Long-time Feltmakers Ireland member, Deirdre Crofts, has two ceramic pieces in the Ceramics Ireland group show Clay/Works 2025 at the National Botanic Gardens. The exhibition showcases the work of over 80 makers from across the country. A diverse range of ceramic pieces is displayed, including functional, decorative, wall panels, and sculptural forms.
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Deirdre Crofts shared her work at our recent Sunday Session
Written by Committee Member Loli Cox
Feltmakers Ireland was honoured to host Deirdre “Dee” Crofts on Sunday, the 9th of February. Dee shared her Felting and Art journey with 30 visitors and members of Feltmakers Ireland.
Dee, with some of her sculptures
And of course, she made us laugh!Inspired by traditional ‘Green Men’ sculptures, Dee has made a series of faces coming out of foliage.The “Old Woman who Swallowed a Fly’ is on the table in front of Dee.
Dee, a long-time member of Feltmakers and until recently on the Feltmakers Ireland Committee, is a woman with many talents. In addition to feltmaking, Dee works in ceramics, weaving, metalwork, printmaking, plaster castings, knitting and horticulture. Her focus now is on automata – creating sculptures that can move.
So Much to See
Dee brought many art pieces along with her to display and explained the process of creating each piece with passion and precision. A few ‘stand out’ pieces included a ceramic likeness of St. Brigid, which she exhibited with the Liberties Weavers; Dee incorporated felting and weaving into the work. Another was her automata piece of ‘The Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly’; here, she created a wind-up toy with gears, causing the old woman to swallow the various characters named in the well-known poem. Finally, her wet felted seagulls illustrated ‘the magic’ of wool; Dee said, “It’s an amazing thing to use sheep fur to create felted art”.
Feltmakers Ireland can’t wait to see what Dee will do next!
“Try out everything because it’s fun … and you have something in the end” – one of the many encouraging words from Dee.
More Work
Ceramic Tiles made by casting from plants.Jack-in-the-box AutomataSculptural Portrait Heads of Dee’s childrenThese Shoes are Carved from Mahogony Wood!
In previous years, she exhibited at Sculpture in Context at the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin. (It is currently on hiatus but will hopefully return this year). https://sculptureincontext.ie/
Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.
Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.
Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.
Photo of Deirdre Crofts at the January Sunday Session- Leiko Uchiyama’s Pine Needle Felt Workshop. (Apologies to Jane Fox and Fiona Leech, who have been cropped out of the picture).
On Sunday, the 9th of February, Feltmakers Ireland guild member Deirdre Crofts will share her creative journey with us during our Sunday Session. In addition to feltmaking, Dee works in ceramics, weaving, and horticulture. She is particularly interested in automata – creating sculptures that can move!
On the left is Deirdre’s piece from the ‘Building Bridges’ exhibition, 2022, and on the right, the artist and her piece from the ‘Bountiful’ exhibition in 2023
Deirdre’s piece from the ‘Endangered’ exhibition in 2020
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 the use of 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 have a Zoom link, and we hope to record Deirdre’s presentation. The Zoom link will be mailed to members today, Friday, the 7th of February.
As this is the season of coughs and sneezes, we would prefer if you do not share these. Please do not attend if you may be unwell.
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.
Photo of Deirdre Crofts at the January Sunday Session- Leiko Uchiyama’s Pine Needle Felt Workshop. (Apologies to Jane Fox and Fiona Leech, who have been cropped out of the picture).
On Sunday, the 9th of February, Feltmakers Ireland guild member Deirdre Crofts will share her creative journey with us during our Sunday Session. In addition to feltmaking, Dee works in ceramics, weaving, and horticulture. She is particularly interested in automata – creating sculptures that can move!
Her piece from the 2020 exhibition, ‘Endangered’Deirdre’s piece from the ‘Building Bridges’ exhibition, 2022Deirdre with her piece from the ‘Bountiful’ exhibition, 2023
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 the use of 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 have a Zoom link, and we hope to record Deirdre’s presentation. The Zoom link will be mailed to members on the Friday preceding the event.
As this is the season of coughs and sneezes, we would prefer if you do not share these. Please do not attend if you may be unwell.
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.
Feltmakers Ireland committee member Deirdre Crofts, who tirelessly organises our Sunday Sessions, has been awarded an Agility Award from the Arts Council of Ireland to further her multi-faceted practice. Besides feltmaking and weaving, she works with clay and automata. In addition, she has won an EU workshop and the opportunity for an international exhibition in Italy or Spain.
