We are delighted to announce a two day workshop with Japanese felt artist Leiko Uchiyama on the 8/9 June 2013 .
Leiko will work with participants in mastering her particular “pine needle” technique and apply it to making a very delicate nuno wrap.
Here is the workshop application form: Leiko Application
Check out Leiko’s website http://www.leikofelt.com
To ensure the safety of participants in the Great Irish Run, the following restrictions will apply in the Phoenix Park:
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Photographic workshop with Joanna Sieczkowska
Felt hat by Maureen Cromer Photography by Joanna Sieczkowska
Photography is very important when presenting your work for exhibitions or for sale. Entrants to the Feltmakers Ireland’s forthcoming exhibition Origins will need to submit photographs as part of the selection process. To help our members take the best possible pictures we have organised two workshops on Sunday 28th April from10-1pm and from 2-5pm (two separate 3 hours sessions). The workshops will take place In the Studio in the Phoenix Park and there will be a max. of 10 participants per session. The cost is €15 per person and this includes tea/coffee. Priority given to FI members, to book a place please email gabi.mcgrath@gmail.com. Joanna was the photographer for our book “Profiles in Felt”.
The topics include:
1 Know your camera – how to adjust and change settings in your own camera to get the best results.
2 Introduction to light – what different light situation are available and what is best for your piece.
3. Basic composition – the golden rules of composition in presenting your work.
4. Home made photo props – we will show you how to make low cost photo backgrounds and props from every day household items.
5. Basic post production – we will demonstrate a simple way to finish off your photographs on free software.
For our workshop you need to bring your own camera, whatever you have, and an item to practice on.
Our next Sunday Session we be on March 10th in our studio when we will be exploring hand stitching and felt with textile artist Colleen Prendiville. Colleen is a former chairperson of Feltmakers Ireland and is also a talented embroiderer and has an interest in everything to do with stitch, fibre, felt and textiles. The Session starts at 10.30, everyone is welcome and there is a small fee of €5 (includes tea & coffee) . The studio is located beside the Knockmaroon Gate of the Phoenix Park in Dublin.
In preparation for our exhibition Origin: Felt in the Natural World we are hosting a workshop with Terry Dunne on Saturday 20th April 2013.
Terry Dunne ( Terry The Weaver ) has been Spinning Dyeing and Weaving for more than 30 years now. His Natural Dyeing workshop is focused on giving beginners a good understanding of the processes involved in Dyeing with Plants.
You will learn about Mordants and how to use them as well as mordanting some wool for dyeing on the workshop.
You will also learn the best plants to use to get the best colours for your work.
On the workshop we will mordant and dye about 3 colours and about 9 shades for you to take away and use.
By the end of the day you will have mordanted, dyed and have recipes for all we have done, but more importantly you will know the processes needed to dye from plants.
Students should bring some wool or silk to dye on the day and some felted pieces to add to the dye pots.
If you would like a place on the workshop please complete this form, if we are oversubscribed names will be pulled from a hat on Friday 5th April. Priority is given to fully paid up members of Feltmakers Ireland – but there is plenty of time to join or renew your membership. Membership costs €25 per year.
As the first part of our preparations for the exhibition in August we are planning to visit the Botanic Gardens on Saturday next – 2nd March at 2pm. A member of the education team in the Gardens will guide us to look at plants of interest to feltmakers. In particular plants that can be used in dyeing and plants that yield fibre than can be used with wool in feltmaking. Everyone is welcome and we are meeting at the entrance to the Visitors Centre cafe. It will be a great opportunity to start planning you entry to the exhibition
Origins: Felt in the Natural World
August 7th – 24th 2013
As part of its 10th Anniversary celebrations Feltmakers Ireland will be holding an exhibition of members work in the National Botanic Gardens Origins : Felt in the Natural World. There are so many links between the natural world and the craft of feltmaking that we feel the Gardens are a perfect venue to inspire our members and to present our work to the public. The exhibition will present all the different techniques of feltmaking and include both sculptural and functional work. The pieces will represent the makers response to the natural world and in particular to the plants in the National Botanic Gardens. Wool is the primary material used in feltmaking but the botanical world provides such a rich resource of additional materials in the form of fibres ( such as bamboo, flax, hemp) and also natural dyes (for example madder, indigo, marigold). We will be hosting adult and children’s workshops during the exhibition to encourage as many people as possible to share in the magic of feltmaking.
