Category: News

Of Interest: Seeking Artists to Give Online Textile Talks

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates) is seeking proposals from fibre artists who would like to present at one of SAQA’s 2027 Textile Talks. This is a paid opportunity open to artists worldwide.

Textile Talks features weekly presentations and panel discussions from four textile organisations: International Quilt Museum, Quilt Alliance, Studio Art Quilt Associates, and Surface Design Association.

There’s a playlist of previous Textile Talks: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXsBpWjk3xVCTzucHkrU3ly5NlLa7mW3f

They are looking for the following:

  • Artists with a strong body of work or point of view.
  • Artists who are using textiles or the quilt medium in interesting, new, or unique ways.
  • Artists who are documenting their work with strong visuals (photos or videos).
  • Fibre organisations and researchers/authors are also encouraged to apply. Artists may apply individually or as a group.

Deadline: the 31st of August.

For more information, visit their website: https://www.saqa.com/events/call-artist-speakers-textile-talks

Their Instagram: @saqaart

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: ReStyle Ireland – Galway Sustainable Fashion Expo – Open Call

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Restyle Ireland is hosting an Open Call for all designers, makers, artists, educators, and changemakers.

Are you helping people rethink fashion through creativity, repair, reuse or traditional skills?

They’re looking for:

  • Designers
  • Artists
  • Craftspeople & Makers
  • Social Entrepreneurs
  • Workshop Facilitators & Instructors
  • Traditional Skills Practitioners
  • & More

Whether you’d like to run a workshop, give a demonstration, exhibit your work, or share your skills, they are interested in hearing from you.

Join in creating an event that celebrates circular fashion, creativity, and real alternatives to fast fashion and throwaway culture.

A recap of Restyle Dublin that was on the 4th of July, in Dún Laoghaire, can be seen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/Dah6JBxIxsl/

Expression of Interest forms can be found here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1heSqgZDxHKwLtc2pE1XfW4lxikg_LQZ_fdSnO2S93D4

Their @restyle.ireland @theenvforum

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: August Craft Month – 2 Feltmakers Ireland Guild Events – Plus, Felting Activities throughout Ireland

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Feltmakers Ireland is hosting TWO August Craft Month events this year!

On Saturday, the 15th of August, Feltmakers Ireland West will be at King House, Boyle, Co Roscommon. They will have a felting fair featuring a mini-market, an exhibition, and four feltmaking workshops. For more information: https://augustcraftmonth.org/acm-event/felting-fun-day/

On Sunday, the 16th of August, Feltmakers Ireland will be at the CIE Hall/ Inchicore Sports & Social Club, Co Dublin. For more information and to register a place in one of the two felting workshops where we will be creating wet and needle felted flowers, please visit this page: https://augustcraftmonth.org/acm-event/experience-the-joy-of-felting/

In addition to our members’ events (see below), there are over 40 opportunities to experience felting throughout the island of Ireland. When on the August Craft Month website, in the ‘List View ‘, select the ‘Craft Type’ of ‘Felt’ to see ALL of the events! (One can search ‘Map View’, but then there is no option to select ‘Felt’.)

Members Events

Several of our members are hosting their own open studios, workshops, and markets.

Here are some of them, arranged in order of date:

Instagram: @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 Jane Fox has 3 Pieces in Late Night Art Bangor – Boom Studios – Runs through 19th of August

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Feltmakers Ireland guild member Jane Fox is participating in Late Night Art Bangor.

She has three pieces on exhibition at Boom Studios and is one of several artists, stallholders, and workshop facilitators showcasing their work as part of Late Night Art Bangor. The launch is today, Thursday, the 30th of July, from 6 – 9 PM.

The Eco Takeover exhibition will launch on Thursday, 30 July, and continues through to Wednesday, the 19th of August.

Where: Boom Studios, 80 Main St, Bangor BT20 5AE, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

“The title [of the image of Jane’s artwork] is ‘171 Trillion Pieces’, as this is the estimated amount of plastic that is in the Earth’s seas. I included a Common Gull because, although the name suggests they are found everywhere, they are actually a red-listed species, due to the rapid decline in numbers.” – Jane Fox.

To learn more about Late Night Art Bangor and see the other events happening, visit their website: https://latenightartbangor.com/

Instagram: @whitefox_felts @latenightartbangor @boom.studios

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: 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.