Blog:

Exhibition: More Sneak Peeks from Water and Flow

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Close-up view of textured fabric featuring blue and white patterns with several circular holes.
Jacqueline Atkinson
A close-up of a felted green fish with decorative beads, surrounded by colourful felted stones and seaweed against a blue background.
Eglฤ— Silenaite-Enyed
Close-up of a textured fabric featuring a swirl pattern in cream and dark grey.
Yamila Fournier

Sneak Peeks

To whet your appetite for the artwork that will be shown, please enjoy a series of ‘sneak peeks’ of details of some of the work.

Jacqueline Atkinson:

The wet winter of 2025/2026 was the inspiration for Jacqueline’s interpretation of the theme ‘water and flow’ when the battering, pounding, and sudden downpours of rain often made craters in her land. Hence the Irish title ‘Batar Fearthainne’ which she thinks adequately captures the sentiment she was hoping to portray.

Eglฤ— Silenaite-Enyed:

ย The flow in my art symbolises not only the flow of water but also the flow of time. Little pebbles with ancient symbols are sunken below. The flow of water is hiding the secrets of the past. Those times are gone, the time flows…

Yamila Fournier:

After 16 years inland, I moved to coastal Dublin, where the smell of the sea and the pull of the tides reminded me of the rhythm that had been a part of me since the day I was born, since before I was born.

The shore is filled with exciting opposites: gritty sand and wave-smoothed rocks, welcoming water and unknowable depths, chaos of crashing waves reshaping the shore daily and the reliable regularity of the tides. In the face of the vastness of the water, I look to the tiniest bits, portable microscope in hand…

Feltmakers Ireland’s exhibition ‘Water and Flow’ will be available to view from Thursday, the 2nd, to Sunday, the 26th of April. The Centre is open every day, from 9:30 AM to 5 PM.

Our official launch is THIS Saturday at 3 PM. Knitwear designer Conor O’Brien will open our show.

Please note: We have learned that the gallery will be closed at 1: 30 PM on the afternoon of Monday, the 6th of April, due to an event being held at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre.

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.

Exhibition: Water and Flow – More Sneak Peeks

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Close-up of a textile featuring blue embroidery of birds, flowers, and a bridge, with a square patch illustrating white figures on a blue background.
Karen McSweeney
A vibrant depiction of a waterfall cascading over rocks, surrounded by lush greenery and colourful flowers.
Claire Merry
Close-up of a textured fabric featuring shades of blue and purple, with metallic threads interwoven, set against a gold patterned background.
Breda Fay

Sneak Peeks

To whet your appetite for the artwork that will be shown, please enjoy a series of ‘sneak peeks’ of details of some of the work.

Karen McSweeney:

As a nautical artist I was inspired to use pieces of sea pottery, which were washed up on the Burrow Beach Dublin. The design is a nod to the willow pattern on the pottery.

Claire Merry:

 Water falls are mesmerising and breathtaking. The falling water contrasts with the surrounding lush vegetation providing both a visual and aural experience, which brings solace to the mind and soul. 

My piece tries to capture the moment of walking into a glade and seeing the water fall for the first time.

Breda Fay:

This piece of work is based on the 1832 poem “The Lady of Shalott” by Alfred Tennyson, illustrating the “stream that runneth ever”. Situated on an island in the middle of the stream, was a tower where the Lady of Shallott lived. Cursed to never look outside except through a mirror she spent all her time happily weaving a “charmed web”. Then one day, in her mirror, she saw a handsome knight and decided she could no longer live that life of shadows. She ran to the window and watched the knight ride down to Camelot. Once she left her loom, “out flew the web and floated wild” and the lady died.

Feltmakers Ireland’s exhibition ‘Water and Flow’ will be available to view from Thursday, the 2nd, to Sunday, the 26th of April. The Centre is open every day, from 9:30 AM to 5 PM.

Our official launch is THIS Saturday at 3 PM. Knitwear designer Conor O’Brien will open our show.

Please note: We have learned that the gallery will be closed at 1: 30 PM on the afternoon of Monday, the 6th of April, due to an event being held at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre.

