TLD DESIGNS : TAMMY L DECK

Tammy L Deck TLD Designs

Tammy is a fiber focused artist creating since childhood. Her mother, JoAnn, first introduced her to art making nurturing and encouraging her to explore all of her interests —from sewing Barbie clothes, hand stitching embroidery designs to knitting, jewelry making to candle making, coloring and painting.

In both high school and college, she sewed costumes for multiple dance and theatre productions while also working jobs in retail sales in shops selling cards and stationary to candles, fabrics and sewing supplies, cheese and sausages to fashion apparel and accessories. Tammy received a degree in Clothing and Textile Science / Fashion and Fiber Art in 1985. She contiued on in post graduate level studies merging focus while functioning as a Graduate Asssiantat teaching beginner sewing and a textile science lab class. As an undergrad, Tammy interned with a Chicago artwear designer at Grass Orchids which evolved into independant contracting under her own label "TLD Designs". This work included her designing and hand weaving of ArtWear fabrics and machine knits used in the Grass Orchids collection. A fabric woven by Tammy was included in a custom dress for Oprah Winfrey

In 1986 (age 22) Tammy launched "TLD Designs", her business label for her handmade wearable art and textile designs - all work exclusively from her hands including techniques such as: weaving, knitting, dyeing, felting, embroidery, sewing....and more.

After graduating from NIU, Tammy teamed-up with her mother to start selling their work. The pair began by vending at local outdoor art/craft shows, developed a wholesale collage art jewelry line, and then, in 1988, they opened a tiny boutique in a retail incubator for artists and designers. Their shop was located in Old Town Chicago within "Chicago Originals", ...which Tammy went on to co-own and operate for 5 more years.

TLD Design Center & Gallery est 1993

2015 : After the passing of JoAnn, Tammy wished to contiune her mothers legacy and realize another dream they shared which was to purchase their own building. She opened her second gallery/shop at 2619 Ridgeland in Berwyn, IL.

Over the past 20+ years of exhibiting, Tammy's work has been acknowledged by numerous fine art festivals receiving various ribbon awards including multiple "Best of Show" wins and variety of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, "Judges Awards" and "Awards of Excellence" such as her recent August 2025 award. Her work is featured in 500 Felt Objects, and Belle Armoire magazine. She appeared on HGTV’s showCrafters Coast to Coast a/k/a That's Cleaver. Articles have been written about Tammy's art and art business published in multiple regional and local newspapers. She exhibits in solo and group shows across Illinois adjacent states. She travels to teach workshops in the midwest and Canada.

These days, You'll find her in her Westmont Shop Wednesdays through Saturdays 11am to 6pm or the Berwyn shop mondays and tuesdays 10 to 3......unless traveling to teach or exhibit in an art fair or other event.

Tammy is available for weaving, dyeing, felting, glass bead‑making workshops, or as a guest speaker. Reach out to her at tammy@tlddesigns.com.