Tag: Bursary

Learning: Transfer Printing onto Felt and Other Fabrics with Lindsey Tyson

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland2 Comments

By Adrienne Dempsey

Winner of Feltmarker’s Ireland’s Educational Bursary of 2024, Adrienne Dempsey, attended Lindsey Tyson’s online course, ‘Transfer Printing onto Felt and Other Fabrics’.

I would like to thank Feltmakers Ireland and guild member Doris Reinisch for the generous bursary prize of €250 award for 2024. Doris’s name was originally pulled from the draw at our annual AGM. However, due to her having previously won the bursary prize, Doris kindly permitted us to randomly select another name from the draw and give the prize to another member. {You can read about what Doris studied HERE on the blog.}

To my surprise and joy, I was informed I had won the bursary prize. I chose an online course, ‘Transfer Printing onto Felt and Other Fabrics’, with Lindsey Tyson. The bursary prize money contributed towards this course.

I first saw Lindsey’s printed felt products on Instagram and her website, Lindsey Tyson Art. Lindsey had a successful career in textiles, has been printing on felt for many years, and has developed her own techniques. I am amazed at her printed felt products and how she mastered such clear, precise and detailed images – especially onto felt. The course is not a felting course; it consists of How to Transfer Prints onto Felt and other Fabrics. Lindsey has produced a comprehensive pre-recorded course to share her expertise. Lindsey’s video tutorials provide hours of demonstration, which is backed up by documentation that can be printed out, which I found really useful.

I pondered for some time before signing up for this course, as I knew this printing method would involve a certain amount of equipment and software. I decided not to rush out and buy a laser printer or a heat press. I used local resources around me, as I had access to a laser printer that I could use. I had been a member of a print studio, and I arranged to use their textile heat press to get me started.

The course covers in great detail how to design and manipulate images. It includes tutorials on using free software as well as paid software like Photoshop. I had an old version of Photoshop on my desktop that I could use, and I had great fun at the start trying to remember how to use this software, as it’s been a few years since I used it. I found Lindsey’s Photoshop tutorials a great guide, and I hope to get more proficient using Photoshop.

I’ve enjoyed all the course content very much, especially the fabric design elements. I was delighted to find a way of combining my line drawings, paintings, and photographs. I learned how to design my own imagery and patterns so that I could transfer my designs onto felt. I also learnt about fabrics suitable for printing.

This course taught me the importance of choosing the right type of paper to transfer onto felt when using a laser or inkjet printer. I used Lindsey’s paper recommendations and purchased paper from her website.

I experimented a lot. I had several prints with which I was not pleased with the print quality. I discovered that the quality of your print can be down to not using the right temperature, pressure, and trimming on the heat press.  

I felted large squares of felt in white 19-micron Merino wool, and I also bought prefelt Merino wool in preparation to print. To practice printing onto felt, I used free image resources recommended in the course, my photography, line drawings, and paintings.

The First One

For my first attempt at printing, I used free images printed on 19-micron Merino wool.

First Attempt: Free images printed on 19-micron Merino - a Seagull, a deer, and an owl.

Floral Experiment

Next, I worked with a flower photograph that I edited in Photoshop, ready to print and transfer onto extra-fine prefelt. I wanted to see how clear I could get this image from a photograph printed onto paper and then transferred onto felt. I hoped this image would pick up the shadows and colours that I liked about the original picture. It was interesting to see the printed results when transferred onto felt.

Repeat Patterns

Experimenting with a repeat pattern, tree images were transferred onto a 19-micron Merino.

Three-Dimensional Work

I really enjoyed making the below nature-printed pebbles and brooches using core wool and 19-micron Merino wool. I am pleased with the finished printed results.

Line drawing flower printed onto a felt pebble.

A robin painting printed on three felted pebbles, with a free robin with a holly branch image transferred onto a felted brooch.

Conclusion

I highly recommend this course if you want to learn to print onto felt and other fabrics. The beauty of the pre-recorded online course is that you can access it indefinitely, always revisit parts if you are unsure, and can take it at your own pace.

