied in Germany at the Museum de Schwalm in 2005 and 2011. She has been teaching for over 20 years at various EAC national seminars, EGA national and regional seminars, guilds in Canada, America and Bermuda as well as two International teaching tours of the USA. Barbara is the author of EGA Group Correspondence Courses – Noel and Individual Correspondence Course Basic Study of Schwalm Embroidery. Her book Exquisite Schwalm focuses on Schwalm filling stitches.

India specializes in contemporary and ethnic surface embroidery techniques including Yemenite Jewish and Yemenite Israeli embroidery, clothing embellishment, and fabric collage. She also teaches courses on embroidery design, Middle Eastern costume construction and embellishment, and nontraditional needlepoint and blackwork. Her articles on these subjects have appeared in Threads and Needle Arts magazines. An EGA Certified Teacher, India is the recipient of two EGA Legacy Scholarships and one Research Fellowship Grant. In 2017, she presented a lecture on “Embroidery, Clothing, and Feminine Identity in Jewish Yemen” at the Casper College Humanities Festival and Demorest Lecture.

Laura Smith is an embroidery innovator, nationally known designer, and teacher. She holds the Master Craftsman in Color from the Embroiderers Guild of America (EGA) and has won their National Gold Thread Award for service in 2021. She has served as chair for the Master Craftsman in Color Program from 2006 – 2018, Chairman of Fiber Forum (2011 – 2015), seven terms as president of her chapter, and has held every chapter office. She is a former Executive Director of an arts center and holds an MBA as well as an undergraduate degree in chemistry — valuable for understanding paint and mixed media materials.

Kim Sanders is an EGA certified teacher in crewel and surface embroidery and a Master Craftsman in surface embroidery and in smocking. She holds a degree in Textiles and Clothing from the University of Tennessee. Kim has taught at shops, chapters, EGA national and regional seminars and has authored four GCC, an ICC, and several Petite Projects. Her articles and designs have appeared in Inspirations, Needle Arts, Australian Smocking and Embroidery and The Smocking Arts. She filmed four embroidery focused segments of the PBS program, Creative Living with Sheryl Borden.

Cheryl Sharp has been a member of the Washington DC Chapter of EGA since 1981. She took a wide variety of classes in her chapter, region and at National Seminars before focusing on surface embroidery. She particularly enjoys crewel embroidery and stumpwork, and she adds beads and metal threads to spice things up! She was chair of EGA’s 17th National Exhibit and has been a contributing editor of Needle Arts since 2008, writing the Design Across America series as well as project articles. In 2007, she co-authored A Sampler of Crewel Stitches after examining an embroidery from EGA’s collection.

Carol Currier is certified by the National Academy of Needlearts (NAN) as a surface embroidery teacher. She served on the national board of The Embroiderers’ Guild of America (EGA) for eight years including as national President from 2007-2009. Carol is currently the EGA Chair of the Master Craftsman program in crewel embroidery. She was honored in the September 2018 Needle Arts as Designer Across America. Carol holds memberships in EGA, NAN, American Needlepoint Guild (ANG), and National Association of Needlework Teachers (NETA). She is a partner in a needlework shop in Pinehurst, North Carolina.

Margaret Kinsey is an EGA certified teacher in silk and metal thread embroidery. She is certified to teach Japanese traditional embroidery. She is the designated US teacher for the Kunimitsu Rozashi Studio and studies with Fumiko Ozaki. Margaret is the 2010 recipient of the national EGA Gold Thread Award and teaches at all levels of EGA. She teaches at national seminars and chapters of ANG and EAC. She was the 2012 keynote speaker and taught at the New Zealand Embroidery Guild Conference in Christchurch, NZ, and toured, taught, and lectured additional venues in New Zealand. Margaret chaired the 5th, 6th and 7th EGA International Embroidery Conferences. She received the Lifetime Achievement Award from NAN, 2021.

