Tag: CIE Social Club Inchicore

News: Feltmakers Ireland – Instagram Over 500 Followers

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Our Instagram account

Perhaps not the biggest news of the day, but Feltmakers Ireland’s Instagram account, which we ‘renamed’ in January, now has over 500 Followers. This is exciting news!

Our former Instagram was @feltmakersireland, and we had over 1,000 followers. However, due to circumstances beyond our control, we did not have proper access to the backend, so we could not share Members News on our Stories or access any direct messages (DMs) sent to the account.

Consequently, we set up a new account on the 24th of January, 2024. Our ‘new’ account is @feltmakers_ireland ! Please add us to the artists and organisations that you follow. We aim to post daily, from Monday through Friday. {Editor’s Note: Our Facebook account was and still is FeltmakersIreland – https://www.facebook.com/feltmakersireland/

Feltmakers Ireland is a voluntary craft guild with members throughout Ireland and a few in Northern Ireland and beyond!

We try to cater to ALL types of felt-making: wet felters, needle felters, professional feltmakers, hobbyists, and ANYONE with interest in wool, fleece, or felt.

We have our Sunday Sessions on the second Sunday of the month at the CIE Sports Hall in Inchicore. Our upcoming session will be THIS Sunday, the 17th, from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM at the CIE Sports Hall in Inchicore, Dublin 8. We will be wet-felting a Christmas Star with guild member Annika Berglund. There is a blog post about it here – https://feltmakersireland.com/2024/11/04/sunday-session-felting-a-holiday-star-with-annika-berglund/

Feltmakers Ireland is a Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) GANS community member.

If you have news or events that you think would be of interest to our community, please email feltmakersIE@gmail.com

If you are a Guild Member with an Instagram account and we have not followed you, please let us know so we can do so.

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.

Sunday Session: Felting a Holiday Star with Annika Berglund

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland1 Comment

Felted Holiday Star

Examples of Wet Felted Holiday Stars, designed by Annika Berglund

On the 17th of November, our Sunday Session will be a mini-workshop with artist and guild member Annika Berglund.

We will make a wet-felted Holiday Star for window decoration – perfect for Christmas or year-round!

There will be a choice of three finished models using wool yarn, Merino wool, and, for one version, Wensleydale locks.

What to bring:

  • One large and one small towel.
  • Sewing pins
  • Small sharp scissors
  • Bubble wrap – approximately sized at 25 by 50cm
  • Soap and water bowl
  • Ball brause or sprinkler
  • A plastic bag

Bio of Annika Berglund

Portrait of Annika Berglund

Annika Berglund, a graduate of NCAD, has shown work in solo and group exhibitions nationally and abroad and has won several awards, including the Crafts Council’s price for Best Craft in the Garden 2008 and the NUI Art and Design Prize 2010.

Moving from ceramics, glass, and bronze to felt in 2020, one of her earliest felt pieces depicting the COVID-19 virus was acquired by the National Museum of Ireland. Having had one solo show and many group shows featuring Felt, Annika was a primary contributor to Feltmakers Ireland’s research project around Irish wool and the resulting book, Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking. She is currently Treasurer of Feltmakers Ireland.

Annika’s upcoming solo exhibition, Tapestry, opens on the 17th of November at 15:00 in the Olivier Cornet Gallery (after the Sunday session). She would like to welcome you all to attend if you have the opportunity.

For more information about her exhibition, visit the gallery’s website –https://www.oliviercornetgallery.com/tapestry-annika-berglund


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.

Recap - Sunday Session

News: October Recap and Giveaway Winner

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Playtime Sunday Session

At this past Sunday’s Session, Feltmakers Ireland members gathered to work on wet and needlefelting projects, share felting tips, and share their finished projects. It was our Play Time!

Here are some photographs from our session.

Adrienne Dempsey sharing her project. She learned the technique via Lindsey Tyson’s ‘Transfer Printing on to Felt and Other Fabrics’ online course.
Elizabeth Redding shared her ‘Temperature Record Knitted Blanket,’ which shows the daily temperatures taken at 9:30 AM in 2020.
Helena McGuinness worked on a needle-felted toadstool and shared a beautiful display of felted pieces (not photographed).
Lorna Cady with a display of felted work in the foreground as she needle felts red holly berries.
Siobhan Ryan’s completed Eyeglass Case and WIP felted beret made of Icelandic and Merino wool.
Annika Berglund focused on needlefelting beads for jewellery pieces she will display at her upcoming solo exhibition at Olivier Cornet Gallery.
Here is Sam Fagan’s Felted Eyeglass Case created last Sunday with Judit Pocs via our hybrid/online workshop. It is awaiting further fulling.
Hilary Osman and Marie Hopkins working on their felting projects.
Deirdre Crofts announces the theme of our annual exhibition – ‘Symbols of Ireland’. The show will be in March 2025 at the Phoenix Park Visitors’ Centre.

