Blog:

News of a collar project : Think it sounds really exciting and I LOVE projects that don’t need more space than my kitchen table.

Link to Application Form below where all the details are explained as well as lovely stories about 2 crafters from the past! Just reading it inspired me to root out a collar my grandmother made in 1925 … probably by oil lamp/candleI also like the suggestion that you can collaborate with another crafter!!!!

As part of the Government’s “Keep Well” campaign, DCCI has developed an online exhibition. Switch off Be creative.
Design a Collar, Ruff or Cuffs. Collars, ruffs, cuffs, lunula & torcs are universal forms of adornment that have been worn for generations.

Your entry must be wearable, creative, innovative & contemporary in design, it can be made in any material i.e. silk, wool, linen, paper, wire, metal etc. or combined materials and can be created in any discipline utilising any techniques, be handcrafted or created using digital technologies. Collaborations will be accepted i.e. a glass artist working with a lace maker; a basket maker with a milliner; a metalsmith with a feltmaker… the possibilities are endless. All entries will feature in an online exhibition, on DCCI’s social channels and on www.dcci.ie/learners/keep-well. Collars must be photographed on a plain black background and submitted with the completed application form. Apply here https://www.cognitoforms.com/DesignCraftsCouncilOfIreland1/DesignACollarRuffOrCuffs   #KeepWell. gov.ie/healthyireland

Breda- GANS and DCCI link committee member

Hi Folks

Breda Fay here reporting on February GANS Meeting ( Wednesday 17th Feb, via Zoom). I’ve decided that I will do a short report rather than linking you to DCCI page. You can always follow DCCI web page for more info.

Meeting started with condolences being offered on death of David Shaw Smith – not sure how many of you are as old as I am … but I remember his series of programmes on Telly about crafts in Ireland and actually bought the book HANDS which was published about the series. His work was certainly a catalyst in protecting as well encouraging the native crafts of Ireland. If any of you have memories of it, Hillary @making.ie would love you to pen a few lines.

Congratulations to all the guilds who are participating in “Getting Creative during Covid” Mental Health projects – Feltmakers Ireland are one of the guilds who have received funding for a project “Keep Well and Felt with Us” being organized by Niki Collier (in conjunction with Caoilfionn Murphy O’Hanlon and Liadain de Buitleir). You’ve probably seen it advertised and interest has been amazing …. So much so that instead of a session with each of the feltmakers … there will now be three with each. Good luck Niki. I got my pack today!

There were a number of presentations which all emphasized that despite all the difficulties of isolation, it is really important for each guild to maintain our presence. Many are doing projects which encourage members to work at home with a particular focus…. maybe putting all the pieces together to form one collaborative piece, some are organizing online exhibitions….. Presentations this morning:

• Showcase Ireland’s first virtual event
• The Glass Society of Ireland on it newly published book (only 5 left)
• The Irish Guild of Embroiderers on their recently published (and still available) book “Twenty Twenty”. The cover design is by Colleen Prenderville (known to many of us) 
• Borris Lace Group’s partnership with South Armagh Lace Collective in “Laces Across the Borders”

Some things you might be interested in:

1. The Quilters Guild of Ireland are looking for 10 inch submissions from members/non-members on the theme HOME for quilts (they’re planning 10) which will be sold/auctioned to support women’s shelters (quiltersguildireland.com)
2. DCCI are going to make a callout for COLLARS for an online exhibition – watch this space!
3. Society of Cork Potters are calling out for items themed “ON HOME GROUND” for an exhibition which will be run in conjunctions with  A Taste of West Cork in September (www.corkpotters.com)
4. Any members down around the Cork area, watch out for Bench Space, an organisation that is making an equipped workshop available for crafts people. Currently it has mainly woodworking tools but hope soon to have equipment for textile, iron, glass work

SO JUST TO SIGN OFF FOR NOW FOLKS

I think it is really important that there be a FELTMAKING presence in the August Craft Month Project. Let’s use it as a way to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of DCCI AND we might be in the park again by then! Think small but maybe collaboratively??? Get back to me with ideas and offers of help!!!

I’m really missing our Sunday Sessions. Have done a few online courses – see previous blog of recommendations by Annika. It was great to see so many participating in Feltmakers Ireland first online course with Gabi McGrath – hugely successful, nationally and internationally. I’m not sure if there are spaces on Niki’s course. You might have some ideas for online activities or courses????? Let us know hellofeltmakersireland@gmail.com

Also keep in mind our draw for paid up members which will take place beginning of March.

Cheers for now – Breda

At the end of January Felt makers Ireland hosted its first online zoom workshop ever! The first of many, we hope, while we can’t all be together face to face.