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: THIS Saturday ‘Water and Flow’ Launches

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
A close-up view of a textured fabric artwork featuring waves of colour, including greens, whites, and blues, with circular felted shapes resembling shells or flowers.
Tamzen Lundy
Close-up of several white felted wool rings arranged on a textured surface, with small brown beads in the background.
Sandra Reynolds
A close-up image of a colourful felted fish design, featuring vibrant hues of blue, orange, and yellow on a textured white background.
Corina Hogan

Feltmakers Ireland’s exhibition ‘Water and Flow’ will be available to view from Thursday, the 2nd, to Sunday, the 26th of April. The Centre is open every day, from 9:30 AM to 5 PM.

Our official launch is THIS Saturday at 3 PM. Knitwear designer Conor O’Brien will open our show.

Please note: We have learned that the gallery will be closed on the afternoon of Monday, the 6th of April, due to an event being held at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre.

Sneak Peeks

To whet your appetite for the stimulating artwork that will be shown, please enjoy a series of ‘sneak peeks’ of details of some of the work.

Tamzen Lundy:

Inspired by the meeting place of land and sea, The Convergence evokes the rhythmic flow of water against the shoreline โ€” a threshold where elements collide and merge. This liminal space, poised between solidity and movement, suggests a point of quiet transformation: a place where boundaries dissolve and something magical may occur.

Sandra Reynolds:

The theme of ‘Water and Flow’ really resonates with me. I’ve been lucky enough to always live near the sea and enjoy my daily beach walks there. My work for this particular piece with wool reflects the shapes and colours of marine life both above and below Water.

Corina Hogan:

My interpretation is based on the realisation that all Humans, Animal Kingdom and Plants require water to survive and flourish. A basic need for all and so important.

Their Instagram: @tamzenlundydesigns @sandysosew @corina.lewis.hogan

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.

Recap: Feltmakers Ireland at The European Wool Experience

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland2 Comments
Two women and a child engaging in a crafting activity, using their hands to felt materials on a table covered with bubble wrap.
A group of people engaged in a crafting activity at a workshop, with several participants seated at a table working with materials, and others standing around observing and interacting.

On Saturday, the 28th of March, lots of lovely volunteers from Feltmakers Ireland travelled down to Tralee to the European Wool Experience, to share our love of feltmaking with visitors from all over Ireland and Europe.

We demonstrated wet felting using Irish-raised wool.

And our hands-on feltmaking workshops were very, very popular! As we were super busy, we didn’t take as many photographs as we might have done. (All around us were amazing displays that featured Irish Wool. To see some of these, look at the Instagram accounts of Sharon Wells and the Meadowlands Hotel:

Felted Artworks

In addtion to sharing feltmaking, we shared our artwork with a joint exhibition with the Irish Guild of Weavers, Spinners, and Dyers, who kindly brought some of our work to Tralee on our behalf.

Here’s a brief video of our exhibition:

Appreciation to Everyone

A group of four individuals, two women speaking into a microphone while two others listen, at an event featuring artworks displayed on blue boards in the background.

HUGE thanks to the European Wool Exchange, Catherine Phibbs of the Irish Grown Wool Council, and most of all to Sharon Wells for inviting us to be part of the European Wool Experience. It was inspiring to be part of your vision and help to make it a reality!

(In the photo, from left to right are the organisers: Sharon Wells, Dรณra Jamniczky-Kaszรกs of the European Wool Exchange (EWE), Catherine Phibbs of the Irish Grown Wool Council, and Alberto Costa of EWE.

Especially warm thanks to ALL of the members who helped us with this event. Huge appreciation to our members who embraced working with Irish wool and trusted us with their artwork. Lastly, thank you to the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland, which, through their GANS Network Support Scheme, helped fund the Irish-raised wool we purchased from ร‰riu and Woolstore Ireland and distributed to our members.

Bit by bit, we are trying through our feltmaking to increase the use of locally grown, Irish wool!

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

Awards: Open Call to the RDS Craft Awards โ€“ 2026

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Image promoting an open call for Craft Awards, featuring the RDS logo on a dark blue background.

