There’s an interesting trio of exhibitions in the Brabant region of the Netherlands devoted to the work of sculptor/installation artist Magdalena Abakanowicz.
The TextielMuseum in Tilburg, Het Noordbrabants Museum, and Provincial House of Noord-Brabant, ‘s-Hertogenbosch – are the three institutions.
“Abakanowicz was fascinated by the texture of textiles and the structure of natural fibres. She used this fascination as a basis for her weavings, but also to depict the human body. She travelled all over the world to set up her exhibitions herself and placed the sculptures in the middle of the space to create an ‘environment’, a world of her own. With this spatial concept, she was one of the forerunners of installation art.”
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Do you use plastics such as thin kitchen flooring underlayment for resists and bubble wrap for ‘friction’ in wet felting? Are you interested in reducing your reliance on these fossil-fuel-based materials? Feltmaker and tutor Vanda Sousa of ‘Going the Dodo Way’ shared an interesting blog post in 2023, exploring alternatives to plastic in wet felting.
Her post includes several ideas originally shared in “Filzen ohne Plastik” by Corinna Nitschmann from an issue of the German-language felting magazine FiltzFun, n. 73.
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The Wise Wool Project will be at Discover Derrynane the weekend of the 7th through the 8th of June. Visit their table to learn about the current Irish wool dilemma and enjoy wet and needle felting with Irish wool.
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.
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On Sunday, the 11th of May, Feltmakers Ireland marked a significant milestone, celebrating its 22nd year as an organisation. Twenty-nine members attended this AGM in person, and six joined via Zoom link. Our founder, President Elizabeth Bonnar, was also in attendance.
Address by Acting Chair
First, committee member Suzanne Phelan, acting on behalf of our Chairperson Deirdre Carroll, went over the Guild’s many accomplishments for the past year, which included the following activities and events:
Sharing our love of feltmaking at public events such as Bloom, the Tullamore Show and Dublin Fibre Festival.
Hosting Open Days in Dublin and Killbeggan, Co Westmeath as part of August Craft Month/Heritage Week Ireland.
First Lady Sabina Higgins opened our month-long exhibition of ‘Symbols of Ireland’ at the Phoenix Park Visitors’ Centre Gallery in March. 400 people attended the opening, and over a thousand people viewed the show.
Several hands-on events were held, including a revisit of the Fine Felt Workshop with Annika Berglund, the Pine Needle technique with Leiko Uchiyama, Needle-Felted Mushrooms with Nara Fritch, and Felt Christmas Stars with Annika Berglund.
In the past year, our Sunday Sessions also included learning about the creative journeys of members Maria McGarry, Deirdre Crofts, and Clodagh Mac Donagh.
Our hybrid Zoom class in October with Hungarian tutor Judith Pocs, where we made felted eyeglass cases.
Volunteers travelled to Belfast in November to demonstrate felting at the Knitting and Stitching Show, sharing a booth with the International Feltmakers Association and Feltmakers North.
Address by the Secretary
For the next part of the AGM, our secretary, Lorna Cady, discussed our upcoming activities for the coming year. Amongst the exciting events mentioned were the following –
Two international workshops: One in May with Marjolein Dallinga and one in July with Pam de Groot.
The Basic and Beyond Bag Making Workshop with Annika Berglund in June.
In August, the guild will again demonstrate felting at the Tullamore Show,and participate in August Craft Month / Heritage Week at the CIE Sports Hall in Inchicore, and Kilbeggan, Co. Westmeath.
In October, we will demonstrate at the Dublin Fibre Festival
In November, we will hopefully again participate in the Knitting and Stitching Show, in Lisburn, with the IFA and Feltmakers North.
The Treasurer’s Report and Wool Project
Treasurer, Annika Berglund, reported on our finances, which were approved by the auditor, and the Wool Project, our book, ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’, which is also doing well and has been purchased by wool enthusiasts in Ireland and beyond, including the USA and Europe. She also introduced our new treasurer, Samantha Fagan, to the group.
