Month: October 2024

Events: Butler Gallery Craft Fair 2024 and Meath Made at the Venue

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share our members’ events: Here is the first of the ‘craft fair season’. Please email your events to feltmakersie@gmail.com

Butler Gallery Craft Fair

This weekend, Feltmakers Ireland Guild member Emily Thompson is participating in the Butler Gallery‘s Craft Fair in Kilkenny, which showcases 30 Irish makers.

Butler Gallery will be filled with handmade, quality Irish craft from makers of ceramics, jewellery, and glass, as well as textiles, wood, metals, and precious metals, along with paper, leatherwork, and mixed media.

CRAFT FAIR WEEKEND OPENING TIMES

Friday, 1st November, 2 PM – 8 PM
Saturday, 2nd November, 10 AM – 5 PM
Sunday, 3rd November, 11 AM – 5 PM

For more information, visit the Gallery’s website – https://www.butlergallery.ie/whats-on/butler-gallery-craft-fair

Meath Made Exhibition at the Venue

Guild member Lucia Errity has artwork in a group show with five other members of the Meath Made collective. The exhibition is at the Venue Theatre in Ratoath, Co Meath, from the 1st of November to the 3rd.

For more information about the exhibition, visit the Meath Made’s Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/meathmade/

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Event: Irish Wool Celebration Day – Film Screening and All Ages Wet Felting Workshop – Wise Wool Project

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

The Wise Wool Project will celebrate Irish Wool at Kate Kearneys Cottage in the Gap of Dunloe, Co Kerry, on Saturday, the 9th of November, from 11 AM onwards.

The event will include workshops, demonstrations, storytelling, screenings, discussion panels, and music, celebrating the Wise Wool Project and its culmination.

Join in on the celebrations, which will bring together local fibre artists, sheep farmers, and the wider community to better understand how to create something from this valuable resource. This is a unique event for those interested in creating a solution to the current wool waste dilemma.

Bookings are required for two of the events (which are free). See below for links.

  • The Wet Felting Workshop with Irish Wool for ages 6+ from 11 AM to 12 PM.
  • The film screening of ‘Notes from Sheepland’ at 3 PM.

For more information and to book your free tickets to the film, visit this website – https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thenaturehub/1405268?

For information about the wet felting workshop, visit this website – https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thenaturehub/1405267?

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Recap: Fantastic Day at the Dublin Fibre Festival

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland1 Comment

On Saturday, the 26th of September, volunteers from Feltmakers Ireland shared feltmaking with visitors to the Dublin Fibre Festival. We increased awareness of our guild, demonstrated feltmaking (wet and needlefelting), sold many copies of our book, ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’, and sold felted pieces created by some of our volunteers.

We were so busy at times that you could barely see our table!

It was a fantastic day! Many thanks to indie yarn designer Mira Isan, the Dublin Fibre Festival’s organiser, for seeing the need for a Dublin-based textile event and for her skills in pulling off this endeavour! Also, thank you to committee member Adrienne Dempsey for organising our two tables and volunteers. Additional thanks to our volunteers: From A-Z, Lorna Cady, Deirdre Carroll, Loli Cox, Sam Fagan, Irina Lampadova, and Evija Mezaka.

Our Book

Here is a photograph of Adrienne sharing ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’ with Ann Gunning of Beechwood Blues Texel Sheep – her wool is in the book!

Adrienne and Ann Gunning

Our Display

Here are some of the many photographs from the lovely experience.

  • All ready!
  • Adrienne, Loli, and Irina
  • Sam sharing the craic with Eva
  • Sam and Eva
  • Adrienne
  • Deirdre
  • Eva and Lorna
  • Loli wearing a felted neckpiece
  • More display
  • Adrienne with display
  • Loli with a happy customer
  • Loli with her needlefelted work

Our Members with Stalls

Two members of Feltmakers Ireland also participated at the Dublin Fibre Festival: Sandra King from Irish Fibre Crafters and Juliane Gorman from FeltHappiness Hats.

Friend of the Guild, Malú Colorín, represented Fibreshed Ireland.

Sandra King and friend at Irish Fibre Crafters
Lorna Cady visiting Juliane Gorman’s FeltHappiness
Sandra King visiting Malú at FIbreshed Ireland’s booth

Other Vendors

There was a wide variety of vendors at the event, including several with local Irish-raised wool.

Windrush Farm had wool from their sheep, needlefelting kits, and gives craft workshops
Boyne Valley Wools had Jacob wool from their sheep.