Applications are open for theย RDS Craft Awardsย 2026. It is a competition open to all craft makers living on the island of Ireland and Irish-born craft makers working overseas.โ€ฏย 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 โ‚ฌ62,000.

The Emerging Maker category is open to individuals who arenโ€™t necessarily recent graduates, and there is no age limit. Instead, there are these requirements:

  • Focus on heritage, skills, and sustainable practices.
  • Practice commencedย within the past 10 years, with the determination to grow their craft at home and abroad.
  • Work must be made and sourced in Ireland.

Emerging Makers

โ€ข Exhibit at the National Museum of Ireland
โ€ข Showcase your work at the Gifted Contemporary Craft Fair
โ€ข Receive dedicated mentorship to grow your practice

Established Makers

โ€ข A major opportunity to exhibit at the National Museum of Ireland

There is also a Bursary for Lace.

The deadline for applying is theย 13th of April. There is no fee to enter.

For more information and to apply, visit their website โ€“ https://www.rds.ie/rds-foundation/arts/craft-awards

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.

Education: Wet Cyanotype Printing Online Class – Ashleigh Ellis – Natural Dyers Academy

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
A woman holding printed cyanotype artwork, showcasing blue and white leaf designs, while smiling and gesturing. In the background, there is a sign that reads 'Clothes Swap'.

A four-week course is open to both beginners and experienced creatives who want to explore richly detailed textures and natural colours with Wet Cyanotype Printing on Paper and Textiles.

Guided by Ashleigh Ellis, students will learn to work with botanicals, wet ingredients, and natural dyes to create unique, environmentally conscious works of art.

Start Date: Thursday, the 7th of May 2026
Duration: 4 weeks
Format: Online – Live Zoom teaching, recordings of Lives, and downloadable PDFs

For more information, visit the Natural Dyers’ Academy website – https://appleoakfibreworks.com/collections/academy-short-courses/products/wet-cyanotype-printing-on-paper-7th-of-may-2026

Their Instagram: @naturaldyersacademy @ashleighellis_natureartist

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.

News: Guild Member Dr Niki Collier Solo Exhibition – National Museum of Ethnography, Bulgaria

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
A woman in a grey dress and hat sits in front of a large decorative backdrop featuring colourful, oversized butterfly wings. Behind her, a performer with wings in pink and white poses gracefully.

Recently, the artwork of Feltmakers Ireland guild member Dr Niki Collier has been featured in a solo show, ‘Symbols of Mobility’ in Bulgaria. It has ten installations, including the following: The Phoenix, Children of Lir, The Black Swan, and the newest bird joining the flock- the Flamingo. This travelling exhibition was launched at the National Museum of Ethnography in Sofia on Brigid’s Day, on the 2nd of February, by the Irish ambassador in Bulgaria, Her Excellency Catherine Bannon.

The exhibition has been visited by a record-breaking number of visitors, and there has been coverage on all major television stations: BTV, Nova, BNT, along with many radio stations: Horizon, Focus, BTA, and others.

Dr Collier also held a seminar at Shumen University on Brigid, alongside an exhibition of photographs of her installations. In addition, she led a few workshops at the National School of Applied Art, at the museum, and had an installation at a yarn shop.

There is a video of the exhibition launch on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1163154259226409

More information about the exhibition can be found on the Museum’s website – https://www.bas.bg/?p=62183&lang=en

Here’s a link about the exhibition on the artist’s website – https://www.nikicollier.com/solo-exhibition-ethnography-museum-of-bulgaria/

Her Instagram: @nikicollierfelt

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.

Exhibition: Feltmakers Ireland Presents โ€˜Water and Flowโ€™ Exhibition โ€“ Phoenix Park Visitor Centre Gallery โ€“ Dublin

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
'Water and Flow' Feltmakers Ireland Group Exhibition poster, featuring felt artwork by Joanne Turner. Details about the exhibition location at Phoenix Park Visitor Centre, dates from 2nd to 26th April, and opening hours. Announcement of a launch event with knitwear designer Conor O'Brien on the 4th.