The Play Time was an excellent way to come together and share our love of feltmaking. Thank you to everyone who attended, and also to the members who shared their delicious homebakes!

Giveaway Winner

Giveaway Results

Over this past weekend, Feltmakers Ireland teamed up with the Knitting and Stitching Show organisers to run a Giveaway for two complimentary tickets to the Belfast event.

The Random Name Picker chose guild member and blog reader Helen Gilligan!

Many thanks to everyone for participating via email and social media.

We will offer ONE more Giveaway this coming weekend. If you missed out on the previous ones, you may have better luck with the next one.


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.

Sunday Session: Let’s Felt Together and Share Your Work – October

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Do you have any unfinished felting (or other textile) projects? Or do you want to share a recent piece that you created?

Play Time!

All guild members are invited to attend this coming Sunday’s session on the 13th of October. You are welcome to bring any wet or needlefelting projects you are working on and the supplies needed to create them.

Students who were part of Judit Poc’s Felted Eyeglasses Case Workshop on the 6th of October are encouraged to bring their WIP and/or completed cases to show off!

(Note: If you missed this Guild Workshop, Judit is offering it via her website – https://pocsjuditstudio.hu/workshop/glasses-case-with-special-closure-online-workshop/

Share Your Work

Members are also welcome to bring completed felted creations and have the option of selling them to other members! We have so many talented members! (Payment arrangements will need to be taken care of by the sellers).

We will play and share together this Sunday Session!

  • When: Sunday, the 13th of October, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM.
  • Where: CIE Hall/Inchicore Sports and Social Club, Library Square, C.I.E. Works, Inchicore, D08 PA07  https://maps.app.goo.gl/bajpGLbhpnbvQnY87
  • There is ample parking outside the Hall, and the G1, G2, and number 60 buses have a stop on nearby Sarsfield Road.

Additional Information

A Sunday Session like this will require lots of tea/ coffee/cake and chat, so there’ll be an abundance of that. Of course, homebakes are always welcome! Please bring a ‘keep cup’ or mug from home if possible. That will lessen the amount of paper cups thrown away.

There is the usual 5 euro fee.

Note: Since this is the season of colds and coughs, let’s not share them. However, we welcome you to join via Zoom Link, which we email to all members.


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: Giveaway Winner and Next Sunday Session

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Giveaway Results

Over this past weekend, Feltmakers Ireland teamed up with the Knitting and Stitching Show organisers to run a Giveaway for two complimentary tickets to the Belfast event. The Random Name Picker chose blog reader Kathleen Dunne!

Many thanks to everyone for participating via email and social media. We will offer two more Giveaways over the coming weekends. So, if you missed out on this one, you may have better luck with the next ones.

Next Sunday Session: Play Time

Do you have any unfinished felting (or other textile) projects? Or do you want to share a recent piece that you created?

All guild members are invited to attend next Sunday’s session on the 13th of October. You are welcome to bring any wet or needlefelting projects you are working on and the supplies needed to create them.

Students who were part of Judit Poc’s Felted Eyeglasses Case Workshop on the 6th of October are encouraged to bring their WIP and completed cases to show off! (Note: If you missed this Workshop, Judit is offering it via her website – https://pocsjuditstudio.hu/workshop/glasses-case-with-special-closure-online-workshop/

Members are also welcome to bring completed felted creations and have the option of selling them to other members! We have so many talented members! (Payment arrangements will need to be taken care of by the sellers).

We will play and share together this Sunday Session!

  • When: Sunday, the 13th of October, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM.
  • Where: CIE Hall/Inchicore Sports and Social Club, Library Square, C.I.E. Works, Inchicore, D08 PA07  https://maps.app.goo.gl/bajpGLbhpnbvQnY87
  • There is ample parking outside the Hall, and the G1, G2, and number 60 buses have a stop on nearby Sarsfield Road.

