Elaine Peden

Exhibition: Two Textile Shows at the Coach House Gallery – Dublin Castle

Published on Sep 25, 2024Sep 24, 2024 by Feltmakers Ireland

Two textile organisations, Textile Journey and Element15 Textile Artists, will exhibit at the Coach House Gallery near the Chester Beatty Museum in Dublin.

Textile Journey is an all-Ireland group that unites practitioners at all stages of their careers and with various access needs. Their exhibition, ‘Beyond Chaos,’ is a collection of works highlighting their members’ collaborative spirit. The show includes contributions from collaborations, including an Australian group, Textile Art Community Art Space, based in Melbourne, which celebrates the artistry and craftsmanship of textile work and strengthens the cultural ties between Ireland and Australia. Jane Fox, a member of the Feltmakers Ireland guild, is also a member of this group.

Element15 is a collective based in Co. Kildare. Individual artists develop their own practice in tandem with each other, distinct but connected. Element15’s exhibition, ‘Roots‘, is inspired by the work of Co Wicklow-based poet Jane Clarke. Elaine Peden, a member of the Feltmakers Ireland guild, is also a member of this group.

When: 26th September 2024 until 19th January 2025.

Where: Coach House Gallery.

For more information, visit each organisations’ Instagram –

Textile Journey – https://www.instagram.com/textilejourney.ie/
Element15 – https://www.instagram.com/element15textile/

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: Opposites Attract – Inspiration

Published on May 23, 2024May 29, 2024 by Feltmakers Ireland7 Comments

This is the final instalment of Feltmakers Ireland artists’ inspiration towards the ‘Opposites Attract’ theme.

The Series

The complete series of posts on our Members’ Inspiration can be found here:

Irina Lampadova

Success and Failure are the products of the same process.

I enjoy the magical process of felting. Experimenting with different colours, mixing and blending of natural little fibres that are joined together into an inseparable fabric gives a feeling of mindfulness and satisfaction.

Karena Ryan

‘Eclipsed’ represents a time to bask in the glow – be luminous.

Over 5000 years ago our ancient Irish astronomers were predicting solar eclipses and welcomed this festival of light with the world’s oldest known solar eclipse carved on stone megaliths at Loughcrew Cairn, County Meath. What may have been important has been overshadowed by what actually matters and what now radiates are new opportunities and fresh beginnings.

Annika Berglund

In life, between birth and death, we experience many ups and downs; we feel joy and despair.

However much we would like to only have the good times, they would not be the same if things were never bad. Achievement is not as satisfying without the risk of failure.

Focussing on the positive but accepting the balance of opposing forces in our lives might be a path to harmony and growth.

Marie Dunne

The volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula in Iceland in March 2024 was the inspiration for my piece ‘Lava Flow’. Hot and Cold. Fire and Ice.

“A life lived in colour where there is “”no opposite””. I am currently investigating the abstraction of the idea of ‘Opposite’, looking at the absence of colour.

How colour can create an emotional response and when colour is blended.

‘Opposite’ becomes ‘One'”

Marika Miklosi Manning

The challenge here was to combine felt work with another material of opposing characteristics and create a harmonious piece of work. I chose nylon string 0.50mm thick/ 12kg, usually used for suspending objects or fishing, etc. I see this piece as a study to see how the two materials can be combined to complement each other. The soft felt as a background to the qualities of the unyielding nylon string, which, through that combination, creates patterns of transparent 3D circles.

We hope that you enjoyed learning about what inspires these artists. ‘Opposites Attract’ is at the Phoenix Park Visitors Centre until the 26th of May.

The gallery is open from 10 AM to 4 PM daily. On Sunday, the 26th the show closes at 2 PM.

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

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: One More Day – Feltmakers Ireland’s Exhibition Opens

Published on May 3, 2024May 2, 2024 by Feltmakers Ireland

Today is Friday, so there is only one more day until the Feltmakers Ireland group exhibition opens at the Phoenix Park Visitors’ Centre.