The Bursary Draw
This year, Hilary Delaney was the fortunate member to win the 250 euro Bursary, which will be used for a felting workshop of her choice. We look forward to seeing what she learns through her short recap and photographs.
Committee News
The membership voted to approve Belinda Reid’s official joining of the committee. Two guild members, Irina Lampadova and Helena Mc Guinness, have offered to help the committee. We are so very appreciative of these members for putting themselves forward. We will have confirmations at the next committee session in June.
Guest Speaker
Our guest speaker, Leiko Uchiyama, shared her life and travels and how they influenced her sculptural artworks and functional felted objects, which range from playful to elegant. She spoke of the inherent Diversity of Feltmaking and how she enjoyed the play of textures and colour. It was a fascinating talk, and so interesting to learn more about her.
Leiko also filled the stage with her gloriously beautiful wool from her fibre dyeing business LeikoFelt, which proved very popular with the members!
Thank you, Leiko, for being part of our 2025 AGM!
Spoiled for choices of Merino, Corriedale and Silk/Merino roving from LeikoFelt.
Felt Displayed
In addition to the Committee proceedings and Leiko’s Textile Journey, several of our members displayed their artwork, and a few had pieces for sale. These members included Loli Cox, Irina Lampadova, Fiona Leech, and Evija Mezaka. Apologies if we have missed anyone.
Video of the Day
A medley of our day at AGM 2025.
Many thanks to all those who attended Feltmakers Ireland’s 2025 AGM, whether in person or via Zoom! And we understand if you could not make it – the weather was so lovely outside!
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.
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Many thanks to Feltmakers Ireland guild member Hélène Dooley for bringing to our attention a highly educational three-part series of blog posts from the Felting and Fiber Studio about Felting Needles.
The first article of the series is all about felting needles: their length, gauge, shape, and more. The second is about how the needles are used in industry, and the third and final instalment is about how textile artists can purchase, store, and use felting needles.
The writer, Jan, is a Canadian member of the Felting and Fiber Studio organisation and an experienced three-dimensional needle felter. Each instalment is interesting, and Jan is a thorough researcher, perceptive maker, and humorous writer. And don’t mind her spelling—she is severely dyslexic. She says on her bio page, “If you read out loud, I make more sense.” And she does!
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.
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By starting promptly at 10:30 AM, we aim to complete the meeting’s formalities promptly, allowing us to listen to the Textile Journey of our Guest Speaker, Leiko Uchiyama, an artist, educator, and master dyer, who lives in Co Carlow.
Additionally, we will feature a Sellers’ Area and a Display Area this year.
Leiko brought a selection of her gorgeous hand-dyed fibres during the Pine Needle Felting Workshop in January. She will have similar supplies available to purchase this Sunday. Other guild members will be bringing felted artwork and supplies too. IF you want to be included in this Vending Opportunity, please RESERVE a spot by emailing feltmakersIE@gmail.com
Thereis no cost for members to sell at the AGM.
Agenda
1. Address by the Chair, opening the AGM (Suzanne Phelan will act on behalf of chairperson Deirdre Carroll, who is away)
2. Address by Secretary (Lorna Cady)
3.Treasurer’s Report (Annika Berglund)
4.Wool Project Wool Report (Annika Berglund)
5. Motions for AGM
6.Election of Chair and Committee 2025/26. Election of other Officers will be held at the June Committee Meeting. We always welcome new faces on the Committee—if you’re interested in helping to keep our Guild active and thriving, your support would be greatly appreciated!
7.Guest Speaker is Leiko Uchiyama, a feltmaking artist originally from Japan and now living in Borris, Co Carlow. Her journey has taken her from Japan to New Zealand, Indonesia, and France, where she developed her feltmaking techniques. Leiko creates wearable pieces made of wool and silks, which she dyes using her own colour recipes. She also makes functional pieces for the home. She teaches Felting workshops throughout Europe, America, Australia, and Japan, and has exhibited her work in many countries.
