Tag: Co. Dublin

Recap - Sunday Session

Recap: Clodagh Mac Donagh – April Sunday Session

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland2 Comments
Clodagh wearing her colourful, hand-felted vest pictured next to a photo from her teaching years.

On Sunday, April 13th, long-time Feltmakers Ireland guild member Clodagh Mac Donagh shared her Textile Journey. Her colourful adventures in three locations—London, Paris, and Skerries, IRELAND —where she has lived, been educated, worked, and raised her family, enchanted us.

Like many guild members, Clodagh trained in fine art (in Ireland) and textiles (Goldsmiths in the UK). She worked in education. She taught textiles in multiple settings: to young people via schools, large-scale community projects funded by her local Fingal County Council, and even a textile education centre she opened in Balbriggan. Most recently, she taught a ten-week course on Wet Felting to adults at Castleknock College. Although now retired, she continues to teach Shibori Dyeing and other textile-related classes through Mel Bradley Silks Studio in Drogheda.

Teaching Felting

Besides working as an educator, Clodagh also worked as a dyer for high-end textile designer Sabina Fay Braxton.

She has also traveled extensively and shared some of her Japanese textile collection, which she collected during her visit there six years ago. When she was there, she visited Aramatsu – the town that creates famous Shibori!

Some Photographs of Felted and Shibori Dyed Textiles

On Shibori

Clodagh explained that the term ‘Shibori ‘ means in Japanese “to wring out or compress so that the dye does not reach”. The technique dates back to the 8th century in Japan. Traditionally, it was done on silk or hemp fabrics and was worn by the samurai and aristocracy. 

Clodagh generously shared six Shibori-dyeing resist techniques with the guild. She explained that what we do now is not traditional.

  • Kamoko – a pattern with all-over circles or bullseyes on it.
  • Arashi, which means ‘Driving Rain’ in Japanese, is an accordion fold (like a fan) tied around a pole or pipe. It looks sophisticated, but not difficult to produce.
  • Itajame – an accordion fold with resists.
  • Nui Shibori – stitched with pleats.
  • Kumo – repeat in the fabric with a series of ties concentrically arranged.
  • Muira—The example she showed was a long robe made of panels. It was created using a special stand with a hook that catches fabric and stitched with a continuous thread.

Example of Arashi

Video from Sunday

A huge thank you to Clodagh for sharing your Textile Journey with us! We appreciate all the work she put in to share with us.

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

Reminder: Clodagh Mac Donagh’s Textile Journey -This Sunday Session

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Sunday Session - the 13th - Clodagh Mac Donagh - Adventures in Indigo

This Sunday, the 13th of April, longtime Feltmakers Ireland member, artist and educator, Clodagh Mac Donagh will share her travel and textile experiences with feltmaking and indigo dyeing for our Sunday Session. She has traveled to Japan to study dyeing and will bring her fantastic collection of textiles. Additionally, she will demonstrate various techniques of achieving patterns through Shibori methods.

Due to health and safety, our Sunday Session will ~not~ be a hands-on Indigo Dyeing demonstration or workshop, but Clodagh will demonstrate shibori techniques.

Please bring the following items:

  • 10 baby wipes
  • 10 A4 sheets of paper, preferably white/plain (These will be used for demonstration purposes)
  • some small rubber bands
  • a few short lengths of strings (different thicknesses)
  • a few beads or glass pebbles
  • a ruler
  • pen or pencil, and a small bag to bring items home.

Note: These items are for demonstrating purposes only, not for dyeing.


Additional Details

Complimentary tea and coffee will be served at this Sunday’s Session. Home-baked goods to share are always welcome! If you can, please bring a travel mug to replace disposable paper cups.

As a member perk for 2025, we no longer charge 5 euros per session. (If you still need to renew your Annual Membership for 2025, you can now pay online here – https://feltmakersireland.com/membership-application/ )

This Sunday’s Session will ~not~ have a Zoom link. We apologise for this, but we will use a projector to share some of Clodagh’s photographs of her projects and travels. There is only so much technology we can juggle during a single session.