Barbara M. Kershaw has a passion for learning and sharing her knowledge of the many varied and wonderful forms of embroidery generally called whitework. She has taken many courses and classes from the EAC, EGA, and ANG. Barbara is certified as an EGA Master Craftsman in counted thread. She also studied in Germany at the Museum de Schwalm in 2005 and 2011. She has been teaching for over 20 years at various EAC national seminars, EGA national and regional seminars, guilds in Canada, America and Bermuda as well as two International teaching tours of the USA. Barbara is the author of EGA Group Correspondence Courses – Noel and Individual Correspondence Course Basic Study of Schwalm Embroidery. Her book Exquisite Schwalm focuses on Schwalm filling stitches.

Marion Scoular is a 3-year, Mark Excellent graduate of The Royal School of Needlework and a City and Guild’s Silver medallist. She has taught dressmaking in English High Schools, owned The Robin Hood Wool Shop for 13 years; taught Adult Education for Clemson University and has judged, lectured and taught in 49 states, Canada, Mexico and Australia. She is the author of many booklets and articles on Embroidery techniques

Margaret Kinsey is an EGA certified teacher in silk and metal thread embroidery. She is certified to teach Japanese traditional embroidery. She is the designated US teacher for the Kunimitsu Rozashi Studio and studies with Fumiko Ozaki. Margaret is the 2010 recipient of the national EGA Gold Thread Award and teaches at all levels of EGA. She teaches at national seminars and chapters of ANG and EAC. She was the 2012 keynote speaker and taught at the New Zealand Embroidery Guild Conference in Christchurch, NZ, and toured, taught, and lectured additional venues in New Zealand. Margaret chaired the 5th, 6th and 7th EGA International Embroidery Conferences. She received the Lifetime Achievement Award from NAN, 2021.

Denise Harrington Pratt is an artist and needlework designer with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a passion for counted thread embroidery on linen. Denise has been teaching needlework since 1995. She has taught at Spirit of Cross Stitch Festivals, National and Regional Seminars for the Embroiderers’ Guild of America, Inc., and EGA chapters. She also has developed Group Correspondence Courses and Online Courses for EGA. Denise is an active member of the Southern Maine Chapter of EGA.

Carol Currier is certified by the National Academy of Needlearts (NAN) as a surface embroidery teacher. She served on the national board of The Embroiderers’ Guild of America (EGA) for eight years including as national President from 2007-2009. Carol is currently the EGA Chair of the Master Craftsman program in crewel embroidery. She was honored in the September 2018 Needle Arts as Designer Across America. Carol holds memberships in EGA, NAN, American Needlepoint Guild (ANG), and National Association of Needlework Teachers (NETA). She is a partner in a needlework shop in Pinehurst, North Carolina.

Kay Stanis is an internationally known fiber artist, designer, Master Craftsman, and Certified and Graduate Certified Teacher of EGA and Kurenai Kai Traditional Japanese Embroidery.  She has been on the faculties of American Needlepoint Guild national seminars, Callaway School of Needlearts, Embroiderers Association of Canada, EGA national and regional seminars, Koala Conventions, South Australia Embroidery Conference, Embroidery 2000 (New Zealand), and many independent groups.

Kay Stanis is an internationally known fiber artist, designer, Master Craftsman, and Certified and Graduate Certified Teacher of EGA and Kurenai Kai Traditional Japanese Embroidery.  She has been on the faculties of American Needlepoint Guild national seminars, Callaway School of Needlearts, Embroiderers Association of Canada, EGA national and regional seminars, Koala Conventions, South Australia Embroidery Conference, Embroidery 2000 (New Zealand), and many independent groups.