Other Friends of FI

  • Cons Creations – needlefelt
  • Sam with Liberties College friends: Maggie, and Margaret

    The Dublin Fibre Festival was a wonderful day, and we are so glad to be a part of this inaugural event! Thank you to everyone who stopped by!

    Note: there are a couple of videos from the event over on our social media:

    Instagram page – https://www.instagram.com/feltmakers_ireland/

    Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/feltmakersireland/

    Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

    Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

    Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

    Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

    Event: Dublin Fiber Festival this Saturday

    Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

    This Saturday, the 26th of October, a group of volunteers from Feltmakers Ireland will share the miracle of feltmaking and our excellent book, ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’ at the Dublin Fibre Festival!

    The festival’s inaugural edition will bring together fibre fans, artisans, and exhibitors for a day of creativity, inspiration, and community.

    Some of our members will also be exhibiting and vending at the show: Irish Fibre Crafters (Sandra King) and FeltHappiness (Juliane Gorman). In addition, our friends from Fibreshed Ireland (co-founder Malú Colorín spoke at our AGM in May), will sell undyed and naturally dyed 100% Irish wool yarn, and knit kits. They will also sell tickets to their upcoming symposium – ‘Reimagining Textiles for an Equitable Future’, one of the exciting events scheduled during Irish Design Week in November.

    Tickets to the Dublin Fibre Festival are available at the door via cash or card: 10 euros, free for children under 12 and disabled people.

    Where: Richmond Barracks, Inchicore, Dublin 08

    When: 10 AM – 5 PM, Saturday, the 26th of October.

    To learn more, visit the Dublin Fibre Festival website – https://www.dublinfibrefestival.com/

    Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

    Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

    Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

    Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

    Event: Textile Journey Festival – Friday through Sunday – Dublin Castle Coach House Gallery

    Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
    Image from the group’s exhibition.

    This year’s Textile Journey celebrates creativity, wool, and textiles, including several events: demonstrations, open studios, and workshops. The festival is an invitation to everyone to try making or exploring textiles.

    Textile Journey will have demonstrations from several textile artists. Come and enjoy the showcase of their skills.

    There will be a Materials and Tools Exchange: Swap bits from your stash and explore new materials, tools, and techniques.

    In addition, there will be a Sharing Panel—an art installation by the facilitators that encourages public participation.

    Where: The Coach House Gallery (right next to the Chester Beatty), Dublin Castle, D02.

    Schedule

    How many textile journeys can you take with a handful of fibres or old rugs? Join our inspiring panel of artists to see textile making, knitting, weaving, and so much more:

    Friday 25th Oct

    10 AM – 1 PM | Upcycling with Niki & Crumlin Clothes Exchange.

    2 PM – 5 PM | Embroidery in Felt Stained Glass with Niki Collier.

    Saturday 26th Oct

    10 AM – 1 PM | Circular Knitting – A Hat with Tanya Collier.

    2 PM – 5 PM | Felt a Flower with Jane Fox, inspired by Chester Beatty’s current exhibition.

    Sunday 27th Oct

    10 AM -1 PM | Curator from Chester Beatty will give an illuminated talk on ‘Textiles in Books’, and there will be a hands-on activity of creating a book cover using found materials.

    2 PM – 5 PM | The Hypocrisy of Bridgetown: Embroidery, Feminism and Activism through the Centuries.

    Monday 28th Oct

    10 AM – 1 PM | Knitting machines with Cosima Augustin-Malloy.

    2 PM – 3 PM | Artist Talk: Developing interactive textiles and pouring the magic of personal practice when sculpting with textiles.

    **Additional tickets will be available at the door.**

    For more information, visit this listing: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/textile-journey-festival-during-dublin-castle-exhibition-2024-tickets-770173839687

    Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

    Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

    Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

    Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

    Event: Fibershed Ireland’s 3rd Annual Symposium – in Tullamore

    Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

    As part of Irish Design Week, Fibreshed Ireland is hosting its third annual symposium, inviting participants to imagine how Soil-to-Soil textiles could help improve the future—not only of the textile industry, but beyond.

    It will be a day of interactive presentations, craft demonstrations, breakout sessions, and engaging networking opportunities, open to both Fibreshed Ireland members and non-members.

    When: Saturday, the 16th of November, 9:30 AM to 5 PM.

    Where: The Bridge House Hotel, Bridge St, Tullamore, Co. Offaly.