Our Tutor Gabi Mc Grath led participants through a 3hr workshop making an A5 felted book cover with  closure mechanism.

Gabi is a familiar face on the Irish felting workshop circuit, a former chair of Feltmakers Ireland she is familiar with many of our members and happily has experience teaching via zoom.

30 participants were enrolled, and it is thanks to the dedicated volunteers on the committee that the workshop was able to go ahead.

We were delighted to have such a turn out and an enthusiastic bunch. It’s a strange world that we all find ourselves navigating but for one morning in January it almost felt like we were together- felting!

Thanks to Gabi and her top tips and guidance many participants have since sent in images of their finished pieces… here are a selection!

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Thanks also to so many of the participants for sending wonderful images and feedback to our very first online course.

Dear members,

We hope you are all doing well, staying safe and finding some time for crafting. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, there is one actual benefit from the pandemic, and that is that more felting workshops than ever are offered online. This means that you can learn from artists across the world and establish contact with other makers from many different countries. The best courses are quite pricey and fill up quite fast, but if you compare with the time and cost involved in doing in-person workshops they start to seem a bit more accessible. Also, remember, all renewing members will be placed into a draw for a bursary award to the value of €200 for an online international tutor workshop this year.

In this blog I want to present a list of artists whose courses I have done, or would like to do, in case any of you are looking for workshops to do in the coming year. Learning about new techniques and being encouraged to keep making has helped me retain a modicum of sanity in the last year and I am planning to keep it up in the new year as well. If any of you know of other courses and artists not mentioned here that you would like to recommend, please send us a line.

Fiona Duthie: Fiona Is well known for excellent online workshops. They one I took last year definitely improved the quality of my finished felt. She is also very generous with help and advice and added a number of extra tutorials to the course in response what students were interested in. Fiona is opening registration for her spring courses on January 4^th.

Online Workshops – Fiona Duthie

Pam de Groot: Pam’s workshops focus on 3D felting, and allows you to explore how felt can go from 2D to 3D and the effects and structure you get by varying the thickness of wool in a felted piece. Pam has not posted dates for courses in 2021 but sign up to her newsletter if you are interested and be first in line when registration opens.

Pam de Groot – online workshops | courses

Eva Camacho-Sanchez: Eva is a Spanish artist living in the US. Her online classes are mostly 2D, incorporating, mark making, stitching and Joomchi. Joomchi is an old Korean technique where water and agitation fusing mulberry papers together to create a strong and interesting surface that can be used on its own or with felting and stitching. Eva has not yet put up dates for 2021, but join her newsletter if you are interested in her courses.

Online Classes — eva camacho

The Online felting Studio with Ruth Lane and Teri Berry have courses that are quite a bit cheaper, but much shorter that the ones I mentioned below. Ruth lane teaches 2D embellishments and mixed media approaches to felting and Teri berry ‘s courses include an interesting looking concertina hat. These would be good if you wish to dip a toe into online learning.

Online Classes | feltingandfiberstudio

Mandy Nash: Based in Wales, Mandy did a few live zoom classes last year. I attended two of them (remotely) and learnt how to make two types of fabulously colourful felted fish. These are now available as a video down load. They are quite long as they include the recording of whole day workshops. They are very reasonably priced, but require a specific wool (bergschaus) for best results. This is a very interesting wool as different colours of a separate layers of wool migrate through the layers and give both vivid and subtle colour gradations when felted.

Workshops – Mandy Nash

Patti Barker: Patti has a number of shorter tutorials and workshops. They are very reasonable and for the “Demystifying felt resist “ course she did Last year she even sent you all the materials needed. She does not have any dates up yet, buit her courses can be found here:

workshops | patti barker | Instructor

Molly Williams: Molly’s workshop teaches how to felt human figures in 3D around a metal armature. I am signed up to begin one of her courses in January, so will keep you posted.  She has opened registration for courses beginning in March.

Online Workshops | MOLLY WILLIAMS TextileMatters

International Feltmakers CiFT: the International Feltmakers offers a course that gives a certificate in Feltmaking, CiFT.  You receive course information online and send samples for feedback to a course coordinator. There is also a facebook group were students can interact abd support each other. I have not done this one, but would be curious to sign up some time in the new year. If you have experience of this course, please send some feedfback or information to Committee

CiFT – Introduction – International Feltmakers Association

International feltmakers also list a number of upcoming workshops on their Events page, including feltmakers Ireland’s upcoming workshop with Gabi MacGrath.

Events Archive – International Feltmakers Association

Hoping for a brighter 2021 with lots of making opportunities!

Stay making! Stay in Touch and thanks for reading

Annika.