Blog:

Exhibition: Save the Date – Feltmakers Ireland’s ‘Essence of Nature’ – The Leitrim Design House ArtWall

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Save the Date: Members of Feltmakers Ireland will exhibit artwork at the Leitrim Design House‘s ArtWall.

Essence of Nature brings together the work of talented felt artists from across Ireland. The exhibition explores the quiet power, beauty, and diversity of the natural world through the rich and expressive medium of felt. Inspired by landscapes, flora, fauna, light, and seasonal change, the artworks showcase both traditional and contemporary felting techniques, highlighting the creativity and innovation of Ireland’s feltmaking community.

Visitors are warmly invited to attend the launch and exhibition to experience this inspiring collection of contemporary felt art in the heart of County Leitrim. The show is part of August Craft Month.

When: The exhibition runs from Wednesday, the 26th of August to Saturday, the 3rd of October 2026.

The exhibition will officially launch on Saturday, the 29th of August, at 12 noon.

Where: The Leitrim Design House, The Dock Arts Centre, St George’s Terrace, Townparks, Carrick-On-Shannon, Co. Leitrim, N41 T2X2

Instagram: @theleitrimdesignhouse @augustcraftmonth26

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: Member Dr Niki Collier Exhibits in UNESCO World Heritage Site in Nessebar, Bulgaria

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Feltmakers Ireland member Dr Niki Collier is exhibiting her series of work, ‘Wings of Mobility‘, in a joint exhibition with painter and sculptor Mara Lateva in Nessebar, Bulgaria, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The show explores the concept of motion through large-scale, felt sculptures of wool and silk wings. Collier writes, “Soft textile sculptures resembling bird wings embody local and global bird lore and migration. The wings represent physical movement as well as personal growth and transformation”.

A review of the exhibition appears in the Portfolio section of the summer issue of the Irish Arts Review.

Where: Community Hall Yana Laskova, Staria Grad, ul. “Mesembrija” 20, 8231 Nessebar, Bulgaria.

More information about the exhibition can be found here: https://www.bta.bg/en/news/1164089–the-wing-maker-niki-collier-joins-renowned-artist-mara-lateva-for-joint-exhibi

Instagram: @nikicollierfelt @irisharts_review


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: Petition to Reduce VAT Rate on Irish Craft

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

The Irish Design Loft in Powerscourt Estate, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, has organised a petition to reduce the VAT rate on Irish-made crafts. The current Value Added Tax (VAT) rate is 23%; they propose reducing it to 13.5%, which is the VAT rate for fine art in Ireland.

“Irish handmade crafts are an important part of our heritage, creativity, and local communities. Yet many independent makers are struggling under the current VAT rate, making it harder to compete and keep traditional skills alive.

A reduced VAT rate on Irish handmade crafts would help support local artisans, small local creative businesses, and the future of Irish craftsmanship.

If you believe in supporting Irish makers, please consider signing the petition and sharing it with others. Every signature helps.”

Editor’s Note: For your input to be registered, you will need to click through an emailed confirmation.

For more information and to sign the petition, visit this website: https://www.change.org/p/reduce-vat-on-irish-handmade-crafts

Their Instagram: @irishdesignloft_


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: Participatory Arts Project with Studio – Dublin

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council in Dublin is partnering with The Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown Older People’s Council (dlr OPC) on a studio project for professional designers/makers and older people.

They welcome applications from individual designers and makers who they will support to develop their craft practice with older people in the County. The designers/makers will receive a monthly fee to support their practice, a materials budget, and a training stipend. Additionally, the DLR will offer full (rent-free) access to a studio in dlr Baths from early October 2026 for 14 months. It will give designers/makers the space and time to create their work.

The organisers will host a visit to the Studio on Thursday 30 July at 2 PM. If you are interested in visiting, please email arts@dlrcoco.ie or phone (01) 236 2759 to book a place.

  • The deadline for questions is 1 PM, Friday, the 4th of September 2026.
  • The deadline for applications is 1 PM, Monday, the 7th of September 2026.

Your application can include written documents, video, or audio files.

To learn more and apply, go to https://dlrcoco.submit.com/show/379


Instagram: @dlrcoco.ie @agefriendlyireland @dlr_arts

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.

Awards: Dorothy Waxman Textile Prize – Open to Students and Recent Graduates of Textiles Worldwide

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Only two weeks left to apply for the Dorothy Waxman Textile Prize, which is part of New York Textile Month, an exciting gathering of textile-related events held across multiple locations this September in New York City.

Li Edelkoort and Philip Fimmano are pleased to announce the 12th edition of the Dorothy Waxman International Textile Design Prize, awarded to a current or recently graduated student in Textiles or Fashion who exhibits sustainable thinking and innovative creativity in textiles. The prize is part of the TALKING TEXTILES initiative that promotes textile education and creativity.

