On Sunday, the 1st of June and Monday, the 2nd of June, 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 the central pavilion within Area 26, 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’!
Feltmakers Ireland guild member Caoimhe Tuthill (Boann Irish Felt) will display her felted work at the MeathMade booth, Grand Pavilion stand G117.
This June bank holiday weekend (Thursday, May 29th– Monday, June 2nd, 2025), Bord Bia Bloom, Ireland’s most unique gardening, food, and sustainable living festival, returns for its 19th 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.
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.
Over the June Bank holiday, volunteers from Feltmakers Ireland spent two days at the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland’s Irish Craft Village within Bord Bia’s Bloom 2024 in Phonix Park. Our volunteers shared the wonders of transforming fluff into felt.
Irish Craft Village Sign – Photo by Sam Fagan
Most of all, Feltmakers Ireland wants to thank theDesign and Crafts Council of Ireland (DCCI) for giving us such an excellent marquee and display opportunity in the Craft’s Demonstration Booth at Bloom. We especially want to thank Geraldine Gray (of the DCCI ) and her sister Catherine for their support, helpfulness, and friendship on-site over the two days.
The Design and Crafts Council of Ireland’s Irish Craft Village – Photo by Sam Fagan
Our Booth
The public enjoyed watching volunteers show how to wet felt and needle-felt.
The photo on the left is early in the day – Photo by Loli Cox. The one on the right shows how popular our booth was – Photo by Sam Fagan.
Annika with samples of Irish Wool Breeds – Photo by Maria Mc Garry
Irish Wool Breed Felted Samples – Photo by Sam Fagan
Annika’s 3D fish and butterflies attracted much interest, as did other artworks on display.
Fishes and Butterfhly – Photo by Maria Mc Garry
3D Butterflies by Annika Berglund – Photo by Sam Fagan
Hélène Dooley’s spiral in the foregraound.
A busy booth – Photo by Hélène Dooley
Tamzen Lundy demonstrated wet feltmaking by creating a Mr Fantastic Fox. Her cute, wee-felted animals on display are terrific. You can find her work at Tamzen Lundy Designs.
Tamzen promoting wet feltmaking. (See below)
Tamzen demonstrating
Tamzen chatting with the public – Photo by Maria Mc Garry
Marian Fagan demonstrated needle felting and how she makes puppets of the various characters in children’s books for her granddaughter as they share the joy of reading. (See photo below).
Marian demonstrating feltmaking – Photo by Maria Mc Garry
Loli Cox, Marian, and Annika were busy demonstrating.
Loli, Marian, and Annika talking with the public – Photo by Maria Mc Garry
In the afternoon, Joanne Foley (in the yellow dress) demonstrated the process of creating her animal portraits. (See photograph below).
More sharing of feltmaking at Bloom – Joanne Foley, Lorna Cady, Margaret Ryan Collings, and Annika Berglund – Photo by Maria Mc Garry
Guild member Caoimhe Tuthill of Boann Irish Felt exhibited her beautiful work in the main pavilion with MeathMade. (See below).
Caoimhe Tuthill at the MeathMade Booth – Photo by Maria Mc Garry
Day 2
Saturday was busy, and Hélène Dooley started us off by demonstrating wet felting flowers and displaying her felted vessels. The red-coloured, hanging felted spiral is from an online class she teaches at the Felting and Fiber Studio. (See photo below).
Helene demonstrating – Photo by Maria Mc Garry
Hélène demonstrated and answered curious questions.
Hélène, Lory Cotti Cottini, and Annika demonstrating, below. Annika promoted Feltmakers Ireland and encouraged the interested public to become members of the guild.
Helene, Lory, and Annika sharing the wonders of feltmaking – Photo by Maria Mc Garry
Siobhan Ryan, Sam Fagan, Elaine Peden, and Annika at Bloom.
Siobhan, Sam, Elaine, and Annika demonstrating – Photo by Maria Mc Garry
Elain Peden demonstrating – Photo by Maria Mc Garry
Elaine and Annika share feltmaking with the public. (Below).
Elaine and Annika – Photo by Maria Mc Garry
Siobhan demonstrates her unique artwork.