Gwen T. Nelson joined The Embroiderers’ Guild of America in 1997.  She is a member of the Louisville Chapter and a member of National Embroidery Teachers’ Association. She has served as the Tennessee Valley Region Director for four years, has chaired two region seminars and has served as the EGA national president. Gwen has been designing and teaching beaded pieces since 2000. She has taught both at the EGA chapter and region levels and at other venues outside of EGA. Gwen designed the pieces that were beaded by the thirteen region directors for the live auctions at the 2009, 2010, and 2011 EGA national seminars and the pieces that were donated by the EGA executive committee for the auction at the 2013 and 2014 national seminars. She also designed the 2013 national seminar logo beaded pin.

Gwen Nelson has been a teacher, Personnel Director for Jefferson County (KY) Government and a high school principal. Gwen has her doctorate In Administration and Finance from the University of Louisville.

Denise Harrington Pratt is an artist and needlework designer with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a passion for counted thread embroidery on linen. Denise has been teaching needlework since 1995. She has taught at Spirit of Cross Stitch Festivals, National and Regional Seminars for the Embroiderers’ Guild of America, Inc., and EGA chapters. She also has developed Group Correspondence Courses and Online Courses for EGA. Denise is an active member of the Southern Maine Chapter of EGA.

Laura Smith is an embroidery innovator, nationally known designer, and teacher. She holds the Master Craftsman in Color from the Embroiderers Guild of America (EGA) and has won their National Gold Thread Award for service in 2021. She has served as chair for the Master Craftsman in Color Program from 2006 – 2018, Chairman of Fiber Forum (2011 – 2015), seven terms as president of her chapter, and has held every chapter office. She is a former Executive Director of an arts center and holds an MBA as well as an undergraduate degree in chemistry — valuable for understanding paint and mixed media materials.

Melinda Sherbring came to embroidery through her fascination with historical crafts. An aerospace software engineer until retiring in 2013, she now teaches needlework with designs rooted in history. She has written two EGA GCCs, taught EGA’s 2020 Extended Study Program, and was featured in the March 2018 Needle Arts magazine as Designer Across America.

Barbara M. Kershaw has a passion for learning and sharing her knowledge of the many varied and wonderful forms of embroidery generally called whitework. She has taken many courses and classes from the EAC, EGA, and ANG. Barbara is certified as an EGA Master Craftsman in counted thread. She also studied in Germany at the Museum de Schwalm in 2005 and 2011. She has been teaching for over 20 years at various EAC national seminars, EGA national and regional seminars, guilds in Canada, America and Bermuda as well as two International teaching tours of the USA. Barbara is the author of EGA Group Correspondence Courses – Noel and Individual Correspondence Course Basic Study of Schwalm Embroidery. Her book Exquisite Schwalm focuses on Schwalm filling stitches.

Terri Bay, a teacher and designer from South Carolina, began teaching Ukrainian Whitework at Nordic Needle’s retreat. One class lead to another and now she has taught Ukrainian Whitework, Hardanger, Pulled and Drawn Thread and Blackwork at the EGA National Seminars, ANG Seminars, NAN, Regional Seminars, chapter workshops, and various retreats and other fun events. She was honored to be featured as the Designer Across America in the June 2018 issue of Needle Arts Magazine and will have a design in Needle Pointers in the fall of 2021. Terri is a member of EGA, EAC, ANG, and NETA. www.terribayneedleworkdesigns.com

Katherine Diuguid is a studio artist specializing in hand embroidery, dressmaking, and textiles. Her current work investigates color theory and color interactions within stitching, especially goldwork embroidery. She has taught embroidery and textile workshops both nationally and internationally. She held a tenure-track position at North Carolina State University (2012-2017) until deciding to focus fully on her studio embroidery. She has been awarded artist residencies at the North Carolina Museum of Art (Fall 2017) and Penland School of Crafts (Winter 2018 and Winter 2019). Additionally, Katherine has had the opportunity to work on special projects for Durham Cathedral (UK) stitching Panel 10 of the new Open Treasures Cope and for the Art Institute of Chicago stitching a sampler based on their beautiful Burgo de Osma Altarpiece. www.katherinediuguid.com

Kurdy Biggs is a counted canvas designer, teacher and owner of Threedles Needleart Designs. Kurdy holds a Level II teachers’ certification from NAN. Her geometric designs have won numerous awards from EGA, ANG, NAN, TNNA and Woodlawn. She has been published in Needle Pointers, Needlepoint Now, and Cross Stitch and Needlework. Kurdy has taught for EGA, NAN and ANG national and regional seminars and in retail shops. Visit www.threedles.com for more information.

