The quality of your photographs plays a crucial role when applying to shows, as it’s often the only representation jurors have if they’re not already familiar with your work. The Call for Entry website offers an excellent article on how to photograph your art for juried exhibitions. It provides many tips and illustrations on setup, lighting, using cameras or phones, editing, resizing, and renaming files.
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Sally Pointer’s “Introduction to Prehistoric Textiles” online course is now available on the Plants & Colour website.
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to prehistoric textile techniques, focusing on evidence from Northern Europe. Participants will learn about the evolution of textile tools and technologies through four pre-recorded video lessons, each approximately one hour long. A live Q&A session on the 21st of October, 5-6 PM will follow the course to address questions.
Lesson One: The Palaeolithic – ‘The String Age’
Lesson Two: The Mesolithic – Tree bast technologies
Lesson Three: The Neolithic – Linen
Lesson Four: The Bronze Age – Introduction of wool and changes in textile practices.
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.
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The inaugural European Craft Alliance (ECA) Summer School will offer a relaxed, self-paced online programme exploring the intersection of entrepreneurship, sustainability, and creativity in the craft sector.
Curated content clusters, featuring highlights from the ECA and its members, will be published over four themed weeks. Each week will also include ‘Beach Reading Mosaic,’ a curated collection of thought-provoking essays on European crafts.
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.
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The Archipelago of Colour is a festival of natural colours which features workshops, talks, and activities for artists, crafters, and families. It will include deep ecology work, a colour safari, and workshops with experts on natural dyeing, ink making, eco printing, and using mineral pigments. Sunday is a family-focused day.
When: Saturday, the 26th – Sunday, the 27th of July.
Where: Willow and Lore, 15A Craigdunloof Road, Newtowncrommelin, BT436RQ Co Antrim, Northern Ireland.
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.
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As of the 9th of July, the workshop is FULLY BOOKED. If you want to be put on the waiting list, please email Sam – see below for her details.
Workshop Description from Pam:
“In the workshop, we will learn several skills useful for fibre jewellery making. We will make one or more pieces of felted jewellery depending on the complexity of the individual design. We will look at how to design the piece for wearing, and how to construct various closures and attachments. You can also learn how to incorporate foreign objects if necessary.”
WHEN: Friday, the 18th through Sunday, the 20th of July 2025, 10 AM to 5 PM
To apply for PAM de GROOT’s workshop, please email committee member Sam Fagan at samantha.d.fagan@gmail.com
Please include Pam de Groot’s name in the ‘Subject Line’ of your email.
All participants will be notified via email and provided with a payment link for secure payment using a credit or debit card. The cost is 250 euros for members / 265 euros for non-members.
Additional Information
Supplies are not included in the workshop price. Once registered, we will email students the supply list provided by Pam.
Cancellation & Refund Policy for Workshops
If you need to cancel your place in a Feltmakers Ireland workshop, please notify the Guild by email at least 7 days before the start of the class. A €10 handling fee will be deducted from your refund.
Cancellations made less than 7 days before the workshop are not eligible for a refund. However, if you can find a replacement student to take your place AND inform the Guild within this period, you will receive a refund (minus the €10 handling fee).
Please note: In exceptional or unforeseen circumstances, the committee may consider refund requests at its discretion.
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.
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On Friday, the 16th of May, twelve members of Feltmakers Ireland enthusiastically came together for our first in-person workshop with an international tutor since the COVID pandemic. Our teacher was the esteemed Canadian artist and teacher, Marjolein Dallinga, who has a wonderful hands-on teaching style, where students experienced the sculptural possibilities of wool.
We learned how to create three unique felted sculptures, each incorporating many stages of the complex techniques Marjolein uses in her artwork. As specific processes needed to be followed when the projects were dry, it was a choreographed dance!
Here is a lovely photo of some students gazing with adoration on their damp, in-progress work.
Students Watching
Throughout the three days, there were step-by-step demonstrations of techniques.
Everyone is hard at work.
Students Felting
Exhibition
At the end of the course, we had a mini-exhibition in the sunshine. It was wonderful to see how each student’s work came out!
Thanks to the Many
Many thanks to Suzanne Phelan for taking care of so many details and keeping everyone caffeinated. A tip of the hat to Elaine Peden for recommending Kilteel Hall – isn’t it beautiful? Also, thanks to Elizabeth Redding and Breda Fay, guild members who came by to lend a hand. ENORMOUS thanks to Elizabeth for bringing the tubes that we used to raise the tables—it was such a treat to have those! Of course, thanks to all the students who helped create such a focused learning community and knew how to laugh!
The warmest thanks go to Marjoelein for sharing her warmth, wisdom, and talents. We look forward to her return to Ireland!
Marjoelin Dallinga in Kilteel, Co Kildare.
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.
