Author: Feltmakers Ireland

Sunday Session

Sunday Session: Mel Bradley’s Textile Journey – 18th of October

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
A woman with short grey hair and glasses stands in an art studio holding a mug and paintbrushes, surrounded by various art supplies and materials. The text overlay promotes 'Mel Bradley’s Textile Journey', an event happening on 18th October at CIE Sports Hall, Inchicore, Dublin.

Save the Date: Longtime Feltmakers Ireland guild member, textile artist Mel Bradley will share her Textile Journey on Sunday, the 18th of October. Mel creates her work and runs workshops out of her studio, Gallery 13, which is in the Millmount Craft Quarter in Drogheda, Co Louth.

Mel paints silk scarves, wraps, and cowls; she also creates Nunofelted wearables. Recent workshops have included Gelli Plate Printing, Shibori Dyeing with Indigo, and Silk Painting.

When: Sunday, the 18th of October, 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM

Where: CIE Sports Hall, Library Square, Inchicore, Kilmainham, Dublin, D8

More on Mel

To view Mel’s work and workshops, visit her website: https://melbradleysilks.ie/

Her Instagram: @mel.bradley.silks

Some images from her website:

An elderly woman with short grey hair, wearing glasses and a red top, holds up a piece of blue fabric in a creative workspace. She is surrounded by various pieces of dyed fabric on a table and a wall filled with art and inspirational images. A woman is seated in the background, observing.
An elegant evening gown with a dramatic pink and black design, featuring a flowing cape detail.
A hallway featuring a light blue door with various patterned textiles draped over the stairs and walls, accompanied by a piece of artwork and a decorative branch.
Close-up of a blue and green scarf tied in a decorative bow around the neck, with soft fabric and subtle colour gradients.

Additional Information

If you can, please bring a home-baked good to share and a travel mug (to reduce our use of disposable cups).

To reduce the spread of illnesses, please refrain from coming if you feel unwell.

Zoom Access

Zoom access has yet to be confirmed. But we will aim to provide it.


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.

Open Call: Textile Biennial 2027 – Colonial Patterns – Netherlands

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Promotional image for the Textiel Biennale 2027 Open Call, featuring decorative textiles with black patterns and orange elements on display.

For ‘Textile Biennial 2027| Colonial Patterns‘, the Rijswijk Museum invites artists to reflect on the theme of Colonial patterns from the perspective of their own practice and perspective.

From the Open Call: “Colonial patterns are all around us; visible in the clothing we wear, the materials and fabrics we use, and the trade routes that have shaped our world. In motifs, traditions, and production processes, but also in power relations, memories, and identities.”

“Artists from all countries can submit a proposal.”

The exhibition takes place from the 8th of July to the 21st of November, 2027.

Where: Museum Rijswijk, Herenstraat 67, 2282 BR Rijswijk, Netherlands

Submission deadline: through Thursday, the 1st of October

For more information, visit the museum’s website: https://museumrijswijk.nl/tentoonstelling-open-call-textiel-biennale-2027–koloniale-patronen-373

Their Instagram: @museumrijswijk

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 - Sunday Session

Recap: September Sunday Session – Needle-Felted Owls with Eva Salamon

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
A smiling woman with glasses stands at a table decorated with craft materials, including a pink thermos, notebooks, and a colourful felt project. In the background, handmade figurines and decorations are displayed.
A woman with glasses and brown hair is crafting with colourful felting wool at a table. She is focusing on a purple and white felted piece. In the background, there are various crafting materials and a small dragon figurine.

On Sunday, the 20th of September, twenty members enjoyed a delightful morning of needle felting with guild member and artist Eva Salamon, learning how to create their own charming felted owls.

Students watching Eva demonstrate the steps

Eva guided the group through the process, demonstrating techniques for shaping and building the owl from wool fibre.

A group of four women attentively observe another woman working on a purple felted figure at a crafting table.
A group of people gathered around a table during a crafting workshop, with one person demonstrating a creative activity. Various crafting materials are visible on the table, and participants are engaged and observing.
A woman engaged in a crafting workshop, using a felting needle on purple wool, surrounded by a group of attentive participants.

A few photos

There was plenty of concentration, creativity and, no doubt, a few individual personalities emerging as the owls took shape!

A person's hands working on a green felted object on a grey foam surface, with various colourful wool fibres scattered around.
A woman with short blonde hair wearing glasses, smiling while holding a blue felt phone and a blue name tag that says 'SANDRA'. She is seated at a table with a coffee cup in front of her.
A woman with long black hair smiles while crafting needle-felted owls and other shapes at a table, holding a piece of crafted material in her right hand.
A woman with long blonde hair is creating a blue felted object, sitting at a table with various crafting materials, including a turquoise drink container and a black foam base.
Two elderly women engaged in crafting at a table, each working with colourful felting materials. One woman has long hair and glasses, while the other has short hair and is wearing a green scarf.
Three women engaged in a crafting activity at a table, displaying their handmade creations, including colourful figures, in a community centre setting.