Origins: Felt in the Natural World
7th – 25th August 2013
As part of its 10th Anniversary celebrations Feltmakers Ireland will be holding an exhibition of members work in the National Botanic Gardens Origins : Felt in the Natural World. There are so many links between the natural world and the craft of feltmaking that we feel the Gardens are a perfect venue to inspire our members and to present our work to the public. The exhibition will present all the different techniques of feltmaking and include both sculptural and functional work. The pieces will represent the makers response to the natural world and in particular to the plants in the National Botanic Gardens. Wool is the primary material used in feltmaking but the botanical world provides such a rich resource of additional materials in the form of fibres ( such as bamboo, flax, hemp) and also natural dyes (for example madder, indigo, marigold). We will be hosting adult and children’s workshops during the exhibition to encourage as many people as possible to share in the magic of feltmaking.
As part of the preparations fro the exhibition we will be holding a series of events including two guided tours of the Botanic Gardens, looking at plants that have a particular relevance to Feltmakers. The first tour will take place on Saturday 2nd March, meeting at 2pm at the Visitors Centre in the Botanic Gardens.
Two other events are a workshop with photographer Joanna Thomashevska on how best to photograph your work – date TBC and a workshop with Terry Dunne in April (date TBC) exploring natural dyeing.
Here is a copy of the rules for submissions to the exhibition. Origins Exhibition Rules
Application forms will be posted soon.
Ever wondered about using an embellisher? At our next Sunday Session we will look at all aspects of embellishing. One of our members, Marie Dunne, has very kindly offered to show us some of the techniques she uses. All welcome, €5 charge to cover costs. Sunday 10th February 10.30am Feltmakers Ireland Studio, Knockmaroon Gate, Phoenix Park, Dublin.
The Crafts Council of Ireland a running a seminar on how to write about your craft.
Friday February 8th, 1.30pm-5pm
Venue: Pembroke Hotel, Kilkenny
‘Communicating Your Craft’ is a seminar designed for craft makers, focusing on the importance of concise and relevant writing in statements and proposals. In place of the object and in support if it; the written word is a primary tool used to explain, contextualize and promote craft practices within catalogues, articles, websites, exhibitions and in funding applications. Organised by Crafts Council of Ireland in association with National Craft Gallery, this seminar aims to support you in effectively communicating your craft.
The seminar is free but booking is essential To Book Email: events@nationalcraftgallery.ie
Participants are asked to submit a recent statement prior to the seminar.
http://www.nationalcraftgallery.ie/news/article/maker-seminar-communicating-your-craft
We often get asked questions about working with raw fleece straight off the sheep and Mary Cooper’s workshop in Sligo sounds like it will have the answers. We got this message from Mary:
“I am running a two day workshop at Markree Castle Hotel, Co. Sligo on March 9th and 10th. This will be a hands on and demonstration of how to get a fleece from its smelly dirty state to a wearable yarn or fibre ready to felt.
It will include washing, dying, using both natural and synthetic dyes, carding and spinning wool. Participants are welcome to bring a small amount of their own fleece and any spinning equipment they own if they wish.
The cost is €150 and this will include tea/coffee, lunch on both days and any materials needed.
Hopefully at the end of the weekend you will go home with a little washed fibre, some hand spun yarn, some hand dyed yarn and lots of new ideas and enthusiasm.
For more details contact me at mary@markreewoolcraft.com or see the Markree Castle Hotel website, markreecastle.ie”
Feltmakers Ireland 