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Sunday Session

June Sunday Session: Felt & Fabric Design Transfer Workshop – with Adrienne Dempsey

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
A felt bowl featuring an embroidered bee design, promoting a felt and fabric design transfer workshop.

On Sunday, the 14th of June, we will learn how to transfer designs onto felt fabrics using soluble fabric and heat-transfer techniques with committee member Adrienne Dempsey. Editor’s Note: This is the session that we needed to reschedule from April.

In this workshop, weโ€™ll explore different methods for transferring designs and bring them to life through needle felting.

Youโ€™ll create a motif that you can use in your own artwork or transform into a decorative piece, such as a brooch.

Hand-stitched felted bee design on a natural fabric backdrop within an embroidery hoop.
Close-up of a handmade felt brooch featuring a black and yellow bee design on a circular beige background.

Materials we will use:

โ€ขLinen and silk canvas fabric
โ€ขHeat transfer materials, fabric pens
โ€ขSoluble fabric
โ€ขVilene, cotton batting, calico, and Pellon
โ€ขParchment paper
โ€ขNeedle felting wool (black & white and a selection of colours)
โ€ขFelting needles
โ€ขIron
โ€ขEmbroidery threads & beads (optional)

What to bring:

Bring both your Needle and Wet Felting Kits

  • Felting wool and felting needles
  • Felting pad
  • Towel
  • Bowl for water
  • Soap
  • Bubble wrap
  • Small scissors
  • Embroidery hoop (6 inch, optional)

The Details:

When: Sunday, theย 14th of June, 2026, 10:30 AM โ€“ 12:30 PM.

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

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

We will send a Zoom link to the Session on Friday afternoon, the 12th.


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: NCAD ‘Works’ – includes Annika Berglund’s Jewellery and Object Design – Plus other Students’ Work

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Graphic design featuring a blue and white checkerboard pattern in a stylised frame, overlaid on a grey background with repeated text 'NCAD Works 2026'.
Screenshot of the animated NCAD Works 2026 Poster via Instagram

Over the past year, Feltmakers Ireland guild member Annika Berglund has been attending classes in Jewellery and Object Design at NCAD. She will be showing work alongside her classmates at the NCAD Graduate Show. Editor’s Note: Their work will be displayed at the Annex on James Street, near the Guinness Gate.

The textiles and fashion graduates will also be exhibiting their work on the main campus.

Plus, there will be a series of events, talks, and performances throughout the 12-day exhibition run. For more information on these, visit here – https://2026.ncad.works/events

‘Works’ opens on Friday, the 5th of June, with a reception from 17:00 and a second opening at 18:00.

You are all welcome if you can make it.

When: Friday, the 5th of June, through Saturday, the 13th of June.

Where: In locations throughout the NCAD Main Campus, Grace Gifford Building, and The Annex on James Street. NCAD, 100 Thomas St, Usher’s Quay, Dublin 8, D08 K521. There is also the MFA exhibition at RUA Red.

More information at the NCAD website – https://www.ncad.ie/news/view/NCAD-Works-2026-Opening-Hours

Instagram: @ncad_dublin @annikaberglund.art @ncadfashion @ncad_appliedmaterials_textiles @ncadtextilessurfacedesign


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 content-related questions, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.

Recap: Feltmakers Ireland at Bloom 2026

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
A group of people queuing at a market stall, surrounded by colourful bunting and a blue banner that reads 'Made Local - Made to Last'.
A craft fair stall featuring artisans demonstrating felt-making techniques. Several people are engaged in crafting at a long table adorned with colourful wool, handmade felt animals, and artwork displays.
A group of women engaged in a crafting activity at a table, using wool and colourful fibres. One woman in a floral shirt focuses on her work while another interacts with her. Others are visible in the background, with various crafting materials scattered across the table.
Two women engaged in a felting workshop at a craft fair, surrounded by colourful wool fibres and crafting tools. A mannequin displays a felt hat, and a sign for 'Feltmakers Ireland' is visible in the background.
Two women smiling and posing in a craft stall, one holding a sign that reads 'Created using Human Ingenuity'. A third woman sits at the stall in the background. The stall features colourful felt products and a banner for 'feltmakers ireland'.
A woman demonstrates a craft at a table, engaging with two participants, while colourful materials and a decorative backdrop are visible.
A group of women engaged in a crafting activity at a community event, with materials spread out on a blue table. One woman in a pink patterned dress and another in a blue shirt are working on a textile project, while a third woman assists behind them. Various handmade items are displayed on the table.