Liberties College will have an Open Day tomorrow. If you are interested in courses starting in September 2025, the teachers will be available to answer any questions on Tuesday, 20th May, from 10 AM to 1 PM.
Note: Several of Feltmakers Ireland’s guild members are students at the Liberties College and greatly enjoy their studies and the school. The cost is very reasonable.
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.
Do you use plastics such as thin kitchen flooring underlayment for resists and bubble wrap for ‘friction’ in wet felting? Are you interested in reducing your reliance on these fossil-fuel-based materials? Feltmaker and tutor Vanda Sousa of ‘Going the Dodo Way’ shared an interesting blog post in 2023, exploring alternatives to plastic in wet felting.
Her post includes several ideas originally shared in “Filzen ohne Plastik” by Corinna Nitschmann from an issue of the German-language felting magazine FiltzFun, n. 73.
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.
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Many thanks to Feltmakers Ireland guild member Hélène Dooley for bringing to our attention a highly educational three-part series of blog posts from the Felting and Fiber Studio about Felting Needles.
The first article of the series is all about felting needles: their length, gauge, shape, and more. The second is about how the needles are used in industry, and the third and final instalment is about how textile artists can purchase, store, and use felting needles.
The writer, Jan, is a Canadian member of the Felting and Fiber Studio organisation and an experienced three-dimensional needle felter. Each instalment is interesting, and Jan is a thorough researcher, perceptive maker, and humorous writer. And don’t mind her spelling—she is severely dyslexic. She says on her bio page, “If you read out loud, I make more sense.” And she does!
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.
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Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.
The results of the workshop captured by Hélène Dooley
On Saturday, the 26th of April, 20 students gathered around artist and Feltmakers Ireland guild member Annika Berglund to learn about Fine Feltmaking. In the morning, we concentrated on flat, two-dimensional wet felting, and during the afternoon, we focused on creating a three-dimensional vessel.
What is Fine Felt?
With this type of wet felting, the aim is to create dense, smooth felt. It is not a fast process. She shared that she came across the slow approach during her research for the guild’s Irish Wool Project. One of the wool tester’s felted samples were exceptionally smooth and tight. In querying this person, she deduced that our usual method, which involved a bit of rubbing and a lot of rolling, needed to be reexamined. By slowly compressing the fibres, the results are better!
Consequently, during the Fine Felt Technical Workshop, we didn’t toss or throw. Instead, we took it slow. Annika said we might never seek this patience-requiring method again, but we would know and have the option to use it in our future felting. Nevertheless, Annika reminded us that “Felt is Forgiving”.
Throughout the workshop, the students used only two colours: black and white. This simple limitation allowed us to experience how colours combine through the feltmaking process. Similarly, we learned about the differences between the wispy and the blunt ends of a wool shingle and how they can impact the final project. There was a lot to think about!
Annika demonstrating layout
Morning
In the morning, we worked on a flat square of felt. We learned how to carefully lay out Merino wool roving to a specific size and then gently transform the fluff into felt. Annika explained the hows and whys of why we might want to shrink our samples more or less. Interestingly, we worked in imperial measurements (inches) because the percentage shrinkage was more obvious. As we shrank down our pieces, she reminded us to remember the edges!
Annika is demonstrating compressing the fibres
Afternoon
In the afternoon session, the students concentrated on creating a three-dimensional sphere. We used a flat, circular-shaped resist to make this hollow form, a vessel. Interestingly, the afternoon vessel layout was a quicker process. However, similar to our morning education, this felting process needed a delicate touch. Annika reminded us that with rolling, it can get bumpy; the resist inside may bunch up, but you’re in control.
Annika is demonstrating how to lay out a three-dimensional sphere.
Busy Hands
Laying out the fibres.Compressing the fibres through the bubblewrap.Making a flat squareMicrofulling in pointy corners.Rolling in hands.Checking shrinkage.
If you are more experienced with three-dimensional felting, Vanda Sousa has an upcoming online course that may be of interest. It is for designing resists to make felted slippers, shoes and boots – https://www.vandafsousa.com/resists-made-easy-for-footwear
Appreciation Time
Many thanks to the volunteers who assisted in setting up the room and helping the students: Loli Cox, Adrienne Dempsey, Hélène Dooley, Marie Dunne, Sam Fagan, Juliane Gorman, Fiona Leech, Caitríona Nolan, and Suzanne Phelan.
Sam was invaluable, continually lending a hand behind the scenes.
Sam filling the Burco with more water.
A special thanks to Lorna Cady for taking care of the CIE Sports Hall and the tea, coffee, and sweet treats!
Lastly, a huge thanks to Annika Berglund for taking on this workshop for the Guild. She has a marvellous way of getting the students’ attention and also making us laugh!
A Video of the Day!
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.
Feltmakers Ireland 