Here is a bevvy of felted artworks from the following members: Adrienne Dempsey, Elaine Peden, Marie Dunne, Annika Berglund, Joanne Turner, Marika Miklosi Manning, Tamzen Lundy, and Heather Byrne.

Adrienne Dempsey
Elaine Peden
Marie Dunne
Annika Berglund
Joanne Turner
Marika Miklosi Manning
Tamzen Lundy
Heather Byrne

Tomorrow is the BIG Day – our opening, is at 3 PM at the Phoenix Park Visitors’ Centre. Due to construction for the upcoming Bloom, please allow more time to travel to the gallery.

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

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: Elaine Peden’s Creative Journey

Published on Jan 22, 2024Jan 18, 2024 by Feltmakers Ireland

Elaine Peden demonstrating at Bloom 2023 in Phonix Park

Today’s post was written by longtime member and former Guild chair Breda Fay.

What a brilliant start to 2024 with the January Sunday Session – a warm welcome from the committee to an eclectic group – FI members from more than 20 years ago, newbies (one who only arrived in Eire in the last week), and the rest of us.

Elaine Peden treated us to a journey through her creative life. Elaine, who is a nurse, a profession where rules and regulations, timetables and schedules are so important, began her story with how she found the craft of jewellery making. She relished the idea of turning myriads of little beads into a necklace or brooch. She was soon involved in craft fairs, where her work was well received. The confidence gained from this was all important, as Elaine described the confidence needed to become truly creative. “Letting yourself go”, being prepared to enjoy a process rather than having an end product in mind is so liberating.

Wearable Art

It was on a walk through the Phoenix Park that Elaine discovered feltmaking – at the little studio at the Knockmaroon Gate where Sunday Sessions used to be held. Her inquisitive nature caused her to explore where a group of women carrying boxes and bags might be going on a Sunday morning! She was welcomed with open arms. Elaine warmed immediately to this new form of creating and to the makers who willingly shared their skills. Again, it was about transformations that occurred during the process – how wool fibres became a fabric that draped gracefully or held a strong structure depending on the process. It was the 3D structures that particularly interested Elaine, and she honed her craft through attendance at a wide range of Master Classes. While feltmaking required lots of hard physical work, Elaine felt it suited her better than the close, confined work of jewellery making.

More Art

Elaine always had an interest in “found things”, in using things again, in recycling. This interest was accommodated when she joined Element15 in Kildare, a group of individual artists who were developing their own practices, each distinct but also connected. Element 15 artists’ roots were in textiles but evolved to include different materials and processes. Their connection with nature particularly appealed to Elaine, and with great enthusiasm, she looked at making structures that would survive (or might be transformed) in the outdoors. Her description of Mr. Crow and Mr. Deer’s placement in the valley of Jimi Blake’s garden outside Blessington was inspiring.

Elaine had a range of samples of her work, including Mr. Crow in his gentleman’s jacket and hat. We were able to touch and photograph for future inspiration. Her witty delivery of the topic, including her mention of some of the “disasters”* of her work, was so entertaining that we could still be there listening and giggling.

Three Dimensional Art

Over the years, Elaine has taken many workshops. One of the courses focused on bootmaking. Below is a photo of Breda’s boots, which Elaine humorously referred to in her presentation. Elaine made hers in an uncooperative orange-coloured wool. Her boots are the only piece that she has ever tossed!

Well done, Elaine! And FI committee for a lively Sunday Session. Also, thanks to new guild member Eva Salamon for allowing us to use some of her photographs.

To view a video of Elaine’s presentation, visit our YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pznGCQHsYMQ

Advance apologies for the poor sound quality and camera work of the recording.

This Sunday: Elaine Peden Shares Her Artwork

Published on Jan 12, 2024Jan 11, 2024 by Feltmakers Ireland

Elaine demonstrated feltmaking at BLOOM 2023.

This Sunday, long-time guild member Elaine Peden will share her artwork for our first session of the year.

Elaine is a mixed media, process-led artist who aims to put sustainable practice at the centre of her making.