On Friday, the 29th, and Saturday, the 30th of May, a dozen volunteers from Feltmakers Ireland generously shared their love of the magic of feltmaking with the public atย Bord Bia Bloom, an enormous, five-day festival in Dublinโ€™s Phoenix Park, which focuses on gardening and sustainability.

As in previous years, we were located within theย Design and Crafts Council of Irelandโ€˜s (DCCI) Irish Craft Village โ€“ in the special Demonstration Area โ€“ just like theย Irish Woodturnersโ€™ Guild and the other GANS Guilds.

On the second day, we shared the space with our friends from Fibreshed Ireland. It was great to see them spinning, weaving, dyeing, and sharing insights into the sustainable, local wool and linen textiles of Ireland.

Fibreshed Ireland

A craft demonstration booth featuring two women. One woman is spinning wool on a traditional spinning wheel, while the other is arranging materials on a blue table with various craft items and a schedule of demonstrations in the background.
Malรบ Colorรญn and Frederique Knits
Two women standing in front of a blue backdrop displaying 'MADE LOCAL'. One is holding a weaving loom with colourful yarn, while the other stands beside a display of local crafts and materials.
Malรบ Colorรญn and Kathy Kirwin

Hands Busy at Work

A colourful striped towel spread out on a table, with three hands positioned on it and a red rubber object placed in the centre.
A person using bubble wrap to felt colourful wool pieces on a work table, surrounded by towels and a bowl.
Close-up of two tattooed hands resting on a white towel, showcasing various intricate black tattoos including patterns and symbols on the fingers.
A hands-on demonstration at a craft fair with participants engaging in an activity. Several hands are positioned near a bottle of window and glass cleaner, with petals and craft materials scattered on a table.
Two people engaged in a felting workshop, using their hands to shape colourful wool on a table covered with protective material.
A group of hands engaged in a crafting activity on a multi-coloured striped table. Various materials, including bubble wrap and a piece of felt, are being manipulated.
A person with gloved hands is handling brown plush toy animals, in a market stall setting with a wooden display board. Soft toys resembling bears peek from the top of the display.
Hands of guild member Tamzen Lundy, as she creates faux-taxidermy foxes

Our volunteers led children and adults in creating wet-felted balls, 3D flowers, and flat wool paintings. They also demonstrated more complex feltmaking activities.

Tamzen Lundy created several of her 3D faux-taxidermy foxes, and Irina Lampadova showed how to make felted wristlets using a unique template method.

Our Volunteers

A woman working on felted art pieces at a booth, with various tools and materials displayed on a table. The background features a promotional sign for local arts and workshops.
Tamzen
Two women engaged in a crafting activity at a table, with fabric and tools arranged. One woman is standing and appears to be helping the other, who is seated. In the background, others are participating in similar activities. The backdrop features promotional material for 'Made Local'.
Deidre and Siobhรกn
A woman in a white shirt is animatedly speaking while gesturing with her hands at a craft demonstration table, surrounded by colourful wool and handmade bowls.
Fiona
A woman demonstrating felt-making techniques at a craft fair, holding a piece of wool while explaining the process. She is wearing glasses and a flower accessory, with a colourful textile display in front of her.
Hรฉlรจne
A group of people engaging in a crafting workshop, focusing on felt-making techniques. Participants are working on tables covered with protective material, while instructors demonstrate the process. Colourful felted items are visible on the table.
Hรฉlรจne and Fiona
A woman smiling while working on felt-making at a craft event, with various materials and completed felt items on a table.
Irina
An elderly woman with short white hair, wearing a colourful floral shirt, is demonstrating a felting technique to two participants at a crafting event. Various colourful wool fibres are spread out on a table, and the backdrop features promotional materials for felt-making workshops and exhibitions.
Claire
Two women demonstrating felt-making at a craft event, with one speaking to an audience while wearing a unique hat and the other preparing materials.
Loli and Linda
Two women smiling together at a craft fair, one wearing a floral hat and green sweater, and the other in a blue cardigan and scarf, standing in front of a decorated table.
Loli and Juliane
Two women engaged in a felting workshop, with one woman demonstrating how to work with wool while the other observes closely. The backdrop features a promotional banner for local crafts.
Mary
A woman demonstrating a crafting technique at a table covered with white towels and various craft materials, engaging with another person.
Siobhรกn
A craft market display featuring handmade felt fox head decorations wearing glasses, alongside artwork prints and a vendor showcasing their products.
Tamzen