Ongoing course support is great. There is a private Facebook group where you can share your ideas, questions and any problems you may have, and Lindsey is always on hand to answer your questions and ensure you have all the information you need to succeed via email and Facebook.

Lindsey Tyson is having a Moving-On course sale on ‘Transfer Printing onto Felt and Other Fabrics’. She is moving away from feltmaking and printing to focus solely on her painting practice. NOTE: Registration for the class closes on the 30th of April. But once you purchase this course, you will have unlimited access.

To register for Lindsey Tyson’s ‘Transfer Printing onto Felt Course’ visit this page on her website – https://www.lindseytyson.art/transferprint-1

Or if you have questions, contact her directly – transferprint@lindseytyson.com

Instagram: @lindseytysonart

Feltmakers Ireland would like to thank Adrienne Dempsey for her lovely report and congratulate her on these brilliant course results.

We will hold a raffle for another Educational Bursary at our AGM in May. If you have not done so already, please renew your membership for a chance to win!

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.

News: Ramona Farrelly enjoys Pam de Groot’s Course

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland2 Comments

Written by Guild member Ramona Farrelly

To my great surprise and joy, I received a call a while back, to be told I had won a bursary voucher from Feltmakers Ireland to put towards any course I’d like to do in felting. (Editor’s note: Ramona won the Membership Renewal Draw, which took place at our AGM in May).

I chose Pam de Groot’s surface treatment course, ‘Surface, Form and Space’. This online course is great for learning various techniques for adding parts and creating form and texture in felt.

The course consists of 7 modules/weeks with activities from undulations, lumps and bumps, buttons and claws, as well as pimples, warts, connections and brains, all of which can be used to create new and interesting forms in your felt. I very much enjoyed the first two modules, particularly as I created four little characters that my daughter and her partner fell in love with and claimed as their own. (See image below).

One of the pieces created by Ramona Farrelly in Pam de Groot’s ‘Surface, Form and Space’ online course.

Pam is ever present with helpful and encouraging comments.  Her instructions are clear and concise. The beauty of the online course is that the parts can always be revisited if you’re unsure. 

Students ask questions and receive feedback from the tutor for the duration of the course. During the last two weeks, the students create a felted project combining the learned techniques.

The Ruzuku platform also allows student interaction via posting images and commenting. This is very useful to everyone on the course. Reading each other’s comments and gaining more knowledge this way adds to the tutor’s teaching. (More information about Pam’s classes can be found on her website).

A piece Ramona created around a hard object – a ceramic vessel that she made.

On the Feltmakers Ireland website, there is a Meet the Maker profile on Ramona and an article about her piece for Sculpture in Context 2022.

Additionally, check out Ramona Farrelly‘s amazing photographs, which can be seen on her website – https://ramonaf.exposure.co/

Award: David Shaw Legacy Award – DCCI Members

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

DCCI members who are 50+ are invited to apply for the David Shaw Legacy Award, which has a value of €5,000.

David Shaw-Smith, an Irish filmmaker, who, with his wife Sally, produced and directed the acclaimed documentary series Hands, made over 138 television documentaries during his career.

The award is to support and recognise our masterclass craftspeople’s achievements in their craft’s creative development.

The deadline for receipt of applications is the 30th of August, 2023.

For more information, visit their website – https://www.dcci.ie/opportunities/david-shaw-smith-legacy-award

News: AGM This Sunday

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
ALL MEMBERS OF THE FELTMAKERS IRELAND GUILD ARE INVITED TO OUR AGM.

VENUE: CIE Sports and Leisure Hall, INCHICORE Dublin 8. Eircode D08X525

DATE: 7th of May, 2023

TIME: 10:30-12:30

THIS AGM IS THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR OF OUR 20TH ANNIVERSARY.

By starting promptly at 10.30 AM, we hope to have the formalities of the meeting completed in good time, so we can listen to our Guest Speaker, our founder Elizabeth Bonnar, give a short account of ‘Our Guild’s Beginnings’ and glimpse some of her fantastic work.