As this is the season of coughs and sneezes, we prefer you not to share these. Please do not attend if you may be unwell. We will have a photo-filled recap on the blog in the coming week!

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.

Exhibition: Art Form at The Dunmore in Dublin

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Feltmakers Ireland guild member Eithne O’Dea has a piece in the group exhibition of 80 artists – ‘Artform at The Dunmore’ in Dublin.

Featured artists:
@deirdreclogher @fifinlay @annabelpotterton @lizzie_kinsella @neildunnestudio @asking.flowers @bernadettekiely_artist @vincentsmithart @susancroninsoilpaintings @janefrew @zoedillonart @frances_ryan_artist @maireosullivanart @auveenbyrne @aidancrotty @barbaraabigailleeart @keondanielmc @annettetreacyart @trinikennyart @antoinetteomahonyart @marybutlerartistmaker @mettesofieroche #mariakomahony @rob_hall_painter_ @kroz_art #grainnecollins @susanjoy12 @ciaranbowenartist @margomcnultyartist @gwen_wilkinson @kayemaahs @hannekevanryswyk @joashbyartist @dee.hewetson @fionnualalaniganart @jeromecourtaux #michaelmolloy @nualaclarke.artist @sheila.hough @paulhallahan @karenmoynihanart @breenjd @anitahalley.art @louisewestartist @briansmythartist @goodburke @sylviamatthewspaintings @michaelolearyart @ciaraoconnorartist @cillapatton_artist @marcodisante_visual_art_______ #eabharois @robertryanireland @tritschlermary
@hilarymorleyartist @davewestart @ginny_pavry_artist
@clara.cleere.5 @serena_kitt_artistic_pursuits
@deirdrebrennanart @nessamccormackart
@tamaragangnusart @alan.raggett @leewelch
@angelafewerartist @davidbegleyartist @wildernish
@sheilanaughton1 @siobanoleary @zsoltbasti_
@nealgreig @oliviahenchyart @Liza Kelly_art
@a.stanleyartist @salvatoreoflucan @kate_kos
@artdreamspace @rachelrobertsartist @trishnixonart
@maryoconnorart @nicky__anthony @lorenzo.tonti.photo
@adeline_gaudefroy @glenbyrne.jpg @trinikennyart
@eithneodea @clairebuckleysart @annchristina25
@sebastian_thommen

The exhibition opens this Thursday, April 10th, from 5 to 7 PM in @thedunmored6, a restaurant that is a new Dublin Artform venue. Susan Connolly selected the work, Big Look Art curated it, and Richard Coghlan installed it.

Where: The Dunmore, 196 Rathmines Rd Lower, Dublin 6, D06 AY77

Their website: https://www.artform.ie/

The group’s Instagram: @artformdunmoreeast

Eithne’s Instagram: @eithneodea

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: Dublin Hat Walk – World Hat Walk scheduled for 48 Cities – Sunday, the 27th of April

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Editor’s Note: Feltmakers Ireland member Juliane Gorman co-founded and organised the Dublin branch of the World Hat Walk. At last year’s event, she was the only person to wear a hand-felted hat. For 2025, let’s add our FELTED HATS to the 2nd Annual World Hat Walk!

Do You Make Hats?

Many feltmakers create hats – are you one of them? If so, are you ready to flaunt your headgear in style? Come and join the Dublin Hat Walk, a delightful event that’s part of the larger World Hat Walk, happening on Sunday, the 27th of April, 2025.

It’s a Global Phenomenon: 

Our event is part of the second annual World Hat Walk Day, which was started by London Hat Week (LHW). In 2024, the LHW founders coordinated the first-ever World Hat Walk with over 2,000 hat wearers participating in 21 cities, in 17 countries, in a show of strength of the hat community around the globe. This year, Hat Walks are scheduled for 48 cities on 6 continents!