Catherine Jordan holds Master Craftsman certifications in the counted thread, crewel, color, and design programs of EGA. She is currently chair of the Master Craftsman design program and Master Craftsman Coordinator. Catherine is a certified Zentangle® teacher and former juried member of EGA’s artists’ group, Fiber Forum. Catherine teaches at local needlework chapters and regional, national, and international seminars. www.CatherinesDesigns.net 

Emma Broughton is a graduate of both the Royal School of Needlework Apprenticeship (2009) and The University of the Creative Arts (2012). Specialising in hand embroidery as well as screen printing and digital fabric design.

She is the Author of ‘Embroidered Boxes’ book published in April 2019.

Under the name Fairy Wren Embroidery, she teaches embroidery and box making classes, and offers a wide range of embroidery kits and undertakes commissions with her unique designs. Embroidered box making is her true passion because it combines her love of embroidery with 3D construction.

Kathy Andrews is a textile artist and embroidery teacher who works with students of all abilities, teaching them the techniques and the joy of hand embroidery. She received her Certificate of Technical Hand Embroidery with Merit from the Royal School of Needlework and her City and Guilds Certificate in Design and Stitched Textiles. Her work has been exhibited at several shows and galleries across Ireland and the United Kingdom. Kathy is a member of the Cedar Valley Chapter of the EGA and the EGA Fiber Forum. With her enthusiasm for stitch and encouraging classroom atmosphere, she is a sought-after teacher of embroidery. Kathy has taught for EGA chapters in the United States, a mini-class at EGA National and globally in her many online courses.

Susan Hoekstra is a Senior Master Teacher, receiving her certification from the ANG. She has been teaching in Europe and the United States for 23 years and taught classes and studio time in Brussels, BE, London, UK and Utrecht, NL from 1996 to 2001. She is the designer of the 2016 ANG SOTM, “Pineapple Leaves.” ANG national seminars include “Teaching Needlework 101” and “Stacked Rectangles” at the ANG 2020 Virtual Seminar, “Waiting For The Chickens” in Washington, D.C., “Maple Leaves” and “American Folk Sampler” in New Orleans, “Hark, The Herald Angel” and “A Thread for All Seasons in Myrtle Beach, “A Berlin Work Cardinal” in Chicago, “Ben’s Kites” in Philadelphia, and “Dove in The Window” in San Antonio; as well as presenting color theory talks and needlework classes at the regional level in Irvington, VA, Chatham, NJ, Hyde park, NY, Devon, PA, Pottstown, PA, Camden, ME, and College Station, PA; in addition to other locations. Her strong belief in color theory greatly influences her way of teaching and she encourages her students to be creative in the stitching process. Her designs focus on “quilt geometrics,” animals and primitives.

J. Marsha Michler is a nonfiction author of 13 printed books, and 8 self-published eBooks on the topics of crazy quilting, embroidery, silk ribbon embroidery, wire jewelry, and knitting. Her quilts have won awards at quilting shows, and her work has been featured in national magazines and other publications including our Needle Arts magazine. Holding a degree in Business Marketing, and three-quarters of a degree in fine arts, summa cum laude and dean’s list, she has taught classes on crazy quilting, embroidery, and wire jewelry. She actively pursues crazy quilting, embroidery, fiber spinning, knitting, fiction and poetry writing, ballroom dancing, stone wall building, and resides with her husband and dog in the beautiful and inspiring foothills of Southern Maine.