In her previous works, she used mainly wool fibre as her medium, creating 3D sculptures, wall art, and wearables. Currently, Elaine incorporates found objects, such as timber, rust, and dead stock fabrics, with stitching to create her mixed media pieces.

The Details

Date: the 14th of January

Time: 10:30 AM until 12:30 PM.

Location: CIE Hall/Inchicore Sports and Social Club,

Library Square, C.I.E. Works,
Inchicore, Dublin 8, D08 PA07

Some Samples of Her Work

There is an interesting interview from 2017 with Elaine on the Guild’s blog – https://feltmakersireland.com/2019/07/17/interview-with-elaine-peden/

There is also an article on a piece she created during Lockdown inspired by microplastics in water pollution – https://feltmakersireland.com/2020/08/14/meet-the-maker-elaine-peden/

In addition to Feltmakers Ireland, Elaine is also a member of the Element15 textile group. Visit her profile on the group’s website – https://element15.ie/about-element15-textile-artists/

Other Details

Please bring a home-baked treat to share with the Sunday Session. 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, which will be emailed on Friday or Saturday before the session. If the tech elves cooperate, the session will be recorded and will later be uploaded to our YouTube Channel.

January Sunday Session: Elaine Peden Presents Her Artwork

Published on Jan 5, 2024Jan 4, 2024 by Feltmakers Ireland

On the 14th, the second Sunday of January, Feltmakers Ireland member Elaine Peden will share her artwork for our first Sunday Session of the year.

Elaine is a mixed media, process-led artist trying to put sustainable practice at the centre of her making.

In her previous works, she used mainly wool fibre as her medium, creating 3D sculptures, wall art, and wearables. Elaine currently uses found objects, such as timber, rust, and dead stock fabrics, with stitching to create her mixed media pieces.

The Details

Date: the 14th of January

Time: 10:30 AM until 12:30 PM.

Location: CIE Hall/Inchicore Sports and Social Club,

Library Square, C.I.E. Works,
Inchicore, Dublin 8, D08 PA07

Some Samples of Elaine’s work

“Fibre, cloth and thread are the mediums I use to tell my story working mainly with natural fibres, found and reusable materials.”
Elaine Peden

There is an interesting interview from 2017 with Elaine on the Guild’s blog – https://feltmakersireland.com/2019/07/17/interview-with-elaine-peden/

There is also an article on a piece she created during Lockdown inspired by microplastics in water pollution – https://feltmakersireland.com/2020/08/14/meet-the-maker-elaine-peden/

In addition to Feltmakers Ireland, Elaine is also a member of the Element15 textile group. See her profile on the group’s website – https://element15.ie/about-element15-textile-artists/

Other Details

Please bring a home-baked treat to share with the Sunday Session. There is a member contribution of 5 euros to cover the coffee/tea/hall rental.

Meet the Maker- Elaine Peden

Published on Aug 14, 2020Mar 14, 2023 by Feltmakers Ireland2 Comments

Interview with Artist Elaine Peden.

Elaine Peden is a long time, committed member of Feltmakers Ireland. Once again she took part in this organised event and submitted a wonderful piece highlighting micro plastics in water pollution. A regular contributer to the “Element 15” textile group, exhibiting around ireland, Feltmakers thanks Elaine for her continuing interest in the organisation and for helping to publicise the craft.

” Dive straight in keep your eyes wide open ” : €500

Made during lockdown over a period of two weeks.

Working from home technology “zoom” became an integral part of my working day ,I craved the creative process. Wet felting became the perfect medium for me during lockdown and helped balance my ‘right and left’ brain .

I made this piece outdoors ,laying out the fibres on our long hot Covid summer days. My work is process led ;colour plays an integral role in my work . I chose lemon and golden yellow as my primary colour base , (a colour I have avoided until now) the sun reflecting off the sea.

The circular openings draws the eye to look inside , the ‘Blue’ luminous fabrics and silks buried in the voids , reflects deep sea dumping , microplastics, and the Impact of consumer culture mainly the use of plastics on our oceans .

