Tag: Co Dublin

Of Interest: Dublin Maker Open Call for Fashion Show

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

This year, Dublin Maker will have an Open Fashion Show. Whether you’ve crafted an elaborate outfit or made a cute patch on your jeans, you are invited to enter.

On the day, fill out a card with some information about your make. The cards will be given to the emcee, who will call designers/makers up one by one.

There will be four slots:

  • Saturday, the 22nd of August at 12:45 and 14:45, and
  • Sunday, the 23rd of August at 11:15 and 14:30

Sign up for whichever ones work best for you. Please arrive a few minutes early to fill out your card if you are entering.

Where: Leopardstown Racecourse, Foxrock, Dublin 18, D18 C9V6

If you’re not ready to participate, come along to support the makers and get inspired for next year!

Sign up in advance with Eventbrite at: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/open-fashion-show-dublin-maker-tickets-1996822790720

The event will be accessible to people with limited mobility, but if you have questions, you can also check the Dublin Maker’s Accessibility Guide: https://dublinmaker.ie/accessibility-at-dublin-maker-festival/

Or reach out on their contact page: https://dublinmaker.ie/contact/

For more information or to reserve your free tickets, visit the Dublin Maker website: https://dublinmaker.ie/

Their Instagram: @dublinmaker

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: “Notes from Sheepland” – Film Screening in Tallaght – Co Dublin

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

On Thursday, the 30th of July, there will be a screening of the film Notes From Sheepland (2024), directed by Cara Holmes.

“Orla Barry is a hard-working, lipstick-wearing sheep farmer in rural Wexford. She is a self-confessed ovine addict. A decade in sheep, she’s still wondering what possessed her to start, but yet she wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

Orla lived in Brussels for 16 years and now lives and works in South East Ireland where she runs a flock of pedigree Lleyn sheep. Her work deals with the tensions of being an artist and an eco-farmer in rural Ireland. The sheep have slowed her art career but at the same time, caring for them has hugely inspired it. She escapes the studio by going to the sheep, escapes the sheep by hiding in her studio.

Notes From Sheepland follows Orla, an outlier, as she floats between these worlds. It reflects upon the primal, poetic and unpredictable bond she has with the natural world.

This screening forms part of Rua Red’s Learning and Engagement programme for Orla Barry’s exhibition The Collie, The Cheviot & the Crouched Skeleton, which runs from July 10th – September 26th in Rua Red Gallery.”

€3 per ticket, popcorn included.

When: Thursday, the 30th of July, 6-7:30 PM

Where: Rua Red, South Dublin Arts Centre, Tallaght, Dublin, D24 KV8N

To book a ticket, visit this website: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/ruarum-film-club-presents-notes-from-sheepland-tickets-1992510057218

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 content-related questions, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.

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Of Interest: ReStyle Dublin – This Saturday in Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

ReStyle Dublin will take place across Dún Laoghaire this Saturday, the 4th of July, bringing together a full day of creativity, sustainability, fashion, and community.

Guild member Sandra Reynolds is one of the Makers and will be offering two embroidery workshops to upcycle wearables.

Throughout the day there are:

  • Workshops
  • Live demonstrations
  • A repair café
  • Swap shops
  • A fashion show
  • Talks, stalls, exhibitions, and much more!

The organisers ask that attendees bring clothes in need of repair, clothes to upcycle or alter, and clothes to swap or donate.

More information and free tickets can be found here – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/restyle-dublin-a-sustainable-fashion-expo-free-event-tickets-1991909161924

Their Instagram @restyle.ireland @rediscoveryctr @sandystitchedup


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 the content, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.

Recap - Sunday Session

RECAP: June Sunday Session – Image Transfer for Needle Felting – with Adrienne Dempsey

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
A woman in a pink top holds up a piece of felt artwork depicting a landscape with a sheep, while a group of interested observers, mostly women, look on attentively. Various crafting materials are spread out on the table in front of them.
Adrienne shares how one can needle felt the transfer printed motif and the background

On Sunday, the 14th of June, committee member Adrienne Dempsey led a well-attended session in which we learned how to transfer printed images onto our felt.