We hope to have an unofficial launch at the culmination of our brilliant research project, our wool book – Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking.

YUMS

Refreshments will follow – please bring some Home Bakes for us to sample. We always appreciate goodies with our cuppa.

SHARE ONE PIECE

You are welcome to bring one piece of your own work from the last 20 years – new members, too, please – to display around the room.

(Please label your piece clearly and securely, and please, please, please bring the piece home with you).

BURSARY AWARD

While we are delighted to announce that all members are eligible for the drawing of an award of €250 to put towards any workshop either in person or online, from any international tutor of your choice.

AGENDA
  1. Address by Chair, opening of AGM (Breda).
  2. Address by Secretary (Clare).
  3. Treasurer’s Report (Annika).
  4. Report of Wool Project Book (Copies may be available).
  5. Election of Chairperson and Committee for 2023-34. The election of officers will be held at the 11th of June meeting.
  6. Motions.
  7. GUEST SPEAKER – Elizabeth Bonnar, the founder of Feltmakers Ireland, will address the meeting on the History of FI and may display some of her work.
  8. Bursary Draw for €250 for all paid-up members will occur at the AGM. The award is to be used to attend a Felting Workshop (either in-person or online). Afterwards, a blog post reporting on the workshop/class would be most welcome.
  9. Tea/Coffee Home Bakes.

NB: Motions for the AGM MUST be submitted in writing, to the Committee, 14 days before the AGM. This is to allow time to circulate all members in advance of the meeting.

News: Annual General Meeting 2023

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
All members of the Feltmakers Ireland Guild are invited to our AGM.

VENUE: CIE Sports and Leisure Hall, INCHICORE Dublin 8. Eircode D08X525

DATE: 7th of May, 2023

TIME: 10:30-12:30

This AGM is the beginning of the year of our 20th Anniversary.

By starting promptly at 10.30 AM, we hope to have the formalities of the meeting completed in good time, so we can listen to our Guest Speaker, our founder Elizabeth Bonnar, give a short account of ‘Our Guild’s Beginnings’ and glimpse some of her fantastic work.

We hope to have an unofficial launch at the culmination of our brilliant research project, our wool book – Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking.

Yums

Refreshments will follow – please bring some Home Bakes for us to sample. We always appreciate goodies with our cuppa.

Share One Piece

You are welcome to bring one piece of your own work from the last 20 years – new members, too, please – to display around the room.

(Please label your piece clearly and securely, and please, please, please bring the piece home with you).

Bursary Award

While we are delighted to announce that we will be giving one lucky member a whopping €250 to put towards any workshop either in person or online, from any international tutor of your choice.

Anyone whose 2023 membership is paid up before May 1st will be eligible for the draw at the AGM on May 7th.

If you still need to renew your membership, please contact Fiona –  allmembers.feltmakersireland@gmail.com

Agenda
  1. Address by Chair, opening of AGM (Breda).
  2. Address by Secretary (Clare).
  3. Treasurer’s Report (Annika).
  4. Report of Wool Project Book (Copies may be available).
  5. Election of Chairperson and Committee for 2023-34. The election of officers will be held at the 11th of June meeting.
  6. GUEST SPEAKER – Elizabeth Bonnar, the founder of Feltmakers Ireland, will address the meeting on the History of FI and may display some of her work.
  7. Bursary Draw for €250 for all paid-up members will occur at the AGM. The award is to be used to attend a Felting Workshop (either in-person or online). Afterwards, a blog post reporting on the workshop/class would be most welcome.
  8. Tea/Coffee Home Bakes.

NB: Motions for the AGM MUST be submitted in writing, to the Committee, 14 days before the AGM. This is to allow time to circulate all members in advance of the meeting.

Reminder: Membership Renewal – with Bursary

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland1 Comment

Bursary Award 

While we are delighted to announce that we will be giving one lucky member a whopping €250 to put towards any workshop either in person or online, from any international tutor of your choice, it is also a membership renewal reminder. 