Kim Beamish has been embroidering for over 25 years. Kim is a certified teacher through the Embroiderers’ Association of Canada (EAC/ACB). She is a counsellor for EAC/ ACB. She holds a Mastercraftsman in Counted Thread from the Embroider’s Guild of America (EGA). Kim has taught classes and workshops for EAC/AC and EGA. Her passion and curiosity for embroidery has led to her exploring many media and needlework techniques. Kim designs two and three dimensional pieces that combine techniques. Her pieces have been exhibited internationally and have received many awards. Kim’s designs have been published in books such as Cross Stitch Christmas and Whitework Inspirations. Many projects have been featured in magazines world wide such as A Needle Pulling Thread, Just CrossStitch , Stitch and Inspirations magazines.

After spending her early years as an expatriate, Valentina Grub graduated from Wellesley College (BA hons Medieval & Renaissance Studies, Classical Civilization), then continued to the University of St. Andrews (MPhil, PhD Medieval Art History). She also works as a freelance embroiderer and textile historian and has written two epistolary novels set in 1820s Europe. She currently lives in Saratoga Springs, NY. For more information, go to https://valentinasgrub.com/

Laura Smith is an embroidery innovator, nationally known designer, and teacher. She holds the Master Craftsman in Color from the Embroiderers Guild of America (EGA) and has won their National Gold Thread Award for service in 2021. She has served as chair for the Master Craftsman in Color Program from 2006 – 2018, Chairman of Fiber Forum (2011 – 2015), seven terms as president of her chapter, and has held every chapter office. She is a former Executive Director of an arts center and holds an MBA as well as an undergraduate degree in chemistry — valuable for understanding paint and mixed media materials.

Kim Beamish has been embroidering for over 25 years. Kim is a certified teacher through the Embroiderers’ Association of Canada (EAC/ACB). She is a counsellor for EAC/ ACB. She holds a Mastercraftsman in Counted Thread from the Embroider’s Guild of America (EGA). Kim has taught classes and workshops for EAC/AC and EGA. Her passion and curiosity for embroidery has led to her exploring many media and needlework techniques. Kim designs two and three dimensional pieces that combine techniques. Her pieces have been exhibited internationally and have received many awards. Kim’s designs have been published in books such as Cross Stitch Christmas and Whitework Inspirations. Many projects have been featured in magazines world wide such as A Needle Pulling Thread, Just CrossStitch , Stitch and Inspirations magazines.

Jonalene is EGA certified in Counted Thread. She is a member of our Indian River Chapter in Florida and has been teaching various forms of needlework since 1982 at EGA chapters, and events at the regional and national level. She has over sixty needlework publications under the name of Friends in Needlework and three retired EGA Group Correspondence Courses.

Hailing from South Africa, Hazel Blomkamp is the author of 10 – going on 11 – books. She has designed, written about and taught embroidery and beadwork for more than thirty years and is best known for her less conventional approach to embroidery and Crewel embroidery, in particular.

Lizzy Pye is an embroidery tutor first and foremost, classically trained on the Royal School of Needlework Apprenticeship. In 2009 she was lucky enough to be one of the final six graduate Apprentices, finishing with a Distinction and very sore fingertips! She is proud to be a Royal School of Needlework tutor, and also teaches a lot of her own classes and private students. She is passionate about passing on her skills through teaching, and preserving both skills and heirlooms for future generations to enjoy. She has worked on some fascinating projects over the years, including the Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding gown and embroidery designs for the Royal Opera House. She was commissioned to write the Royal School of Needlework’s Essential Stitch Guide: Whitework, published in 2012, and in 2020 Crowood Press published her second book: Goldwork Embroidery, Techniques and Projects. Lizzy also runs an online shop through which she sells the embroidery products with which she loves to work, alongside her own range of embroidery kits.

