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Of Interest: Second Printing of ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’ Now Available in Libraries Across Ireland

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Cover of the book 'Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking' featuring a rural landscape with sheep and feltmaking materials. Text on the right announces 'Our Book is in the Library!' and shows a search result from Libraries Ireland with availability details.

We’re delighted to share that the second printing of ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’ is now available through the library system in Ireland.

If you search your local library catalogue or visit the Libraries Ireland website, you’ll find that there are currently 20 copies in the system. Some are still on order and being processed, but you can reserve a copy and have it delivered directly to your local branch for collection.


You can find and reserve the book here: https://librariesireland.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/FULL/WPAC/BIBENQ/754928726/80649840,1

Editor’s Note: You will need a valid library card to reserve the book.

Thank You to Our Supporters

Everyone at Feltmakers Ireland would like to extend heartfelt thanks to all of our wool-loving readers and supporters who have made this second printing possible.

We are especially grateful to artist and guild member Annika Berglund for being the book’s editor. She took on the complex and detailed work of establishing the wool breed testing subcommittee and organised the results into a cohesive, educational, and beautifully presented book.

Prefer to Own Your Own Copy?

If you’d like to add ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’ to your own textile book collection, you can purchase a copy directly from our website: https://feltmakersireland.com/exploring-irish-wool-for-feltmaking/


Whether you borrow it through your local library or keep a copy on your own shelf, we hope this book continues to inspire your exploration of Ireland’s rich and diverse wool heritage.

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: RHA Annual Exhibition 2026 – Submission Deadline the 23rd

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
A person viewing the 196th RHA Annual Exhibition at the Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts, surrounded by various artworks on the walls. A note in the corner says 'Apply Now!'


A reminder: The deadline for The Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts (RHA) Annual Exhibition is this coming Monday, the 23rd of February.

They are currently accepting submissions for their 196th exhibition. It is Ireland’s largest and longest-running open submission exhibition, and will be open to the public from Monday, the 25th of May, to Sunday, the 9th of August, with free admission at all times.

Open to all artists working in painting, drawing, print, sculpture, photography and architecture, the RHA Annual attracts a large public and critical audience.

Editor’s Note: There is a recap of 2024’s exhibition as several pieces included textile materials or techniques, including a piece by guild member Leiko Uchiyama – https://feltmakersireland.com/2024/07/30/exhibition-final-week-of-the-rha-annual-show/

For more information, visit the RHA website – https://rhagallery.ie/rha-annual/

Their Instagram: @rha.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.

Open Call: World of Threads Festival – Canada

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Colourful promotional poster for the World of Threads Festival, inviting fibre and textile artists to submit their work. Location: Oakville, Ontario, Canada. Submission deadline: February 28, 2026.

Artists from around the world are invited to submit bodies of work, installations or individual pieces to The World of Threads Festival, in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.

Curators Gareth Bate and Dawne Rudman will draw from the pool of submissions to create different thematic group exhibitions, as well as solo shows and installations. They are open to submissions of artwork that have been made between April 2023 and January 2026.

Deadline:
Saturday, the 28th of February 2026.

The Festival runs from the 23rd of September 2026 through the 17th of January 2027.

Where: Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre, 2302 Bridge Rd, Oakville, ON L6L 2G6, Canada.

For more information, visit the Festival’s website – https://worldofthreadsfestival.com/submissions/

Their Instagram @worldofthreads

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 Wool Almanac – Be Included

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
A promotional image inviting contributions to the Irish Wool Almanac, featuring two sheep walking on a grassy path.

To celebrate European Wool Day and Women in Agriculture 2026, Future Island-Island is producing an Irish Grown Wool Almanac.

This will be a printed and digital directory celebrating the people and organisations shaping the wool landscape in the island of Ireland, and the journey from farm to fibre to finished work.

The almanac will be funded and published by Future Island-Island, an AHRC Green Transition Ecosystem research programme, in partnership with the Irish Grown Wool Council.

It will be distributed at the European Wool Day 2026 Conference in Tralee next month and shared online as part of Future Island-Island’s wider programme of activity.

To submit your listing, use the online form linked below. You will be prompted to share what you do, highlights of your contribution, and why Irish wool matters. There’s also a request for up to 3 high-quality images, plus your logo with captions and credits.

They aim to include as many listings as possible. If they receive more submissions than can fit in the printed almanac, they will select entries to ensure a balanced spread across both regions and the wool journey.

Deadline: 12 PM on Monday, the 16th February 2026.

To submit your information, use this online form – https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=h5QLb6hPqEKutL8uLCLU6ND3XSPTeK9Nr6Cw1hutJWdUQzEzVDQwVE5WWU45WU9UUVlaVENEVjE4Ny4u

Their Instagram @futureislandisland

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: Textile Academy Bootcamp – Dundalk

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Promotional poster for the Textile Academy Bootcamp 2026 featuring a model in a unique textile outfit. Details include dates from May 25th to 30th in Ireland, highlighting activities like lectures, workshops, and networking. Features a QR code for booking.