    For more information and to book your ticket, visit Fibreshed Ireland’s website – https://fibreshedireland.ie/symposium-2024/

    Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

    Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

    Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

    Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

    Of Interest: Katrin Thorvaldsdottir’s Sculpture from Seaweed

    Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

    Not feltmaking, but of interest concerning sustainability and textiles: For over two decades, Katrín Þorvaldsdóttir (Thorvaldsdottir) has conducted her own research and experiments to learn how to preserve seaweed as a material to use in art and design.

    Working with seaweed is a craft, she says. “It is not ‘just take this and design out of the blue’. You have to know the material, you have to listen to the material, so it takes time.”

    Katrin Thorvaldsdottir via Guardian article.

    To learn more, visit her website – https://katrinthorvaldsdottir.com/

    Also, make sure to watch this lovely video about her – https://katrinthorvaldsdottir.com/film/

    There is also an interview with her at the Guardian – https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/nov/09/off-the-wrack-the-designer-using-seaweed-to-create-art-and-high-fashion

    Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

    Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

    Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

    Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

    News: Final Ticket Giveaway Winner – Knitting and Stitching Show

    Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

    Giveaway Results

    Over this past weekend, Feltmakers Ireland teamed up with the Knitting and Stitching Show organisers to run a Giveaway for two complimentary tickets to the Belfast event.

    The Random Name Picker selected Ursula Heiting.

    Many thanks to everyone for participating via email and social media.

    This was our final giveaway for the 2024 Knitting and Stitching Show. However, we will email our members a discount code for two pounds off entry. Stay tuned!

    Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

    Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

    Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

    Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

    Of Interest: Knitting and Stitching Show – Belfast – Ticket Giveaway

    Published on by Feltmakers Ireland1 Comment

    The Belfast Knitting and Stitching Show: A Must-Attend Event for Craft Lovers

    If you’re a fan of knitting, stitching, or anything in the world of textiles, mark your calendar for the Belfast Knitting and Stitching Show! This highly anticipated event is a haven for crafters of all skill levels, offering a unique blend of quality exhibitors, hands-on workshops, and awe-inspiring textile art galleries. It’s a great event to shop, learn and connect with fellow makers!

    The Giveaway

    Feltmakers Ireland is excited to partner with the Knitting and Stitching Show for a Giveaway. Win a pair of tickets to the Knitting and Stitching Show in Belfast, which runs from the 7th to the 10th of November.

    How to Enter the Giveaway:

    ★ If you read this on Instagram or Facebook, LIKE the post and COMMENT – ‘Yes, Knitting and Stitching Show’. If you share the post, your tagged friends must also LIKE and COMMENT to be entered into the Giveaway.

    ★ For readers NOT using social media, please EMAIL- feltmakersIE@gmail.com and write ‘Yes, Knitting and Stitching Show’ in the Subject Line.

    This Giveaway runs through Sunday, the 20th of October, at midnight. We will collect the names and randomly draw ONE winner. (Please do not enter more than once – ie via Facebook AND Instagram.)

    The winner will receive a coupon code to book two free tickets on the Knitting and Stitching Show website.

    T&Cs: This code is for a pair of Standard Single Day Adult tickets, valid on any day. It is not valid on VIP, Two-Day, or group tickets. Tickets are for entry only; transport to and from the venue is not included.

    Please note that the winning tickets need to be pre-booked. The Code expires at 11:59 PM Belfast on the 3rd of November, 2024.

    For more information about the exciting events, textile galleries, workshops, and vendors at the Knitting and Stitching Show, Belfast, visit the website – https://www.theknittingandstitchingshow.com/belfast/

    Find and follow The Knitting and Stitching Shows on Instagram – @theknittingandstitchingshows

    This promotional giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed, administered, or associated with Instagram or Facebook.

    Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

    Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

    Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

    Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

    Event: Dublin Fibre Festival Next Saturday

    Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

    Have you wanted to purchase a copy of Feltmakers Ireland’s book ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’ but not had the opportunity? Come to the Dublin fibre event of the year: The Dublin Fibre Festival.

    Feltmakers Ireland and almost 30 other local textile exhibitors will be at the Dublin Fibre Festival on Saturday, the 26th of October. This is THE opportunity to touch yarn and fibres in person and watch spinning, felting, and other fibre arts demonstrations!

    A List of the Exhibitors

    Where: The Richmond Barracks.

    For more information, visit the Festival’s website – https://www.dublinfibrefestival.com/

    Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

    Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

    Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

    Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.