I believe we can create awareness about deep sea dumping through Art .I believe Covid helped us reconnect with our Blue landscape.

3 Irish Artists exhibit in Finland

Published on Jul 23, 2019Mar 14, 2023 by Feltmakers Ireland1 Comment

3 more Artists for you today, Elaine Peden, Maureen Cromer & Tamzen Lundy. All exhibiting currently in Finland, then onward to Portumna 8th-22nd Sept as part of the Shorelines Arts Festival.

Elaine Peden

Artist – Elaine Peden

Red in a world of black and white

The tiny coccus beetle found in Mexico huddles on the sunny side of a prickly cactus leaf, transforming into Red. Introducing white and red elements on a black background, this is my interpretation of white noise , fake news. Red gives clarity to the art of thinking clearly .

Sale price. €100.00

Materials used – dyed and I dyed Kap merino wool fibres with 3D elements and layering

Land of the Dawn lit Mountain

Notes – A wall hanging.

An evening walk in the Dublin mountains watching the movement of light through the evergreens , the magnificent Red glow of the sunset marking the close of another day

Sale price. €250.00

Artist – Maureen Cromer

Mending the Soul

The soul here stands for the “self” – who we are. We are constantly learning, growing, blooming But, of course, sometimes we need to heal from injuries, to mend, physically. But more importantly, to mend both mentally and spiritually.

The white body of the work represents this soul, while the red threads show the mending underway. The needles have been left attached, because self care is an ongoing process.

Sale price. €325.00

Materials – Native Perendale and Southdown fibres, Wensleydale locks, Irish linen, cotton mesh, silk fibre, silk hankies, rayon, silk and polyester threads for free motion machine embroidery, cotton and vintage red silk threads for hand embroidery, sashiko needles.

Tamzen Lundy- Ballymurphy Precedent

Tamzen Lundy- Migraine days

Artist – Tamzen Lundy

The Red Thread of Fate – Ballymurphy Precedent

Inspired by the ancient Chinese belief that those destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance, are bound by an invisible red thread which may tangle but never break.

I took this idea of connection and applied it to a little known story from Northern Ireland, where I grew up. A story of brutal bloodshed. The shootings happened in Ballymurphy, a Catholic housing estate in Belfast, in 1971. These shootings, carried out by British soldiers on civilians, killed 11 people over 3 days. The relatives continue to fight for the truth. The same parachute regiment were involved in the Bloody Sunday events in Londonderry, 5 months later.

I have used red Irish linen as the red thread, knotted according to the number of bullet wounds per person. The thread is broken to indicate the different days of the massacre, however there is the illusion of connection to represent those individuals bound by their fate. The colour red representing bloodshed. The flax of the linen is an Irish grown product – on home soil.

Sale price. €150.00

Materials – merino wool, silk chiffon, Irish linen threads

Migraine Days

Inspired by my own experience of living with migraine disease.

Migraine is more than just a headache. There is a saying ” it rarely kills you, but living with it is murder”.

The piece of art is meant to illustrate in some way the feeling I have inside my head on migraine days. Throbbing, piercing and pulsating.

Using a combination of techniques – stitch and beadwork on wet felt. Red silk with wool nepps represent the throbbing area, embellished with glass beads that pierce the site.

Sale price. €75.00

Materials – merino wool fibre and wool nepps, red silk and glass beads.

This exhibition was part funded by DCCoI

crafts-council

Interview with Elaine Peden

Published on Jul 17, 2019Mar 14, 2023 by Feltmakers Ireland2 Comments

IMG_0022 (1) Elaine has been a member of Feltmakers ireland for 10 years now. She also exhibits her work with the Element 15 group. Elaine was kind enough to hold a Sunday session on her beading work earlier in the year at the Knockmaroon gate studio. She continues to be active with FI in a voluntary capacity- helping out at workshops etc.

We decided to ask Elaine a few questions about how she became involved in Felt and textiles.