Many thanks to our members, who donated time from their busy Bank Holiday Weekend to share their love of felting with the visitors at Bloom. In addition to displaying their felted work, many wore felted items.

Many thanks to the DCCI for inviting us to be part of the Irish Craft Village, and to the event organisers, Geraldine and Catherine Gray, who ensured we had what we needed for the event.

Delighted Attendees

A smiling woman in a yellow jacket and pink top holds a decorative item while sitting at a table with a white cloth.
A woman holding a piece of felted fabric featuring a colourful flower design, set against a background of festival tents and bunting.
A woman with a black headband and floral top gestures while sitting at a table, displaying a felted wool artwork with a floral design. Other attendees are visible in the background.
An elderly woman smiling while holding a handmade felt bow tie with floral patterns, wearing a patterned pink shirt.

Videos

There are two Instagram Reels for each day of Feltmakers Ireland’s participation at the Irish Craft Village:


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

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

Members’ News: Linzi Conway Art at the Stendahl Festival

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
A textile and mixed media artist walking barefoot along a sandy path, surrounded by tall grass, wearing a light green cardigan and a white skirt, holding a magazine.
A collage featuring Linzi Conway's artwork, including a pink house, a child collecting water, and a fish. The title 'Linzi Conway Art' is prominently displayed alongside her logo.

Guild member Linzi Conway‘s textile and mixed-media art has been selected for the Stendhal Festival’s art exhibition, Chapter 16. “Iโ€™m truly grateful for the opportunity to have my work seen and celebrated as part of this inspiring and supportive creative community.”

Linzi combines felting with other textile techniques to create her artwork. She uses “free-motion embroidery and hand-stitched details to add movement and dimension, ensuring my art engages not just the eyes but also the sense of touch.”

The Stendhal Festival is one of Northern Irelandโ€™s longest-running independent music and arts festivals, celebrating creativity across music, visual art, poetry, and more.

When: This yearโ€™s event will take place from 2nd to 4th July 2026.

Where: Ballymully Cottage Farm, 61 Ballyavelin Rd, Limavady BT49 0NQ, United Kingdom

Linzi’s website- https://linziconwayart.com/

Her Instagram – @linziconwayart

Information about the festival is here – https://www.stendhalfestival.com/

If you are a member of Feltmakers Ireland and would like us to share your news, please contact us at 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:ย If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

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

Open Call: Celebrating Ten Years of Castles in Communities – Co Roscommon

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
A poster for an event titled 'Lughnasadh gathering the work', featuring an image of a historic stone ruin surrounded by grass under a cloudy sky. It includes details about a call for art in Ballintober, Co. Roscommon, with a submission deadline of June 21, 2026, and a QR code for further information.

Castles in Communities is a community-engaged research project that has taken place in Ballintober and north Roscommon since 2015.

Inspired by the ancient Irish harvest festival of Lughnasadh, this exhibition explores how art and archaeology gather meaning from the landscape.

Theme: Lughnasadh: gathering the work. Rather than re-enacting ritual or belief, Lughnasadh is used as a conceptual metaphor for transition: the moment when sustained seasonal work is gathered, assessed and shared.

For Castles in Communities, this concept mirrors the close of excavation and survey and the shift into post-excavation analysis, interpretation and public storytelling. After ten field seasons of research, the project stands at its own harvest threshold, where accumulated labour, gratitude for community relationships and archaeological knowledge are gathered and carried forward.

Contributions are invited to this exhibition from artists as well as local residents who notice meaningful details in the landscape – places or moments where history, culture, and everyday life intersect.

One does not need to be a professional artist to submit.