Adrienne shared how to print the work onto water-soluble stabiliser paper and then transfer it onto our felt. We learned about the various substrates and materials we could use. She also demonstrated how one could needle-felt onto the printed image, or even all around it, to create a landscape.

A woman in a pink patterned top holds up a piece of fabric with a design while reading from a booklet about sticky water soluble paper stabiliser in a craft setting.
Adrienne shows the Water Soluble Paper Stabiliser
A woman in a pink patterned shirt demonstrates a craft technique to a group of attentive onlookers in a workshop setting. Various materials and tools, including an iron and craft supplies, are spread out on the table.
Here, she demonstrates Iron-on-Transfer Paper
A woman wearing a pink patterned top is holding up two pieces of fabric while standing at a table covered with various art materials and documents.
Here, she shows the different materials one can use a base – linen, silk, and calico (not pictured)

Adrienne’s Work

Adrienne brought a selection of her work to share. That kitten is especially adorable!

A display of six small framed artworks featuring a flower, an owl, a squirrel, and a cat, arranged on a textured surface.
Adrienne’s Work that has Transfer Printing
A close-up image of a cat's face displayed in a white picture frame.
So cute!
A collection of handmade jewellery displayed on white cards, featuring various earrings and a necklace. The pieces include felted beads in vibrant colours, gold and silver components, and unique designs.
Needle Felted Earrings

The Supplies

An assortment of crafting materials including fabric pieces, printed patterns, and colourful felt scraps arranged on a table.
A clear plastic container filled with spools of thread in various colours, including shades of pink, blue, green, and purple.
A variety of crafting materials spread out on a table, including fabric pieces, wool, printed images of animals, and organised containers with craft supplies.

Adrienne brought all the supplies needed, plus a bevvy of inspiring items.

She also gave the attendees several printed Help Sheets, including a glossary, information on where to find free clip art, two sheets of cute clip art, and information on where to purchase supplies in Ireland and online.

Where to Purchase Supplies

Recommended Needles

For the needle felting, Adrienne recommended the following types of felting needles:

  • 40 triangular needle for finer work
  • 36 triangular needle for initial shaping
  • 38 triangular is a versatile all-a-rounder
  • 38 star is her go-to medium gauge for all-purpose felting

The higher the number, the finer the needle.

Editor’s Note: There is an informative series of articles about felting needles by Jan on the Felting and Fiber Studio website – https://feltingandfiberstudio.com/2025/03/27/why-do-felting-needles-break-do-you-blame-your-tools-or-is-it-operator-error/

Where to Purchase Felting Needles

During the class, there were also questions about where to purchase felting needles.

Adrienne recommends the following:

Another member recommended Heidi Feathers needles because they liked how they are colour-coded.

Members at Work

Completed Pieces

While many more pieces were created, we didn’t manage to photograph them during the excitement of the session! Students have the option to wet felt them afterwards. If you would like us to add your piece, email a photo to feltmakersie@gmail.com

An elderly woman with long blonde hair smiles broadly while holding up a handmade felt piece featuring a sheep design. She is seated at a table with various crafting materials laid out, including yarn and wool.
Lorna
Two women smile and showcase their felted artwork featuring sheep during a craft workshop. Various crafting materials are scattered across the table.
Brid and Mary Ivell
Four women holding handmade felt artworks featuring sheep, displaying their creations in a craft workshop setting.
Anna, Marie, and Lauren
A playful felted sheep with colourful spots on a white background, alongside a cartoon sheep wearing sunglasses and a red vest, promoting a fun activity.
Eva via her Instagram @feltedvision

The June Sunday Session was well attended, with several members tuning in via Zoom.

A group of people participating in a crafting workshop, gathered around a table displaying various art supplies and materials, set in a community hall.
A group of people gathered around a table displaying various crafts and materials in a spacious community hall.

Thank yous

Thank you to Adrienne and her assistants, Sam and Loli, who helped make samples and kits for the Session. Thanks to Loli for some of the photos. Appreciation to all the members who attended in person or via Zoom!