Merrilyn is an internationally renowned hand embroiderer, designer, author and teacher. Magazine articles of Merrilyn’s work are regularly featured in publications in USA, Australia, and New Zealand. Merrilyn opened her first needlework shop in 1978. With an artistic heritage and a passion for hand work this was the starting point for a long creative and rewarding journey with needle, threads and fabrics.

Dawn has been stitching since 1980, starting, as many of us did, with the little 25¢ owl kit. She took her first sampler class in the mid 80s and was hooked. Becoming intrigued by the history surrounding samplers, she started purchasing antique samplers, then started researching and designing samplers. When the first computer program was offered for designing cross stitch, Dawn ordered it and the rest is history! Shortly thereafter she started her business, Morning Glory Needleworks, designing and selling her reproduction and original samplers at EGA seminars, local shops, and by mail order.

Carolyn Standing Webb has a degree in education but finds needlework much more rewarding to teach. She grew up in a home where art was a part of everyday life and creativity was encouraged. An EGA member of our Wasatch, Salt Lake City Chapter, she has been a needlework designer and teacher for over twenty years, teaching on the local, regional and national levels. She has a line of patterns available in retail stores. Several pieces of her work have been published in books and magazines and she has won a number of prizes for her needlework. She has her Master Craftsman in Counted Thread. Her goal is to share with her students her love of needlework and to help them relax and enjoy it.

Marion Scoular is a 3-year, Mark Excellent graduate of The Royal School of Needlework and a City and Guild’s Silver medallist. She has taught dressmaking in English High Schools, owned The Robin Hood Wool Shop for 13 years; taught Adult Education for Clemson University and has judged, lectured and taught in 49 states, Canada, Mexico and Australia. She is the author of many booklets and articles on Embroidery techniques

Carole Rinard has studied color since she was in high school and has incorporated color theory in the clothing and textile classes she taught at the university level. She is an EGA Master Needlework Judge and a Color Master Craftsman. She has been active in all levels of EGA and has served on the national board. Since 1989, she has volunteered at the Santa Fe Opera costume shop where she has heard numerous designers and directors discuss color in costumes, sets, and lighting. She lives in Los Alamos, New Mexico with her husband.

Jonalene is EGA certified in Counted Thread. She is a member of our Indian River Chapter in Florida and has been teaching various forms of needlework since 1982 at EGA chapters, and events at the regional and national level. She has over sixty needlework publications under the name of Friends in Needlework and three retired EGA Group Correspondence Courses.

Kay Stanis is an internationally known fiber artist, designer, Master Craftsman, and Certified and Graduate Certified Teacher of EGA and Kurenai Kai Traditional Japanese Embroidery.  She has been on the faculties of American Needlepoint Guild national seminars, Callaway School of Needlearts, Embroiderers Association of Canada, EGA national and regional seminars, Koala Conventions, South Australia Embroidery Conference, Embroidery 2000 (New Zealand), and many independent groups.

Denise Harrington Pratt is an artist and needlework designer with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a passion for counted thread embroidery on linen. Denise has been teaching needlework since 1995. She has taught at Spirit of Cross Stitch Festivals, National and Regional Seminars for the Embroiderers’ Guild of America, Inc., and EGA chapters. She also has developed Group Correspondence Courses and Online Courses for EGA. Denise is an active member of the Southern Maine Chapter of EGA.

Denise Harrington Pratt is an artist and needlework designer with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a passion for counted thread embroidery on linen. Denise has been teaching needlework since 1995. She has taught at Spirit of Cross Stitch Festivals, National and Regional Seminars for the Embroiderers’ Guild of America, Inc., and EGA chapters. She also has developed Group Correspondence Courses and Online Courses for EGA. Denise is an active member of the Southern Maine Chapter of EGA.

Melinda Sherbring came to embroidery through her fascination with historical crafts. An aerospace software engineer until retiring in 2013, she now teaches needlework with designs rooted in history. She has written two EGA GCCs, taught EGA’s 2020 Extended Study Program, and was featured in the March 2018 Needle Arts magazine as Designer Across America.