Anyone whose 2023 membership is paid up before May 1st will be eligible for the draw at the AGM on May 7th (more details about the AGM will be sent out soon) 

Contact me, Fiona, your friendly membership secretary!

Email: allmembers.feltmakersireland@gmail.com

Thank you to all those who’ve signed up already, and good luck to everyone. 

Fiona and the committee

{Work featured in the image are from left to right: tutor Nancy Ballesteros, Feltmakers Ireland member Doris Reinisch, who previously won a bursary and attended a Molly Williams course, and tutor Fiona Duthie. }

‘Contemporary Dancer’ – Felt workshop attended by Doris Reinisch, winner of Feltmakers Ireland’s bursary 2021 – report by Doris Reinisch

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland2 Comments

First of all, I would like to thank the Feltmakers Ireland for the generous Prize of 200 Euros that I have won in a prize draw after renewing my membership for 2021.
The prize money was contributing towards a felting workshop of my choice throughout the year 2021.

At the beginning of October 2021, I participated in a six week long virtual online 3D felting workshop called ‘Contemporary Dancer’ by Molly Williams.
The weekly course material was accessible via an online platform ‘ruzuku.com’.
Each weekly module was accessible with video instructions and the group of participants also had a Zoom meeting with Molly. We were able to discuss our projects, tips and tricks, and how to overcome difficulties throughout the different stages of completing the contemporary dancer sculpture.
The course was directed towards advanced skilled felters and the instructions were very clear and easy to follow.
It began with looking at the human form and drawing of the body in different shapes and movements. As we progressed towards selecting the movement and shape of the contemporary dancer, we were working with a sketch book to generate ideas.

After deciding on the dancer position, we created the skeleton (50cm tall) of the body form with a strong wire. When the skeleton was ready, we added a tissue layer by covering the wire with a light wooly material strips as a felting starting point. We applied layers of felt wool to build up tissue and muscle of the body form.
This technique was an interesting experience for me, as we were applying the wool in a similar way as to working with clay. As soon as we were happy with the shape we created the skin by preparing a colourful and textured strong pre-felt. The skin was applied to the body where my sewing skills came in very useful.

The next step was to wet-felt the whole dancer more intensely until the skin was felted on to the felted layer below. It was important to achieve a more solid final shape. After a few days, the felt sculpture was dry enough and the head was decorated with my prepared felted piece.
Finally, my contemporary dancer sculpture was ready to be attached to my wooden platform for display.

I had a lot of fun creating the sculpture, even if there were a good few challenges to master.
The workshop in general was well set up and the host was very helpful and supportive.
It was a great opportunity for learning and exchanging my felting experience with other experienced felters from abroad during the workshop in the zoom meetings and through online chatting on the course platform.
Participating in this workshop opened up a new perspective on using the felt technique for 3D sculpting, and it was new experience for me to participate at a felt workshop online.
Not just the outcome of my final sculpture, but also the journey involved was very enjoyable.
I thought I’d share a little insight about my participation at the contemporary dancer workshop with you.
If you have any questions I am here for you and you can contact me by email: dorisreinisch@yahoo.com.
Many thanks to you all.
Best regards,
Doris

Feltmakers Ireland would like to thank Doris for her lovely report and gratulate her for a brilliant result from the course.

We will raffle another bursary in the next month or two, so make sure to renew your membership in time to be in with a chance!

Bursary award: Feltmakers Ireland

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Bursary award 2021

To offer our members something for 2021 we are running a draw. The draw will take place on 5th March…. all membership renewals as well as new members will be entered into a hat ( all membership renewals up until 3rd march will be entered).

One lucky winner will be chosen at random- and offered a bursary up to the value of €200- paid for by Feltmakers Ireland… for use on an online workshop course- of their choice. Its a great prize, a lovely offer of hope and learning as we face into another year. We would hope that the lucky winner might write up a little blog article of their work or their workshop experience. Not giving away any valued techniques of course but more a “what I learnt and how I managed online” diary piece. Good luck everybody!