Three women standing in a community space, each holding a piece of felt art. The first woman, with long hair and glasses, holds a black piece. The second woman, wearing a light-coloured top, displays a landscape design. The third woman, in a patterned pink shirt, shows a bird design on her felt piece.
Sam, Loli, and Adrienne holding some of the samples that they created for the Session.

Lastly, thank you to Lorna for her ever-informative and amusing ‘Biscuits with History’!

A person holding a homemade biscuit covered in icing sugar, with a handwritten note about the history and characteristics of Italian Ricciarelli biscuits. The note mentions that the biscuits are vegan and describes them as 'ugly but good'.

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: Rialto Community Arts Festival – Co Dublin – This Week

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Promotional poster for the Rialto Community Arts Festival featuring vibrant colours and bold text. The event runs from June 18 to June 21 and includes music, drama, workshops, art, poetry, and feathers. The image shows a group of performers, including a woman in a feathered costume and musicians with guitars, on stage.
Event schedule for the Rialto Community Arts Festival happening from June 18 to 21, 2026, including dates, times, places, and activities for each day.

The third annual Rialto Community Arts Festival in Co Dublin is this week. The festival includes poetry, music, drama, talks, exhibitions and craft workshops.

Of particular interest:

  • A talk about Linen in the Liberties on Thursday morning.
  • Crochet and screen printing workshops at F2 Centre

Note: Some of the activities need to be booked.

When: Thursday, the 18th, through Sunday, the 21st of June

Where: At various locations in D08, Dublin, including the F2 Centre and the St Andrew’s Community Centre

For more information, visit their website – https://rialtocommunityarts.com/

Their Instagram @rialtocommunityartsfestival

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: Vintage Sewing Machine Exhibition and Demonstration- Tallaght Library – Co Dublin

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Banner for a Vintage Sewing Machine Exhibition and Demonstration at Tallaght Library, featuring details about the event, including the date and time.

Come to Tallaght Library, in County Dublin, to explore a unique collection of vintage sewing machines, each with its own story and charm.

During the afternoon, there will be live demonstrations offering a closer look at how these machines were used.

Visitors will also have the chance to try out hand-crank sewing machines with the Library’s Mender in Residence, which is a lovely opportunity to slow down, learn something new, and connect with a traditional craft.

This is a relaxed, drop-in session, and everyone is very welcome. No booking required.

When: Saturday, the 13th of June, 12 PM – 3 PM

Where: South Dublin County Council, County Library, Parthalán Place, Tallaght, Dublin D24 TNP8

For more information, there is a Facebook post – https://www.facebook.com/SDCCLibrariesTallaght/posts/join-us-for-a-special-vintage-sewing-machine-exhibition-and-demonstration-here-a/1401627362011957/


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 content-related questions, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.

Of Interest: Restyle Dublin Sustainable Fashion Expo – 4th of July

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Promotional poster for Ireland's Sustainable Fashion Expo, featuring event details including date, location, and activities such as workshops, demonstrations, and a fashion show.

Save the Date: On the 4th of July, ReStyle Dublin will take place across Dún Laoghaire, bringing together a full day of creativity, sustainability, fashion, and community.

This will be a free public event, with a selection of individual workshops and activities available through ticket booking.

Expect a day of:

  • Workshops
  • Live demonstrations
  • A repair café
  • Swap shops
  • A fashion show
  • Talks, stalls, exhibitions, and much more!

Their Instagram @restyle.ireland @rediscoveryctr

More information about their mission on the Environmental Forum website – https://environmentalforum.ie/restyle-ireland/

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 content-related questions, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.

Of Interest: Panel Discussion – The Future of Irish Wool: Heritage, Sustainability & Innovation – At Bloom on Saturday

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Promotional banner for Bord Bia Bloom, Ireland's largest festival of gardening, food, and sustainable living, featuring event details and a focus on Irish wool heritage and sustainability.


This weekend, Irish sustainable fashion stylist and journalist, Roxanne Parker, will host two conversations about Irish textiles and fashion at the Sustainable Living Stage of Bord Bia Bloom 2026, in association with The Design and Craft Council of Ireland. Both events will explore the future of Irish textiles, heritage & endangered craft, and sustainability. 