Barbara M. Kershaw has a passion for learning and sharing her knowledge of the many varied and wonderful forms of embroidery generally called whitework. She has taken many courses and classes from the EAC, EGA, and ANG. Barbara is certified as an EGA Master Craftsman in counted thread. She also studied in Germany at the Museum de Schwalm in 2005 and 2011. She has been teaching for over 20 years at various EAC national seminars, EGA national and regional seminars, guilds in Canada, America and Bermuda as well as two International teaching tours of the USA. Barbara is the author of EGA Group Correspondence Courses – Noel and Individual Correspondence Course Basic Study of Schwalm Embroidery. Her book Exquisite Schwalm focuses on Schwalm filling stitches.

Laura Smith is an embroidery innovator, nationally known designer, and teacher. She holds the Master Craftsman in Color from the Embroiderers Guild of America (EGA) and has won their National Gold Thread Award for service in 2021. She has served as chair for the Master Craftsman in Color Program from 2006 – 2018, Chairman of Fiber Forum (2011 – 2015), seven terms as president of her chapter, and has held every chapter office. She is a former Executive Director of an arts center and holds an MBA as well as an undergraduate degree in chemistry — valuable for understanding paint and mixed media materials.

Diane Herrmann won EGA’s Gold Thread Award in 2015 and has taught within EGA, ANG and the Windy City Chapter of EGA both regionally and nationally. She has affiliations with EGA, ANG, NAN and NETA. Diane has several publications and presentations over the years to include “Diaper Pattern and Needlepoint” in Crafting by Concepts. Accomplishments and awards have been granted to include the Jean Thomas Howard Scholarship as a teacher in 2009 as well as NAN Exemplary in 2009, 2012 and 2015, among several other recognitions. Diane teaches one of EGA’s latest Individual Correspondence Courses: Techniques for Canvas Embroidery.

Kim Sanders is an EGA certified teacher in crewel and surface embroidery and a Master Craftsman in surface embroidery and in smocking. She holds a degree in Textiles and Clothing from the University of Tennessee. Kim has taught at shops, chapters, EGA national and regional seminars and has authored four GCC, an ICC, and several Petite Projects. Her articles and designs have appeared in Inspirations, Needle Arts, Australian Smocking and Embroidery and The Smocking Arts. She filmed four embroidery focused segments of the PBS program, Creative Living with Sheryl Borden.

Kay Stanis is an internationally known fiber artist, designer, Master Craftsman, and Certified and Graduate Certified Teacher of EGA and Kurenai Kai Traditional Japanese Embroidery.  She has been on the faculties of American Needlepoint Guild national seminars, Callaway School of Needlearts, Embroiderers Association of Canada, EGA national and regional seminars, Koala Conventions, South Australia Embroidery Conference, Embroidery 2000 (New Zealand), and many independent groups.

Marion Scoular is a 3-year, Mark Excellent graduate of The Royal School of Needlework and a City and Guild’s Silver medallist. She has taught dressmaking in English High Schools, owned The Robin Hood Wool Shop for 13 years; taught Adult Education for Clemson University and has judged, lectured and taught in 49 states, Canada, Mexico and Australia. She is the author of many booklets and articles on Embroidery techniques

Carolyn Standing Webb has a degree in education but finds needlework much more rewarding to teach. She grew up in a home where art was a part of everyday life and creativity was encouraged. An EGA member of our Wasatch, Salt Lake City Chapter, she has been a needlework designer and teacher for over twenty years, teaching on the local, regional and national levels. She has a line of patterns available in retail stores. Several pieces of her work have been published in books and magazines and she has won a number of prizes for her needlework. She has her Master Craftsman in Counted Thread. Her goal is to share with her students her love of needlework and to help them relax and enjoy it.