Origins

Dublin’s event is part of the larger World Hat Walk, organised by London Hat Week, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2024. Of course, the grandmomma of all Hat Walks is the Passejada amb Barret – Barcelona Hat Stroll, which celebrated its 20th anniversary on the same day! (Do check out their photos – such wild hats!)

When:

Get ready to strut your stuff starting promptly at 12:30 PM. However, let’s gather slightly beforehand, at noon, to admire the unique hat styles and capture some memorable photographs!

Where:

We will meet near the Fusiliers’ Arch, at the entrance of St Stephen’s Green, opposite Grafton Street. The Green Line LUAS stops nearby, making it convenient for everyone to join in the fun!

Dress Code:

Let your creativity shine! Wear whatever attire you fancy, but PLEASE remember to wear a hat! Whether it’s hand felted or not, let your headgear shine!

All Are Welcome:

The Dublin Hat Walk is an inclusive event, open to everyone who loves hats and wants to participate in this vibrant celebration. Bring your friends, family, and furry companions along for an afternoon filled with fun and fashion! Last year we were on page 3 of the Irish Times!

Stay Updated:

For any last-minute updates or exciting announcements, make sure to follow our Social Media pages.

Dublin Hat Walk’s Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/DublinHatWalkIE

Instagram @dublin_hat_walk_ie

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.

Open Call: Dublin Fibre Festival Seeking Vendors, Exhibitors and Instructors

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Dublin Fibre Festival poster - 18th October, 2025. Open Call for Vendors, Workshops, Exhibitors.

The second year of the Dublin Fibre Festival will be held on the 18th of October, 2025 at the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA).

Applications for vendors, exhibitors and workshop instructors are open until the 30th of April for vendors and exhibitors.


Vendors and Exhibitors

All fibre artists are welcome to vend or exhibit in the following categories:

  • Wool, knitting and crocheting, felting, embroidery, macrame, textiles and fabrics, weaving, and wool-related technology.

Workshop Tutors

For workshop instructors, eligible categories include the following:

  • Teaching fibre-related techniques, crafts, products, technology, software, small businesses, and entrepreneurship subjects.
  • Talking about a technique, craft, product, history, culture, technology, small businesses, entrepreneurship or anything related to the fibre industry and having a small business in the fibre/craft industries.

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

Dublin Fibre Festival’s Instagram @dublinfibrefestival

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

Sunday Session: Clodagh Mac Donagh’s Textile Journey – Adventures in Indigo – 13th of April

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

On April 13th, longtime Feltmakers Ireland member, artist and educator, Clodagh Mac Donagh, will share her travel and textile experiences with Indigo Dyeing for our Sunday Session. She has traveled to Japan to study this subject and will bring her fantastic collection of textiles. She will also demonstrate various techniques of achieving patterns through Shibori methods.

Due to health and safety, our Sunday Session will ~not~ be a hands-on Indigo Dyeing demonstration or workshop, but Clodagh will demonstrate shibori techniques.

Please bring the following items:

  • 10 baby wipes
  • 10 A4 sheets of paper, preferably white/plain (These will be used for demonstration purposes)
  • some small rubber bands
  • a few short lengths of strings (different thicknesses)
  • a few beads or glass pebbles
  • a ruler
  • pen or pencil, and a small bag to bring them home again.

Note: these items are for demonstrating purposes only, not for dyeing.

From an Indigo / Shibori Dyeing Workshop in 2024

The photos above are from a workshop taught by Clodagh and Mel Bradley, which was held at Mel Bradley Silks, in the Millmount Craft Quarter, Drogheda, in the Spring of 2024.

Additional Details

Complimentary tea and coffee will be served at this Sunday’s Session. Home-baked goods to share are always welcome! If you can, please bring a travel mug to replace disposable paper cups.