Tell us a little about you as a person?

I work Three days a week as a nurse in TU Dublin the rest of my time is divided up with family friends and my work as a fibre Artist.

Using a needle and thread and stitching with beads comes naturally to me as I embroidered as a child; my mother made our cloths as small children, my grandmother knitted, sewed and in her 80’s started to paint.

My Gran started painting in her 80’s she was self-taught. She painted every day and watching her paint, her ‘oneness‘ immersed in her world of brush and paint, absorbed and content , influenced my work as an artist. She went on to exhibit into her 90’s.

dav

How and when did you start Felting… what is your experience, tell us a little about your journey?

Fifteen years ago while holidaying in the Jersey shore with my family I happened upon Manasquan bead gallery, l signed up for a series of classes with exceptional Bead artists, after emptying my wallet and stuffing my suitcase with glorious vintage and Japanese glass beads in various sizes and shapes I started my journey designing and beading neck pieces, choosing colours and designing patterns in my sleep.

As l don’t have a studio l mainly work from home , for larger projects l have used my dear friend Coleen’s studio and FMI studio .

I mostly work with strong felt making 3D sculptures.

My pieces take between 5- 6 hrs to make. I have exhibited and sold my work at various craft fairs and taken private commissions.

My work is mainly process led l try not to control the process, I let it lead me. While l sometimes sketch and draw plans l mainly work intuitively.

10 yrs ago l spotted a friend packing her car with strange objects, bubble wrap, noodles, towels, intrigued about this l joined her on a trip to Lucan parish hall.

There l saw Maureen Cromer making a white cobweb scarf, the process immediately grabbed me. I was hooked. l filled my bag with fibre.

I became slightly obsessed with learning many felt making techniques. I started using fine merino wool from DHG. My 1st w/shop was with Lyda Rump, an amazing textile Artist making a complex felt bag with multiple resists using Icelandic wool which is one of the fastest and easiest fibres to felt.

I fell in love with strong felt, using multiple resists mounding and shaping the fibres after the fulling stage.

As my creative circle of friends grew my need to experiment with other mediums followed.

Fibre artist, Colleen Prendiville introduced me to stitch various mediums and processes. I joined Element 15 Fibre Arts group.

“Element 15” was originally Naas felt and fibre. The group explored and expanded over the years. We have exhibited in many venues including Carlow arts festival, the Blue Egg gallery, and last year a site specific exhibition at Castletown house.

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Tell us about your process from conception to creation and what is your motivation?

My career as a nurse plays a role in my work. After doing a post grad in NUIM (‘Art in a health care setting’). I have worked with Alzheimer’s patients in Brook lodge nursing home and other community projects. I have facilitated felt workshops in a health care setting and my work is about concentrating on the process rather than finished product, this enables creativity to blossom for participants.

I would like to expand on the therapeutic aspect of play, connection to self and others both in my personal work and working in groups.

FMI has organized incredible overseas tutors over the years , sharing ideas with exceptionally talented felting friends and colleagues sharing methods, ‘mishaps’ and working through play in the studio, has been a very rich and creative experience which continues to shape my work.

cof

What currently inspires you? What are you working on now?

I am currently researching poetry and text in preparation for Element 15’s next exhibition in Inniscara Gallery in Rathcoole. I will put this work on hold for a few weeks as l am travelling to Finland in Jamsa to see my piece which was selected as part of the joint exhibition between “Filtti” and Feltmakers Ireland, for our international exhibition … exciting times ahead.

On behalf of Feltmakers Ireland, thank you Elaine for sharing your inspirational story of your life and work, we look forward to seeing your new artworks in your next exhibition.

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Sunday Session in the Park

Published on Feb 6, 2019Mar 15, 2023 by Feltmakers IrelandLeave a comment

sunday-session-feb

All welcome, Elaine will take us through beading techniques. We had a great first Sunday Session given by Kay last month, with a superb turn out. Lets keep up the momentum and support the crafting community. Come along, chat and share ideas.