Additional Information

A Sunday Session like this will require lots of tea/ coffee/cake and chat, so there’ll be an abundance of that. Of course, homebakes are always welcome! Please bring a ‘keep cup’ or mug from home if you can. That will lessen the amount of paper cups thrown away.

There is the usual 5 euro fee.

Note: Since this is the season of colds and coughs, let’s not share them. However, we welcome you to join via Zoom Link, which will be emailed to the members.


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.

Recap - Sunday Session

Recap: Felt and Fantasy – Needle Felted Toadstools at the September Sunday Session

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Blog post by Committee Member Suzanne Phelan

Nara Fritch – artist

The recent Sunday Session in September had a bit of fantasy as we were led by the
wonderful Nara Fritch in a workshop making toadstools. The task for the morning was
to learn to needlefelt a mushroom of the Fly Agaric variety.

Each participant received a small bag of fibre and the tools, needles, and foam pad to make the mushroom.

Nara is an amazing tutor; as you will see from the photographs, everyone engaged with the task, and the resulting little red mushrooms with white spots were a joy to behold. One person actually managed to make two in the short period. Nara explained how to cover the white cap with red wool, keep a straight line between the colours, and make the cap itself and the stem and join them together. I am sure there are many more toadstools in the
making around the country as several members joined us online via Zoom.

Stabbing Away

Some of Nara’s Work

Nara had some wonderful examples of her needle felting on display, not just toadstools of different colours, but also fantastic needlefelted figures. In addition, she displayed pieces of her fused lampwork beads, along with her small-batch roasted coffees and cards.

It was a fantastic Sunday Session. Thank you to Nara for coming to share her knowledge with us and thank you, Suzanne for putting together this post.

Our next Sunday Session will be the 13th of October and is a ‘Feltmaking Playtime’ – bring and share what you are working on with the rest of the Guild.

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.

Education: Online Workshop with Judit Pocs now Open to Non-Members – Dublin – FULL

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Sorry, but this Workshop is now FULL.

Feltmakers Ireland is excited to announce that we are holding a hybrid online workshop with renowned Hungarian artist and tutor Judit Pocs on Sunday, October 6th, from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM.

We have ONE spot remaining, now open to non-members for 105 euros.

In this course, Judit Pocs’ Online Workshop – Eyeglass Cases with Special Closure via Zoom, we will make an eyeglass case with an interesting shape and closure, the surface of which we will decorate with pre-felted patterns. The long nose of the lid extends to the back of the case, where the closure strap is located. The case closes by pulling the long nose through the strap. The two tendril-like extensions make its shape more organic, and a spiral line can also be felted into the design. Self-made prefelt patterns make the surface rich and exciting.

We will work with 19-micron Australian merino wool tops.

Judit recommends this course for beginners and advanced alike.

Where: The workshop is a hybrid as it will be held at the CIE Sports Hall in Inchicore, Dublin, and conducted via Zoom. Judit will teach us from Hungary. This is a class of 18 students.

Students should bring their felting supplies and a packed lunch. Complimentary tea and coffee will be provided. Wool kits from Leiko Felt will be available on the day of the class for 22 euros per kit if interested.

NOTE: The link is for non-members. If you are a member of Feltmakers Ireland, please email feltmakersIE@gmail.com to reserve the spot.

To learn more and register, please visit this page on Eventbrite – https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/judit-pocs-online-workshop-eyeglass-cases-with-special-closure-via-zoom-tickets-958096691997

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.

Sunday Session: Needle Felted Toadstool with Nara Fritch – This Sunday

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Sunday Sessions Resume

This Sunday, the 8th of September, artist Nara Fritch will lead the guild in creating three-dimensional, needle felted toadstools.

All supplies are included, but if you have your own needle-felting tools (pads and needles), please bring them, as we think this may be a busy Sunday Session!

  • When: Sunday, the 8th of September, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM.
  • Where: CIE Hall/Inchicore Sports and Social Club, Library Square, C.I.E. Works, Inchicore, D08 PA07  https://maps.app.goo.gl/bajpGLbhpnbvQnY87
  • There is ample parking outside the Hall, and the G1, G2, and number 60 buses have a stop on nearby Sarsfield Road.