The competition is international and open to students currently enrolled in programs focused on textiles, fashion, interior, or lifestyle textiles. Graduates from 2025 and 2026 are also eligible to apply.

The $5000 prize for the winner is sponsored by the American company MOHAWK GROUP. @mohawkgroup

Deadline: Friday, the 7th of August, 2026.

Work in image by Carlotta Talkenberger @ct.textil.e

For more information and to apply, visit the New York Textile Month website: https://www.textilemonth.nyc/textile-prize-2026

On the website, one can also see and learn about the inspiring past winners and others whose work is highlighted.

Their Instagram: @newyorktextilemonth

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: Tamzen Lundy has work at Craft NI Gallery – August Craft Month

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

A piece by Feltmakers Ireland guild member Tamzen Lundy, “Fragmented Landscape”, has been selected for the exhibition ‘Rhythm’ at the CraftNI Gallery in Belfast, UK. This event is part of the island-wide August Craft Month. 

The exhibition features contemporary craft works that highlight the connections between making and music, traditional or contemporary. As Belfast prepares to host the annual Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, local makers share with us how music, with its rhythms, harmonies or lyrics, informs their making.

Participating makers: Adam Frew, Céline Traynor, Corinne Price, Eddie Doherty, Eimear Malone, Fiona Kerr, Hannah Ferguson, Joel Smyth, John Piekaar, Karen Hamilton, Kevin Callaghan, Natasha Heaslip, Nicola Dalton, Peter Meanley, Stuart Cairns, Sue Cathcart, Tamzen Lundy, Ursula McGivern.

The opening is Thursday, 23rd of July, at 6 PM and runs for the month of August.

Where: Craft NI Gallery, 115, 119 Royal Ave, Belfast BT1 1FF, United Kingdom

For more information about the show, visit the gallery’s website: https://exhibitions.craftni.org/

Instagram: @craftnigallery @augustcraftmonth26 @tamzenlundydesigns

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: Irish Flax featured on RTE1 Nationwide – 20th of July

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

On Monday, the 20th of July, Nationwide had a programme about the growing history and the revival of Flax in Clonakilty, West Cork. Presenter Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh interviewed eco artist Kathy Kirwan, a member of Fibreshed Ireland.

To watch the recording, visit the RTE1 player: https://www.rte.ie/player/series/nationwide/SI0000001172?epguid=IH10016303-26-0081

Their Instagram: @fibreshed_ireland @kathykirwan_theartofnature

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: Vivienne Morpeth’s “Nuno Feltmaking” Book – Preorders Available

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Vivienne Morpeth‘s book, “Nuno Feltmaking: Design, Techniques and Projects for the Creative Maker”, is now available for preordering.

Morpeth is an acclaimed nuno feltmaking tutor and designer with extensive teaching experience. She co-hosted Felt Matters: The Podcast and was a long-standing member of the International Feltmakers Association’s education team.

On Felt Matters, there is an episode on Vivienne’s work and impact: “Vivienne Morpeth | A Legacy in Felt.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HvfaRUypU0

Preordering books is a way to support authors. Strong preorder numbers prove market demand to publishers, convince bookshops to stock the title on their shelves, and can propel a book onto the bestsellers list.

Note: We have linked to the Amazon Ireland site below, but the book is also available for preorder on the UK site, as well as on the US Amazon and other sites.

More information and a link to preorder the book are on the Amazon page that her daughter Raphaela has set up: https://www.amazon.ie/Nuno-Feltmaking-Techniques-Projects-Creative/dp/0719846706

@vivienne_morpeth_

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: Article about Creating Animal Fur Using Needle Felting Techniques

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

There is a helpful, in-depth article on the Felting and Fiber Studio website about the many ways to create animal fur using various needle-felting techniques. It includes many tips on the variables to keep in mind when creating different types of animal coats.

The post was written by guest writer Jan, who has contributed several informative articles to the Felting and Fiber Studio about needle-felting. (https://feltingandfiberstudio.com/author/kjarvala/ )

To avoid missing their future articles, one can sign up for email notifications from the Felting and Fiber Studio.

Here is the link to the article about creating animal fur, which Jan calls ‘Shingling’: https://feltingandfiberstudio.com/2026/07/04/technique-chat-shingling/


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: Leiko Uchiyama and Filtti – The Finnish Felt Association Show

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Guild member Leiko Uchiyama has several pieces on exhibition in ‘Felt: Forest’, a group exhibition of Filtti, the Finnish Felt Association.

Where: Galleria Kivipankki, (Gallery Stone Bank), Seppolantie 7, 42100 Jämsä, Finland

The exhibition runs through Sunday, the 19th of July, 2026.

For more information, visit the gallery website: https://www.kivipankki.fi/suomen-huopayhdistys-filtti-metsa/

To learn about Filtti, visit their website: https://www.filtti.fi/

Their Instagram: @kivipankki @filttiry @leikofelt

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.