Feltmakers Ireland is delighted to presentย โ€˜Water and Flowโ€™, a vibrant group exhibition featuring the contemporary artwork of 68 members. This showcase explores the many interpretations of water through the rich and versatile medium of felt.

From gentle streams to powerful oceans, โ€˜Water and Flowโ€˜ explores the many moods of water: its energy and stillness, its capacity for renewal, and its connection to human emotion, from sorrow to joy.

Using fibres ranging from imported Merino wool to locally sourced Irish fleece, members have created a diverse body of work that highlights both traditional and contemporary felting practices. Featuring an array of textile techniques, including wet felting and needle felting, guild members have created three-dimensional sculptures, wall art, and wearable pieces, each offering a unique perspective on the theme, reflecting the creativity and individuality of the artists involved.

The Opening

The exhibition will be officially launched by knitwear designer Conor Oโ€™Brien on Saturday, 4 April at 3 PM.

Where and When

The exhibition is at theย Phoenix Park Visitor Centre Galleryย and runs from Thursday, the 2nd of April, to Sunday, the 26th of April. The hours are 9:30 AM to 5 PM, daily, with the exhibition closing on its final day at 3 PM.

The gallery is conveniently accessible byย Dublin Bus number 99ย and is located within the historic Phoenix Park. There is ample parking near the Centre.

For further details, including maps and directions to the park, visitย https://www.phoenixpark.ie/directions.

The artwork featured on the exhibition poster isย โ€˜Waterfallโ€™ย by Joanne Turner.

Her Instagram @olannoriginals

We warmly invite you to join us for the opening or visit throughout the month to experience this dynamic and engaging exhibition celebrating feltmaking in Ireland.

Online Catalogue

A link to Feltmakers Ireland’s online catalogue of ‘Water and Flow’

There is also a PDF version of the catalogue (if the above link is not working for you).

News: Thank you for your Submissions to ‘Water and Flow’

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Poster for Feltmakers Ireland's exhibition submission, titled 'Water & Flow', at Phoenix Park Visitors Centre in April 2026. Note indicating that applications are now closed.

WOW!

Dear Members,

Thank you for all of your excellent submissions!

We are overjoyed to receive such an outpouring from you. There will be 68 pieces in our group show, ‘Water and Flow’.

This Open Call is now shut – the deadline was extended a week to the 20th of March.

Email Confirmations

Each artist will receive an email with instructions on where to drop off or mail their artwork.

If you are NOT dropping it off at the gallery on the MORNING, 10:30 – 11:30 AM of the installation on Wednesday, the 1st of April, you should ensure your piece has been received at one of the five drop-off points by Tuesday, the 31st of March.

If you need to drop off your piece at the gallery on the morning of the installation, please let us know BEFOREHAND by email.

Questions or concerns, please email feltmakersIE@gmail.com

Reminder: Last Day to Apply to ‘Water and Flow’ – Before Midnight

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Promotional poster for Feltmakers Ireland's exhibition submission, featuring details about the event at Phoenix Park Visitors Centre in April 2026. The theme is 'Water & Flow' with a submission deadline tonight at midnight.

Today is theย last dayย to apply to Feltmakers Irelandโ€™s upcoming group exhibition,ย ‘Water and Flow’.

It might be a slightly cloudy or rainy day in Ireland โ€“ no surprise, there! However, if you have been waiting for ‘The Best Day’ to photograph your piece, do not worry: We do not need perfect photographs. Instead, we need your submissions. So, please, please apply.

If, in the event, the online form gives you trouble uploading your images (as it may get ‘overstuffed’), please email photos to committeefeltmakersireland@gmail.com

The deadline is Friday, the 20th of March, atย midnightย โ€“ today!

Hereโ€™s the link to where and how to apply: https://feltmakersireland.com/exhibition-application-2026-water-and-flow/

Naturally, we thank all of the members who have already applied! It’s going to be a fantastic show!

Our opening is Saturday, the 4th of April at 3 PM. Hope to see you there.


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