Leiko will also have her dyed wool roving for sale at the AGM. She will bring Merino, Corriedale and a Silk/Merino mix of roving, which is ideal for the craft of felting.
8.A Bursary Draw for €250 is open to all paid-up members and will take place at the AGM. The winner can participate in a Felting course and then provide a short recap article with photographs. (In 2024, guild member Adrienne Dempsey won the award. You can read about her experience in this blog post.)
9.Sellers’ Area: Members can sell their work, fibres or supplies at the AGM. Methods of receiving payment, whether by cash, credit card, Revolut, or PayPal transactions, are the seller’s responsibility. The guild will provide tables, but NOT coverings or other displays. Please RSVP to participate in the Sellers’ Area. feltmakersIE@gmail.com
10.Display Area: Members can also take the opportunity to display and discuss a small selection of their work with other members. Members will need to bring props to display their items. Make sure that your name is on your piece. The guild will provide two table coverings. There is no need to RSVP for the Display Area.
11. Refreshments and chat. Refreshments will follow. If you could bring a little something, home-baked or not, we’d be delighted. We always appreciate goodies with our cuppa. If you have a travel cup, please bring it so we can reduce the waste of single-use paper cups. As always, we will provide the coffee and tea!
*We kindly ask non-members to become members in order to attend the AGM.
Zoom Access
Members who cannot attend in person can use the Zoom link, which will be emailed to members today. This session will not be recorded.
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.
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The 10th Anniversary exhibition of FORM Designmade Carlow will be on the 18th of May, at The Granary, Borris House.
FORM is a group of designers, makers, and craftspeople living and working in the Carlow region of Ireland. Feltmakers Ireland member Leiko Uchiyama is a member of FORM.
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.
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Are you a maker, creator, builder, inventor, crafter, hacker, educator or enthusiast who loves to share what you do? Dublin Maker 2025 is Ireland’s biggest show-and-tell festival of creativity, innovation, and invention.
Dublin Maker invites makers of all ages and experience levels to apply and showcase their work, whether a polished project or a quirky in-progress experiment.
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.
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Mary Ann Williams, editor of the new book ‘Textiles of Ireland: Archaeology, craft, art’, will discuss her research and journey to editing via an online talk.
This will be followed by a Q&A session where the audience can ask questions and chat with Mary Ann.
About Textiles of Ireland
“Spanning the life’s work of archaeologist Elizabeth Wincott Heckett, Textiles of Ireland: Archaeology, craft, art is the first wide-ranging book on the archaeological textiles of Ireland published since 1989. The volume includes studies of cloth found in bogs, burials, hoards, sacked castles, docklands and fallen city walls. These include a mysterious weaving of horsehair, dating from before 800 BC; imprints of cloth wrappings on the weapons of a buried Viking warrior, and the exquisite liturgical textiles, inspired by the Book of Kells, embroidered in 1916 for the Honan Chapel at University College Cork. Including an overview of best practice used by archaeologists encountering textiles in the field, accompanying illustrations and imagery, glossary and charts, this book is essential reading for archaeologists, historians and anyone intrigued by the threads that bind Ireland’s past to its present.”
Date and Time: Wednesday, the 4th of Jun 2025 18:30 – 19:30 GMT+1
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.
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Applications will open for the RDS Craft Awards on the 5th of May, 2025. It is a competition open to all craft makers living on the island of Ireland and Irish-born craft makers working overseas. The work of emerging and established makers is judged separately, with specific prizes to support emerging craftspeople. The Awards will be made from a total prize fund of €60,000.
The Emerging Maker category is open to individuals who aren’t necessarily recent graduates, and there is no age limit. Instead, there are these requirements:
Focus on heritage, skills, and sustainable practices.
Practice commenced within the past 10 years, with the determination to grow their craft at home and abroad.
Work must be made and sourced in Ireland.
The deadline for applying is the 23rd of June. There is no fee to enter.
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.
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