Exhibition will be held on the 24th- 26th of July, 2026, in Ballintober, Co. Roscommon.

Deadline to submit: 21st of June, 2026.

More information, here – https://castlesincommunities.com/exhibition-2026-test/

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

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

Of Interest: Panel Discussion – The Future of Irish Wool: Heritage, Sustainability & Innovation – At Bloom on Saturday

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Promotional banner for Bord Bia Bloom, Ireland's largest festival of gardening, food, and sustainable living, featuring event details and a focus on Irish wool heritage and sustainability.


This weekend, Irish sustainable fashion stylist and journalist, Roxanne Parker, will host two conversations about Irish textiles and fashion at the Sustainable Living Stageย of Bord Bia Bloomย 2026, in association withย The Design and Craft Council of Ireland. Both events will explore the future of Irish textiles, heritage & endangered craft, and sustainability.ย 

Of particular interest to felters is Saturday’s event, “The Future of Irish Wool: Heritage, Sustainability & Innovation.”

This event will open with a fashion show celebrating Irish wool and Irish woven textiles, followed by a conversation on sustainability, heritage manufacturing, farming, fashion and textile innovation.

Joining Roxanne are the following:

When: Saturday, the 30th of May at 10:30 AM

Where: Sustainable Living Stage, at Bloom

On Sunday at 11:15 AM, there will be a fashion show and a panel discussion on linen.

Opening with a fashion show celebrating Irish linen and contemporary Irish linen design, followed by a discussion on weaving, endangered craft practices, sustainability and the evolving future of Irish linen.

Joining Roxanne are the following:

More information about events is on the Bord Bia Bloom website – https://www.bordbiabloom.com/whats-on/event-schedule/

Instagram: @roxanne_parker @dccireland @irish_grown_wool_council_ @bordbiabloom


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

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

Open Call: 2026 August Craft Month Exhibition -‘Rhythm’ – CraftNI Gallery – Belfast

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
A creative piece of jewellery featuring a spiral design with pearls, accompanied by text announcing 'Rhythm' and details for the August Craft Month 2026 exhibition callout.

Image of @celinetraynorjewellery

๐™๐™๐™ฎ๐™ฉ๐™๐™ข, the upcoming CRAFTNI August Craft Month exhibition in Belfast, is now accepting applications! This year, CraftNi invites makers to consider the connections between making and music. Belfast is the host city for the annualย Fleadh Cheoil na hร‰ireann, a festival of music and culture from Sunday, the 2nd to Sunday, the 9th of August 2026.ย Qualifying competitors from all over the world will showcase traditional and folk music, song, and dance in the city, with around 800,000 visitors expected.

More on the theme from the CraftNI Instagram: “Are you drawn to the rhythm and repetition of traditional music, where patterns emerge, repeat and develop? Do you visualise harmony and tone in your work or does it call to mind a soundscape? Or see the movement and flow of a lyric? A musician playing in a group may bring a new interpretation to a piece in that context โ€“ does working in a collaboration drive new elements of your practice? Has a song sparked an impulse or an idea that you want to express through your making? Or perhaps the tactile pull of the materials used in instrument-making โ€“ metal, wood, leather and textile โ€“ open areas for exploration for you?”

Applications from all supported craft disciplines are welcome.

Deadline: the 7th of June, 2026

For more information, visit the CraftNI website – https://craftni.org/2026-august-craft-month-exhibition-callout-rhythm/

Their Instagram: @craft.ni

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 the content, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.

Exhibition: Saar Snoek Solo Show – Felted Headwear and Sculptures – Portugal

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
A young model wearing a unique hat featuring green felt and an eye, promoting the temporary exhibition by artist Saar Snoek, titled 'Living Felt: A Manifesto', at Museu Chapearia from May 16 to September 27, 2026.

The solo show ‘Living Felt: a Manifesto’ of feltmaker, milliner, and painter Saar Snoek features her explorations of 30 hats, sculptural works in felt, and her World of WearableArt (WOW) piece ‘Wild Things’. She creates her work using a variety of fascinating techniques – many of them felting!

“I made these to forget there is a โ€˜right wayโ€™ to make felt. Everything you donโ€™t know is experimental, everything you know technique” — Saar Snoek

When: The show runs until the 27th of September.