Fabricademy, Textile and Technology Academy is a multidisciplinary, intensive training program at the intersection of Textiles, Digital Fabrication, and Biology, delivered in equipped laboratories worldwide, providing distributed education with hands-on technical learning.

This year’s 5-day Fabricademy Bootcamp is hosted by Creative Spark Dundalk, and is open to students, designers, teachers, professionals, and curious makers interested in sustainable practices.

Discover laser-cut zero-waste fashion, 3D printing on textiles, biomaterials, electronic textiles, silk screen printing with lake pigments, seaweed harvesting, tufting, and more.

When: the 25th – 30th of May, 2026

Where: Creative Spark, Clontygora Ct, Muirhevnamore, Dundalk, Co. Louth, A91 HF77, Ireland and other locations in Dundalk.

For more information and to register, visit their website – https://bootcamp.textile-academy.org/

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

Of Interest: Interactive Wool Crafts – European Wool Day in Tralee

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Promotional poster for 'Interactive Wool Crafts' event, featuring various wool crafts including felting, spinning, weaving, knitting, crochet, and Lumra rug making. Details include the date, time, location at Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee, and an invitation for individuals, families, and groups to attend.

On Saturday, the 28th of March, European Wool Day will take place at the Meadowlands Hotel in Tralee, Co Kerry. In conjunction with the Conference Talks, there is a full day of free interactive demos of woolcrafts from experts all over the country.

Volunteers from Feltmakers Ireland will be part of the Interactive Wool Crafts Room. We will demonstrate needlefelting and host hands-on felting circles for the public. The wool that we will use is Irish-raised and was purchased from Ériu and WoolstoreIE. We are grateful to have received some funding from the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland.

In addition to Feltmakers Ireland, other individuals and groups will be part of the Interactive Wool Crafts room. The list includes several members of Feltmakers Ireland: Karen Bowden (Fabulous Fibres), Lucia Errity, and Emily Thompson.

The lineup, with links to their Instagram:

There will also be a free-to-attend exhibition of artwork from Feltmakers Ireland and two other sister textile organisations:

When: Saturday, the 28th of March, from 10 AM to 5 PM.

Where: Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee, Co Kerry, V92DC83

For more information about European Wool Day, visit their website – https://ewe.network/ewd2026/

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: ‘Heart on Your Sleeve’ – Helena Mc Guinness – February Sunday Session

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
A group of people engaged in a crafting session, with a woman demonstrating a technique at the forefront, surrounded by participants seated at tables with various materials.
Helena Mc Guinness helping a student
A woman in a white sweater working at a table covered with crafting materials, including a brown bowl and pieces of fabric.
Helena demonstrating

On Sunday, the 8th of February, members of Feltmakers Ireland were delighted to have the multitalented artist, storyteller and committee member Helena Mc Guinness show us how to create felted hearts using a combination of wet and needle felting.

A variety of handmade felt decorative items, including colourful stones, a starfish, and a polka-dotted red piece, arranged on a grey table surface. Some items are wrapped in bubble wrap.
Helena’s samples that use the combined technique

Helena shared many interesting tidbits about how one can approach felting. Here are some of our favourites:

  • Thanking the Sheep for their wool
  • Allowing oneself not to think one needs a huge towel or a big setup
  • Using small sponges to wet the felt instead of more expensive tools, such as ball brausers
  • Adding the olive oil soap after wetting allows more control
  • Rubbing more reduces the need to roll
  • Adding a small metal ring by using needle felting instead of stitching

Scroll to the bottom to watch the video of our session.

A plastic container filled with yellow and green sponges, with some sponges stacked and others lying flat.

Students at the Session

A group of women engaged in a crafting workshop, seated around several tables covered with various materials and tools for creating felted items.
A group of people engaged in a craft workshop, focusing on felting techniques. One woman in the foreground gently works with materials on a pink towel, while others are seen in the background, participating actively.
A group of people engaged in a craft workshop, working on felt-making at a long table. Various tools and materials are spread out, including sponges, felting needles, and bowls with mixed media. Participants are focused on their projects, showcasing a collaborative and creative environment.

Completed Hearts

A heart-shaped keyring made from felt, featuring colourful flower designs in purple, pink, and green.
A handmade felt heart in shades of green, featuring a small red heart on one side.
A colourful felted wool heart shape placed on a grey foam pad, with a felting needle beside it.
A decorative felt heart shape embellished with red gemstones along the bottom edge.
A heart-shaped object made of felt, featuring green and orange patterns.
A smiling elderly woman with glasses holding a handmade felt heart with a face, sitting at a crafting table.
A handmade felted heart with an eye design, featuring the text 'I got 4'. The heart is predominantly white with red and black details, displayed on a textured background.
A handmade felt heart keychain with a cream background, featuring red and teal floral patterns.
A felted heart-shaped decoration featuring a colourful abstract design in shades of green, blue, and red.