Sharing work at the end of the session

A group of diverse women standing together in a hall, each holding colourful objects. They appear to be engaged in a social or community activity, showcasing a range of clothing styles.
Eva Salamon (in the centre) and some of the students with their needle-felted owls.

Eva’s Work

We were also delighted to have the opportunity to see some of Eva’s own work and learn from her experience as an artist and feltmaker.

A display of handmade felt art figures by Eva Salamon, featuring a green dragon, witches, skeletons, and pumpkins, arranged on a black tablecloth.

Eva will soon be selling her creations at upcoming Halloween markets and craft fairs. Follow her on Instagram to keep up with her events. : @feltedvision. Here’s a link to her website: https://feltedvision.sumupstore.com/

Desserts with History

A Bakewell tart with almond slices on top, displayed on a patterned plate, alongside a handwritten sign detailing its history and noting that it is vegan.
Bakewell Tart by Lorna

Guild member and committee secretary Lorna Cady brought another of her famous ‘Desserts with History. This time she made a vegan Bakewell Tart!

Appreciation Time

Many thanks to Eva Salamon for sharing her skills and enthusiasm with us, and to the members who joined us for another enjoyable Feltmakers Ireland Sunday Session.

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.

Exhibition: For the Love of Gort – Gort Arts – Joanne Foley and Belinda Reid have artwork on display

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
A promotional poster for the art exhibition 'For the Love of Gort' by Gort Arts, featuring event details, opening times, and activities including live music and a mini portrait booth, set against an illustration of buildings.
Promotional poster for the Gort Arts Members' Exhibition titled 'For the Love of Gort', featuring details about the event, including dates and location, alongside an artistic representation of trees in a woodland setting.
A framed artistic depiction of Kilmacduagh Abbey, featuring a stone tower and gothic window, set against a colourful sunset sky. The foreground includes gravestones and green grass.

Two Feltmakers Ireland members, Joanne Foley and Belinda Reid, each have artwork in the Gort Arts exhibition, ‘For the Love of Gort’.

The show runs through Sunday, the 27th of September.

Where: Michael Kennedy Pottery Studio, Boland’s Lane, Gort, Co Galway

There’s a newspaper article about the exhibition here: https://clareherald.com/living/arts/for-the-love-of-gort-art-exhibition-inspired-by-gort-and-the-burren-lowlands/

Their Instagram: @gortarts @joannefoleyart @chasing_dreams_feltart_

If you are a member of Feltmakers Ireland and have news to share about upcoming exhibitions or workshops, please email feltmakersie@gmail.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.

Open Call: OXO 2026- Outset Gallery – Co Galway

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Graphic for Outset Gallery featuring various blue and purple shapes, with repeated text stating 'OPEN CALL' prominently displayed.

The Outset Gallery has announced the return of its annual open call and large-scale group exhibition, OXO 2026 – the 5th edition of the Outset Xmas Open.

Returning this November, OXO will once again bring together a diverse selection of emerging and established artists from across Ireland and abroad, transforming their newly designed gallery into a large-scale exhibition running throughout the Christmas period and into the new year.

Application deadline: 27th of September.

For more information, see here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfXzl0w9R45HX3w9v2XKbv2KnKzAr-LoTMm500m8BG5pPM9IQ/viewform

Their Instagram: @outset_gallery

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: New Felt Matters Podcast – How Felting Changed Our Lives – Heather Potten and Louise Curnin

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Cover image for the podcast 'FELTMATTERS', featuring colourful felt artwork background with the title, subtitle, and host information.

On the most recent episode of the International Feltmakers Association (IFA) podcast FeltMatters, Education Team Officers Heather Potten and new co-host, Louise Curnin, talk about turning classes into lasting friendships, opening local shops to sell work, and branching into related crafts such as dyeing, leatherwork, ceramics, and weaving to enrich their felting. They describe shared rituals (making at a table, silent concentration), studio life (yurts, messy bedrooms and dogs on mic), and the satisfaction of creative escapes.

To listen to the FeltMatters season 5 podcast, visit here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjWL4vpKPOk&list=PLawHrBq4LKKPS1-t3lEXiImIEQDvtsADL&index=1

It is also on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Their Instagram: @internationalfeltmakers

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.

Sunday Session

Sunday Session: Needle Felted Owls with Eva Salamon September Session is FULLY BOOKED

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
A group of five colourful needlefelted owl figurines displayed on a table, alongside a woman in a blue patterned dress holding three owls. The image promotes a September crafting session led by Eva Salamon, marked as fully booked.

Just a reminder: We wanted to let members know that the upcoming Sunday Session with Eva Salamon / Needle Felted Owls, is FULLY BOOKED.