Where: Museum da Chapelaria, Museu do Calรงado, Rua Oliveira Jรบnior, nยบ591, 3700-024 Sรฃo Joรฃo da Madeira, Portugal

For more information about seeing the show, visit the Museum’s website – https://museudachapelaria.pt/en/agenda/events/saar-snoek-living-felt-a-manifesto

To see more of Saar’s work and learn about her upcoming workshops, visit her website – https://www.saarsnoek.nl/

Instagram links: @saar_snoek @museudachapelaria

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 the content, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.

Of Interest: Fabricademy Exhibition and Talks – Dundalk, Co Louth

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Creative Spark FabLab and Textile Academy will host the Textile Academy Bootcamp 2026 Open Exhibition at Foresterโ€™s Hall in Dundalk, Co Louth.

The exhibition is free to attend and will present work developed through the Textile Academy Bootcamp Ireland 2026 programme, which brings together fashion, technology, biodesign, and digital fabrication.

The exhibition includes projects exploring wearable technology, e-textiles, circular fashion, digital fabrication, crafts, heritage, sustainability, and more-than-human design.

When:

  • Monday 25th of May to Friday 29th of May / 11:00 AM to 3 PM for the Exhibition

A public programme will take place on Saturday, the 30th of May, beginning with a guided exhibition tour and project presentations, followed by a networking lunch and a series of artist talks.

  • Saturday 30th May / 10:00 AM to 4 PM

Where: Foresterโ€™s Hall, Market St, Townparks, Dundalk, Co Louth, A91 X9KH

For a schedule for the Saturday Talks and more details, visit the CreativeSpark Dundalk website – https://creativespark.ie/blog/posts/open-exhibition—textile-academy-bootcamp-ireland-2026

Their Instagram @fabricademy @creativesparkdundalk


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 the content, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.

Of Interest: Feltmakers Ireland will be at Bord Bia Bloom 2026 โ€“ DCCIโ€™s Irish Craft Village

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Map of Bloom 2026 event layout, showing various areas including the Conservation Area and entrances, with marked locations for facilities like restaurants and picnic areas.
Bloom 2026 Map

On Friday, theย 30th and Saturday, the 31st of May, volunteers from Feltmakers Ireland will demonstrate wet and needlefelting at theย Design and Crafts Council of Irelandโ€˜s Irish Craft Village, at Bord Bia Bloom in Phoenix Park. We will be in Demo Area 3, near the Conservation Area. Our book,ย โ€˜Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmakingโ€™,ย will also be for sale, along with some of our membersโ€™ works. Come by and say, โ€˜Helloโ€™!

Here is a link that shows the schedule of all the guilds that are demonstrating โ€“https://www.dcci.ie/whats-on/bord-bia-bloom/bloom-2026-demonstrations/

Member News

Group of people gathered for the announcement of Meath Made's participation in Bord Bia Bloom 2026, with promotional materials and artwork on display.
MeathMade Members, including Lucia Errity.

Feltmakers Ireland guild member Lucia Errityย will display her felted work at theย MeathMadeย booth.

More Information

This June bank holiday weekend (Thursday, May 28thโ€“ Monday, June 1st, 2026), Bord Bia Bloom, Irelandโ€™s most unique gardening, food, and sustainable living festival, returns for its 20th year.

Filled with colour and creativity, the event heralds the start of summer with a dazzling display of glorious gardens, fabulous food, and enthralling entertainment to entice visitors of all ages.

Spanning a 70-acre site in Dublinโ€™s leafy Phoenix Park, Bord Bia Bloom is one of the countryโ€™s largest outdoor experiences, attracting over 100,000 visitors annually. This year, visitors can soak up the sights, sounds, and tastes of summer over five buzzing days packed with live entertainment, talks, interactive workshops, dining, shopping, and so much more.

Bord Bia Bloom offers abundant opportunities to grow, taste, and learn. Tickets are on sale via Ticketmaster, and two children can go free with each adult ticket purchased. Concession tickets are available for senior citizens (66+) and students with a valid ID.

For more information, visit their website โ€“ https://www.bordbiabloom.com/

Their Instagram: @bordbiabloom @dccireland @luciaerrityart @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 the content, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.