Carolyn Standing Webb has a degree in education but finds needlework much more rewarding to teach. She grew up in a home where art was a part of everyday life and creativity was encouraged. An EGA member of our Wasatch, Salt Lake City Chapter, she has been a needlework designer and teacher for over twenty years, teaching on the local, regional and national levels. She has a line of patterns available in retail stores. Several pieces of her work have been published in books and magazines and she has won a number of prizes for her needlework. She has her Master Craftsman in Counted Thread. Her goal is to share with her students her love of needlework and to help them relax and enjoy it.

Krista West was born in Portland, Oregon and began sewing at the age of 4. Her love of handcrafts as a child and her conversion to Orthodox Christianity in 1993 led into an interest in Orthodox ecclesiastical vesture. She apprenticed with Leslie Schaill of Traditional Cassocks and Vestments from 1994 to 1997 and began Krista West Vestments in 1997 with www.kwvestments.com launching in 1998 as the first ecclesiastical tailoring website on the Internet. Her focus quickly centered upon the Greek style and she has sewn for clergy and churches in 48 of the 50 United States as well as multiple other countries.

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Susan Curtis is the curator of collections at the Emily Reynolds Historic Costume Collection at North Dakota State University in Fargo. This collection of over 5,000 objects documents the history of the region through the clothing and textiles made and used by the people who live there. Ms. Curtis earned a masters degree in Museum Studies with a minor in historic textiles from the University of Nebraska and has been working in museums for over twenty years. Her love of embroidery came from her grandmothers, who spent many patient hours teaching her to wield a needle and thread. Ms. Curtis earned a graduate certificate in Women and Gender Studies from NDSU and is currently working towards a PhD in History focusing on women’s embroidery in the Northern Great Plains.

Liz Tapper trained as an apprentice at The Royal School of Needlework, and now works as a professional embroiderer, designer and tutor. She has worked on commissions for Harrods and Lulu Guinness, London Fashion Week, for television and on numerous private commissions, with her work being featured on the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation). She lives in Somerset in the UK and is a Member of the Somerset Guild of Craftsmen and the Society for Embroidered Work.

Dr Alexandra Makin is a professional embroidery, trained on the Royal School of Needlework’s three-year apprenticeship, and a textile archaeologist (PhD), specialising in embroidery and textiles from early medieval Britain. At present she is working on the AHC funded Unwrapping the Galloway Hoard where she was the Post-Doctoral Research Associate for textiles. Alexandra also pursues her independent academic research, experimental archaeology work, and is consultant and textile analyst for archaeological units. Her book, The Lost Art of the Anglo-Saxon World: the sacred and secular power of embroidery, was published in 2019 and her co-edited volume, Textiles of the Viking North Atlantic: Analysis, Interpretation, Re-creation, will be out soon. She has published book chapters and journal articles and spoken on radio and TV about many aspects of early medieval embroidery, including the Bayeux Tapestry. Alexandra also owns and runs Early Medieval Embroidery where she designs and sells embroidery kits using ‘authentic’ early medieval materials and teaches embroidery workshops. Through the Early Medieval (mostly) Textiles blog and her YouTube channel, Early Medieval Embroidery, she keeps people up to date with her research.

Website: https://alexandramakin.com

Celeste Chalasani is an award-winning designer and teacher specializing in Stumpwork. She has taught extensively both in person and virtually for the Embroiderers’ Guild of America (EGA) at chapter workshops, regional and national seminars; the National Academy of Needlearts; other regional guilds; Quiltfest and Craftsy. She is a graduate of the National Academy of Needlearts Teachers’ Certification program specializing in Stumpwork.

“Teaching Stumpwork is a labor of love for me. I am passionate about sharing what I know. I approach teaching from the understanding that different people learn in different ways. I strive to provide clear written instructions with step-by-step color photos, orally explain the technique with color coded visual aids, demonstrate stitches and techniques, and work one on one with each student as they practice their techniques.”

 www.celestechalasani.com

Needle Arts Profile: Celeste Chalasani