Siobhan demonstrating – Photo by Maria Mc Garry
Valerie Nowak O’Ceallaigh shared her needle-felted horse portrait.
Photo by Valerie
Conclusion
Many thanks to Maria Mc Garry and Annika Berglund for coordinating this year’s Feltmakers Ireland booth at Bloom! Also, thanks to all the members, who also volunteered their time during the busy bank holiday weekend.
Elaine, Annika, and Maria pictured – Photo by Sam Fagan
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.
Misha Markova is organising a series of eco-dyeing workshops in the Feltmakers Ireland studio in Phoenix Park. Join in an adventure of making wonderful cloth, paper samples or bigger pieces for a day or more. The aim of the sessions is to extract colours from natural materials using a variety of eco dyeing and printing techniques. Suitable for dyeing novices as well as for those who want to improve their skills. The cost is €60 a day, including basic materials. Spaces are limited to 4 people per workshop. Booking is on a first come, first serve basis.
Dates: February 13th, February 20th, February 21st, February 28th.
For more details, contact Misha: markova_michaela@hotmail.com
We are presenting a series of exciting Summer Workshops throughout July & August in the Phoenix Park, Bray & Greystones. There is something for everyone. If you are interested in taking part in any of these please contact the tutor directly, numbers are being kept low so you are well advised to book a place as soon as possible
19 July – Indigo Dyeing with Clodagh Mac Donagh, Feltmakers Studio, Phoenix Park
25th July – Bag Workshop with Gabi McGrath Feltmakers Studio, Phoenix Park. Contact Gabi on gabi.mcgrath@gmail.com, 0877864604
1st August – Killruddery House and Gardens, in association with the Feltmakers Ireland guild, are hosting a feltmaking workshop in the beautiful Fruit Room Studio on the Killruddery estate on Saturday 1st August with Gabi McGrath. The workshop is suitable for all levels, even those new to the craft. The cost is €60, including basic the materials (extra can be purchased on the day). Come to learn a new skill in the wonderful surroundings Killruddery has to offer. You will go home with a beautiful 3-D vessel that you designed and made yourself. Application form and more details here: Workshop in Kilruddery House with Gabi
2nd August – Acid Dyeing with Clodagh Mac Donagh, Feltmakers Studio, Phoenix Park Contact Clodagh onclodaghmacdonagh@gmail.com, 0860574401
8th August – Feltmakers Ireland, in association with the Killruddery House and Gardens, are hosting an eco-dyeing workshop in the beautiful Fruit Room Studio on the Killruddery estate with Misha Markova. Join in an adventure of making wonderful cloth and paper samples for a one day. The aim of the session is to extract colours from natural materials using a variety of eco dyeing and printing techniques. Suitable for dyeing novices as well as for those who want to improve their skills. The cost is €60, including basic materials (extra can be purchased on the day). Application form and more details here: Workshop in Kilruddery House with Misha
8th August – Slippers workshop with Gabi McGrath, Feltmakers Studio, Phoenix Park. Contact Gabi on gabi.mcgrath@gmail.com, 0877864604
9 August – Eco Printing with Misha Markova, Feltmakers Studio, Phoenix Park. Contact Misha
Join in an adventure of making wonderful cloth and paper samples for a one day workshop. The aim of the session is on 08to extract colours from natural materials using a variety of eco dyeing and printing techniques. Suitable for dyeing novices as well as for those who want to improve their skills.
The workshop will be held on two separate dates:
Saturday October 12, 2013
Saturday October 26, 2013
10:00 – 16:00 at the Feltmakers Ireland studio, Knockmaroon Gate, Phoenix Park, Dublin
€40 – does not include your fabric samples
To book a place contact Mishá Markova on 085 1325622
The new season of Sunday Sessions starts next Sunday, 8th September, in the Studio in Phoenix Park. This month we will be looking at various techniques of natural dyeing and eco-printing. Misha Markova and Holly Angle will share their knowledge and experience of dyeing and printing with natural materials. Please bring along any items you have dyed or printed. The Sessions take place on the second Sunday of each month and everyone is welcome.
Time: 10.30 – 13.00
Location: Feltmakers Studio, Knockmaroon Gate, Phoenix Park, Dublin
Feltmakers Ireland 