As a member perk for 2025, we will no longer charge 5 euros per session. (If you still need to renew your Annual Membership for 2025, you can now pay online here – https://feltmakersireland.com/membership-application/ )

This Sunday’s Session will ~not~ have a Zoom link. We apologise for this, but we will use a projector to share some of Clodagh’s photographs of her travels. There is only so much technology we can juggle during a single session.

As this is the season of coughs and sneezes, we prefer you not to share these. Please do not attend if you may be unwell.

Here is a fun video from the workshop in Drogheda!

Students are airing the indigo-dyed fabric and having a little dance, too!

The recap of this Sunday Session is HERE – https://feltmakersireland.com/2025/04/15/recap-clodagh-mac-donagh-april-sunday-session/

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.

Open Call: Sculpture in Context 40th Anniversary Exhibition – National Botanic Gardens – Dublin

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Sculpture in Context - 40th Anniversary Exhibition - open call - National Botanic Gardens of Ireland in Dublin.

Sculpture in Context will celebrate 40 Years of showcasing sculpture in Ireland this September.

Exhibition entries are open to artists working in three dimensions in any medium. They encourage the broadest possible definition of sculptural practice, including object making, installation, performance, video, and emerging hybrid forms, both permanent and ephemeral.

Note: In the past, several feltmakers have submitted and been accepted to exhibit in Sculpture in Context shows. Search ‘Sculpture in Context’ on our Feltmakers Ireland website to read about some of these members’ pieces.

The exhibition attracts many visitors and offers significant visibility and potential to sell work.

The large sculptures will be showcased in the garden’s natural setting, creating a dialogue between art and nature. The indoor gallery will display a selection of works, providing an intimate and curated viewing experience.

Entrance is by open submission, and selection is made by an independent panel of judges.

DEADLINE: 11:59 PM, on Friday the 25th April, 2025.

How to Submit

Up to 3 submissions per artist are allowed, with an entry fee of 16 euros for each submission.

The online submission process requires support documentation. Please note that if you close the portal mid-entry, your application will not be saved.

For more information and to submit your application, visit their website www.sculptureincontext.ie

Sculpture in Context’s Instagram – @sculpture_in_context

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.

Exhibition: Students at Liberties College Dublin – Hedera Collective

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Art Exhibition by Students at the Liberties College

The Hedera Collective, made up of students at Liberties College, will have a two-day art exhibition, ‘RECREA’, of their work, including textiles, ceramics, and glass.

Feltmakers Ireland guild member Sam (Samantha) Fagan is among the students.

When:

  • Wednesday, the 2nd of April, from 6 to 7:30 PM.
  • Thursday, the 3rd of April, from 10 AM to 3 PM.

Where: The Liberties College, Bull Alley St, Wood Quay, Dublin 8.

To see behind-the-scenes preparations, visit Hedera Collective’s Instagram: @hedera_artcollective

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: Final Chance to See ‘Symbols of Ireland’ – Feltmakers Ireland Exhibition

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Poster for Symbols of Ireland - group exhibition. Illustrated with a green coloured felted Brigid's Cross created by Jane Fox.

Have you had the chance to visit ‘Symbols of Ireland’, the stunning exhibition by Feltmakers Ireland? If not, now is your last opportunity! The exhibition, showcasing the incredible talent of 47 members, is in its final week at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre.

Featuring a diverse range of textile artistry, ‘Symbols of Ireland’ includes intricate needle and wet felting techniques displayed through wall art, sculptures, and wearable creations. Each piece tells a story, representing elements of Ireland’s rich culture and heritage through the unique medium of felt.

The exhibition is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM, with a slightly earlier closing time of 3 PM on Sunday, its final day.

Whether you’re an admirer of textile art, a craft enthusiast, or simply looking for an inspiring outing, don’t miss this chance to experience the beauty and creativity of Irish feltmaking.

Visit before it’s gone – and immerse yourself in the textures, colours, and symbolism that define this remarkable exhibition.

