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THE 2012 KNITTING AND STITCHING SHOW

Get ready for one of the best 4 day textile shows!

It’s that time of year!

 Come join us at the stand.  Free entry for those who volunteer

to do a bit of demo, sell fibre or chat with newbies coming by.  Contact nessamccormack@gmail.com

We always have more people interested in felt each year.  It’s a great buzz to talk to folks to see what they’re doing in textiles.  Come help promote one of the best Crafts and Craftmakers at the Feltmakers Ireland Stand.

We’re back in the original location on the balcony in the Main Hall in teh RDS.

10:00am to 5:30 on Thursday – Sunday November 1-4

Theme this year for the Feltmakers Ireland Stand is

HATS

All members will get an email with details of who to send them to or where to drop them before the show.

The Learning Curve workshops will be cords and beads!  Should be amazing this year.  Make sure you’re involved!

Our next “Play Day” is scheduled for Saturday 6th October 10-4.30 in Inchicore Social Club. If anyone is interested in joining a group of feltmakers, all working on their own pieces, but sharing ideas and tips please contact sheila.ahern@ireland.com. Bring your own felting supplies and something for lunch. It’s much more fun working with others and there is lots of room to work on larger pieces. There is a charge of €10 to go towards the hire of the hall.

Feltmakers Ireland took part in the OPW  “Dancing at the Crossroads”  event today in the Phoenix Park. The OPW  has organised a series of events throughout the year to celebrate the  350th anniversary of the Park.Chesterfield Avenue was filled with music, dancing, stalls and feltmaking. A big thank you to Gabi, Kay and Gaye for all their hard work, our stand looked terrific and they gave feltmaking demonstrations all afternoon. We met some terrific people including Sarah Webb (below with Gaye) , originally from the US now living in Connemara. Sarah loves felt and bought a copy of our book “Profiles in Felt”.

“Sheep Chic” , our traveling felt fashion show,  has returned to Dublin and is now installed in the Tower in Phibsborough as part of the Arts Trail in Phizzfest 2012 (see http://www.phizzfest.com). The show started in the Phoenix Park as part of Heritage week, then moved to the Rare Breeds Show in Gosford, Co. Armagh where it stunned the sheep farmers with the amazing results achieved from felted wool. The exhibition is currently open to the public until Sunday next September 9th. We will  be holding felt making classes during the exhibition on Saturday 8th, to book contact Phizzfest.com

Niki Collier

Many thanks to all the feltmakers who participated in the exhibition – Nicola Browne, Reg Browne, Niki Collier, Maureen Cromer, Carol Hawkins, Joanna Kidney, Natasha Nosenko, Nessa McCormack, Michaela Markova,  Marika Miklosi Manning,  Claire Merry & Kate Ramsey

                                                                                               Setting up for Phizzfest

The next three Sunday Sessions will be a look back at some of the work and skills we have picked up from workshops given by international felt tutors. People who participated in these workshops will bring along the pieces they made and describe new techniques that we learnt. Theses sessions are open to all and free (we ask only for a donation for tea & coffee). They are held in our studio in the Phoenix Park (beside the Knockmaroon Gate) from 10.30 – 1.00pm

Sunday 9th September – Dagmar Binder

Sunday 14th October – Judit Pocs

Sunday11th  November – Jeanette Appleton

 

 

 

We are delighted to announce a workshop with textile artist Jeanette Appleton at the end of October. This is Jeanette’s second workshop with us and anyone who attended her first in 2009 will remember how inspirational she is.  Have a look at her website for some beautiful images of her work http://www.jeanetteappleton.com/

The theme for the workshop with Feltmakers Ireland is:

Transparency and Depth

Exploring the proportion of wool and cloth, to consider the contrasts of lightness and density in the felt structure. Discover the potential to create distorted and slightly three dimensional structures for interior or fashion items. Or as a method of layering marks and textures for compositional ideas towards art textiles.