Moreover, she has a vessel displayed in the juried Ceramics Ireland Selected Members Exhibition, which is at Rathfarnham Castle and runs until the 8th of September.
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.
Images: Kathleen Moroney, Tatiana Dobos, Paul Griffin – Ceramics Ireland Professional Practice Award 2023 winners.
Clay/Works Ceramics Ireland features the work of over 80 makers from all over the country. It encompasses a diverse range of ceramic pieces, including functional, decorative, wall panels, and sculptural forms. Feltmakers Ireland member Deirdre Crofts has two pieces in the show.
Ceramic Piece by Deirdre Crofts – Photograph by Lorna Cady
The exhibition is open seven days a week, through the 30th of June.
Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.
Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.
Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.
On Sunday, the 12th of November, committee member Deirdre Crofts led guild members in creating wet felted Elf Booties. Under her excellent tutelage, we enjoyed seeing how quickly these tiny Christmas decorations came together. And she had thought of everything – even bringing in tiny jingle bells and ribbons for us to sew onto our boots!
There is also an informative video recording from a couple of years ago of Deirdre explaining how she created her wet and needle-felted, bee-inspired piece for the Guild’s ‘Endangered’ exhibition at Phoenix Park. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K17qpwX0osQ&t=14s
Tiny Boots
Look at all the samples that she brought in to inspire us!
Tools
There were several questions about a couple of helpful wet felting tools.
The above tool is called a ball brause, which is a sprinkler for moistening wool fibre. It can be found at DHG, Wolknoll or sometimes at garden supply shops, as it is used for watering bonsai plants.
Similarly, there were questions about the above sprinkler tops, which the guild purchased for workshops. You can find similar ones HERE. Note: they do not fit all bottles.
Also, one can always go down the DIY route and pierce holes into the lid of a plastic water bottle or use a plant mister.
Culinary Inspiration
Homemade Custard Cream Biscuits made by member Lorna Cady.
Lastly, as always, there was a yummy spread of home bakes. A shout out to Neasa Ryan for bringing her beautiful Pavlova and to Lorna Cady for her‘Great British Bake Off’ inspired Custard Cream Biscuits!
Our November Sunday Session will start earlier due to circumstances beyond our control – 10 AM.
Guild member Deirdre Crofts will show us how to make these cute elf booties. So, you have the rest of the month to make multiples of them for family and friends before the 🎄trees go up!
The guild will provide the wool roving and various sparkly bits. All you need to bring is your felting kit = a towel, bubble wrap, your chosen soap, and a basis for water.
When: Due to circumstances beyond our control, we must start a half hour earlier than usual and finish up earlier – 10 AM until 11:30. Additionally, we will enjoy our coffee break on the go – while felting.
Also, please bring a home-baked treat to share. There is the usual member contribution of 5 euros to cover the coffee/tea/hall rental.
Members who cannot attend in person can use the Zoom link that will be emailed out on Friday or Saturday. If the tech elves cooperate, the session will be recorded and will later be uploaded to our YouTube Channel.
Due to circumstances beyond our control (involving a new manager and a double booking), we have to start our November Sunday Session half an hour earlier this weekend.
It will now start promptly at 10 AM and will have to end at 11:30 AM.
Please arrive a little early so we can promptly start our session with Deirdre Crofts at 10 AM. She is teaching us how to felt Elf Booties, which will make charming Christmas decorations.
Lastly, we will have our ‘coffee break’ without a break…. On the go, so to speak….😊
Thank you, and we sincerely apologise for this unexpected inconvenience.
First up, Deirdre Crofts is coming up trumps again and will show us how to make these cute elf booties at the next session on the 12th of November.
So there’ll be plenty of time to make multiples of them for family and friends before the 🎄trees go up!
The guild will provide the wool roving and various sparkly bits. All you need to bring is your felting kit = a towel, bubble wrap, and soap.
When: Due to circumstances beyond our control, we must start a half hour earlier than usual and finish up earlier – 10 AM until 11:30. Additionally, we will enjoy our coffee break on the go – while felting.
Also, please bring a home-baked treat to share. There is a member contribution of 5 euros to cover the coffee/tea/hall rental.
Members who cannot attend in person can use the Zoom link that will be emailed out on Friday or Saturday. If the tech elves cooperate, the session will be recorded and will later be uploaded to our YouTube Channel.
December Session
On the 10th of December, guild member Sharon Wells will work with us to needlefelt a beautiful winter scene. There will be a charge of €10 for all the materials for this session. More details for later. But it could be another Christmas present ticked off the list!
Feltmakers Ireland 