If you are unable to visit Dublin, you can view the online catalogue and read about our exciting launch with First Lady Sabina Higgins here – https://feltmakersireland.com/2025/03/04/exhibition-recap-first-lady-sabina-higgins-opens-symbols-of-ireland-art-exhibition-phoenix-park-visitor-centre/

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: Fine Felt Technical Workshop with Annika Berglund – Saturday, the 26th April

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
FIne Felt - Wet Felting Workshop - shows black to white gradiations of flat and 3 D felting.

Fine Felting Technical Workshop

We are excited to announce our upcoming technical feltmaking workshop, ‘Fine Felt’, which will be held on SATURDAY, the 26th of April, from 10:00 AM to 4 PM. 

This ‘Fine Felt’ Technical Workshop is recommended before taking our more advanced ‘Basic and Beyond: Felted Bag with Handle’ workshop on the 8th of  June.

This year, we are offering a Technique Improvement Workshop aimed at beginner and intermediate wet felters. The course aims to examine “Fine Felting,” which is traditionally desired in the craft of felting. 

The class is a repeat of last year’s Fine Felt Technical Workshop, but students are welcome to retake it if they wish.

The Schedule

The class is made up of two parts: A Square 2D sample and a Small 3D Vessel. 

In the morning, beginner wet feltmakers will learn how to lay out wool using a flat 10-inch template and how to felt, full, and shrink. We will look at the graduation of colour and shrinkage rates.

A team of helpers will be available to anybody needing support.

During the morning session, more experienced feltmakers can focus on creating a very light, even layout using 10 grams of wool for a 10-inch square. We will look at how to get the densest, finest felt possible while working on creating a perfect square sample with a shrinkage of 30%, 40%, 50% or possibly 60%, depending on our speed of felting.

This may not be how we would do felting on an everyday basis. But, this session spent truly concentrating on careful felting should improve our overall felting work.

We will break for lunch. Please bring something to eat as we will only have 30 minutes. Tea and coffee will be provided. Bring a ‘travel mug’ to cut down on paper cup waste.

In the afternoon, we will apply our learnings from the morning to make the finest little vessel possible. We will use a different layout (spokes and wheel), laying out 10 grams of black and white wool around a 20 cm circular resist. The goal will be to create a very thin, fine vessel, that is well-felted and sturdy.

SUPPLIES

We will supply ALL wool and materials needed for the workshop.

Please bring TWO towels.

We will have spares, but if you have the following items, please bring them with you:

  • A bowl
  • A water sprinkling brauser or similar (optional as we will have spares)
  • Small sharp scissors
  • Ruler with inches AND centimetres

When

We will start at 10:00 on the dot as we have much to cover. Please try to be there a few minutes early to get settled in.

Where

CIE SPORTS HALL is in Inchicore, Dublin 08, where we usually meet.

Cost

Feltmakers Ireland is keen to promote Fine Felting, and for this reason, we are offering this all-day workshop at the low price of 30 euros for members. 

If you have friends who have been wanting to join the Guild or will want to take the Basic and Beyond Workshop in June (The Felted Bag with a Handle), this Fine Felt Technical Workshop is the perfect opportunity to learn how to make Fine Felt.

Become a member of Feltmakers Ireland – https://feltmakersireland.com/membership-application/

The Members Only price will be in effect until Monday, the 14th of April. 

There are only 27 spots available. 

Registration

Please register BEFORE the 14th of April to reserve your spot at the lower price. After the 14th, the workshop will cost 40 euros per person (for non-members and members).

Note: Members have ALREADY received an email announcement with a Payment Link on Friday, the 21st of March, 2025.

If you have not received the email or have ~just~ joined Feltmakers Ireland and want to register, please email feltmakersie@gmail.com.

We will send you a link to pay online via credit or debit card.

This will be an in-person class, and, unfortunately, Zoom attendance will not be available.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us via the above email.

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.