Two guild members of Feltmakers Ireland will teach at Meath Made Creates, which is part of this year’s celebration of August Craft Month.
The Meath Made Creative Collective will be at the Swift Cultural Centre for a two-day event. They will take over the entire building with demonstrations, workshops, talks, a craft fair, an exhibition, and live music.
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.
As part of August Craft Month, discover the delicate art of Irish Lace! Join Guild of Irish Lacemakers members for a morning filled with tradition and craftsmanship that the whole family can enjoy.
When: Saturday, the 3rd of August from 11 AM to 1 PM.
Where: The Museum of Decorative Arts and History in Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7.
Live Demonstrations:
Watch in awe as our skilled lacemakers weave intricate designs right before your eyes, demonstrating the precision and artistry passed down through generations.
Interactive Displays:
Get up close to beautiful, historic laces and contemporary designs in our displays. See the supermini to the super-sized!
Try It Yourself! Roll up your sleeves at our hands-on stations, where you can learn to stitch your own stitches and use children’s crafting needles and embroidery hoops. Guided by expert lacemakers, you’ll work with a pillow, bobbins, and hexagon netting —perfect for beginners and children alike.
Explore the Collection:
Visit ‘The Way We Wore’ exhibition to discover how lace has been interwoven with Irish culture and identity over the centuries.
This drop-in family event will occur from 11 AM to 1 PM in the Palatine Room off Clarke Square in Collins Barracks in the Decorative Arts and History Museum.
No booking is required. For more information, call 01 648 6453 or contact bookings@museum.ie
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.
On the 18th of August from 11 AM to 3 PM at the CIE Hall/Inchicore Sports and Social Club Library Square, Inchicore, Co. Dublin, D08 PA07
On the 25th of August from 11 AM to 3 PM at St James Hall, Dublin Road, Kilbeggan, Co Westmeath, N91 XA32
Time: Both events run from 11 AM to 3 PM.
This year, we will be teaching how to felt a small round vessel out of wool roving using soapy water and your hands!
Curious about sheep and Irish wool varieties? Explore the unique reactions of different Irish wool types that have been needle and wet felted. There will be an opportunity to browse and purchase our book, ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’, a rich resource on forty breeds of Irish-raised sheep.
There will be a display of felted artworks and wearables crafted by our talented members, showcasing the beauty and versatility of feltmaking.
If you are a member of Feltmakers Ireland and you are having a felt-related event as part of August Craft Month, please contact us so we can include you in our August Craft Month posts – feltmakersIE@gmail.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.
August Craft Month 2024 is for makers, communities, families, collectors, and enthusiasts across the island of Ireland. Event applications are welcome from the following:
Individual craft makers
Guilds and networks
Galleries, retailers and museums
Councils and arts centres, cultural venues
Further and higher education institutions and crafts educators
Heritage organisations
The deadline for registering your event is Friday, June 14th.
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.
“So this happened! Thank you, @craft.ni and curator and guest judge Annie Cattrell, for the “emerging maker award”!! That’s my ‘are they serious, did I hear that right?’ face… and the picture secretly snapped by my mentor and friend @veramcevoy …
A gorgeous exhibition, Pathways, in the heart of Belfast… a wonderful shop too full of great goodies for Christmas and birthdays, supporting local makers… I wish every county in Ireland had a hub of support like this one!
Thanks again for the recognition; so proud and delighted… it’s not often a wee piece of textiles gets to share the platforms with ceramics, glass and jewellery … but there you go. Happy days.”
On Sunday, August 20th, a beautiful sunny day, our Open Day was held in the CIE Sports and Social Club, Inchicore, Dublin 8. We aimed to introduce wet feltmaking and bring our love of the Craft to a wider audience.
We were set up and eager to welcome our first visitor/participant at 11 AM. Each participant would make a flower with wool from a choice of three options. All wool and tools needed were provided. Written instructions were available and could be taken away and tried at home.
Throughout the day, we were thrilled to welcome over 40 visitors. We also welcomed some new members who joined today. Thank you to all!
Photographs courtesy of Fiona Leech and Deirdre Carroll.
This event would not have been possible, and the success that it was, without the help of a number of people. Thanks to all our demonstrators, Juliane, Marian, Hélène, Elain, and Adrienne. Thanks also to new members Hilary and Valerie, who jumped in and volunteered. Many thanks to Annika, who, this year, was responsible for the publication of our book “Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking ‘. A number of books were sold today. Unsurprisingly, there was great interest in her demonstration of carding and combing using Irish wool. Thanks to Fiona for providing tea and coffee. Thanks also to those who brought along cakes and biscuits for us to enjoy. Thanks to Lorna, who arranged the hire of the hall and ensured everything was in place.