Students who are signed up for the September Needle Felting Workshop have received email reminders.

Our October Sunday Session will be on the 18th and all members are invited to attend. Member Mel Bradley will share her amazing Textile Journey.

The Details

When: Sunday, the 20th of Septemtber, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM.

Where: CIE Sports Hall, Library Square, Inchicore, Kilmainham, Dublin, D8

Additional Information

For those who are registered: Please bring a home-baked good to share and a travel mug (to reduce our use of disposable cups).

To reduce the spread of illnesses, please refrain from coming if you feel unwell.

Zoom Access

There will not be Zoom Access to this Sunday Session.

Eva’s Instagram: @feltedvision Her website: https://feltedvision.sumupstore.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.

Exhibition: Arizona Felters’ Guild – The Art of Felting – Mesa, Arizona

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Art exhibit poster for 'The Art of Felting' at Mesa Community College, featuring a colourful felted bowl with textures and embellishments.

While our members and readers might not be travelling to Arizona in the coming weeks, they still might be interested in learning about other felting organisations’ exhibitions.

The Arizona Felters’ Guild currently has a group show featuring over 50 pieces from 20 of their members.

The exhibition runs through the 8th of October.

Where: Mesa Community College Art Gallery, MCC, 1857-1889 W Mesa Community Coll, Mesa, AZ 85202, United States

For more information, here is the gallery’s website: https://www.mesacc.edu/arts/event/2026-09/art-felting

Here’s a link to the Guild’s site which has interesting sections to explore: https://arizonafeltersguild.org/

The Guild’s Facebook group has lots of photos of the show: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1697168800527103/

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.

Open Call: Visual and Literary Artists – Global Bioeconomy Summit 2026

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Homepage of the Global Bioeconomy Summit 2026, announcing a call for visual and literary artists.

The Global Bioeconomy Summit 2026 (GBS2026) invites visual and literary artists to contribute creative perspectives to one of the world’s leading bioeconomy events, taking place in Dublin on 20-21 October 2026 at the Convention Centre.

They invite submissions exploring how bio-based innovation, natural resources, and circular systems can help shape a more sustainable future.

This is an opportunity to contribute a creative perspective to a global event bringing together leaders from science, policy, industry and civil society to discuss the role of the bioeconomy in addressing climate and sustainability challenges.

Applications close on Monday, the 28th of September 2026.

For more information, visit their website: https://gbs2026.org/news-resources/call-visual-and-literary-artists-open-global-bioeconomy-summit-2026

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: Culture Night 2026 – Members Felting Events

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Several Feltmakers Ireland members are participating in events as part of this year’s Culture Night: https://culturenight.ie/

Co Leitrim

Promotional poster for Culture Night 2026 at the Leitrim Design House, inviting participation in textile and print workshops with demonstrations. Features images of leaf print, felted flowers, and event details including times and artists involved.

At the Leitrim Design House on Carrick-Shannon, guild members Belinda Reid will demonstrate 3D needle felting, and Karen Bowden will show how wool, water, and friction can create beautiful wet-felted flowers and beads. The guild’s exhibition, ‘The Essence of Nature ‘, is on The ArtWall.

https://leitrimdesignhouse.ie/blogs/news/join-us-for-culture-night-2026-for-an-interactive-evening-of-celebrating-textiles

Co Kildare

A woman sewing at a sewing machine during Culture Night, with fabric and materials on the table in front of her.

At Gather Kildare, guild member Tamzen Lundy will demonstrate wet feltmaking and free motion stitching. Her colleagues at Gather will also share what they create.

More info here: https://culturenight.ie/event/gather-and-meet-the-makers/

Co Galway

Promotional image for 'Little Woolly Wonders, Children's Felting Workshop', featuring a vibrant felted landscape with rolling hills, blue sky, and trees.

Guild member Joanne Foley will teach children how to create a wet-felted landscape at the Loughrea Resources Centre.

More info here: https://culturenight.ie/event/little-woolly-wonders-childrens-felting-workshop/

Co Wicklow

Colourful assortment of wool fibres and yarns for a cultural event at Ballywaltrim Library, titled 'Wonderful Wool in Wicklow', taking place on Friday 18 September 2026.

Guild members Sharon Wells, Loli Cox and other textile artists will be sharing the wonders of wool at the Ballywaltrim Library.

More info here: https://culturenight.ie/event/wonderful-wool-in-wicklow-experience-the-wonders-of-wool-including-felting-and-spinning-with-wicklow-based-crafters-and-artists/

Co Cork

A collection of felted bowls in various colours, including pink, orange, blue, and grey, displayed on a stone surface with green foliage in the background.

Guild member Zivile Zeniauskaite will teach wet felting at the Fermoy Library.

More info here: https://culturenight.ie/event/felting-workshop/

Note: Some of the events are drop in and others require booking. Please check the associated links for details.

Apologies if we missed your event.


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.