About Nara

Brief Biography of Nara Fritch by Feltmakers Ireland guild member Clodagh Mac Donagh-

I can’t think of anything Nara can’t do: She used to repair her old Morris Minor herself (as she couldn’t find anyone) and seemed to keep it going for years on string and duct tape. Multi-talented Nara blows glass and makes amazing torched glass beads. She also makes fantastical costumes and masks for theatrical performances, training with the world-renowned Mácnas Theatre company. Additionally, she combines her many talents to create one-of-a-kind art dolls. Nara adores animals and keeps alpacas, miniature goats, ducks, chickens, and dogs. Originally from Seattle, USA, Nara has lived in Ireland for over two decades.

Zoom Link

The Sunday Session will not be recorded, but a Zoom link will be emailed to all members for those who cannot attend in person.

Additional Information

A Sunday Session like this will require lots of tea/ coffee/cake and chat, so there’ll be an abundance of that. Of course, homebakes are always welcome!

There is the usual 5 euro fee.

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.

Sunday Session: Needle Felted Toadstool with Nara Fritch

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Sunday Sessions Resume

On Sunday, the 8th of September, artist Nara Fritch will lead the guild in creating three-dimensional, needle felted toadstools. All supplies included, but if you have your own needle-felting tools, please bring them.

When: Sunday, the 8th of September, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM.

Where: CIE Hall/Inchicore Sports and Social Club, Library Square, C.I.E. Works, Inchicore, D08 PA07 https://maps.app.goo.gl/bajpGLbhpnbvQnY87

About Nara

Brief Biography of Nara Fritch by Feltmakers Ireland guild member Clodagh Mac Donagh-

I can’t think of anything Nara can’t do: She used to repair her old Morris Minor herself (as she couldn’t find anyone) and seemed to keep it going for years on string and duct tape. Multi-talented Nara blows glass and makes amazing torched glass beads. She also makes fantastical costumes and masks for theatrical performances, training with the world-renowned Mácnas Theatre company. Additionally, she combines her many talents to create one-of-a-kind art dolls. Nara adores animals and keeps alpacas, miniature goats, ducks, chickens, and dogs. Originally from Seattle, USA, Nara has lived in Ireland for over two decades.

Zoom Link

The Sunday Session will not be recorded, but a Zoom link will be emailed to all members for those who cannot attend in person.

Additional Information

A Sunday Session like this will require lots of tea/ coffee/cake and chat, so there’ll be an abundance of that. Of course, homebakes are always welcome!

There is the usual 5 euro fee.

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.

Recap: August Craft Open Day Felted Vessels – Inchicore

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland2 Comments
Photograph by Guild Member Evija Mezaka

On Sunday, the 18th of August, Feltmakers Ireland hosted its first of two open days in the CIE Sports Club for August Craft Month 2024. Our second event will be this Sunday, the 25th of August, at the St James Hall in Kilbeggan, Co Westmeath. This upcoming event promises to be busy – visitors who have not pre-booked may need wait for an available tutor.

Hands on Learning

Curious students gathered around guild members and learned how to create a wet felted vessel using fine Merino wool, soapy water, a flexible resist, and their hands.

Finished Vessels

Visitors were able to work with wool and take home their completed vessels.

A Lovely Day

Photographs by Guild Member Evija Mezaka

Irish Wool

In addition to learning feltmaking, there was a carding demonstration and display of raw fibre and finished pieces made from Irish wool. Volunteers Annika Berglund and Margaret Ryan Collins chaired this table. Copies of our book, ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’, were also available.

Artwork Display

A display of wet and needle felted artworks, which included wall art, sculptures, vessels, jewellery, hats, scarves, dresses, and even an octopus, was available for viewers to admire.

With Appreciation

Many thanks to the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland (DCCI) for setting up August Craft Month and helping to fund our event. With appreciation to Heritage Ireland for listing our event on their website and helping us connect with our community. Also, thanks to guild member Leiko Uchiyama for dyeing such beautifully coloured wool roving.

A huge thank you to Deirdre Crofts and Loli Cox for helping to organise the Inchicore August Craft Month open day. Lastly, the Guild appreciates all the volunteers who ensured the day ran smoothly: Adrienne, Annika, Clare, Deirdre, Elizabeth, Eva, Hilary, Juliane, Lorna, Margaret, Marie, and Sam.

A video of our Open Day can be found on Instagram and/or on Facebook.

Note: We have received some questions about the green-coloured sprinkler devices that go onto plastic drinking bottles. This item was found on AmazonUK and is often used for gardening. Not all brands of bottles fit the devices – a good opportunity to do a selective clean-up near a local school. 🙂

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.