Of particular interest to felters is Saturday’s event, “The Future of Irish Wool: Heritage, Sustainability & Innovation.”

This event will open with a fashion show celebrating Irish wool and Irish woven textiles, followed by a conversation on sustainability, heritage manufacturing, farming, fashion and textile innovation.

Joining Roxanne are the following:

When: Saturday, the 30th of May at 10:30 AM

Where: Sustainable Living Stage, at Bloom

On Sunday at 11:15 AM, there will be a fashion show and a panel discussion on linen.

Opening with a fashion show celebrating Irish linen and contemporary Irish linen design, followed by a discussion on weaving, endangered craft practices, sustainability and the evolving future of Irish linen.

Joining Roxanne are the following:

More information about events is on the Bord Bia Bloom website – https://www.bordbiabloom.com/whats-on/event-schedule/

Instagram: @roxanne_parker @dccireland @irish_grown_wool_council_ @bordbiabloom


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 the content, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.

Of Interest: Feltmakers Ireland will be at Bord Bia Bloom 2026 – DCCI’s Irish Craft Village

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Map of Bloom 2026 event layout, showing various areas including the Conservation Area and entrances, with marked locations for facilities like restaurants and picnic areas.
Bloom 2026 Map

On Friday, the 30th and Saturday, the 31st of May, volunteers from Feltmakers Ireland will demonstrate wet and needlefelting at the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland‘s Irish Craft Village, at Bord Bia Bloom in Phoenix Park. We will be in Demo Area 3, near the Conservation Area. Our book, ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’, will also be for sale, along with some of our members’ works. Come by and say, ‘Hello’!

Here is a link that shows the schedule of all the guilds that are demonstrating –https://www.dcci.ie/whats-on/bord-bia-bloom/bloom-2026-demonstrations/

Member News

Group of people gathered for the announcement of Meath Made's participation in Bord Bia Bloom 2026, with promotional materials and artwork on display.
MeathMade Members, including Lucia Errity.

Feltmakers Ireland guild member Lucia Errity will display her felted work at the MeathMade booth.

More Information

This June bank holiday weekend (Thursday, May 28th– Monday, June 1st, 2026), Bord Bia Bloom, Ireland’s most unique gardening, food, and sustainable living festival, returns for its 20th year.

Filled with colour and creativity, the event heralds the start of summer with a dazzling display of glorious gardens, fabulous food, and enthralling entertainment to entice visitors of all ages.

Spanning a 70-acre site in Dublin’s leafy Phoenix Park, Bord Bia Bloom is one of the country’s largest outdoor experiences, attracting over 100,000 visitors annually. This year, visitors can soak up the sights, sounds, and tastes of summer over five buzzing days packed with live entertainment, talks, interactive workshops, dining, shopping, and so much more.

Bord Bia Bloom offers abundant opportunities to grow, taste, and learn. Tickets are on sale via Ticketmaster, and two children can go free with each adult ticket purchased. Concession tickets are available for senior citizens (66+) and students with a valid ID.

For more information, visit their website – https://www.bordbiabloom.com/

Their Instagram: @bordbiabloom @dccireland @luciaerrityart @meathmade

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 the content, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.

Of Interest: 2 Members part of Summer Craft Fair – Irish Pop Up Collective – Dun Laoghaire – Co Dublin

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
A promotional poster for the Summer Popup event at the Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire, Dublin, featuring various images of products and artisanal crafts. The event details include the date, time, and a list of participating vendors showcasing designer clothing, ceramics, stationery, and more.

Over 60 Irish brands and businesses will come together for a pop-up market featuring a wide variety of products perfect for the summer season. Two members of Feltmakers Ireland will be participating in the upcoming Irish Pop Up Collective event.

When: Sunday, the 17th of May, from 10 AM to 6 PM

Where: The Royal Marine Hotel, Marine Road, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin, A96 K063

Entry to the pop-up is free.

If you can, please spread the word to support our fellow members.

Their Instagram: @irishpopupcollective

@emilyathompson_artist @karenaryantextiles

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 the content, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.