Heart Photos kindly taken by Adrienne Dempsey

If your heart was not included, or you were working alongside at home via Zoom, please email us a photo of your completed heart. feltmakersIE@gmail.com

A Group Photo

A diverse group of twelve people, mostly women, smiling and posing together in a community centre, each holding colourful handmade crafts, with a banner visible in the background.
A photo of some of the students – taken at the very end of the session. Sorry if we missed everyone.

Biscuits with History

A tin filled with heart-shaped iced shortbread biscuits, accompanied by a handwritten sign explaining their significance linked to St. Valentine.

‘Biscuits with History’ is an ongoing series of baked goods created by committee member Lorna Cady. They are always so fun!

Appreciation

Many thanks to Helena Mc Guinness for leading us in an educational and enjoyable Sunday Session. Thank you to the members who helped set up the room and who assisted in guiding some of our newer felters.

Video

Sunday Session Video

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 Co Galway – Needle Felt a Heart with Irish Wool

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
A promotional image for an FMI-West workshop featuring needle felted heart crafts. The image shows five heart-shaped felt items on a floral background, with details about the workshop date, time, and location.

Feltmakers Ireland-West’s next Sunday Session will be this Sunday, on the 15th February 2026.

Come along, and needle felt a heart made of Irish-raised wool with guild member Katarina Hruskova of Woolstore.ie

Time: 11 AM

Where: Bru Bride House, Tirboy, Tuam, Co Galway, H54 EY24

Note: Feltmakers Ireland-West meets on the THIRD Sunday of the month.

To learn more about Feltmakers Ireland-West and our members who are part of it, please visit the Feltmakers Ireland-West website – https://feltmakersireland-west.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.

Sunday Session

THIS Sunday: ‘Heart on Your Sleeve’ – Wet & Needle Felting with Helena Mc Guinness

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Poster for a felting workshop titled 'Heart on Your Sleeve' on a colourful background, featuring a heart shape and details about the session led by Helena Mc Guinness.
Artwork on poster from Helena Mc Guinness

THIS Sunday, the 8th of February, we will have our second Sunday Session of 2026.

Committee member Helena Mc Guinness will lead us in creating small hearts, using both wet and needle felting techniques. The Theme is ‘Heart on Your Sleeve’.

Please bring your wet and needle felting kits. The committee will have extra felting needles for those who do not have them, along with ball brauses (sprinklers).

We will also provide Merino wool. But if you have specific colours you prefer to use, it would be helpful to bring them along.

Your Wet Felting Kit should include:

  • an old towel to catch water, plus a smaller one to dry your hands
  • bubble wrap
  • bowl for water
  • felting soap of your choice
  • sprinkler or ball brause

Your Needle Felting Kit should include:

  • felting needles
  • sponge or brush or needle felting pad to felt into
A handmade felt heart with vibrant purple, orange, and pink colours, featuring a metal ring attached for hanging or keychain use.

The Details:

When: Sunday, the 8th of February, from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM.

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

Additional Information:

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

And, as this is the season of coughs and sneezes, please refrain from coming if you feel unwell. We do have the benefit of technology – there will be access via Zoom, although it is not quite as lovely as being with us in person.

Zoom Access to the Sunday Session:

We will email the Zoom link to all members on this afternoon

Membership Renewal:

If you have already renewed your annual membership, we thank you for your support!

If you still need to renew, you can do so quickly and easily by visiting our Membership Page online: https://feltmakersireland.com/membership-application/

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.

Education: Business Development Courses – Local Enterprise Offices

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Map highlighting various Local Enterprise Offices across Ireland, showing their locations with markers.

There are 31 Local Area Enterprise Offices (LEO) in Ireland, which support people interested in starting a new business or already in business.

LEO offer courses in the following subjects:

  • Starting a Business
  • Financial Management
  • Technology
  • Online Marketing
  • Social Media and AI
  • Computerised Bookkeeping
  • Business Planning

Many craftspeople and makers have taken the ‘Start Your Own Business’ courses and recommend them. The courses length and cost vary depending on location.

Here is a link that shows a map of the various LEO offices – https://www.localenterprise.ie/find-your-local-enterprise-office/

In general, participants are expected to attend courses run by their local LEO. That being said, the various offices offer different selections. Some offer courses online, while some others have in-person courses. Mentoring and financial supports, such as grants must come from one’s local LEO.

Our editor subscribes to three of the 4 local Dublin LEO’s free email newsletters; she has observed that the Fingal LEO offers the greatest selection of subjects of interest to artisans/craftspeople.

Here are two upcoming one-day classes from the FIngal LEO that may be of interest –

Promotional graphic for an online workshop on selling food and craft products at markets and pop-ups, featuring a colourful stall display with merchandise, including bags, clothing, and artwork.

These short, practical LEO sessions focus on real-world selling opportunities and online platforms that are especially relevant for makers looking to grow their businesses.

So, if you are interested in learning more about developing your business, subscribe to the e-newsletter of your Local Enterprise Office.

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.