The workshop is taking place in the RDS on 29/30th October, a wonderful start to the week that the Knitting & Stitching Show. We are grateful to the RDS for their support with this workshop which allows us to offer places at a very affordable price. Please see application form here for more details:  Jeanette Appleton Application

Come celebrate Heritage Week with Feltmakers Ireland next Sunday 26th August from 13.00-16.00 in our Studio in the Phoenix Park. There will be an exhibition of felted fashion “Sheep Chic” from some of our very talented members as well as felt making demonstrations. The studio is located in a lovely spot in the Phoenix Park (beside Knockmaroon Gate) so bring a picnic and join in the felting fun.

 

The Crafts Council of Ireland are organising the following exhibition – it would be great to see lots of felt in there.
BEAUTY IN NATURE is an exhibition of textiles in conjunction with the Crafts Council of Ireland and
our textile GANS (Guild Associations Network and Societies) which will be on display at the Knit and Stitch
Show in Dublin. RDS 1-4th November 2012
Brief
Work in the exhibition must be in response to and inspired by beauty in Nature and our natural
environment- colour, texture, pattern, form. It can take the form of literal or abstract interpretation.
Pieces must be contemporary in design and can be in any textile media and technique.
CCoI encourage 2D and 3D works, sculptural, wall based and wearable accessories – bags,
hats, scarves, throws etc.
Selection
Work will be selected on the basis of excellence in design and making, fit within the overall exhibition and
creative interpretation of the brief.
Work must have been made within last 3 years and not shown in the Knit and Stitch or in
any CCoI exhibitions.
Successful makers will have their work photographed and exhibited in the Knit and Stitch show. Contact Mary Wheelan for an application – maryw@ccoi.ie

Completed application form and work must be returned by the 8th October 2012

After a very successful series of dyeing workshops at our studio in the Phoenix Park in Dublin we are delighted to announce two more.

DYEING IN THE PARK    SUNDAY AUGUST 12th FABRIC HAND PAINTING    10-16

Participants will be using fabulous vivid acid dyes to paint on silk fabric,  ( chiffon, organza, crepe, silk velvet etc )
on  pre-felts,  wool fabric and nylon ,  which we will then steam  fix . Participants will be able to paint up to 1 metre of fabric – we will try a little experimental   fabric  printing  also.
Price includes all dyes + equipment as well as tea, coffee  + biscuits.
Cost  €40 euros   (6 people max.)

DYEING IN THE PARK    SUNDAY  AUGUST 19th INDIGO MAGIC       10-16

Using the ancient blue dye  and  a traditional vat , watch your fabric change colour before your eyes as the  air hits it!
The  dyes  also takes very quickly so you will be very productive!
Participants will use simple shibori methods , tying, scrunching , clamping and pole wrapping  to produce
amazing  effects.  Indigo will dye natural fabrics like silk, cottons, linens, viscose, ramie and wool very successfully.
Participants will provide their own fabrics.
The price includes all dyes + equipment as well as tea, coffee + biscuits.
Cost  €40  ( 6 people max)

To book a place contact Clodagh on 086 0574401

We recently received notice from Sigrid Bannier, chairperson of the German Feltmakers Association, about an exhibition they are organising.

Call for Entries for the International
Exhibition of Felt Textile Art
“… in Motion”
(“…in Bewegung”)
Deadline: November 9, 2012
Exhibition: February 17 – March 3  2013

In cooperation with the German Feltmakers Association, Filz-Netzwerk e. V., the company ‘Filzrausch –
Filzkunst aus Göttingen’, organizes a felt exhibition titled “…in Motion” (“…in Bewegung).
The exhibition will take place from February 17 – March 3, 2013 and will be opened with a vernissage.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a catalogue in 3 languages and illustrated in colour which each award
winner and participant can use for their own marketing activities. The local press as well as the trade press
are equally informed in order to guarantee a broad public interest.
Exhibition venue
Historische Spinnerei Gartetal e.V., Steinsmühle 8, 37130 Gleichen – Klein Lengden /Germany
http://www.historische-spinnerei.de
Who can participate ?
Felters and textile artists from all over the world are kindly invited to submit their works to the selection panel.
Both individual artists and groups of artists are welcome.

Please see Exhibition “In Motion” Information for more info