In particular, I have to thank Juliane for taking the lead in organising such a fabulous and successful day. Thank you for your commitment, organising skills, boundless energy, and infectious enthusiasm.
Thanks to Juliane and Marian for ensuring that all the participants had everything they needed.
Apologies if I have left anyone out.
Thanks to everyone who visited us today; we look forward to seeing you again in the near future.
Regards,
Deirdre Carroll Chairperson Feltmakers Ireland
PS: If you want to receive email updates from our blog, please add your email in the box on the right-hand side of the page that says, ‘Follow Blog via Email’.
How to use QR codes: point your cell phone camera towards the QR code and click on the link that will pop up on your screen. This link should take you to the specific video.
The Daisy Coaster with Link to the YouTube Video on Feltmakers Ireland’s ChannelThe Lily Bud with Link to the YouTube Video on Feltmakers Ireland’s Channel.The Cupped Flower with Link to the YouTube Video on Feltmakers Ireland’s Channel.
A short video of visitors working on their flowers is on our Facebook and Instagram pages.
Again, many thanks to August Craft Month and National Heritage Week for so kindly publicising our Open Day.
August Craft Month has an online audience experience survey HERE
As part of August Craft Month AND National Heritage Week, Feltmakers Ireland is having their Open Day on the 20th of August, from 11 AM until 3 PM. We are meeting where we usually have our Sunday Sessions – CIE Hall/Inchicore Sports and Social Club in Dublin 8.
We are making three types of flowers: the Daisy, a good introductory wet felting project; the Lily Bud, a three-dimensional felting project; and the Cupped Flower, a slightly more challenging project.
We have a downloadable handout that details all of the steps.
Plus, we have three short videos that demonstrate all the steps – sped up, of course!
How to use QR codes: point your cell phone camera towards the QR code and click on the link that will pop up on your screen. It should take you to the particular video. You can find our YouTube Channel HERE.
The Daisy Coaster with Link to the YouTube Video on Feltmakers Ireland’s Channel.The Lily Bud with Link to the YouTube Video on Feltmakers Ireland’s Channel.The Cupped Flower with Link to the YouTube Video on Feltmakers Ireland’s Channel.
Besides wet felting with Merino wool, which has been hand-dyed by Feltmakers Ireland member Leiko Uchiyama, we will share felting with Irish-raised wool. Additionally, you will be able to browse (or purchase) our recently published book, “Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking,“ filled with inspiration and knowledge about forty breeds of Irish-raised sheep whose wool can be used for wet and/or needle felting.
This Sunday, August 20th, join Feltmakers Ireland from 11 AM until 3 PM for a delightful and family-friendly event celebrating the art of feltmaking.
Discover the magic of transforming fluffy Merino wool fibres into vibrant flowers through the fun and engaging process of wet felting. Whether you’re interested in daisies, daffodils, roses, or whimsical fantasy flowers, under the expertise of our members, you’ll have the opportunity to create your very own masterpiece using soap, water, and your hands.
If you’re curious about sheep and the different varieties of Irish wool, this event is perfect for you! Witness the fascinating reactions of various Irish wool types as they are needle and wet felted. There will be opportunities for the adventurous to craft felt samples using different kinds of Irish Wool.
Don’t miss the chance to browse and purchase our recently published book, “Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking, filled with inspiration and knowledge about forty breeds of Irish-raised sheep whose wool can be used for wet and/or needle felting.
Bring your family and friends to Feltmakers Ireland’s Open Day at the CIE Hall/Inchicore Sports and Social Club in Dublin. It will be a day of creativity, learning, and sharing the love for wool and the art of feltmaking.
On the 19th and 20th of August, The Wicklow Craft Foundation (WCF) has an inaugural event which includes an exhibition comprised of multiple craft disciplines. It is taking place at The Schoolhouse for Art in Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow.
In addition, craftspeople will be on-site to demonstrate their skills and share their expertise.
Feltmakers Ireland member Sharon Wells will demonstrate landscape felting, spinning, and dyeing. She will have samples of many types of Irish wool fibre from sheep farms all over Ireland. You can see Galway, Cheviot, Wensleydale, Jacobs, Welsh mule, Kerry Hill, Charollais, Shetland, Zwartbles or Valais samples. She will discuss their uses in felting and/or spinning. Some are for sale on the day.
Demonstrations will be live-streamed via the WCF website for those who cannot attend in person. For further information and access to the live-stream, please visit http://www.wicklowcraftfoundation.ie
FORMDesignmade in Carlow will be presenting a viewing of their documentary film ‘Tension’ at the DCCIconference room, Castle Yard, Kilkenny, on Tuesday 15th at 1.30 and 5.30. The approximate duration of the film is 30 minutes.
This project was initiated during lockdown and is a collaboration between members, showcasing different skills, materials and approaches to craft making. Please join us if you can.
